Homes
Property transfers p. B9
August 17, 2022
Architect spotlight: Henry Fiddelke
Was prolific commercial and residential designer in turn-of-the-20th-century Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park By LACEY SIKORA
C
Contributing Reporter
hances are, if you live in Oak Park, River Forest or Forest Park, you’ve driven by or walked into one of the many designs of architect Henry Fiddelke. While the architect’s name might not be quite as famous as that of his contemporary, Frank Lloyd Wright, his work in the near west suburbs shaped the residential and commercial landscapes of several villages. Born in 1865 in Matteson, he started working in the architecture offices of Joseph Silsbee in Chicago in 1885. Fiddelke later worked for the office of Jenney and Mundie before becoming a licensed architect himself. By 1894, he was working in the Oak Park office of architect Frank Ellis. Fiddelke started his own firm in Oak Park in 1895. Though born in Illinois, Fiddelke was of German heritage and was an active member of the German Baptist Church, at Harlem Avenue and Dixon Street in Forest Park. His work in the late 1800s on commercial buildings on Madison Street in Forest Park exists today and gives the popular strip of restaurants and stores a German flair. Many of these designs feature a brick first floor with highly ornamental designs in the details of window trim, brackets, arches and bays. Among PROVIDED
Hales Mansion (above) at 509 N. Oak Park Ave.
GOOGLE MAPS
GOOGLE MAPS
7244 Madison St., Forest Park
7446 Madison St., Forest Park
the buildings still standing are 7403-05 Madison St., which houses NRebozo and Moss; 7429 Madison St. (Forest Park Liquors); 7244 Madison St. (O’Sullivan’s Public House); 7446 Madison St. (Epyk Luxury); and 7506 Madison St. (Macdaddy Salon). Some 20 years later, Fiddelke played a role in designing Oak Park’s commercial district with his design for the Parkside Building in the 1000 block of North Boulevard in 1916. Named through a newspaper competition, the building was designed for local businessman Leo Barr who owned a dry goods company. Today, The Beer Shop and Careful Peach are among the retailers utilizing the building. See FIDDELKE on page B4
August 17, 2022 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review
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