Purple, George E., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1928 at 338 Sunset Avenue in LaGrange, Illinois, this two-story brick house was designed by Chicago architect William G. Carnegie for George E. Purple, a co-founder of the Flexible Steel Lacing Company. Its L-shaped plan, buff brick walls, concrete trim, and green clay tile hip roofs with wide overhangs follow the Italian Renaissance style. Notable details include cast concrete relief panels above the front windows, brick quoins that alternate recessed and projecting bricks, and a leaf-patterned copper canopy over the driveway. A matching two-story coach house stands at the rear. The original steel windows, cherry wood floors, plaster moldings, and inlaid wood doors survive. The house was listed for its architecture, as a good local example of the style and probably the best in LaGrange, standing out from nearby homes through its level of ornament. Purple died in 1930, and his family kept the home until 1944.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a good local example of Italian Renaissance architecture under Criterion C. It has the style's characteristic features, including a low-pitched hipped tile roof, large eaves, and elaborate first-story windows. It is called likely the best surviving example of the style in LaGrange, with more ornament than comparable local houses.
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 05000845, listed August 12, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 338 Sunset Ave., LaGrange |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | August 12, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000845 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928 |
| Architect / builder | Carnegie, William G. |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a single-family dwelling; exterior and interior are described as retaining high integrity, with minor changes to secondary facades and some updated kitchen and bathroom spaces. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.80997, -87.88386 (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 05000845.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5538778
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.