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Special Report
Historic Home or Grassy Strip?
The University of Chicago is about to demolish Ronald Reagan’s early childhood home. Can it be stopped?
All of Ronald Reagan’s formative years, from birth until he landed his first job across the Mississippi 21 years later, were lived in rural northwestern Illinois except for about ten months in Chicago.
In all but one case, his rural boyhood homes have been preserved. His birthplace in Tampico looks as it did when he was born and is open to the public. So is his teen years home in Dixon. The house the Reagans lived in for two years in Galesburg has been lovingly restored by its private owner. Their house in Monmouth is the only home that is closed.
Reagan’s father, Jack, a shoe salesmen by trade, moved the family from Tampico at the beginning of 1915 after his boss in Tampico sold his dry goods store. He got a job at the big Fair Store on Chicago’s south side, thinking his career would take off there. They rented a cold-water flat in a four-story apartment building at 832 East 57th Street in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Young “Dutch” Reagan (that was his nickname from birth until he moved to Hollywood in 1937) had his first memories in that flat. In a letter years later, he writes about the thrill of seeing horses pulling the fire wagon down the street at a gallop. February 6 that year marked his fourth birthday. While living in Chicago he also nearly died from a serious case of pneumonia.
The building the Reagans lived in is about to be demolished. The land now belongs to the University of Chicago’s Medical Center and the plan is to replace it with a grassy strip bordering what will be a new parking lot.
The Commission on Chicago Landmarks turned down an appeal to give the building landmark status on the grounds that it “does not have sufficient architectural significance” and “is not associated with Mr. Reagan during his active and productive years.” As to the first reason, the building is a good example of vernacular architecture of the era. As to the second, this site, along with all the other places the 40th president lived in as a boy, figured in the development of his character (his political philosophy came later) and thus is important to understanding this very significant president.
Redd Griffin, a Chicagoan who understood the significance of this building in the life of Reagan and was working energetically at saving it, died unexpectedly in late November. Now, Mary Claire Kendall, a writer, is picking up Griffin’s cause and working to raise enough money to propose that a non-profit group purchase the building from the university and turn it into a Ronald Reagan Hyde Park museum and public affairs center.
Ms. Kendall first became interested in the cause when she was doing research on a book about Frank Lloyd Wright and met Griffin, who was active in the movement to preserve and promote several Wright homes in the Chicago suburbs. About her efforts to raise money for the Reagan Hyde Park preservation project, she says, “Time is of the essence.” The demolition is scheduled to take place by the end of this year.
Meanwhile, while the university is more-or-less ignoring the Reagan home preservation effort, it is actively lobbying for an Obama Presidential Library. President Obama’s own home is in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Chicago politics being what they are, the betting is on that project and not saving the cold-water flat apartment building in which the only U.S. president born and bred in Illinois lived during his boyhood.
About the Author
Peter Hannaford was closely associated for a number of years with the late President Reagan, beginning in the California Governor’s office. His latest book is Presidential Retreats.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (54) | Leave a comment
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Joellen| 12.11.12 @ 7:33AM
But of course "they" would love to destroy anything that is associated with someone good and decent like Present Ronald Reagan. Look at that picture of that building - beautiful architect, of course that too is another reason why it cant stand. The more government control we'll have in our lives, the more ugly our environment will be with dull drab buildings to remind us the dull drab world we'll live in without true freedom.
CJW| 12.11.12 @ 7:56AM
Joellen
Maybe they can preserve the building where Obama sat for 20 years listening to the racist, anti semite, anti American rants of Rev Wright, and the building where Obama met with the terrorists Billy Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn to commemorate O's presidency.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 12.11.12 @ 8:39AM
On the other hand, if an endangered cockroach or termite was found to live in the old structure, the University would be prohibited from destroying its habitat by the EPA.
CJW| 12.11.12 @ 10:24AM
Albert
The only endangered species in Chicago is the Republican voter.
Al Adab| 12.11.12 @ 11:50AM
Well W at least there's a bright side to their Chicago extinction: the dead can then vote.
CJW| 12.11.12 @ 12:57PM
Al Adab
There is a Chicago ordinance that states only dead physically dead Democrats and mentally dead Democrats may vote.
Hope all is well with you.
Al Adab| 12.11.12 @ 1:18PM
That makes sense. Al is well. Inshallah.
