606 Campbell

Why it's important....
The Walsh home is an excellent example of early 20 th century Prairie Style design by Joliet architect Rudolph Hoen. It was also the home of one of the founders of the Will County Board or Realtors, now the Three Rivers Board of Realtors.

Style: The Walsh home is a classic Prairie style structure. The style is seen mostly in the long low lines of the home. This look is emphasized by a simple stone band at the bottom of the windows on the second floor which elongates the visual effect. The style is also seen in the green glazed French Tile roof, and the triple window arrangement.

The History....
The Walsh home was constructed in 1920 on property adjoining the home of Mrs. Walsh’s parents at 608 Campbell. The home was designed by local architect Rudolph Hoen. The Walsh family would live here for about 10 years, at that time the family became too large for the 3 bedroom house. The house was sold and would go through several hands before being purchased by the Schiek family in the late 1960s. They would own the home all they way through 2004.
The Walsh home was sold to the author of this book in 2004. A restoration to the home has begun to return many of the fine features of this home back to the original state.

Details....
The Walsh home is very Prairie inspired on the exterior, with long low lines emphasized by the low green tile roof. However there is a very Colonial Revival undertone in the design as well. This is seen in the entry which has a typical transom and sidelight motif common to the Colonial Revival.

This theme is carried to the interior as well. Instead of the traditional Oak Woodwork and heavy Arts & Crafts styling common in Prairie design, here we see painted woodwork with Mahogany stained doors. Instead of simple brass hardware, lavish Rococo Brass hardware is evident in the formal areas, and crystal doorknobs are throughout the rest of the house.

The floor plan is also typical colonial Revival with the long living room to one side of a central hall and the dining room and kitchen on the other. One of the nicest parts of the house is the expansive master bedroom which takes the entire west end of the second floor and has a built in window seat overlooking Campbell St.

The People....
Fred J. Walsh was born in 1882 in Terre Haute Indiana. His father John came to Joliet from Ireland and later moved to Terre Haute. Fred Walsh attended public schools in Terre Haute, and graduated from Joliet High school in 1901. He returned to Terre Haute to enter the banking business and the started in the Real Estate business.

Around 1910 Fred Walsh returned to Joliet and constructed a home at the north-west corner of Wheeler and West Park Front. It was while working in Joliet he married his wife, an employee, in 1918. It was for his new wife that he constructed a home next to her parents on Campbell St. The family would live in the Campbell St. home for 10 years until the family became too large. They then moved to the old Buchanan home in West Park (demolished for Interstate 80). After several years in that home they moved to Evanston IL.

He served many positions including 4th President of the Will County Board of Realtors in 1926, 27, & 28, and as president of both the Planning Commission and the Chamber of Commerce.

Did you know?....
In 1930 Mrs. Walsh received a new 7 seat Cadillac from her husband. As an avid golfer, Mrs. Walsh was driving on an outing with several lady friends when the car overturned. Fortunately no fatalities were reported.