The Sawyer Mansion May Become Historic Landmark

By Anna Deem in News on Mar 13, 2011 6:30PM

Sitting at the intersection of Highland and Larkin in Elgin is the Sawyer Mansion, a little known piece of Chicagoland history that Nancy Farquhar and her family helped to restore and preserve for the past 12 years. Now the notable home is on its way to becoming a historic landmark as city council members gave preliminary approval this week to grant landmark status to the Farquhar's home at 806 W. Highland Ave. The decision could be finalized later this month. "It's a beautiful old home and it deserves to be maintained that way," Farquhar said to the TribLocal. "I love the sense of history to it and just feel honored we're able to carry on some of that tradition."

According to the Farquhars' research, the Sawyer Mansion was built in 1893 and was the residence of William Sawyer, a local business executive who served on the Kane County board of supervisors and the Elgin Board of Trade. The house was designed by architect W.W. Abell, who gave the house a distinctive look with its curved exterior walls and a giant wrap-around porch. Nancy and Dann Farquhar bought the home in 1999. "It's such a prominent intersection, Elginites for the last 100 years know this house, so we are very proud this house is being landmarked," said Jennifer Fritz-Williams, historic preservation planner for the city, to the TribLocal.