Operation Renovation

Watch August 11, 2011 - Cultural Connections: Ragdale on PBS.

 

Ragdale was originally built as Howard Van Doren Shaw's Lake Forest summer home, located thirty miles north of Chicago. Built in 1897, the Ragdale House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1976, Shaw's grand-daughter Alice Judson Hayes transformed her family's retreat into an artists' community, providing space and time for artists to create important work. Today, Ragdale hosts up to two hundred artists, writers, and composers each year, making it the largest interdisciplinary artists' community in the Midwest and the fourth largest in the country. Noted past residents include Jane Hamilton, Alex Kotlowitz, Audrey Niffenegger, Sara Paretsky, Jacquelyn Mitchard, Nancy Horan, Gail Tsukiyama, and Alice Sebold.

Age has taken its toll on the venerable structure. The heating, wiring, and plumbing must now be replaced to make the facility safe. The extensive work will include replacement of all systems and restoration of the public rooms to 1926 in what has been called Shaw's "Arts and Crafts Masterpiece."

Ragdale kicks off its $3 million restoration project dubbed "Operation Renovation" with construction-themed tours, refreshments and a press conference on March 20, 2011. In addition, guests present will have the opportunity to sign the walls and witness the first blows of demolition.

"Operation Renovation" is an innovative public/private partnership between the City of Lake Forest and the Ragdale Foundation. Ragdale, under long-term agreement with the city, leases the property and is raising $3 million in private funds to restore one of Lake Forest's most notable historic buildings during the city's 150th anniversary year.