EmilyJennifer| 12.11.12 @ 6:05PM
Love my job, since I've been bringing in $5600… I sit at home, music playing while I work in front of my new iMac that I got now that I'm making it online(Click on menu Home)
........goo.gl/RX21d
Al Brooks, bleedingheartlib | 12.11.12 @ 10:50AM
"But of course 'they' would love to destroy anything that is associated with someone good and decent like Present Ronald Reagan."
I did not like Reagan, but I respected him, and many of 'them' did also. Something that makes Reagan appear better than he actually was, is that coming after Jimmy Carter, Reagan did seem a breath of fresh air.
Funny thing: Carter was more preachy-Religious than Reagan.
Al Brooks, bleedingheartlib | 12.11.12 @ 10:56AM
To paraphrase Carter:
"my Evangelicals possess greater than your's, Mr. Reagan..."
The late '70s were even stranger than the early '70s.
Ruth Carter Stapleton meeting Larry Flynt must have been an embarrassment to many Christians in Ga.
Al Brooks, bleedingheartlib | 12.11.12 @ 10:59AM
PS,
possesss greater what? You fill in the blank: greater piety, greater smarm...
spike59| 12.12.12 @ 6:06AM
'greater hypocrisy' seems to be appropriate for Dhimmi Cahtuh, given his embrace of, and love for, terrorist groups
Bob From District 9| 12.13.12 @ 6:31PM
Where did Carter ever say that?
dickdata| 12.13.12 @ 11:32PM
Your "good and decent" man ran against "welfare queens," telling an exaggerated/untrue story about what was supposed to be an actual case. He kicked off his campaign after the Republican convention in a small town in Mississippi - Philadelphia. Google it to find out why....
Al Adab| 12.11.12 @ 8:38AM
It might be good if someone or some group were to buy it. Still, since the goal of the Left is to make Reagan a non-person, this is but one small step.
7-08| 12.11.12 @ 9:08AM
The University of Chicago would be trying to destroy Ronald Reagan's ancestral home if it was in Long Pine, Nebraska. This has nothing to do with urban renewal.
Bob From District 9| 12.13.12 @ 6:34PM
Why would a private university like the University of Chicago, home of the Chicago School of economics, Milton Friedman's contribution to making the US a third world country, want to harm Reagan's reputation?
In reality, this is just another demonstration of the reality that right wingers don't give a damn about anything beyond themselves.
After all, what has Reagan done for you lately?
Jim Adcox| 12.11.12 @ 11:51AM
Another effort to remove Reagan from the public's awareness of history. I have always thought of Obama as the anti-Reagan, seeking to reverse by fiat and executive order what Reagan's belief in the free market and American citizens helped to create: a thriving and free American economy.
Butch| 12.11.12 @ 5:05PM
I think he thinks of HIMSELF that way, Jim.
djn1313| 12.11.12 @ 12:15PM
Univ of Chicago is a communist infested breeding ground. The Univ of Chicago buildings should be bulldozed to the ground, the university serves no useful purpose.
GuarionexSandoval| 12.11.12 @ 5:38PM
"President Obama's own home is in the Hyde Park neighborhood."
Obama's house is in Kenwood across East 51st Street from Hyde Park. Reagan's apartment building is across the street from our lab and directly across the street from the new $800 million U of Chicago Hospital building. They're probably going to build a huge parking garage there since the other large garage a block to the south is already at capacity.
The U of Chicago is the single largest landlord in Hyde Park. The university owns the entire block except for an apartment building on the north end, on East 56th St.. The owners are adamant about not selling. The university, though, will probably find some way of screwing them out of it. The middle of the block is home to a new day care center nearing completion. The northwest side of the block is the site of one of the university's steam plants.
Kingofthenet| 12.11.12 @ 6:07PM
I hope it's torn down and Bill Ayers desecrates the land.
Bob Grant| 12.11.12 @ 6:30PM
It's what he's good at, King, so you might get your wish.
cuban pete| 12.11.12 @ 8:51PM
Bill Ayers desecrates any land he stands on.As does his wife.
spike59| 12.12.12 @ 6:08AM
Bill Ayers desecrates every piece of land upon which he creeps and slithers by his very presence; the day he becomes organic fertilizer will be a great day for America
jackwoodson| 12.11.12 @ 6:20PM
Go on Google Earth - the U of C Commie Rats are building something that looks like Stasi Headquarters across 57th street. Maybe it's Rahm Emanuel's dance studio.
