Orth House
Why it's listed
Built in 1908 at 42 Abbotsford Road in Winnetka, this one and one-half story frame house has stucco walls trimmed with wooden planks that were originally stained, a concrete foundation and casement windows divided by wooden mullions. Inside, a see-through freestanding fireplace and two oak beams separate the living room from the dining room. Built-in oak bookcases and china cabinets, along with oak floors and trim, remain in place. Walter Burley Griffin designed it soon after leaving Frank Lloyd Wright's studio to start his own practice. It is heavier and more Wright-like than his later work, so it shows his move toward an independent style within the Prairie School, a Midwestern movement inspired by Louis Sullivan and Wright. The house has changed very little. A garage was added around 1920, and a bathroom sink and shower and a kitchen counter top were replaced. Only one original gas fixture survives.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as an important example of Prairie School architecture. It was one of the first houses Griffin designed after leaving Frank Lloyd Wright's studio, and it is more solid and Wright-like than his later work, so it marks a transition to his own style. It also survives virtually unaltered from its 1908 construction.
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 76000708, listed October 8, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 42 Abbotsford Rd., Winnetka |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | October 8, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000708 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1908 |
| Architect / builder | Walter Burley Griffin |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as preserved intact, with only minor alterations: a garage added about 1920, a new sink and shower in the second floor bathroom, and a new kitchen counter top. The property is marked occupied and used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.09205, -87.71964 (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 76000708.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18155499
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.