Poole House: An 18th Century French Chateau in Lake Bluff

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Poole House: An 18th Century French Chateau in Lake Bluff

Front of the Poole house. (Image courtesy of Ezra Stoller.)

Plan for the Ralph Poole house. (Plate 9, David Adler by Richard Pratt, M. Evans & Co., 1970.)

Plan for the Ralph Poole house. (Plate 9, David Adler by Richard Pratt, M. Evans & Co., 1970.)

Ralph Hutchinson Poole (1878-1961) and daughter Barbara, c. 1912; Marie Wright Richard Poole. (Accessed via Ancestry.com.)

Ralph Hutchinson Poole (1878-1961) and daughter Barbara, c. 1912; Marie Wright Richard Poole. (Accessed via Ancestry.com.)

Entry Hall. (Image courtesy of Ezra Stoller @ Esto)

Entry Hall. (Image courtesy of Ezra Stoller @ Esto)

Staircase looking down at entry hall. (Image courtesy of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services.)

Staircase looking down at entry hall. (Image courtesy of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services.)

Living room through to music room. (Image courtesy of Ezra Stoller @ Esto.)

Living room through to music room. (Image courtesy of Ezra Stoller @ Esto.)

Music room through to living room. (Image courtesy of Ezra Stoller @ Esto.)

Music room through to living room. (Image courtesy of Ezra Stoller @ Esto.)

Oval dining room. (Image courtesy of Ezra Stoller @ Esto.)

Oval dining room. (Image courtesy of Ezra Stoller @ Esto.)

Address: 1010 North Green Bay Road, Lake BluffYear built: 1913Architect: David Adler and Henry DanglerOriginal owner: Ralph Hutchinson Poole and Marie Wright Richards PooleA celebration of Louis XV style, the Poole house was one ofthe first collaborations of youngarchitects Henry C. Dangler and David Adler. They designed the home for Ralph H. Poole, the brother of Abram Poole, their classmatefrom Princeton. Ralph Poolecommissioned this 1913 country place and allowed Adler to indulge his scholarlyappreciation for high French architecture and ornament. This lovely, symmetrical house with low horizontal lines,balanced wings and a central forecourt also reflects the popularity ofFrancoise Mansart (1598-1666,) at that time. Adler selected statuary, woodwork and limestone from Europe. The checkered marble floor and massivestaircase in the entry were inspired by the Hotel Biron, now the Rodin Museumin Paris. Five public rooms are en enfilade, formally aligned with eachother. Large windows with Rococo detailslet in natural light. The result, an exquisite and livable house for Ralph andMarie Poole and their four children. The Olmsted Brothers' original landscape plan for the 40acres estate was never realized. DavidAdler took over the design of the forecourt, formal gardens and natural prairie. At one time, livestock roamed the back fields. The farm buildings, barn and gardener’scottage are now long gone. The home currently sits on just over eight acres and in 2018 was undergoingan extensive renovation by the third owners of the house.