Building Description Hegeler Carus Mansion, La Salle Illinois
The Hegeler-Carus mansion at 1307 Seventh Street in La Salle, stands as one of the finest existing examples of the work of the prominent nineteenth-century Chicago architect William W. Boyington. The mansion also served as the springboard to success for the career of interior designer August Fiedler. It was sited to face east toward the Little Vermillion River. Begun in 1874, the seven-level residence is a textbook example of Second Empire design. Among its features are a prominent mansard roof, pedimented stone-surround dormers with scroll bases, and molded cornices with decorative wood brackets below the eaves. The asymmetrical elevations feature a tower with a restored convex-shaped cupola on the south elevation and window bays that rise to smaller engaged towers on the south and east elevations. A continuous wooden piazza wraps around the south, east, and north sides accessed by a horseshoe staircase leading to a porch at the second level which defines the east end of the main hall as the formal entrance. The ground level floor has two other entrances under the piazza, one on the south leading up to the main floor through an internal staircase and the other is a utility entry on the north. The mansion is built of solid brick walls, covered with parging scored to appear as cut stone. Windows below the cornice are primarily one-over-one double-hung sash with limestone surrounds crowned with pointed hoods.
Main Facade - East
The front or east elevation features a dramatic horseshoe-shaped double staircase at center. The curving
stairway places the primary entrance to the home at the second story that is defined by an eclectic entrance
porch. Two chamfered columns on each side of the porch support a classically inspired roof, completed with
brackets and block modillions. The entrance features double doors, with etched glass windows in each. Other
windows to the sides of each door and on each side (north and south) of the vestibule make this space light and
welcoming. Above the entrance is a single double-hung sash on the third story and a single dormer window
inside the mansard roof. From the entrance level, an open porch continues around the home on the east, north,
and south elevations. The wrap-around porch is styled as a piazza at the first floor level. This feature is a
restoration, as is the staircase leading to the porch. Both the original porch and staircase were removed in the
1940s due to deterioration. The porch and piazza are finished in a Gothic style, with chamfered posts, brackets,
and acorn drops.
The fenestration on the east elevation is nearly identical across its three stories beneath the mansard roof. A bay containing three windows at each level rises to the full height of the home to the left (south) of the entrance, finishing with a mansard-roofed tower. Each bay window has one-over-one sashes on the three main stories. The mansard roof features a smaller double-hung window facing east with an oval window set in stone surround on either side. To the right (north) of the entrance, there are one-over-one sashes on each story, including a dormer. New zinc gutter liners have replaced the original zinc metal cornice gutters, which were fabricated at original homeowner Edward Hegeler's factory located only two blocks north of the home. The octagonal cut slate shingle roof is part of the current restoration, the original having been replaced long ago with asphalt shingles.
South Facade
The south elevation is dominated by the large, Second Empire style tower. The tower projects slightly from the
south elevation with a paneled wood double door entrance at grade. The three stories above have paired
windows, all one-over-one sashes. Those on the second and third floor are set in limestone surrounds with
pointed hoods. The fourth story windows at the mansard roof level are narrower sashes crowned by broken
pediment lintels. Undecorated stone pilasters mark the tower corners at the fourth floor. The restored cupola
has pedimented dormer windows facing each direction. To the right (east) of the tower are paired windows on
each level with pointed hoods on the first through third floors and a pedimented dormer at the roof. To the left
(west) of the tower is a single window on each floor decorated as those found to the east of the tower. The west
end of the south elevation is projected and finished with a full height three-sided bay, completed identically to
the bay found on the main, east elevation.
North Facade
Like the other elevations of the home, the north elevation features nearly identical fenestration on all floors.
From east to west there are two, one-over-one sashes on all three main stories, followed by a second pair of
windows on each of the three main floors. The elevation projects at center, with a service entrance on the first
floor and paired entry doors from the home to the porch on the second story. The second story doors are
protected by a small porch completed like the main entrance porch with chamfered columns, balustrade, and a
flat roof decorated with brackets and modillions. There is a paired window above. The kitchen extension to the
rear of the home has two windows on each of the three main levels. The mansard roof holds a single dormer
window aligned over each pair found on the main stories.
