River Forest in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

F.A. Bell House

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 18, 2024

1. F.A. Bell House Marker

Inscription. F.A. Bell House has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior
1913

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.

Location. 41° 53.539′ N, 87° 48.48′ W. Marker is in River Forest, Illinois, in Cook County. It is at the intersection of Oak Avenue and Clinton Place, on the right when traveling west on Oak Avenue. The marker is near the house's entrance facing Oak Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7314 West Oak Avenue, River Forest IL 60305, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt

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(approx. 0.3 miles away); Birthplace of Oak Park (approx. 0.3 miles away); River Forest Women's Club (approx. 0.3 miles away); Austin Gardens Woodland Habitat (approx. 0.3 miles away); Harold Q. Kirk, M.D. (approx. 0.3 miles away); Anne T. Smedinghoff Memorial Garden (approx. 0.3 miles away); Henry W. Austin Memorial Plaza (approx. 0.4 miles away); The River Forest Tennis Club (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in River Forest.

Regarding F.A. Bell House. The limited public sources about this house refer to it as the F.H. Bell house, however, F.A. Bell appears to be the correct name. Based on census records, the house's first residents were Franklin A. Bell and his first wife Daphne. It is believed that Harry Mahler, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright's who would later be a prominent architect in Tulsa, was commissioned to design the house as a wedding present from Daphne's father, Sherman T. Edwards, to the newly married couple in 1913. Franklin and Daphne had a daughter, also named Daphne, and based on census records the family had moved out of the Chicago area by 1920. Franklin and Daphne divorced

F.A. Bell House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 25, 2024

2. F.A. Bell House

in the 1930s. Daphne died in 1968 and is buried at Forest Home Cemetery, about two miles south of here in neighboring Forest Park. Franklin died in North Carolina in 1979 and is buried in Pittsburgh.

On the Illinois database of NRHP sites, this home is included as a contributing structure within the River Forest National Historic District; it is also referenced on the district's nomination form, which was completed in 1972. However, the home does not appear to be on the NRHP as an individual listing.

Also see . . .
1. River Forest Historic District NHRP registration form (1972). (Submitted on October 20, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Wright Plus 2020 is River Forest forward. The Bell house was included in the 2020 Wright Plus housewalk. (Submitted on October 20, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

3. Harry Hamilton Mahler. A list of some of Harry Mahler's prominent structures, from the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture (Submitted on October 20, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 248 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 19, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2. submitted on October 20, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.