McHenry County Blog

A press release from the McHenry County Historical Society:

McHenry County Historical Society to Plaque the Lorimer Residence

(Union, Illinois-) The McHenry County Historical Society’s Historic Sites Committee will plaque the Josephine and William Lorimer Jr. House at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at 615 Lake Ave. in Crystal Lake.

The present owners, Rudolph Magnani and Lynn Lourie, have taken the utmost care in preserving and restoring this 1929 grand residence and will be awarded the plaque in a public ceremony.

The year was 1929. The downtown sign, electrified with 80 light bulbs above the recently paved Williams Street, proclaimed: “Crystal Lake, A Good Place to Live.” It also stated “55 minutes to Chicago.”

Life was good and everything seemed to be feasible through modern technology.

Radio, telephones, and moving pictures with sound, were bringing ‘modernity’ to the most remote parts of our population.

Mickey Mouse spoke for the first time (“hot dog!”) and a color, talking movie debuted – all available at the Crystal Lake’s new El Tovar Theatre. Jazz and dancing rose in popularity, and Europe’s art deco movement was influencing not only art, but American architecture as well.

Across the border the Canadians proclaimed woman to be “persons,” and just 55 minutes away, the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre shocked the nation.

The excessive Roaring Twenties were coming to a close, and with it, Wall Street’s crash. In France they proclaimed the era “années folles” (“Crazy Years”).

While clouds were rolling over this golden time, American’s discovered a board game called, The Landlord’s Game, later known as Monopoly.

During this time, a Chicago businessman, William Lorimer Jr., was doing rather well in the timber Industry.

His business required him to make frequent business trips south and he was often accompanied by his wife, Josephine.

The South’s pre-Civil War architecture greatly inspired Josephine and she dreamed of building such an estate up North.

Eventually the Lorimer’s bought several acres just across the street from Crystal Lake’s, Main Beach, bordered by Lake Avenue, Country Club and Ringling Roads.

By 1928 they hired a local builder, W. Frank Robbin, who claimed the “W” stood for “willing.”

Unaware of the hard financial times ahead, Josephine and Mr. Robbin broke ground to create a bit of Natchez, Miss. in Crystal Lake: The Lorimer mansion.

Completed in 1929 this 5,000-square-foot plus Federal Revival home, with its truly magnificent white portico, centrally located Palladian window, and unique white glazed brick Duntile walls, often was referred to as the “White House.”

Upon entering this home one is greeting by a two-story foyer and rather grand open staircase with original balustrade.

To the right the foyer opens up to a formal dining room with adjoining kitchen, sitting room and simple back staircase.

To the left a large formal living room and adjoining music room awaits you.

These formal areas all retain their original bold black and white checkerboard terrazzo flooring and arched windows with segmental pediments.

Midway up the stairs a large landing and the exquisite Palladian window with three Gothic arches in the pediment provides a panoramic view of Crystal Lake.

The second level, with its original hardwood floors, houses the master and guest bedrooms, and baths.

he silver door hardware, plaster work and trim details, reflect a touch of an art-deco inspiration.

A separate simple staircase in the back services all floors, including the kitchen, garage, and basement.

It is here, in the basement, one can find the origin of the unique white bricks used to build this home. The Duntile logo can be seen on several of the exposed basement bricks.

These special bricks were locally produced from 1928 to 1936 at the site of the old Oak Industries building on the southeast corner of Main Street and Crystal Lake Avenue. [See also 800 Broadway for the same bricks.]

The Lorimer home was a perfect fit for William, Josephine and their six children. Unfortunately their luxurious White-House lifestyle was short-lived.

The Depression took its toll on their business and by 1930 they were forced to leave Josephine’s Natchez mansion.

William Lorimer died in 1934 at age 74, under a cloud of suspicion.

Following his appointment as a U.S. Senator – from June 18, 1909, until July 13, 1912 – the Senate adopted a resolution declaring “that corrupt methods and practices were employed in his election, and that the election, therefore, was invalid.”

Lorimer, nicknamed the “blond boss” in Chicago, was the last senator to be deprived of office for corrupting a state legislature.

In May 1913 the 17th Amendment providing for direct election of U.S. senators became part of the U.S. Constitution.

Lorimer served as president of the La Salle Street Trust & Savings Bank after leaving political office.

Through the years several families came and went and sadly the home was divided into a rather neglected duplex. Today, thanks to the talent and dedicated restoration efforts of Rudy and Lynn, the Lorimer Home can once again proudly hold the “White House” title.