West Facade
The west elevation features all of the architectural elements found on the other three elevations, with two
exceptions. First, there is a two-story semicircular bay projecting from the center west wing. This flat-roofed
form is typical of Second Empire massing. Second, the open porch and piazza surrounding the other three
elevations does not continue around the bay but instead ends at the south wall of the west wing. On the north
side of the west wing, a separate kitchen porch ran along the west side of the kitchen. At one point it had screen
enclosures at both levels. The kitchen porch will be reconstructed in the future. The semicircular bay has two
one-over-one double-hung windows at both of its levels. The kitchen wing and servants' rooms above have
three single windows each, while the southern face of the west facade has a pair of windows matching those on
the south facade. Above, the cornice, mansard roof, and dormers continue the appearance of the other
elevations.
Interior
The interior of the Hegeler-Carus Mansion consists of seven levels (including the cupola) encompassing 16,000
square feet and fifty-seven rooms. The mansion has a fully below grade basement, a ground floor at grade
level, a first floor consisting of the family's living area, a second floor which houses bedrooms and bathrooms,
an attic behind the mansard roof, an upper attic which houses duct work, and the cupola which towers over the
mansion and rises ninety feet above ground level.
The interior features extremely high ceilings (thirteen feet), ornate wood paneling and carvings, plaster wall and ceiling moldings, wooden parquet floors unique to each room, and other fine interior detailing. Most windows are nine feet in height, double-hung, and have interior wooden shutters. All door hardware is original and features finely decorated brass. Though Open Court Publishing Company had its editorial headquarters on the ground floor of the mansion for eighty years (1887-1965), its most productive years as a publishing house were from 1887-1936. The upper floors of the mansion were living quarters for the Hegeler and Carus families.
First Floor
Vestibule
The main entrance to the mansion is the east entrance which features a curved horseshoe stairway on the
exterior. One enters through large double doors decorated with etched glass into a vestibule. The vestibule has
blue and grey/brown ceramic tile flooring, plastered walls, and a plastered ceiling which is decorated with
rosette molding and dentils with crown and rosette designs. The plaster is in poor condition due to water
damage that occurred prior to the roof restoration. The vestibule is decorated with an original, large mirror with
coat hooks which hangs on the south side. An elaborate iron-work light fixture hangs from the vestibule
ceiling.
Main Hallway
The two doors from the vestibule that lead to the main hallway also have etched glass. The mansion's layout is
generally aligned along a wide central hall running east to west. The hallway on the first floor is fifty-five feet
long (east to west) and ends in a forty-foot long dining room making a total expanse of ninety-five feet. The
hall floor is parquet with a decorative border. Two original Austrian crystal chandeliers grace the hall as does a
fireplace mantel on the north wall between the reception room and the library. This fireplace is the only
nonfunctioning
one in the home as it was never attached to a flue. Thus it is, and always has been, strictly
decorative. The hallway walls are decorated smooth plaster above original wood (walnut and bird's-eye maple)
wainscoting with a natural finish. The walls and ceiling were originally decoratively painted with trompe l'oeil
architectural elements as designed by August Fiedler.
Approximately halfway down the hall, on the south side, is a large archway which heralds the double-wide stairway that rises from the south ground entrance. A plaster monogram incorporating an "H" for Hegeler and a "W" for Weisbach (Camilla Hegeler's maiden name) embellishes the keystone of the plasterwork arch. This monogram is repeated in decorative painting in each corner of the ceiling. The stairway is lined with wooden extensions used to display sculptural works and plants. Over this stairway is a balcony which one enters through the children's room. The balcony was used for musicians or as a stage for children's plays. The audience could view the performances from the hallway.
