Craftsman Bungalows Of Ravenswood Manor Tour

Meet Your Guide: Ronnie Frey of @doorwaysofchicago

Welcome to the Arts & Crafts Bungalows of Ravenswood Manor tour!

On this tour, we’ll explore how Ravenswood Manor came to be and the people who shaped it. You’ll see plenty of Arts & Crafts bungalows with their classic Craftsman details, and I’ll point out the little design features that make them special. Along the way, you’ll also hear stories about the homes of Chicago sports legends, colorful neighborhood characters, and the history tucked into these tree-lined streets.

HISTORY:

Ravenswood Manor, along the North Branch of the Chicago River, was developed in the early 1900s by real estate pioneer William E. Harmon. He promoted it as a “suburb beautiful,” with tree-lined streets, Arts & Crafts bungalows, and green space. In 2008, Ravenswood Manor was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

One of the neighborhood’s early highlights was the Sunken Gardens, designed with pergolas, urns, and floral plantings along the river. You’ll also notice the sturdy brick and limestone columns throughout the Manor…signature details that help define its character.

1 William Harmon – Harmon & Co.

William E. Harmon founded his real estate company in 1907 and launched Ravenswood Manor as one of his first big projects. Using his “Easy Pay Plan,” families could buy homes with a small down payment and monthly installments, making ownership accessible to many.

He promoted the neighborhood as “The First Suburb Beautiful—of the New Chicago,” with tree-lined streets, green spaces, and even a $2 annual fee for upkeep. Though growth was slow at first, the Ravenswood Manor Improvement Association formed in 1914 and continues today. Harmon also envisioned the river as a boating gateway—some homes here still keep private docks.

2 Ravenswood Manor Park – 4640 N. Manor

Located in the center of Ravenswood Manor, this 0.83-acre park has been the neighborhood’s gathering spot since 1915. Originally it had benches, trees, a pergola, and even a stucco office building that doubled as a community clubhouse. Today, it’s still the place for concerts, playground fun, and green space by the river.

3 Francisco Station CTA Brown Line – 4648 N. Francisco

Opened in 1907, Francisco Station almost didn’t survive the 2005 Brown Line renovation, but neighbors successfully fought to preserve it. The clapboard station was restored and made accessible with a mosaic-tiled ramp. Time Out Chicago once ranked it among the best CTA stops for its street-level charm. The station even appears in the 1994 film Richie Rich.

4 The Buckinghams’ House – 4727 N. Sacramento

Carl Giammarese of the British Invasion band The Buckinghams lived here. The group, originally called The Pulsations, formed in 1966 and shot to fame with their #1 hit Kind of a Drag in 1967. They appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and toured with The Beach Boys and The Who. The band practiced in this garage.

5 Abe Saperstein’s Home – 2948 W. Eastwood

Abe Saperstein, founder of the Harlem Globetrotters, lived here until his death in 1966. He created the team in 1926 and envisioned them as global ambassadors for the sport. At just 5’5”, he remains the shortest member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Fun fact: he personally sewed the team’s first uniforms.

6 Fred Pfeffer’s Home – 2928 West Wilson

Fred Pfeffer, a Chicago baseball star of the 1880s–90s, lived here until his death in 1932. Over 16 seasons he racked up 94 home runs, 1,021 RBIs, and 383 stolen bases. Known as “mercury quick and acrobatic,” he was one of the last major leaguers to play without a glove. Later he ran a Loop tavern until Prohibition.

7 Randy “Handsome Ransom” Jackson’s Home – 2858 W. Wilson

Cubs third baseman Randy Jackson lived here from 1951–55. He was an All-Star in 1954 and 1955 and later joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, where he replaced Jackie Robinson. In 1957 he hit the last home run in Brooklyn Dodger history before the team moved to Los Angeles.

8 Craftsman Bungalow – 2857 W. Wilson

9 The Bower House – 2839 W. Wilson

Built in 1919 by architect Benedict Burns, this home blends Prairie, Craftsman, and Japanese design. Burns showed it off to a client mid-construction, who immediately ordered an identical copy—still standing in Independence Park. Its wide eaves and rafters reflect Craftsman ideals, while its horizontal lines nod to the Prairie School.

10 Michael Ahern’s Home – 4536 N. Mozart

Defense attorney Michael Ahern lived here until his death in 1943. He defended the White Sox players in the 1919 Black Sox scandal and later represented Al Capone in his 1931 tax trial. He won the Sox case but lost the Capone case—sending Chicago’s most famous gangster to prison.

11 High Fidelity House – 4532 N. Mozart

This home appeared in the 1999 film High Fidelity, starring John Cusack. The basement was used for a make-out party scene that took three days to film, though it lasts less than a minute on screen.

12 Schmidt-Newell Tudor Revival – 4500 N. Mozart

13 Sid Luckman’s Apartment – 2749 W. Sunnyside

Built in 1928, this apartment building once housed Chicago Bears quarterback Sid Luckman. He played 12 seasons, leading the team to four NFL championships, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1965.

14 Buffalo Park – 4501 N. California

This park was once home to Potawatomi camps, later farmland, and by the 1890s, a racetrack that hosted horse races, cycling, and pigeon shooting contests. In 1917, a fountain with carved buffalo heads gave the park its name.

15 Judge Morgan’s Bomb Shelter Home – 4505 N. Manor

16 Justus Roe Garage Mural – 2724 W. Sunnyside (In the alley behind this address)

17 The Carlson House – 2760 W. Windsor

Designed by Horatio Wilson, a prolific Chicago architect and Fellow of the AIA, this bungalow shows his residential work. Wilson partnered with Benjamin Marshall at Marshall & Fox, the firm behind the Edgewater Beach Apartments and the John B. Murphy Auditorium. Here, notice the porch columns with Japanese-style capitals and the jigsaw-cut banister.

Save the date: Driehaus Museum Fall Market – Saturday, September 27 – 18 vendors – jewelry, art, photography, items from the Museum shop. Also, the Driehaus will be hosting a book release/signing event sometime next summer! Stay tuned!

18 The Sherman House – 2730 W. Windsor

19 Little Al’s House – 2806 W. Eastwood

Albert “Little Al” Temaner, record store owner, lived here through the 1970s. He ran a chain of six “Little Al’s” record shops and was known for his collection of pets, including parrots and a 175-pound Saint Bernard named Bernardo, once the Cook County Jail mascot.

20 Neuenfeldt House – 2835 W. Eastwood

Designed by George W. Klewer, this Craftsman bungalow stands out with its oversized concrete piers, pronounced rafter tails, and touches of Asian and Roman influence in the porch and roofline. Additional photos are of similar bungalows designed by Walter Burley Griffin in Beverly.

21 Anders G. Lund Bungalow – 2844 W. Eastwood

This bungalow’s porch is defined by chunky rubble piers that support four interlocked wooden posts with ornamental square “pegs.” A strong example of Arts & Crafts craftsmanship.

Thank you for joining me on this walk through Ravenswood Manor. You’ve seen how the neighborhood was planned, spotted Craftsman bungalow details, and heard stories of sports legends and colorful neighbors who lived here.

Please take a moment to scan the other code on your handout and leave a quick review—it really helps me keep creating more Chicago tours. Tips are also welcome, as they support the work of bringing more stories like these to life.

Not every neighborhood can say it had garage bands, Globetrotters, and gangsters all in one place—Ravenswood Manor truly can!