Soffel, Albert, House
Why it's listed
Built after 1905 on a lot Albert Soffel bought from Caroline Millward, this dark red brick building at 508 North 5th Avenue in Maywood is a two-flat that looks like a single-family Foursquare. It rises two and a half stories over a raised basement, with a broad front porch, fluted columns on square brick piers, and a flared pyramidal roof with three dormers. Stained and leaded glass windows with floral patterns light the living and dining rooms. Inside, each apartment has a living room, dining room and kitchen on the south side and bedrooms on the north, with geometric oak moldings and built-in oak breakfronts. It was listed for its architecture. It is considered the best Foursquare-style two-flat in Maywood, a housing type that appears across the village. Its simple, crisp Arts and Crafts detailing and floor plan remain largely intact. A garage with modern siding is counted as noncontributing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the best example in Maywood of a two-flat built in a Foursquare configuration. Its simple Arts and Crafts ornamentation is intact, and it represents an important local housing type: the multifamily building that resembles a single-family house.
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 92000494, listed May 22, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 508 N. 5th Ave., Maywood |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | May 22, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000494 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1905 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late 19th Century and Early 20th Century American Movements: Foursquare |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in very good condition with excellent integrity; the room layout is unchanged and the detailing appears original. Historic and current use is multiple dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.89228, -87.83986 (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 92000494.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q104853549
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.