About 1144 Asbury Avenue
Beautiful one of a kind home combines the elegance of the past with the modern amenities needed for today's living. Spacious 8614 square foot home on over 1/3 acre of land in the Ridge Historic District is nestled in a private, secluded section behind a fence of bushes. Entry hall with wonderful leaded windows welcomes you leading to an amazingly spacious living room with gorgeous crown molding, leaded windows, hardwood floors, woodburning/gas fireplace and a music room with grand piano and 2 harps. Large footprint allows for considerable room sizes which is seen in the formal dining room with a woodburning/gas fireplace and room for large seated dinner parties. Lovely architectural details are abundant throughout the home. Spacious kitchen with center island, granite and corian countertops designed by Carlson. Butler's panty has a working dumb waiter, glass doored cabinets, butcher block counter tops. New hardwood floor in family room has entertainment center with bookcases on two walls and door opening to patio overlooking wonderful professionally landscaped yard and garden as well as large side yard and 2-car garage. Second floor and third floor have 8 bedrooms, 4 of which have ensuite bathrooms. The full basement is unfinished. Fascinating history of the house is that due to polio epidemic of 1914, the owner, John Lindgren, built an open air school house so his daughter could teach the local children. A Chicago attorney, Edwin Ashcraft bought home in 1918 and soon remodeled the original Lindgren home using the well-known North Shore residential Architects Mayo and Mayo. He added a 3-car garage and later an apartment over the garage to make the coachhouse. He also redid the school house so that his son, who was a jazz musician and going to law school could live in it. Hi son, Edwin Ashcraft III, whose nickname was Squirrel, invited many musicians to come and jam together. The home became known as the Jazz House in the 1930s because many jazz musicians would come on Friday after their paid events were done and stay in the school house to jam all weekend. On Mondays they held major jazz events at the house drawing in many other musicians who could either participate or watch and listen. It was a way for musicians to meet other musicians and help each other prosper. The neighbors enjoyed the music. The home was known all over the country as a great place to hear Chicago jazz. That all ended with the advent of the Second World War. However, the memories still remain. In 1988 the majority of the land was sold to a developer, Raymond Chou, who subdivided the land in order to build 4 new homes on the grounds. The school house and coach house were retained by the seller. The current owners did a total renovation and restoration that took more than 1.5 years to complete when they purchased the home in 1989 and have continued to take care and improve as needed. This is a fabulous home in an ideal location, close to both Main Street and Dempster Street shopping and eating areas as well as short walk to schools, parks, transportation, both the "EL" and Metra at Main Street, and on to the lake. Truly a fabulous home with an amazing history.
