The Evergreens: 404 East Deerpath

Making It Home
The Evergreens: 404 East Deerpath

Charles Quinlan home, 1860s. A close look reveals people on the large front lawn, probably the family.

The new French Second Empire style home, rebuilt 1870.

The new French Second Empire style home, rebuilt 1870.

The Evergreens, c. 1970, after the third story mansard roof was lost in a fire.

The Evergreens, c. 1970, after the third story mansard roof was lost in a fire.

In 1859, Dr. Charles Quinlan, investor in the Lake Forest Association and the town’s first physician, built a home on the site of today’s 404 E. Deerpath. It was one of the first estates in the newly platted Lake Forest. This Greek Revival frame house, painted white with green shutters and large fluted columns, featured orchards to the rear of the property and a large “grapery” in the front. This house was ravaged by fire in 1869. The Quinlans replaced it the next year with a brick home in the French Second Empire style, with the mansard roof adding a third story. To the north, a carriage house was built to match, the future 361 E. Westminster.
Simeon B. Williams, manufacturer and real estate magnate, bought the rebuilt home from the Quinlans. The Williams family resided in the house for 17 years, selling in 1887 so Simeon could concentrate on a new venture, the Ontario, which is considered Chicago’s second apartment building.
The new owners, the Rumsey family, christened their home “The Evergreens” in honor of the trees lining the front walk. Captain Israel P. Rumsey had a distinguished Civil War record and held annual reunions here for his fellow soldiers. The Baker family, who took ownership of The Evergreens after the death of Captain and Mrs. Rumsey, subdivided and sold off portions of their property through the 1920s. The mansard roof burned in a 1960 fire, replaced by a simple cornice. In the 1970s, the house faced demolition but was purchased and restored in 1975 by the Southworth family.