Vial, Robert, House
.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Built in 1856 by farmer and civic leader Robert Vial, this upright-and-wing farmhouse in Burr Ridge, about fifteen miles west of downtown Chicago, combines Greek Revival and Italianate details. It has a two-story front gable, a one-and-a-half-story side wing with a columned porch, wood clapboard siding, a cut stone foundation, and bracketed eaves. Inside are original pine floors and plaster walls. After standing vacant and deteriorating, the house faced demolition for a housing development. A local heritage society and park district acquired it on the condition that it be moved, and it was relocated less than two miles to Pleasantdale Park, set back from the road as before. A ten-year restoration removed later additions and returned it to its original appearance using historic photographs and physical evidence. It is considered significant as a well-preserved example of a mid-nineteenth-century farmhouse and for Vial's role in early settlement and community development.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is locally significant under Criterion C as an excellent example of an upright-and-wing vernacular dwelling, and under Criterion A for Robert Vial's early settlement in the area and his role in the community's development. It is described as the oldest surviving building of its kind in the community, with outstanding integrity after a ten-year restoration.
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 07000853, listed August 31, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 7425 S. Wolf Rd., Burr Ridge |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | August 31, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000853 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1856 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Other: Upright-and-wing (with Greek Revival and Italianate elements) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored to its 1856 appearance and moved less than two miles to Pleasantdale Park to avoid demolition; listed function is still a single dwelling and it is in public local ownership. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.75488, -87.89583 (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 07000853.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7350610
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.