Historical Photo Guessing Game: Lake Forest Gem Is Ragdale

When Howard Van Doren Shaw bought the property now known as in 1897, it was originally a working farm, and later divided into three parcels in the 1930s.

The photograph was taken from the Witness Tree Book, which has been produced during Lake Forest's 150th anniversary. The book is available online at www.lf150.com, the , the , or the 

According to the book, was formed in 1976 by Alice Judson Hayes, Shaw’s granddaughter, to preserve this special artist sanctuary for succeeding generations. Ragdale is a part of the National Register of Historic Places. In 2001, the Foundation received a 99-year lease from the City of Lake Forest to ensure the long-term future of Ragdale as an art community.

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We'll be back with another posting next weekend.