Winston Churchill said “First we shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.” This is very true, but unfortunately few of us in McHenry County know the historical background of the buildings that surround and shape us, such as the Lorimer residence. Your McHenry County Historical Society is working to change that.

To the right the foyer opens up to a formal dining room with adjoining kitchen, sitting room and simple back staircase.

Your McHenry County Historical Society is working to change that. We invite people with architectural and/or historically significant buildings, homes, businesses, farms, to apply for a plaque. Please contact the McHenry County Historical Society at 815-023-2267, Info@MCHSonline.org or go to www.MCHSonline.org.

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Our much more modest stucco home down the street (the one with the tree house) must have been built about the same time.  We have bathroom tile that is similar to that of the Lorimer house, as do several homes in the neighborhood.

For a different take on William Lorimer, you might be interested in reading

“How About a Historical Marker for a Republican Crook with a Crystal Lake Connection?“

I ran across an opinion piece in the Quad City Times by former State Rep. Jim Nowlan, who was selected by GOP Governor Dick Ogilvie as his running mate in 1972, when I first ran for State Representative. Having taught at Knox College, he now is a Senior Fellow at the University of Illinois’ Institute for Government.

He has a part that starts with a big crook with a Crystal Lake connection, William Lorimer.

Lorimer was the Republican boss for Northeastern Illinois. He’s buried in Evanston, but he had a summer home overlooking Crystal Lake.

It is east of the north on the Dole Mansion, the big one built with undersized concrete blocks (or oversized brick-looking concrete blocks, if you prefer). It’s the one with the pillars overlooking the Crystal Lake Park District’s Main Beach. (While I was attending Crystal Lake Community High School from 1958-60, we lived at 800 Broadway, which was built of the same material.)

With that introduction, here is the paragraph:

“Our history provides examples to rival our more recent lapses in public integrity.

“In 1912, Illinois U.S. Sen. William Lorimer (R) was ejected from the Senate by his peers for allegedly bribing up to 40 Illinois state legislators to vote for him (which prompted a constitutional amendment on popular election of senators).

“In the 1920s, duly elected Frank L. Smith (R) was denied his seat in the U.S. Senate by a vote of the senators because of unseemly, huge contributions from utility magnate Samuel Insull.

“Also in the 1920s, we had the outrageous, thrice-elected Chicago mayor Big Bill Thompson, who brought live rats onto his speaking platforms to represent his opponents and turned a blind eye to gangster Al Capone.”

I would point out that this is not an all-encompassing list.

While I don’t subscribe to all Nowlan’s prescriptions for cleaning up Illinois politics, it is an interesting read.

To date, there is no historical plaque in front of this mansion. One could be put on the property maintained by the Crystal Lake Park District.

When I heard that U.S. Senator Dick Durbin’s suggestion that the Illinois General Assembly hold a special election to replace President-Elect Barack Obama, I thought it was an interesting idea.

Certainly, very few think Governor Rod “Let’s Make a Deal” Blagojevich should be allowed to be the only one with a say.

Then, watching a couple of hours of news programs, I figured out that the idea was gaining steam.

House Speaker Mike Madigan seems to have signed on, as have Senate Democratic Party leaders.

And Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna expressed his support as well.

Sounds almost like a done deal, except for Governor Rod Blagojevich and his opinion pretty much doesn’t count anymore.

Any veto would be overridden if there is a consensus among legislators.

There are other possibilities, of course. Before the William Lorimer (R-Summer Home in Crystal Lake) scandal, members of the Illinois General Assembly made the appointment. They appointed Stephan A. Douglas over Abraham Lincoln after the legislative elections in 1858, for instance.

But after the Lorimer scandal in the early 1910′s, Congress passed and state legislators ratified a constitutional amendment requiring direct election of U.S. Senators.

The General Assembly might be able to take back that power for interim appointments or allow the governor to nominate, but require State Senate confirmation or enact some other scheme.

If they took back the power themselves, then a present day Lorimer could bribe Democratic Party House members the way Republican Lorimer did in 1909. Or vice versa.

The logical dates for a primary election would be the same date as the township and municipal primary elections on February 24, 2009. Likewise, with a United States Senator’s seat at stake, the April 7th local elections, including the five McHenry County Republican Party primaries, would have a much higher turnout.

