Dryden, George B., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1916-1917 at 1314 Ridge Avenue in Evanston, this thirty-room Georgian Revival mansion and its garage occupy a landscaped site of more than two acres. Chicago architect George W. Maher designed it for industrialist George B. Dryden, who founded the Hoof Pad Company, later the Dryden Rubber Company, and whose wife was a niece of Kodak founder George Eastman. The red brick house has a two-story pedimented portico, stone columns, a Palladian stair window and fireproof concrete and steel construction, and it cost $150,000. Maher is better known as a Prairie School architect, and the house shows his command of historic styles. It is also noted as one of the few large Evanston estates that still keeps its original grounds. The school district acquired it in 1960 and converted it to offices, with only modest changes to the interior and the loss of some balustrades outside.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a significant example of George Maher's skill as an architect, showing that this Prairie School figure could produce a pure, carefully detailed Georgian composition. It is also described as one of the few grand Evanston mansions that still has its original, generous site. It reflects a period when architects sought a residential style expressing American ideals.
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 78001135, listed December 18, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1314 Ridge Ave., Evanston |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | December 18, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001135 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1916 |
| Architect / builder | George W. Maher |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Bought by School District 65 in 1960 and converted to administrative offices (house) and maintenance and service use (garage); the form says the exterior is in good condition and the interior alterations did not significantly change spaces and details. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | Evanston Ridge Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.04162, -87.68935 (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 78001135.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19872761
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.