Lake Forest-Lake Bluff History Museum

This property exemplifies some of the lovely Queen Anne-style homes that dotted the streets of Lake Forest in its early years. It was built, probably as an investment, by David J. Lake in 1873. Lake was one of the founders of Lake Forest and served as its third mayor in 1866-1867, but had his main residence at 644 East Deerpath. Lake sold the property to John Isham in 1874 for $6,000. By 1884, Rev. Hannibal Stanley, his wife Cornelia, and their five children resided here; the Stanleys owned the house for over 20 years. They came to Lake Forest to take advantage of its educational institutions for their children. Rev. Stanley also did fundraising work for Lake Forest College. Their son Hiram became Lake Forest College’s first librarian and daughter Mary was the first public librarian in Antioch.

Subsequent owners of this home include Henry Isham in 1928 and Frederick T. McLaughlin II in the early 1940s. Paul Gerlach bought the house in 1973 and restored the interior; Mary and Bill Mowry undertook further renovations in the 1990s.