Hunsaker| 12.11.12 @ 6:22PM
This is great! Understand that with NO Reagan related place to visit, NO tourist will go there and no extra money going to the dump called Chicago. The people of Chicago and the state of Ill are an embarrassment of America and should stick with the likes of Obama and other America haters.
Duke Duke| 12.11.12 @ 6:28PM
Since the author admits that virtually all the homes where Reagan spent his formative years are lovingly preserved, I hardly think that losing a building where he spent 10 months when he was 4 years old merits outrage.
If it's architecturally significant, fine, you can have that fight, but 10 months at 4 years old does not seem to make it sufficiently historically significant to override ownership rights. I've seen the building (my sister lives in Hyde Park) and there are many in the same style from the same period in the city -- but go for it.
And oddly, no one is outraged that the Monmouth home is closed and no one sees an effort to wipe President Reagan from memory in that. I suspect it's only the involvement of a liberal institution that leads people to manufacture this controversy.
It's humorous and a sad comment on how far people will reach to make a political point to say Reagan will be wiped from history if the house he spent less than a year in at age 4 isn't around to visit. And it's a ridiculous false equivalence to compare the situation to a proposed Presidential Library. I voted for Reagan, but I think his place in history will be safe without landmarking everywhere that can put up a "Reagan slept here" sign.
DRA2012| 12.11.12 @ 7:47PM
It's hardly a case of "Reagan slept here", it's the location where he gathered the first two years of his life experience - besides, per: news [dot] discovery [dot] com/history/barack-and-michelles-first-kiss-dnews-nugget-120816 [dot] html
"The plaque (that's mounted on a 3,000-pound granite marker) reads: "On this site President Barack Obama first kissed Michelle Obama."
So it's more important to commemorate a single moment than two whole YEARS of Reagan's life?
Duke Duke| 12.11.12 @ 8:00PM
Of course, the "kiss" plaque was erected by the owner of the property at their expense and at their choice. It's silly and a shopping mall marketing ploy.
I've got no problem with anyone buying the Hyde Park property and commemorating whatever they want -- if the owner is willing to sell. Isn't that the way the free market lauded by President Reagan and the commenters here works?
Unless you are arguing the contra-conservative point that the free market should be over-ridden by regulation (I.e., landmark status) or by seizing the property (e.g., eminent domain), the owner should be free to decide for itself the highest and best use.
Free Markets.| 12.12.12 @ 4:35AM
Completely agree. What's hilarious is a vast majority of these comments browbeat UChicago--the Mecca of free-market economic thought. Eugene Fama, Milton Friedman, Thomas Sowell, etc. Of course they can't be examples of the entire school's political leanings--but we're certainly not talking about UC Berkeley.
bluecollarbytes| 12.11.12 @ 7:39PM
I look forward to seeing a Rezko-plaque planted, officially or 'otherwise', somewhere on Obama's property in Hyde Park.
Occam's Tool| 12.11.12 @ 10:46PM
Ya know, he was the only Illinois born President and that is the only house in Chicago that he lived in.
I knew there was a reason that I went to TCU over U of C (yes, they recruited me) other than the superb pre-med program and the MUCH BETTER LOOKING WOMEN.
votecounter| 12.12.12 @ 12:03AM
There is a great story behind how this building was found. While Reagan was President he told the story of living in Chicago but he said he was too small to remember, some people tried to look into the archives and old city records. It seems there had been a fire and the records for HYde park area had for that time period had been lost. My mentor Tom Roeser ( at the time he was VP for Quaker oats because the CEO of Quaker Bob Stuart was the GOP national committeeman for IL) was in Washington in the mid 80's and sent word to the Whitehouse that the records seemed to have been lost; Reagan being the person he was said why don't you have them check the police records, My father was known to have a drink or two I'll bet they had to bring him home once or twice , Ill bet you find the address there . Thats where they found what the address and which apartment it was.
Reagan was so comfortable in who he was to point them in that direction. It should be saved only with private money but U of Chicago has more money than GOP it will be demolished. Maybe it can be taken to Dixon and rebuilt brick by brick on a campus for the President.
Bob From District 9| 12.13.12 @ 6:21PM
"Maybe it can be taken to Dixon and rebuilt brick by brick on a campus for the President."
My God! One more example of why the right in America has been the only force running up the indebtedness of this country from the end of WWII until the Bush II depression.
votecounter| 12.12.12 @ 12:06AM
Funny I meant to say than God! It would be a great quest to save the building and move it.
sdfhlk | 12.12.12 @ 3:33AM
Merry Christmas to you
stmichrick| 12.12.12 @ 9:26AM
Hard to believe the medical center is not creative enough to incorporate the building into their project; clearly a case of Political Redevelopment.