Further west beyond this stairway, on the north side, is the stairway to the second floor. The newel post light fixture at the bottom of the stairway is walnut with bird's-eye maple panels. This is the only stairway to the second floor. Immediately to the west is a hallway parallel to the stairway that consists of a built-in coat rack on the west wall, double doors on the north wall for the family entrance, and another built-in coat rack on the northeast wall. The architectural drawings for this coat rack exist so it is certain that it was designed by August Fiedler. Immediately to the south of this coat rack are the stairs leading to the ground floor.
Just beyond this side hallway to the west is a partial bathroom added to the home in 1892-93. It consists of a toilet on the east side and a marble sink on the west side. A frosted glass window that opens into the butler's pantry is above the sink. A large mirror hangs on the north wall.
Reception Room
Immediately north upon entering the main hallway, is the reception room. The reception room's woodwork is
bird's-eye maple and walnut. Pocket doors and existing original curtain rods indicate that the room could be
closed off from the hallway for privacy and heat conservation. A huge floor-to-ceiling mirror centers the north
wall with double-hung windows on either side. A fireplace sits on the west side of the room, and the wall
opposite, also has two double-hung windows which were used as walkouts to the piazza. A finely carved
wooden bust is mounted between these windows. The floor is intricately designed parquet but is in need of
repair due to water damage. The ceiling design consists of a garland of flowers encircling the original
chandelier. Hand-painted gilded trellises with intertwining flowers grace both the east and west sides of the
ceiling. The ceiling was restored in the summer of 2005 using August Fiedler's original presentation drawings
and archaeological work done by a restoration team from Evergreene Painting Studio.
Parlor
Across from the reception room to the south is the parlor. The parlor has a parquet floor with a diamond pattern
and border. The ceiling is also a hand-painted floral motif but has not been restored. Pocket doors leading to
the hallway are in excellent working order and the wood finish is pristine. There is a bird's-eye maple fireplace
mantel on the west side of this room, the fender of which evokes an Egyptian theme. Two windows are on the
south side of the room with another carved bust mounted between them, and the east side has three windows
which form a bay. The crystal chandelier is original and has five variously colored globes. The sixth arm was
broken off early in the history of the home and was never replaced.
Library/Den
Immediately to the west of the reception room is the library or den. The library is directly across from the south
stairway. It has hinged double doors and two windows directly across from the doorway. The fireplace is on
the east wall of the room and is surrounded by bookcases. All are done in cherry wood. Opposite the fireplace,
the wall is covered in cherry bookcases, probably added after the original 1876 completion of the mansion. The
floor is quarter-sawn oak with 2 1/4 inch strips with a pattern in the center field and a 5" band around the
perimeter.
Children's Room
Just west of the south stairway is the children's room. The distinguishing feature of this room is the built-in
bookcase designed for the Hegelers by Chicago architect William LeBaron Jenney. The bookcase is on the
east wall. It has carved inlaid doors of walnut on the lower portion in a Japanese pattern, and the center two
sections of the upper portion of the bookcase have glass doors. South of the bookcase is the door to the balcony
which has been previously described. This room also houses the family safe on the northwest wall just west of
the hallway door.
Family Room
A door on the west wall of the children's room opens into the family room as indicated on the original blue
prints. The family room also has access doors to the hallway and to the dining room. The fireplace in this room
is on the east wall and conveys an oriental theme with dragons carved in the walnut wood while also containing
a marble breast and stone hearth. A large zinc fireplace screen adds protection as well as serving as an homage
to the Matthiessen and Hegeler Zinc Company. A huge framed mirror hangs over the fireplace mantel. The
south side of the room is taken up with three windows forming a bay and the west side has two additional
windows. A desk with an attached bookcase designed specifically for this space by August Fiedler, adorns the
southwest corner of the room. All the windows have walk-out access to the surrounding piazza.