= = = = =
The luminary seen above in Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna. Disgraced Republican U.S. Senator William Lorimer is seen in the black and white photo. His Crystal Lake summer home across from the Main Beach is near the bottom of the article.

When I heard that U.S. Senator Dick Durbin’s suggestion that the Illinois General Assembly hold a special election to replace President-Elect Barack Obama, I thought it was an interesting idea.

Certainly, very few think Governor Rod “Let’s Make a Deal” Blagojevich should be allowed to be the only one with a say.

Then, watching a couple of hours of news programs, I figured out that the idea was gaining steam.

House Speaker Mike Madigan seems to have signed on, as have Senate Democratic Party leaders.

And Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna expressed his support as well.

Sounds almost like a done deal, except for Governor Rod Blagojevich and his opinion pretty much doesn’t count anymore.

Any veto would be overridden if there is a consensus among legislators.

There are other possibilities, of course. Before the William Lorimer (R-Summer Home in Crystal Lake) scandal, members of the Illinois General Assembly made the appointment. They appointed Stephan A. Douglas over Abraham Lincoln after the legislative elections in 1858, for instance.

But after the Lorimer scandal in the early 1910′s, Congress passed and state legislators ratified a constitutional amendment requiring direct election of U.S. Senators.

The General Assembly might be able to take back that power for interim appointments or allow the governor to nominate, but require State Senate confirmation or enact some other scheme.

If they took back the power themselves, then a present day Lorimer could bribe Democratic Party House members the way Republican Lorimer did in 1909. Or vice versa.

The logical dates for a primary election would be the same date as the township and municipal primary elections on February 24, 2009. Likewise, with a United States Senator’s seat at stake, the April 7th local elections, including the five McHenry County Republican Party primaries, would have a much higher turnout.

= = = = =
The luminary seen above in Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna. Disgraced Republican U.S. Senator William Lorimer is seen in the black and white photo. His Crystal Lake summer home across from the Main Beach is near the bottom of the article.

All the old mansion attention in Crystal Lake has been paid to the Charles S. Dole Mansion overlooking Crystal Lake.

Alright. It’s big. It has this great story about a railroad track being laid up Dole Avenue to bring guests to his daughter’s 1883 wedding.

But Dole was just a grain elevator robber baron, wasn’t he?

And he moved out of Illinois.

Almost next door, a legendary Republican Party crook built a summer “cottage.”

Well, it’s more like a mansion.

It’s the white house at the corner of Lake Avenue and Country Club Drive. It’s built out of the same small concrete blocks with which the home my family rented at 800 Broadway was constructed.

So, who was this Republican crook?

Never heard of him?

You’re in good company.

He was the last senator elected by a vote of Illinois General Assembly.

And, in true Illinois fashion, he got to Washington through bribery.

And, in true John Kass Illinois “combine” fashion, Democrats took the bribes from a Republican businessman.

Former State Representative turned academic Jim Nowlan (R-Toulon) and Richard B. Ogilvie’s Lt. Governor candidate wrote this in a letter to the Chicago Tribune on Feb. 9, 2006:

Lumberman Edward Hines bribed 40 Democratic members of the Illinois General Assembly in 1909 with $100,000 to elect Chicago Republican “Blonde Boss” William Lorimer to the U.S. Senate. A new Model T Ford cost $875 in 1909.

The scandal about how Lorimer got to Washington brought on the Progressive Era’s direct election of United States Senators–the 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1913–so no one can deny the importance of his “public service.”

Here’s his biography from the United State Congress:

• LORIMER, William, a Representative and a Senator from Illinois;
• born in Manchester, England, April 27, 1861;
• immigrated to the United States in 1866 with his parents, who settled in Michigan; moved to Chicago, Ill., in 1870;
• self-educated; apprenticed to the trade of sign painter at the age of ten;
• worked in the packing houses and for a street railroad company;
• ward boss and constable 1886;
• engaged in the real estate business and later as a builder and brick manufacturer;
• elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth, Fifty-fifth, and Fifty-sixth Congresses (March 4, 1895-March 3, 1901);
• unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1900 to the Fifty-seventh Congress;
• elected to the Fifty-eighth and to the three succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1903, until his resignation, effective June 17, 1909, having been elected Senator;
• chairman, Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Navy (Sixty-first Congress), Committee on Mines and Mining (Sixty-second Congress), Committee on Pacific Islands and Puerto Rico (Sixty-second Congress);
• presented credentials as a Senator-elect to the United States Senate for the term that had commenced March 4, 1909, and served from June 18, 1909, until July 13, 1912, when, after a Senate investigation and acrimonious debate, the Senate adopted a resolution declaring “that corrupt methods and practices were employed in his election, and that the election, therefore, was invalid”;
• resumed his former pursuits and was president of La Salle Street Trust & Savings Bank 1910-1915;
• subsequently engaged in the lumber business;
• died in Chicago, Ill., September 13, 1934; interment in Calvary Cemetery [at the Evanston-Chicago border].