Molon Labe | 12.12.12 @ 9:39AM
I can only hope the entirety of Chicago is placed in the same condition. THEN it would be worth it...
Don August| 12.12.12 @ 9:52AM
I have a suggestion for possible sites for the Obama library. Either on top of a dung heap or a garbage dump! Leave the Reagan homestead alone!
caligula| 12.12.12 @ 10:41AM
i see how it is. so im gonna find the spot where barack and michelle first kissed and take a leak on it. then im going to destroy the plaque. then i will move on to other democrat homes, buildings, memorials, etc.
reap and sow, lefties.
garylee123| 12.12.12 @ 12:52PM
We could preserve Obamas childhood home if we knew where it was.
Brother Justin| 12.12.12 @ 3:17PM
Soon, Ob*ma will issue an executive order mandating that all universities in the nation have "Ob*ma Centers" for Mooslum worship. Failures to erect these centers will cause NOZIs (National Ob*munist Zombie Interrogators) to close down these universities.
Brother Justin| 12.12.12 @ 3:19PM
Chicago should be flattened and the soil salted.
SirJaxx | 12.12.12 @ 8:53PM
I guess the University of Chicago is just employing the Taliban Conservation theory of Important Sites. I wonder if they will Raffle off the Right to push the Big Red Button to detonate the Explosives they will use to Blow the Building to Smithereens?
guthriej| 12.13.12 @ 5:15PM
It's an apartment building and nothing more.
Good grief, it could've been purchased long ago by the Remember Ronnie crowd and "saved" but wasn't so who cares?
wademcinnis| 12.13.12 @ 5:28PM
I like Ronald Reagan as much as anyone but I think this is getting silly.
What if Reagan had been a military brat and his parents were stationed all over the world and numerous places in the USA - would we want every one of those houses preserved?
Aren't there two houses already?
We need to concern ourselves with greater things than this.
timoshev| 12.13.12 @ 5:46PM
I'm a conservative and a Reagan fan, but I think in this case that private property rights trump preservation of a building that has been correctly assessed, in my opinion, by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. Sorry, there are way too many cases in the U.S. of special interest groups trying to tramplel private property rights.
Bob From District 9| 12.13.12 @ 6:18PM
From the first year of peace after WWII, 1946, until Reagan took office, the national debt declined from 122% of GDP to 32.5% of GDP. Under Reagan the national debt more than doubled, and jumped from 32.5% of GDP to 53% of GDP. His selection as VP was GHW Bush, under whom the debt continued to explode. Between the two of them the debt quadrupled, and climbed to 66% of GDP. The shame of all that is, under Clinton the debt dropped back to 57% of GDP.
Why would any Republican, supposedly the fiscal conservatives of this country, revere a big spender like Ronald Reagan.
The Republicans have continued the pattern by naming various spending projects after Reagan. By which they reveal the truth, big spending is not anathema to Republicans, they share the imperial impulse as much as any other emperor wanna be.
Bob From District 9| 12.13.12 @ 6:34PM
Why would a private university like the University of Chicago, home of the Chicago School of economics, Milton Friedman's contribution to making the US a third world country, want to harm Reagan's reputation?
In reality, this is just another demonstration of the reality that right wingers don't give a damn about anything beyond themselves.
After all, what has Reagan done for you lately?
JmsA| 12.13.12 @ 6:35PM
"He who controls the present, controls the past. He who controls the past, controls the future." --George Orwell
bjb57| 12.13.12 @ 6:39PM
In my first year at B-school (1983-1984) at the University of Chicago, I lived on that block. I had no idea that Reagan once lived there. I doubt anyone else did either.
ONTIME| 12.13.12 @ 6:51PM
Creeping communism is commited to revisionism and the culling of all vestiges of those who oppose them.....it's the way of cowards.
stargirl| 12.16.12 @ 4:33PM
this is the same U of C med center whose board of trustees included valerie jarrett, hired michelle obama, then tripled her salary from 108K to 316K when barry became a US senator.
and what did mrs obama do for the U of C med center? with the help of david axelrod, she implemented the urban health initiative, a thinly veiled patient dumping program to get rid of welfare patients and make room for patients who paid full price and fattened the U of C's bottom line.
greed, cronyism, hypocrisy---a tidy little package.