View map and walking directions

Welcome to the Paul & Emma Staffel House – a catalog, or kit home, that we believe was produced by the Aladdin Company. This model, offered with several variations and upgrades, was known as The Cumberland.

Born in Blue Island in 1879, Paul was the son of John and Henrietta Staffel, who arrived in Blue Island in 1859 as part of a wave of German immigrants who helped to further settle and develop this area. They settled on what’s known today as Blue Island’s south side, referred to back then as “Portland;” the area was eventually annexed by Blue Island. The Staffels were business owners, were very active in the community, and contributed greatly to the development of early Blue Island.

Paul and Emma were married in Chicago on February 26, 1905, and built this home in 1914. We’ve found no evidence that they had any children, with Paul working for a time as a clerk at City Hall, and an accountant for the railroad. He passed away in 1927 at just 47 years old. 

His wife Emma stayed in Blue Island until 1935, when she moved to southern California. It appears she remained there the rest of her life, never remarried, and passed away in 1976 at the age of 96.

The home’s architectural style can best be described as American Four Square, and it retains many of the original materials that were used for the home’s exterior – including wood shingles that flare out between the first and second floors to accentuate the wide dental moulding detail that adorns all but its façade. The current owners spent more than two years renovating the interior and exterior, saving or reproducing original details and pieces where they could, and beautifully melding their eclectic style into the design – resulting in what we feel is a successful partial restoration, partial modernization of the home.

After you enter, you’ll make your way upstairs to view the second floor – but be sure to peek into the hidden powder room next to the front door first! After viewing the second floor, you’ll come back downstairs to view the main floor, then head to the basement to view the newly created living space there. After touring the basement, you’ll exit out of the side door off of the basement stairs, where you can enjoy refreshments outside and chat with the homeowners.

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