Holmes, Samuel, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1926 on the east side of Sheridan Road in Highland Park, this two-story single-family house was designed by architect Robert E. Seyfarth. It is clad in natural cedar shake on both walls and roof, with gray blue-green painted trim. The plan is rambling and asymmetrical, with a steep gabled roof, many recessed dormers and a heavy rustic canopy over the front door. The property sits directly on the lake, on irregular, partly wooded grounds with many levels and a meadow to the south. The house was listed because it is one of very few Shingle Style houses in Highland Park, a style especially suited to a lakeside setting, and because its form is characteristic of Seyfarth's larger houses. The grounds were designed by noted landscape architect Jens Jensen, once a Highland Park resident, and are among his few surviving works that have not been drastically altered. Changes are limited to the interior, where the living room ceiling was lowered and a picture window added in 1960.
Significance in brief: It is one of very few Shingle Style houses in Highland Park, a style well suited to a lakefront house. Its rambling asymmetrical plan, steep roof and recessed dormers are typical of Seyfarth's larger houses. The grounds were designed by landscape architect Jens Jensen, and this is one of his few remaining works not drastically altered.
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 82002565, listed September 29, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2693 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | September 29, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002565 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Robert E. Seyfarth |
| Architectural style | Shingle Style |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is marked excellent and integrity unaltered; the only alterations are interior (a lowered living room ceiling and picture window added in 1960). The house remains a single-family residence. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.20240, -87.79733 (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 82002565.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85799405
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.