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

Albert and Emma Schmidt House

Built c. 1928

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 19, 2026

1. Albert and Emma Schmidt House Marker

Inscription. Albert Schmidt was a Blue Island businessman before becoming the community's assistant postmaster in 1897. Emma Schmidt's father was a tailor who ran his shop from a building on the northwest corner of Western and New that in about 1895 the couple had demolished and replaced with the current building.

This Federal Revival house was designed by the Chicago firm of Olsen and Urbain, prominent architects who designed homes, churches, and industrial complexes throughout the Chicago area; two of the firm's notable projects include the Tremont Hotel and the 7 Seas Panorama at Brookfield Zoo. This home is decorated with classical ornamentation made of composition, a material used extensively on the Classical Revival buildings of the Worlds Columbian Exposition. The Schmidt's daughter Elsa, a founder of the Blue Island Woman's Club, bequeathed the house in 1963 to First Congregational Church, who used it as a rectory.

Historic Blue Island, Illinois

This project was completed by the Blue Island Preservation Commission

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Fraternal or Sororal

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Organizations • Religion & Religious Structures • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.

Location. 41° 39.574′ N, 87° 41.107′ W. Marker is on Blue Island, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Maple Avenue south of Walnut Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12844 Maple Avenue, 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: The Robert Seyfarth House (a few steps from this marker); The William Schreiber House (within shouting distance of this marker); Albert & Alice Roche House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The William Seyfarth

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 19, 2026

2. Albert and Emma Schmidt House Marker

House (about 400 feet away); The Buenger/Nelson House (about 500 feet away); Paul T. & Caryl Klenk House (about 500 feet away); A-7D Corsair II (about 800 feet away); Spanish-American War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blue Island.

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 16 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 20, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.