Willard, Frances, House
Also known as: Rest Cottage
Why it's listed
Rest Cottage, at 1730 Chicago Avenue in Evanston, Illinois, was the home of temperance leader Frances Willard and later the headquarters of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Her father, Josiah Willard, built the first section in 1865, working from English cottage plates influenced by Andrew Jackson Downing's pattern books. Its foundation walls used an early, crude form of concrete. An 1878 addition created a double dwelling, and later work added bay windows and enlarged the study. The two-story, 17-room house is Carpenter Gothic, with board and batten siding, bargeboard trim, six porches, stained and leaded glass, and oak and walnut woodwork. Willard lived in Evanston for forty years, and from here her work helped make temperance a national cause. She became president of the national WCTU in 1879 and of the world organization in 1891. The WCTU acquired the house from her estate and has kept it largely as she left it.
Significance in brief: It was the home of Frances Willard, who raised the temperance movement to national significance and led the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and its world organization. It also served as the longtime WCTU headquarters. The form also notes its Downing-influenced cottage design and early use of concrete foundation walls.
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 66000318, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1730 Chicago Ave., Evanston |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000318 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1865-1898 |
| Architect / builder | Designed and built by Josiah Willard, Frances Willard's father, from English cottage plates in Downing's pattern books |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated June 23, 1965 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good to excellent condition and occupied; the WCTU has preserved the exterior and interior with its furnishings as Miss Willard left them. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.04834, -87.67927 (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 66000318.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5479012
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.