Blue Island in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Robert Seyfarth House

built 1903

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 19, 2026

1. The Robert Seyfarth House Marker

Inscription. Robert Seyfarth was born in 1878 to Edward and Clara Seyfarth, well-to-do merchants whose hardware store was located on Western Avenue where his grandparents had operated the tavern and boarding house they established when they came to Blue Island in 1848. Seyfarth was a noted architect. He received his training at Chicago Manual Training School (which was later absorbed by the University of Chicago), and upon graduation in about 1898 went to work for George Maher, a noted Prairie School architect.

Although the design of this house reflects the tenets of the Prairie School, Seyfarth developed his own style which borrowed freely from the past to create homes that were imbued with the warmth and character of earlier times. His work today is highly regarded for its simplicity and correct proportion. Seyfarth continued his architectural practice until his death in 1950.

Historic Blue Island, Illinois
Founded 1835

This project was supported in part by a Preserve America grant administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture

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• Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1903.

Location. 41° 39.565′ N, 87° 41.106′ W. Marker is on Blue Island, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Maple Avenue north of Union Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12852 Maple Ave, Blue Island IL 60406, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago

and in the Calumet Region.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in 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: Albert and Emma Schmidt House (a few steps from this marker); The William Schreiber House (within shouting distance of this marker); Albert & Alice Roche House (within shouting distance of this marker); The William Seyfarth House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct

The Robert Seyfarth House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 19, 2026

2. The Robert Seyfarth House

line); The Buenger/Nelson House (about 500 feet away); Paul T. & Caryl Klenk House (about 500 feet away); A-7D Corsair II (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Alden J. Klein House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blue Island.

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia: Robert Seyfarth. (Submitted on April 20, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Celebration, preservation on tap as Prairie style architects become a society in Blue Island. A 2024 article from the Daily Southtown.

Excerpt: “In more affluent areas, you’ll see more Philip and George Maher stuff, but Seyfarth was all over the place,” Brown said. “Seyfarth did designs that are less grand and scale, and more working class oriented.”

(Submitted on April 20, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 20, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 20, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.