In the Village of Barrington, the 200 West Lincoln Avenue block contains 18 houses identified as Contributing Structures to the town’s 92-acre historic district. One of those houses has been lived in for almost 50 years by Jennifer Buehler Shaw. Years ago, she discovered an old photo at the Barrington Historical Society of four men and two young children standing on the sidewalk in front of her picket fence. “Who were they,” she wondered. Other questions piqued her curiosity about the house’s history. She began a quest to learn more with hopes of adding a Village-issued plaque that would honor its history and add to the community’s knowledge of the historic district homes.

First, she needed to validate the home’s age. A house must be more than 100 years old to receive a plaque, but only 50 years old to be considered historic. She made multiple trips to the Cook County Building in Chicago, searching through old tract records to discover a date for the title and its transfers. “It felt like a treasure hunt,” she said.

Finally, she found the name of the original owner. Simon Kirby built the house after returning from a journey to the Wild West. He married Elizabeth Donlea and they had seven sons in the house. She learned that Dorothy Foresman McKracken, one of the twin daughters of Hugh A. Foresman, co-founder of Scott, Foresman and Company known for “Dick and Jane” books, lived in the house in the 1950s.

Her twin sister Emily lived next door. “You never live in an old house by yourself,” said Jennifer. “Other lives came before yours.”

She discovered more information by searching through old building permits at the Village. Through newspapers, obituaries, and census records at the Barrington Area Library. Michael Harkins at the Barrington Historical Society offered his help. “If you like history, there is no end to what you can learn about your house, including prior residents and what the community was like at the time,” Jennifer said. Her house stands on Lot 50 except for the east 48 feet which she learned was once the site of a box factory.

Her quest was complete when the Village issued her a plaque stating the house’s history dating to 1890. For her, the effort was worthwhile. “It was the story I learned that serves as the real prize.”

To learn more about criteria in Barrington’s Historic District use this link: barrington-il.gov/government/departments/development-services/historic-district/

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Mary Klest is a Barrington-based writer and local journalism advocate. She can be reached at mary@maryklest.com.