Dewes, Francis J., House
Also known as: Swedish Engineers Society
Why it's listed
Built between 1894 and 1896 at 503 West Wrightwood Avenue in Chicago, this three-story Baroque mansion was designed by architects Adolph Cudell and Arthur Hercz for Francis Joseph Dewes, a wealthy brewer who wanted a home reflecting old world art and culture. The exterior is Bedford limestone with carved figures, two caryatids beneath the entrance balcony, hand-wrought iron and copper detailing, and a mansard roof with a copper cupola. Inside, rooms follow different European styles: a Gothic revival library, a French Renaissance drawing room, a Flemish dining room and a Louis XVI ballroom. Wrought iron exhibited at the 1893 Columbian Exposition and a large stained glass window by a Belgian artist are notable features. The Dewes family lived here for almost a quarter century before the Swedish Engineers Society bought it in 1920. With only two owners, the house remains largely unaltered, and it is described as one of the last great homes of its era in Chicago.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding example of Baroque and Louis XV style design with exceptional craftsmanship and art, including carved stone, wrought iron shown at the 1893 Columbian Exposition, and a large stained glass window. It is described as one of the last great homes of its kind in Chicago and as reasonably unaltered, having had only two owners.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73000694, listed August 14, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 503 W. Wrightwood Ave., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | August 14, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000694 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1894-96 |
| Architect / builder | Adolph Cudell and Arthur Hercz, architects |
| Architectural style | Baroque (Louis XV style exterior) |
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned and occupied by a private club, the Swedish Engineers Society, since 1920, which uses it as its clubhouse and headquarters; condition listed as good and unaltered. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Within district | Lakeview Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.93048, -87.64195 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73000694.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5481414
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.