Old Irving Park residents obtain landmark status for their home, where two plaques tell its history

by CHRISTOPHER BRINCKERHOFF

A new Chicago Landmark plaque tells the history of the Phebe and John Gray House in Old Irving Park, but the homeowners decided there was more of the story to tell.

Kris and David Cloud commissioned a second bronze plaque to accompany the city-issued marker at their circa-1856 home, 4362 W. Grace St. The second plaque adds details about the Grays’ antislavery views and civic contributions, as well as neighborhood lore linking the house to the Underground Railroad.

About a dozen community members gathered at the Gray House Aug. 10 to celebrate its landmark designation and recent installation of the two plaques. Ald. Ruth Cruz (30th) also attended.

“This [house] is a window to our past,” Cruz said. “And how do we preserve history for future generations to come? Both of you are doing this. Thank you for not allowing somebody to demolish this house and bring other properties here, but, rather, retaining that history.”

The Clouds began seeking landmark recognition after learning about the property’s historical significance from friends and neighbors. It was the only house in the immediate area when it was built, and residential development grew around the original farmstead as Irving Park developed into a railroad suburb. It remains the oldest residence in Old Irving Park.

The Clouds started the landmarking process in 2022, leading to City Council granting the status in 2024. In remarks at the gathering, David Cloud credited William Tyre and Keith Bringe with helping guide the couple through the process.

Tyre, who grew up in Old Irving Park and wrote about the Gray House for the local historical society as a teen in the 1980s, is executive director and curator at Glessner House, 1800 S. Prairie Ave. Bringe, gallery director at Rare Nest, 3433 N. Kedvale Ave., previously served as executive director of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple Restoration Foundation.

“Both of these guys are the reason we’re here today,” Cloud said.

Tyre and Bringe said they had been concerned the unsubstantiated Underground Railroad affiliation might distract attention from the Gray House’s documented historical and architectural significance.

“There was just so much emphasis on that one piece of it,” Tyre said. “Even if there had never been any mention of the Underground Railroad, it still should have absolutely been a landmark because it was such an incredibly rare survivor, and it was such a good example of the style of that time period.”

Both plaques are 18-inch-square bronze plates mounted at an angle on concrete foundations. The official plaque describes the Italianate-style farmhouse, the Grays’ arrival as early settlers from New York and John Gray’s service as Cook County’s first Republican sheriff. It also highlightsthe home’s likely pattern-book design and original architectural features remaining intact including its three-story tower and wood trim molding.

The second plaque’s additional historical context relates John Gray’s antislavery views and mentions a contemporary account praising his treatment as sheriff of men jailed for antislavery actions. It also addresses unconfirmed rumors connecting the house to the Underground Railroad and describes the Grays’ contributions of land for a township hall, church and railroad, as well as their role in developing the Grayland suburb.

For David Cloud, that additional context helps place the Grays and their home in the era in which they lived. He said people sometimes grasp the house’s age more readily when he explains it was built before the Civil War and before Abraham Lincoln was elected president. Opposition to expanding slavery was among the nascent Republican Party’s defining positions.

“(John Gray)apparently was an antislavery guy, and so, in a sense, he was a participant in that struggle nationally,” Cloud said. “I mean, he was not a major cog, he was just a guy, but I think that’s worth remembering.”

In terms of Chicago Landmarks having multiple plaques, Daniel Klaiber, coordinating planner in the Historic Preservation Division of the city’s Department of Planning and Development, said plaques are generally consistent in presentation across Chicago’s more than 400 landmarks. Some have multiple markers because they retain older stainless-steel plaques from the city or participate in other programs, he said.

Two matching bronze plaques like those at the Gray House are “a little unusual,” Klaiber added.

Bringe said the previous owner wasn’t interested in having the property landmarked. The large parcel also could have made the property attractive for redevelopment.

“The incredible gift that Kris and Dave have given is that this house, if the laws remain the same, will be protected in perpetuity and remain a cornerstone and a touchstone for the community,” Bringe said.

Neighbor Laird Larsen said he was among those who asked about the Clouds’ plans for the property when they moved in because he valued its presence in the neighborhood. At the gathering, he thanked them for protecting it.

“Walking past this house, it’s one of the largest parcels in our neighborhood, it brings a sense of peace and calm to us,” Larsen said. “It’s been more than just a house. As a gardener, it’s just a beautiful garden; it’s a refreshing place to be in.”

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