Maple Avenue Maple Lane Historic District
Why it's listed
This nine-acre residential district in Highland Park centers on Maple Avenue, Maple Lane and the first properties on Sheridan Road. Its main distinction is a cluster of four houses by Prairie School architect George W. Maher: the R. Smith House of 1912, the H. Scarborough House of about 1907, the D.W. Lamborn House of 1910 and the Samuel H. Bingham House of about 1907. Their features include canted walls, wide overhangs, ribbon windows and segmental arches. Landscapes for the Smith, Scarborough and Lamborn houses were originally laid out by Jens Jensen. The district also contains the Herman Pomper House of 1925 by John Van Bergen, whose massing and detailing derive from Frank Lloyd Wright's Ward Willits House. A second Henry Dubin House of 1949, in the International Style, has limestone and marble walls and a steel frame. Colonial, Tudor and English country houses fill out the streetscape and match its scale. Maple Lane is entered through two stone gateposts.
Significance in brief: The district is significant for its concentration of four houses designed by Prairie School architect George W. Maher, three of which originally had landscapes laid out by Jens Jensen. It also includes the Herman Pomper House by John Van Bergen, which closely resembles Frank Lloyd Wright's Ward Willits House, and a 1949 International Style 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 82002570, listed September 29, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Maple Ave. and Maple Lane between St. Johns Ave. and Sheridan Rd., Highland Park |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | September 29, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002570 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | George W. Maher (Smith, Scarborough, Lamborn and Bingham Houses); John Van Bergen (Herman Pomper House) |
| Architectural style | Prairie School, with Colonial, Tudor, English country and International Style houses |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Houses are described as largely preserved; the Smith House was remodeled in 1972 with original exterior detailing kept, and the Lamborn House had a 1969 fire that caused interior damage only. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 42.19482, -87.79942 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 82002570.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16894618
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.