Dining Room
The magnificent dining room is located at the west end of the main hallway. Large twelve-foot pocket doors
with beautiful etched glass on the east side of the room provide the potential for privacy in the dining room. To
the south of the pocket doors is a built-in china cabinet that attaches to the wall, approximately four feet above
the floor. There is a door to the family room on the south wall. Also on the south wall is an oak fireplace with
a mirror extending to the ceiling over it. To the west of the fireplace is a window with walk-out capability.
Finishing that wall is a freestanding china cabinet featuring a curved front. The west side of the room is a large
bay with windows on both sides and a built-in plant stand in the center. Original wall sconces with etched glass
globes are installed on the outer side of each window. The north wall has a built in, mirrored breakfront with a
black stone counter. The entire room has oak wainscoting that is inlaid with various other woods. This inlay
design is repeated on the skirt of the dining room table which extends to seat twenty-two people. Matching
chairs have been found in the mansion but are in need of extensive repair. The parquet floor was designed to
imitate the setting sun on the west side of the room. The sliding chandelier (pull-down and counterweighted)
over the table is original to the house and was originally a gas fixture; it has since been converted to electricity.
It is painted glass with a waterfowl theme that coordinates with the tiles on the plant stand which also have
waterfowl etchings.
Butler's Pantry
A hinged door on the northeast wall of the dining room opens into the butler's pantry. The pantry is lined with
built-in cupboards on the south, west, and north sides. The cupboards have wooden doors on the bottom and
glass-paneled doors on the top. There is also a marble sink with an attached drain board on the north wall. On
the east wall is freestanding shelving salvaged from another walk-in pantry usurped by the elevator shaft in
1999.
Kitchen
The kitchen is located north of the butler's pantry. Upon entering the kitchen from the pantry, one faces a
refurbished ten-burner wood/coal/gas range. It is located along the north wall with a massive hood above it. To
the west of the stove is a window. On the west wall are two cupboards, neither of which is built in. One sits in
the corner and one is located between two windows, which are on that wall. The window to the north of this
wall includes the original ice-door which accessed the porch to the west. The sink is on the south wall and is
new with a new cupboard built around it. There is also an original sink on that wall that is installed at a much
lower height than the new one.
Back Hallway
On the east wall of the kitchen is a door that leads into the back hall where there are stairs leading to the ground
floor. The newly installed elevator is located in the south area of the hall. The east wall of this back hallway
has a door that leads to the side hallway, forming a circular pattern connecting all spaces on the first floor.
Second Floor
The second floor of the mansion reflects the same basic layout as the first floor; there is a large central hallway
extending the length (east to west) of the mansion. This hallway has a large bookcase that appears to be a
converted fireplace surround on the north wall. It also has beautifully painted ceilings with floral designs and
plastered walls designed by August Fiedler. Pocket doors separate the east bedroom section from the more
public area at the top of the stairs. Stairs also continue to the attic following the same pattern as the stairs from
the first to second floor.
There are nine bedrooms, one sewing room, and four bathrooms on this level. Ceilings are twelve feet in height. As on the first floor, windows have internal wooden shutters. Each door that opens into the main hall, has an etched glass transom, each one with a different floral design.
The bathrooms were added in 1892 at about the same time the house was electrified, and most were put into existing closet spaces. However, one large bathroom was added to the east portion of the central hallway. This bathroom is completely encased in porcelain tile and consists of a sink, a sitz bath, and a full-size bathtub. It is closed off from the main hallway by two unique center-pivot doors.
The following bedroom descriptions are in reference to the original occupants, the Hegelers.
Edward Hegeler's Room
Edward Hegeler's bedroom is located directly above the reception room. There are two windows on both the
east and north walls. A stone fireplace is on the west wall. Next to the fireplace (to the south) is a walk-in
closet. To the north of the fireplace is a door to a full-sized bathroom. Walls are papered and a picture railing
has been added since the original decoration. All woodwork is painted. A center rosette surrounds the ceiling
fixture but the ceiling is not decoratively painted.
The bathroom west of Edward's bedroom is a full bath with sink, toilet, and shower. Ceramic tile is installed on the floor and partially up the walls. The shower has a marble surround. There is a doorway to the west that links it to the next bedroom.
