Hegeler Carus Mansion

Infobox_nrhp | name =Hegeler-Carus Mansion
nrhp_type =nhl


caption =
location= LaSalle, Illinois
lat_degrees = 41
lat_minutes = 20
lat_seconds = 9.01
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 89
long_minutes = 5
long_seconds = 13.39
long_direction = W
locmapin = Illinois
area =
built =1876
architect= W.W. Boyington, et al.; Fiedler, A.
architecture= Second Empire
designated= March 29, 2007
added = August 09, 1995cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
governing_body = Private
refnum=95000989

The Hegeler Carus Mansion, located at 1307 Seventh Street in La Salle, Illinois is one of the midwest's great Second Empire structures.

Built in 1876 by Edward C. Hegeler, partner in nearby Matthiessen Hegeler Zinc Company, the mansion was designed by Chicago architect William W. Boyington. Boyington is noted for the Chicago Water Tower, the Joliet State Penitentiary and for completing the Illinois State Capitol.

History and significance

The Hegeler Carus Mansion was initially home to Hegeler and his family. His son-in-law, Dr. Paul Carus, later moved his family into the house, and the main headquarters of the Open Court Publishing Company was located on the first level of the house. It is here that Carus wrote over 70 books, countless articles and served as editor of two scholarly publications, "The Open Court" and "The Monist". Carus invited editorial contributions from the likes of Charles Peirce, William James, Leo Tolstoy, F. Max Müller, Gottlob Frege and Bertrand Russell.

Carus hosted a historical meeting of East and West immediately after the 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition, bringing together eminent Oriental religious scholars. This led to Open Court's publishing program emphasizing classics of eastern religious thought. In fact, Zen scholar D. T. Suzuki spent 11 years in La Salle working with Carus on this programme.

The house was later occupied mainly by Carus' children.

Recent developments

In recent years, grandson Blouke Carus and others have initiated restoration, creating the Hegeler Carus Mansion Foundation in the 1990s. The Hegeler Carus Mansion, also known as the "Big House," hosts numerous public programs, and is open for public tours. Visitors are impressed with the amazing high Victorian stencils and wall and ceiling paintings, the woodwork and the history.

On March 29, 2007, the Hegeler Carus Mansion was designated a National Historic Landmark. [ [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/listings/20070413.htm National Register of Historic Places Listings ] ] citation|title=PDFlink| [http://www.cr.nps.gov/nhl/designations/Lists/IL01.pdf National Historic Landmarks Survey: List of National Historic Landmarks by State--Illinois (83)] |24.1 KiB |date=2007 |author=National Park Service]

References

Further reading

*Harold Henderson, "Catalyst for Controversy" (SIU Press).Todd Volker, Feature article, "The Hegeler-Carus Mansion" in German Life magazine, June-July 2001.

External links

* [http://www.hegelercarus.org/ The Hegeler Carus Foundation]