Kenilworth Club
Why it's listed
Kenilworth Club is a one-story clubhouse at 410 Kenilworth Avenue in the Chicago suburb of Kenilworth, Illinois. Completed in 1907 on land supplied by the village founder, it was designed by George W. Maher, a Kenilworth resident and Prairie School architect. White walls are divided by dark brown wooden posts and broad horizontal bands, while a low hipped roof projects over the auditorium and deep eaves extend beyond the facade. Inside, built-in seating, woodwork and stained glass repeat a symbol Maher created for the village, representing its lake and trees. Apart from a modernized kitchen and some enclosed office space, the building remains as built. Its significance rests on its place in Maher's career: the vertical ornament and three-part window design anticipate patterns he used in Swift Hall at Northwestern University, and it is among his last works to stress horizontal lines. A large elm once rose through the entrance eaves before dying of Dutch elm disease in 1976.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the clubhouse is a well-preserved, early work by Prairie School architect George W. Maher. Its vertical ornament and tripartite window details anticipate patterns he used in later buildings such as Swift Hall at Northwestern. It is also one of his last structures to heavily emphasize the horizontal, marking a transition in his career.
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 79000832, listed March 21, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 410 Kenilworth Ave., Kenilworth |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | March 21, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000832 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | George W. Maher |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent and unaltered apart from a modernized kitchen and some enclosed office space; occupied and used as a community club. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.08640, -87.71583 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 79000832.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24061975
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.