The Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society is offering tours of Albert Lasker's Mill Road Farm on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Here's a press release about the event:
Between 1926 and 1928 Albert Lasker, known now as the father of modern advertising, spared no expense on his Lake Forest gentleman farm. Lasker’s "American Chantilly" covered 480 acres, contained 27 buildings designed by master architect David Adler, and cost $3.5 million. A completely self-contained utopia, the estate even boasted a nationally recognized 18-hole golf course, designed by William Flynn and enjoyed by presidents and movie stars. Legendary golfer Bobby Jones declared it one of the three best courses in the United States. He spoke out of genuine respect, for even Jones couldn’t break par on Lasker's course.
1940s Mill Road Farm gardens behind the garage. Photo supplied by the LF-LB Historical Society and is courtesy of the University of Chicago
Mill Road Farm had all the amenities of a fine club with a theater, pool and cocktail house. The farm featured imported Guernsey cows, horse stables, chicken houses and dovecotes, as well as 100 acres of formally landscaped gardens designed by New York landscape architect James Greenleaf. Topiary gardens, fruit groves, greenhouses full of rare plants, and six miles of clipped hedges hugged winding roads.
Today the main house sits on seven and a half acres, and a tour of the original farm property and golf course reveals many surprises. Amidst the fragments of formal gardens and sand traps, new homes are interspersed among the old. Thirteen of the twenty-seven Adler-designed outbuildings have been transformed into revered and unique private homes. These include the Golf Club House and Caddy Shack, Theater, Gardiner’s Home, Cocktail Lounge, Garage, Tack House, Men’s Dormitory, Dove Cote, Cow Barn, Milk House, Gatehouse, Horse Barn and Pool Cabanas.
The Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society tour will focus on the David Adler buildings still standing. Many of the converted outbuildings will be open for viewing. These unique residences are a testament to their current owners’ ingenuity and respect for the amazing story that surrounds them. In addition, Lake Forest College students spent the last semester rediscovering the layout of the original golf course. Their work will be on view.
The docent-led bus tours take place on Saturday at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Tickets are $50 for members of the Historical Society and $70 for non-members. The tour departs from the West Lake Forest Train Station, 911 South Telegraph Road, where free parking is available. Space is limited! Paid reservations are required and may be purchased by contacting the Historical Society at 847-234-5253 or online at lflbhistory.org.
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