Herman and Julius Hegeler's Bedroom
The connecting door from the bathroom next to Edward's bedroom, leads to his sons' Herman and Julius
Hegeler, bedroom. The floor in this room is narrow oak strip flooring with a twelve inch inlaid border pattern.
It is wallpapered and, like all the bedrooms, the wood trim is painted. There is one window on the north wall
and a walk-in closet on the south wall. Another door on the south leads into the hallway. There is a marble
pedestal sink on the east wall.
Camilla Hegeler's Room
Camilla Hegeler's bedroom is located in the southeast corner of the mansion directly above the parlor. The east
side has a bay with three windows. Above the entrance to the bay is wooden fretwork with decorative glass
jewels originally located exactly one floor below in the parlor. The ceiling over the bay is hand-painted (though
probably a "second generation" painting) depicting cherubs. The south wall has two windows. Original gas
pipe fittings for sconces are also on this wall. There is an intricately decorated fretwork panel of natural colored
wood on the west side of the room that separates a partial bath from the bedroom. This bathroom contains a sitz
bath, and a sink, but no toilet. Originally, there was a fireplace on the west wall, but it was removed to
accommodate the bath alcove. A walk-in closet is to the north of the bath area. There are two doors into the
room: one from the hallway and another one to the west.
Daughter's Tower Bedroom
West of Camilla's bedroom is a smaller bedroom that encompasses the area of the tower. It has three doorways:
one to the hall and one to each room next to it. A sink and a closet are in the northwest corner of the room.
Two windows are on the south. Like most of the rooms on the second floor, this one has had the trim and
ceiling painted as well as the addition of later wallpaper, probably in the 1920s. A ceramic and brass two-headed
chandelier is the central lighting fixture and has been converted from gas to electric. This bedroom is
located above the south interior stairway that extends from the ground floor to the first floor.
Daughter's Bedroom
To the west of the tower bedroom is another small bedroom. It too has a pedestal sink with marble wainscoting
and a closet. There is one window opening to the south and there are three doors: one to the hall and one each
on the east and west walls connecting this room to its neighbors. The ceiling was originally hand-painted but
has since been painted over.
Mary Hegeler & Sister's Bedroom and Attached Bath
The bedroom above the family room has the same footprint. There are two windows to the west and a large bay
with three windows to the south. A composite stone fireplace is on the east wall. There is an original central
light fixture and two wall sconces. The central fixture is painted glass with a floral design with each side
depicting a different flower. The floor is patterned stripped wood with a sixteen-inch decorative border. The
original hand-painted ceiling is intact but needs restoration. In the northeast corner of this room, a bathroom
has been added. It consists of a full sized bathtub and a sink. An open transom provides light and ventilation
into the bathroom. The doorway to the bath also opens to the bedroom. Of note in this room is the original
bedroom suite. It is black-painted furniture with an Egyptian motif consisting of a bed, desk, chest of drawers,
easel, vanity, and bedside table. The suite has been restored to its original beauty by Chicago Conservation
Center.
Two Daughters' Bedroom
The room directly above the dining room reflects the same footprint as the dining room, except for the far west
bay on the first floor which does not extend to the second floor. There is a marble fireplace on the south wall
sharing the same flue as the one in the dining room. There is a window to the west of the fireplace and one
directly across from it on the north wall as well as two on the west side of the room. A marble sink with marble
surround is located in the northeast comer of the room, just next to the door leading to the large walk-in closet
to the east. A hand-painted ceiling has been revealed through restoration work but needs refurbishing. The
floor is oak strip wood in a concentric rectangle pattern with a 25" border perpendicular to the wall. Wall
sconces are on the west and south walls. Just to the east of this room on the north side of the main hallway, is a
partial bath consisting of a toilet and sink.
Side Hallway & Bedroom
Parallel to the stairwell is a hallway that opens to one bedroom. The doorway to this room was reconfigured
(1999) to accommodate the elevator shaft. The bedroom has a hand-painted ceiling, a central light fixture, and
a window to the west.
