Hinsdale’s Katherine Legge Memorial Park and Lodge is more than just a spot for the community to gather. It has recently been selected as one of Illinois’ 150 great places by the American Institute of Architects.
“KLM is absolutely a jewel in this community and a really special spot, not only because of its architecture, but also because it is an important part of Hinsdale,” said Carrie Haupert, director of parks and recreation.
| On the web For the full list of the American Institute of Architects 150 great places in Illinois, visit www.illinoisgreatplaces.com |
KLM, 5901 S. County Line Road, was designed by architect R. Harold Zook in the early 1920s for Alexander Legge, the president of International Harvester. While it was initially intended to be a summer home for he and his wife, Katherine, it was turned into a Club House Lodge when she passed away unexpectedly. The home became a vacation retreat for female employees of International Harvester.
Legge then donated the lodge and the 52 acres of woodland it sat on to the village in 1973. Today, KLM Lodge, with its large ballroom on the second floor, is used for weddings, anniversaries and a variety of special events.
The park has become a community hub where people can play sports, bring their dogs and picnic with their family. Haupert said KLM is the largest piece of open space in Hinsdale, and it has a diverse use for all populations.
Currently, the Zook home, which he designed and built in Hinsdale in the 1920s, is being moved and restored on the KLM park property to commemorate his life’s work. The Hinsdale Historical Society actively fought to save the English Cotswold-style home from demolition.
With money from two anonymous donors, the entire Zook house, garage-studio and backyard and driveway mason-built walls were bought from the owner to be relocated.
The society is using the anonymous donations and at least $50,000 of its own funds to move the Zook structures to KLM and place them on new foundations in a setting that resembles the original landscape. The “Zook campus” will be open to the public for a variety of uses, including presentations, receptions and exhibits.
Dennis Parsons, who co-chairs the Zook House Preservation Project, said the home and studio have been placed on a new foundation. The roof, the inside fireplace and all the masonry on the exterior has been restored. Organizers are waiting for building permits to proceed any further.
As for KLM park, he admires it for its open space.
“KLM does for Hinsdale what Central Park does for New York — it gives it some green space,” Parsons said.