Now, I’m not suggesting any public entity buy the Lorimer mansion.

But, how about a historical marker that could be read from the sidewalk between the Main Beach and the Dole Mansion?

= = = = =
On top, you can see snow on Easter (March 23, 2008) at the Dole Mansion in Crystal Lake. Below is the summer “cottage” of William Lorimer, the last Illinois United States Senate elected by the Illinois General Assembly. The historic marker could go on the lawn where the man is mowing the lawn.

All the old mansion attention in Crystal Lake has been paid to the Charles S. Dole Mansion overlooking Crystal Lake.

Alright. It’s big. It has this great story about a railroad track being laid up Dole Avenue to bring guests to his daughter’s 1883 wedding.

But Dole was just a grain elevator robber baron, wasn’t he?

And he moved out of Illinois.

Almost next door, a legendary Republican Party crook built a summer “cottage.”

Well, it’s more like a mansion.

It’s the white house at the corner of Lake Avenue and Country Club Drive. It’s built out of the same small concrete blocks with which the home my family rented at 800 Broadway was constructed.

So, who was this Republican crook?

Never heard of him?

You’re in good company.

He was the last senator elected by a vote of Illinois General Assembly.

And, in true Illinois fashion, he got to Washington through bribery.

And, in true John Kass Illinois “combine” fashion, Democrats took the bribes from a Republican businessman.

Former State Representative turned academic Jim Nowlan (R-Toulon) and Richard B. Ogilvie’s Lt. Governor candidate wrote this in a letter to the Chicago Tribune on Feb. 9, 2006:

Lumberman Edward Hines bribed 40 Democratic members of the Illinois General Assembly in 1909 with $100,000 to elect Chicago Republican “Blonde Boss” William Lorimer to the U.S. Senate. A new Model T Ford cost $875 in 1909.

The scandal about how Lorimer got to Washington brought on the Progressive Era’s direct election of United States Senators–the 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1913–so no one can deny the importance of his “public service.”

Here’s his biography from the United State Congress:

• LORIMER, William, a Representative and a Senator from Illinois;
• born in Manchester, England, April 27, 1861;
• immigrated to the United States in 1866 with his parents, who settled in Michigan; moved to Chicago, Ill., in 1870;
• self-educated; apprenticed to the trade of sign painter at the age of ten;
• worked in the packing houses and for a street railroad company;
• ward boss and constable 1886;
• engaged in the real estate business and later as a builder and brick manufacturer;
• elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth, Fifty-fifth, and Fifty-sixth Congresses (March 4, 1895-March 3, 1901);
• unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1900 to the Fifty-seventh Congress;
• elected to the Fifty-eighth and to the three succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1903, until his resignation, effective June 17, 1909, having been elected Senator;
• chairman, Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Navy (Sixty-first Congress), Committee on Mines and Mining (Sixty-second Congress), Committee on Pacific Islands and Puerto Rico (Sixty-second Congress);
• presented credentials as a Senator-elect to the United States Senate for the term that had commenced March 4, 1909, and served from June 18, 1909, until July 13, 1912, when, after a Senate investigation and acrimonious debate, the Senate adopted a resolution declaring “that corrupt methods and practices were employed in his election, and that the election, therefore, was invalid”;
• resumed his former pursuits and was president of La Salle Street Trust & Savings Bank 1910-1915;
• subsequently engaged in the lumber business;
• died in Chicago, Ill., September 13, 1934; interment in Calvary Cemetery [at the Evanston-Chicago border].

Now, I’m not suggesting any public entity buy the Lorimer mansion.

But, how about a historical marker that could be read from the sidewalk between the Main Beach and the Dole Mansion?

= = = = =
On top, you can see snow on Easter (March 23, 2008) at the Dole Mansion in Crystal Lake. Below is the summer “cottage” of William Lorimer, the last Illinois United States Senate elected by the Illinois General Assembly. The historic marker could go on the lawn where the man is mowing the lawn.