Event Raises Funds for Historic House Rehabilitation as Work Date Nears
As plans move forward for the rehabilitation of the historic Eugene S. Pike House in the Dan Ryan Woods, project partners the Eugene S. Pike House Foundation and Beverly Area Arts Alliance (The Alliance) will host Pike House Fest 2, Sunday, July 19, 12 to 4 p.m.
The block party style fest will present music, art, food, libations and more around the Pike House, 1826 W. 91st St. The admission donation is $20 per person or $25 per family. All proceeds will go toward the project which will save and repurpose the house as a community cultural center.
“Last year’s Pike House Fest drew people from all round the area who were curious to find out more about the project and were happily surprised to also find great music, unique hands-on art demonstrations, and great food and libations,” said Sal Campbell, President of The Alliance, member of the Foundation board of directors and coordinator of the Fest. “This year’s event offers new bands, demos and vendors, and brings back some favorites from last year.”
Taking center stage will be Trophy Wife (@trophywife_usa), a four-piece band featuring Caroline Nutley playing dreamy classic country in the vein of George Jones, Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette and Merle Haggard, and the Otterpaw String Duo, featuring Americana veteran guitarist Matt Gandurski (@matt_gandurski_music) and violinist Katie Klocke (@stoptheklocke) teaming up to reproduce the foundational American Folk recordings of the 1920s and 30s.
Available for purchase will be a menu of summertime food and craft beers from Horse Thief Hollow (@horsethiefhollow, 10426 S. Western Ave., Chicago). Offerings will include ice cold cans of Little Wing Pilsner, Spoonful Hazy IPA, Annexation West Coast IPA and Boogie Chillen Grapefruit Pale Ale, (with $1 from every can sold going directly to the Pike House Foundation), paired with hearty pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches topped with house-made coleslaw on brioche or gluten-free bun with BBQ sauces and chips.
Fest visitors will also enjoy a pop-up flower shop by Wanderlust Wildflowers (@4getknot), a “make-n-take” demo of artful handmade brooms and by Jane Doherty (@janedoherty57), an interactive community art quilt led by Dorothy Straughter and capturing support for the Pike House rehabilitation (@straughterdorothyahq), and a weaving craft project led by Envision Unlimited artists (@envisionunlimited_arts).
A silent auction of unique artwork, experiences and services will give people a chance to support the Eugene S. Pike House project as a donor or purchaser. To donate to the auction, email salscampbell@gmail.com.
Built in 1894, the Eugene S. Pike House is part of the national Ridge Historic District. Since 1921 the house has been part of the Dan Ryan Woods Forest Preserves, and was long used as a residence for Forest Preserves superintendents and watchmen. Empty for several years, a community-led effort is currently underway to rehabilitate the house and transform it into a space open for audiences to enjoy cultural programming, artist residences, performances, and events. A $1.5 million grant from the State of Illinois will provide funding for Phase 1 capital improvements and rehabilitation, and funds are currently being raised to underwrite Foundation operations and Phase 2 rehabilitation.
The Eugene S. Pike House Foundation and Beverly Area Arts Alliance are not-for-profit organizations, and the effort to save and repurpose the house as the Pike House Community Cultural Center is led by dedicated volunteers.
To learn more about how you can support this effort as a donor and/or volunteer, email info.eugenespikehouse@gmail.com.