Information about the Organization
Follow Us
Give the Gift of Berwyn!
Want one of the beautiful poster of
the 2011 bungalow tour? Or some custom Berwyn Jewelry?Buy them at the Berwyn Public Library. See all items in the display case by the front entrance:
2701 S. Harlem Ave
www.berwynlibrary.orgFind something
Useful Links
- Antique Home Resource
- Berwyn Bungalow Walk
- Berwyn Historic Preservation Commission
- Berwyn Informer
- Berwyn Public Library
- Berwyn's Historic Preservation Commission
- Bungalow Love on Berwyntalk
- Chicago Bungalow Initiative
- City of Homes – Berwyn Bungalow Preservation Initiative
- House History Research
- Route 66 in Berwyn
- Sears Mail Order Homes
- What style is my Bungalow?
- What style is my Home?
Do you have any Berwyn history to share?
Please help us grow the collection and share your stories, images and objects.
We encourage you to donate but would also be happy to add your images digitally to the gallery so you can keep the originals.
Listen to the 2011 Bungalow Walk Radio Ad
History
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2011 Snowstorm: Send us your photos!
Do you have pictures of our 2011 blizzard in Berwyn, especially pictures of Landmarks? We would like to build a digital library for this soon-to-be-historic event. Please send JPGs (as large as you have them) along with your name and the location/time/date when/where you took the image and email them to info@berwynhistoricalsociety.org. If the files are larger [...] -
How it all started
Berwyn is a community incorporated in 1902 as a village and located approximately 20 minutes to the southwest of the Chicago Loop. The south end of Berwyn today was originally made up of three communities: LaVergne, Upsala or “Swedetown,” and Berwyn. This entire area was bounded by 31st Street, Ogden, Lombard, and Harlem Avenues. At roughly [...] -
Berwyn Bungalow’s today
Berwyn has the most significant collection of Chicago-style bungalows in the nation. Traditionally, Berwyn Bungalows are one-story buildings with basement and attic, two to three bedrooms, and a living and dining room. Decorative details included oak woodwork and stained glass windows. The finances of the owner at the time they were built determined the specific [...] -
South Oak Park
At roughly the same time, still another community was developing on the north side of present day Berwyn, aided by “Honest John” Kelly. Located more than 1-1/2 miles north of the growing communities to [...] -
LaVergne
LaVergne: Thomas Baldwin Berwyn’s development began in 1856 when Thomas Baldwin purchased 347 acres of land that he subdivided into large, 10-acre lots, hoping to market the idea that he named LaVergne as an all exclusive community for affluent residents. Baldwin invested heavily in this community; he built many roads and imported thousands of maple, [...]