Last weekend was my grandson’s first birthday! My daughter decided on a lumberjack party theme and rented a little log cabin in Riverside, Illinois. It was such a cute party and I took lots of pictures which I’ll share in a future post. After the party, hubby and I toured the tree-lined streets and of course I had to snap photos of the charming older homes.
I love me a red house, and a gorgeous Victorian charmer is right up my alley! So much detail to love on this house!
I had to take more than one photo of it. Check out all that custom trim work! I want the owners to adopt me. Sigh.
I love a buttery yellow house, too. After all, my own house is yellow. This pretty Victorian house happens to be for sale if you want to take a tour of the inside. It’s located on a quiet street across from a wooded park. Perfect location!
Here are a few more Victorian charming older homes in the same neighborhood …
When I look at Victorian houses, I can’t help but feel each one is a unique piece of artwork.
Some of the homes in Riverside are quite expansive, but there are smaller, charming older homes too.
Another stately yellow Victorian home graces the same neighborhood. Aren’t the mums beautiful? I was happy the owners planted them so close to the sidewalk so that passers-by could enjoy them up close.
And of course, you’ll almost always find at least one pink house in a Victorian neighborhood!
I imagine someone’s home office is on that third floor. Or maybe it’s a teen hangout, or even a cozy reading nook.
I love homes with clapboard siding. The only downside is having to paint them. I adore the corner entry on this home.
The streets of Riverside also feature other types of architecture, like this beautiful Tudor-style house.
The residential streets of Riverside are dotted with over 300 charming, antique gas-style street lamps. Towering trees provide plenty of shade in summer. Although I hate to see the trees shedding their leaves, it makes it easier to snap photos of the houses.
Hubby loved the brick homes in the area. It reminded him of Pittsburgh where he grew up. I had to agree with him. It felt like we were in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh, which is near the university.
I fell in love with the simplicity of this brick charmer.
This stunning white house stopped us dead in our tracks, from the solarium to the expansive front porch. Did you notice the pair of horse statues in the front yard?
Around the corner was another beautiful, white home.
The town of Riverside is about 11 miles west of Chicago. Its known for its quaint, oak-hickory tree-lined streets and landscape architecture. The town really took off shortly after the Chicago fire, with people moving out of the city and into the suburbs.
To prove that not all the charming older homes are ginormous, I took a few pics of smaller houses. Cute, right?
To top off the highly enjoyable afternoon in Riverside, Illinois, we were blessed with the ringing of the bell chimes of the neighborhood church.
We plan to re-visit Riverside and take more pictures of the eye candy lining the streets. I think sometime in December when the Christmas decorations are out. With a dusting of snow, I think it’ll be gorgeous.
Do you have historic neighborhoods where you live? I’d love to hear about them!
yes, in Salem Ohio there are some beautiful old homes, some are kind of tired, but the architecture is amazing!
Just gorgeous!
Love those beautiful old homes. Thanks for sharing them!
Loved the tour!
We live in an 1800s Victorian village graced with Victorian homes! Large mansions line Main Street along with cute little shops to explore! Our home is smaller so we call her our Victorian doll house!
When in Michigan do visit
Romeo Michigan!
Loved the houses they do not make them like that anymore,cannot wait to see your other photos.
Lumbering was big business in Ludington, Michigan located on Lake Michigan. In fact, they shipped lumber to help rebuild Chicago after the great fire. We have lovely large Victorians. Some are in need others have been restored. As in Riverside, there are charming homes on the smaller scale too. We love living in our smaller farmhouse style home which is a work in progress. As a “home watcher”, I do enjoy your photo tours.
I always love your blog…..and your home tours are the icing on the cake !!!!! I love driving around looking at gorgeous homes !!!! By the way, I am from the suburb of Lyons, Illinois !
Just stumbled upon your article as I have a board of Riverside IL on PInterest. My grandmas home was the #2 Buttery Yellow home you photographed. 420 Fairbank road across from the log boy scout cabin! The home was built by my great grandparents in the late 1800s an was in the family until it sold I believe 2017. I was so very sad as I spent SO MUCH of my childhood at that home an running around those woods. We had a LOT of parties at that cabin an slumber parties for girl scouts there ! My dads 40th birthday was held there too. I LOVE that town (and was just there yesterday taking my youngest on a hike through the woods to share what I did as a kid. Thank you for writing about the town an sharing the absolutely beautiful homes there! Its interesting that her home (which the current owners have completely redone inside) was laid out like an American 4 Square farmhouse which is what I moved into out in the country in Paw Paw IL. If you ever need a farm visit let me know! =)
Hi Mary!
Thanks so much for giving me a bit of history on your grandmother’s gorgeous home! That house was my favorite of the ones featured on the blog post. My grandson’s first birthday party was in that log cabin where you had slumber parties. And – you’re not going to believe this – but my grandparents lived in PawPaw and it’s where my mother grew up!! Their house was right on Chicago Road and I spent many days visiting them, sometimes staying for several weeks during the summer.
My grandparents had a Christmas tree farm behind their house in PawPaw – their property went from Chicago Road to the next street south. People would come and choose their tree. They could chop it down on their own, or have my grandfather do it. We always got our tree from their farm. There was also a barn with a man-made hill that you could go inside. They stored their potatoes in the little cave under the hill.I don’t know if that barn and hill are still there. I’m pretty sure the Christmas tree farm is no longer there.
My grandfather was the school janitor when he stopped farming and my brother and I would play in the gym when visiting while my grandparents cleaned the school. We even helped clean the chalkboards. I have many fond memories of PawPaw!
I love this neighbor hood, although I have only driven thru it once. My husband grew up in this neighbor hood until he was 13 and his family moved to Traverse City Michigan. I showed him your post and he knew the people that lived in all the homes you showed. He has very fond memories of Riverside IL. Thanks for taking such great pictures and posting about this beautiful town.