Back Hallway, Sewing Room, Maid's Room & Bath
In the northwest part of the second floor, above the kitchen, are two smaller rooms. The one to the far north
served as a sewing room. It has windows on the north and west, a hand-painted ceiling with a floral design, and
plaster walls. Wall sconces adorn the south wall.
The room just to the south of it was a maid's room. It also has a hand-painted ceiling, wall sconces on the north wall, and it also has a large closet on the east side of the room. Both of these rooms open onto a small central hallway.
This hallway also opens into a full bathroom on the north side of the home. This bath has a toilet, sink, and full bathtub. It has ceramic tile and there are windows that open to the north and east.
Attic
The attic is accessible by the main stairway from the second floor or by the elevator. It has twelve-foot ceilings
and is essentially an unfinished upper floor. The large spaces have exposed mansard and ceiling rafters with no
plaster finish. The exterior masonry walls end three feet above the attic floor where the mansard roof begins on
a sill plate. Most interior walls are load-bearing masonry with chimneys engaged in them. There are nine
rooms of varying sizes in the attic along with several large zinc-lined storage closets. The attic is filled with
numerous Hegeler and Carus family artifacts, including furnishings and personal effects.
One very large room is located on the east side of the mansion. This room runs the entire width of the mansion north to south, and its west wall is even with the west walls found in the reception room and parlor. There are two windows on both the north and south sides and two on the northeast wall. The east side also has a bay with three windows. The two on either side are oval windows reconstructed in 1999 following the original plans. Two other larger rooms are located on the west side of the building and are the same size as the one on the east, but are divided into two rooms. At one time, the attic contained a cistern system that collected rainwater from the roof.
A separate room is formed by the tower, which is lined with a small curving stairway decorated in bead board that leads to the cupola. This tower room has finished plaster walls and a fifteen-foot ceiling.
From the tower portion of the attic, a small, narrow stairway leads to the upper attic which is a large room encompassing the total width and breadth of the building. The ceilings are approximately six feet in height. The upper attic contains the connecting flue system for all the fireplaces in the building.
The cupola deteriorated in the 1950s, but has since been restored. It rises above the upper attic and has a ceiling approximately eleven-feet high. There are windows on all sides of this room. The walls are unfinished and the floor consists of simple wooden slats. From this room, one can see for miles in any direction.
Ground Floor
The ground floor of the mansion is directly beneath the first floor. It was a utilitarian floor consisting of the
laundry room, a gymnasium, and, by 1887, the working offices of the Open Court Publishing Company.
Originally, however, the family used this floor as an activity area as it also housed the billiards room. A main
central hallway runs from east to west on this floor, as it does on other floors. There are double doors that open
onto an exterior porch area on the north side of this floor directly below the double entry on the first floor.
The Gymnasium
The gymnasium is to the east at the bottom of the stairway descending from the first floor. It actually takes up
two floors: the ground floor and the basement. It is situated below the reception room and the library in the
northeast corner of the home. There is a parabolic arch in the middle of the gym that supports the fireplaces
above it. The floor is wooden with only dirt below that. The walls are finished plaster and are lightly parged to
match the exterior of the mansion. Large windows surround the room on the east and north sides. Interior
windows are on the south side of the room to allow light into the main hallway on this floor. Equipment in the
gym includes cross-country skis, a climbing pole, an exercise bar with rings, and weights.
Laundry Room
Another important room on the ground floor is the laundry room. This room is located directly below the
dining room. It contains a large, hotel-sized steam clothes dryer possibly installed in the 1890s. The original
soapstone sink is also in the laundry room and was fed by water pumped in from below ground cisterns located
on the west side of the home. The floor is simple wooden slats and the walls are smooth plaster. The speaking
tube located in the dining room connects to this room. There is also a bathroom off the laundry room to the
east, which has a sink, toilet, and full bathtub.
