Soule, C. S., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1880 on Laurel Avenue in Highland Park, this Gothic Revival house first served as the manse for the neighboring Presbyterian Church. It has multiple gables, sits fairly close to the street on a modest, openly planted lot, and has an open porch at the east end and a square bay of three windows on the front. The Reverend C. S. Soule, pastor of the Highland Park Presbyterian Church from 1880 to 1886, lived here. He also taught Latin at Highland Hall, a girls' school at St. Johns and Ravine Drive, and died in Ravenswood in 1893. The exact construction date is unknown, and his residency is the best clue to it. The house has changed over time: aluminum siding was added, a two-car garage was attached in 1979, and a rear barn was demolished in 1978. It remains in excellent condition and is used as a residence.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to the Reverend C. S. Soule, pastor of the Highland Park Presbyterian Church from 1880 to 1886, who lived there. His residency is the main clue to the construction date, which is otherwise unknown. He also taught Latin at Highland Hall, a school for girls.
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 82002577, listed September 29, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 304 Laurel Ave., Highland Park |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | September 29, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002577 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Overall condition is listed as excellent but altered. Aluminum siding was added, a two-car garage was attached in 1979, and the rear barn was torn down in 1978. Present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.18622, -87.79253 (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 82002577.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85749798
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.