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Welcome to 2523 High Street, designed by noted Blue Island architect Robert Seyfarth for his brother Ward – an executive at Blue Island’s Klein & Schroth Meat Company – and his wife Florence Seyfarth.  Florence’s father Henry was the “Klein” of the Klein & Schroth Company. The couple had one child, a son, Henry Seyfarth, who went on to become a prominent attorney in Chicago and served for many years on the board of the First National Bank of Blue Island.

One of Seyfarth’s most recognized designs, this home was chosen by Chicago Magazine as one of the 30 most beautiful homes in the Chicago area in 1999. Seyfarth employed this unique, steep 3-gabled design in several other homes, and often used variations of this technique to put the architectural massing front and center as the home’s main design statement, while the carefully carved stone surround announces the entryway to the house.

Inverted dormers can be found on the east and west elevations, tucked in the home’s original slate roof. Large windows allow natural sunlight to pour into the home’s living spaces, with the living room featuring large banks of windows on the home’s east elevation, while a southern-facing window bank allows the same for the dining room.

Some of the more striking features you’ll see in the home’s interior include a central spiral staircase in the entry foyer, and a massive wood-burning fireplace with an ornate carved-limestone surround in the large living room. Original glazed tile, natural stone, and pegged hardwood flooring is found throughout.

The current homeowner, Jim Walsh, has poured an incredible amount of love and care into the home and grounds, including creating an oasis of a backyard with a pergola, outdoor fireplace, and in-ground pool. You’ll begin your visit by walking up the main staircase to tour the second floor. After viewing those rooms, you’ll return to the first floor, where you can view the home’s bright and spacious living spaces, before exiting to the backyard to view the grounds and enjoy some refreshments.

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