The Grand Maher Homes of Hutchinson Street

In the 1890s, Civil War vet John C. Scales bought a large tract of land in the Buena Park neighborhood including present day Hutchinson Street. To encourage development, he ran a road down the middle and built the first home in 1894, commissioning noted architect George Washington Maher. A two-block stretch soon filled up with one of Chicago’s best collections of Prairie style residences, by Maher and others. Fine examples of Craftsman, Queen Anne, Richardsonian Romanesque and Classical Revival are also found here, rendering Hutchinson something of a time capsule of prevailing late 19th and early 20th century architectural styles. These gracious homes on oversized lots afforded “country environs” in the city for a privileged few, with direct access to the lakefront and quick connections to downtown Chicago. Audio commentary is provided by Ward Miller, Executive Director, Preservation Chicago. Audio engineering by Prize Beagle Recording.