Dunham, Arthur J., House
Also known as: Lucile Evans House
Why it's listed
Built around 1907 in Berwyn, Illinois, this two-story stuccoed house with a hipped slate roof is an early work of the architects Tallmadge and Watson, who came out of the Burnham office and followed Wright and Sullivan. Its long, low roofs, lateral wing and porch, banded windows and oak trim, and open plan stress horizontal lines in the Prairie School manner. The house also had an attached garage and a living room picture window, both new ideas in 1907. Inside, quarter-sawn oak trim, leaded glass and integrally colored plaster survive largely intact. Two additions in 1923, designed by the original architects, added a second-floor room over the porch and a rear ground-floor wing, and the main stair entrance was closed off to create a private apartment upstairs. The same family owned and cared for the house for three generations, and original blueprints and specifications survive. It is the only Prairie School house of its kind in Berwyn.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a significant example of Prairie School architecture and one of the first buildings designed by Tallmadge and Watson. It is the only house of its kind in Berwyn. Its horizontal massing, open plan, early attached garage and picture window reflect Prairie School ideals. It has stayed essentially intact under one family for three generations.
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 82002524, listed February 11, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3131 S. Wisconsin Ave., Berwyn |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | February 11, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002524 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1907) |
| Architect / builder | Tallmadge + Watson |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, with the exterior recently renovated to keep its original appearance; listed as occupied private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.83492, -87.80021 (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 82002524.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14687384
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.