To the north of the laundry room are three smaller rooms. These rooms were used by the staff as quarters and workrooms, as needed. Currently, one serves as a gift shop, another is the caretaker's office, and the third is used for storage.
Billiards Room
The billiards room is directly below the parlor. It is a completely finished room with a stunningly beautiful
fireplace of carved bird's-eye maple on the west end of the room. The wood mantel is incised with thorn
designs and a large mirror is located above. Built-in cases housed books on both the north wall and around the
fireplace on the west and south walls. By 1887, the Open Court editorial offices were located in this room with
the secretarial staff just outside in the main hallway. There is also a company safe in the main hallway of this
floor.
To the west of the billiards room is a stairway opening from the main hallway that leads to the wine cellar below. The wine cellar is the only room in the basement that is completely sealed from the other rooms in the basement. It contains wine racks still filled with bottles from earlier times.
To the west of the wine cellar stairway, is a small room used by Mr. Ramsey, Hegeler's personal assistant. He had living quarters off the premises but this small workroom was his to use as needed.
Typesetters' Room
The room in the southwest corner of the home, directly beneath the family room, is also lined with built-in
bookcases much like those in the billiards room. It has a bay window area with three windows on the south
wall. Early on, it was used as a children's schoolroom for the Hegeler children who were educated at home
until they reached high school age. When Open Court was published from the mansion, this room was used as
the typesetters' room. It is said that the portion of the piazza over this room, was removed at one point so the
typesetters would have more natural light for their work.
Basement
The basement is below the ground floor (except for the gymnasium). Instead of having boilers to heat the
house, Edward Hegeler initially piped in steam and water from his zinc factory through a large underground
brick-lined tunnel. The tunnel extends the length of the basement and divides it into two halves. One half
contains two large storage rooms; the other contains five smaller utility rooms. Concrete flooring has been laid
in the entire basement with the exception of the flooring under the gymnasium. Currently, there is a boiler in
the basement that provides hot water heat to the entire home. The storage rooms contain printing materials
(especially typeset) from Open Court Publishing, furniture in need of repair, and various other materials, which
were kept by generations of family members who have resided in the mansion.
Garage
The only extant outbuilding is a 1914 Prairie style, two-story garage with apartment, which is located on the
north side of the mansion. It was designed by Victor Matteson, a La Salle architect. The garage was built for
Dr. Paul Carus, the Hegeler's son-in-law.
The exterior walls of the garage are dark red brick up to a belt course of limestone trim at the second floor window-sill line. The walls above that point are unpainted stucco up a short distance to the window head/soffitt line of the broad eaves of the low-pitched hip roof. This sequence, typical of the Prairie school, provides the appearance of a compressed second floor emphasizing the horizontal massing of the design. A large, projecting lintel runs the length of the building above two pairs of wood panel garage doors on the south side. The lintel is clad in stucco and features a decorative pattern of inlaid red glazed tiles. Massive brick piers on each end of the facade support the lintel. Wood windows on both levels are double hung with an eight-over-eight muntin pattern. A chimney is located on the east side of the garage. On the east facade first story, is a window and door, and on the second story are two windows. On the north facade are two massive brick piers capped by Prairie style capitals. Both levels of this facade have five windows. On the west facade are two windows on each level. The interior of the first floor is one large open space with room for four vehicles. The 1914 construction of the garage corresponded to the purchase of several automobiles by Dr. Carus. The interior finish of the garage space is exposed common brick with a concrete floor and ceiling slab. The second floor contains the original five-room apartment with standard finishes: plaster walls and ceilings, wood strip flooring, and plain painted wood trim. There is a half basement and pipe trenched for utilities coming from the chemical plant immediately across the vacated Eighth Street to the north. The site was affected in the 1910s and '20s by the construction of Carus Chemical Company immediately to the north side of the block. The company eventually acquired strips of property, which included the Mansion's original horse barn (now demolished), and the bounding streets to the north (Eighth) and east (Union) of the mansion.
