R. Harold Zook Home and Studio

The task of saving both the home and studio of R. Harold Zook was a job the Hinsdale Historical Society did not take lightly. When it was learned that a developer had purchased the home and studio at 327 South Oak Street with plans to demolish, the Society found themselves in a situation where action had to be taken. However, to save one of Hinsdale’s most historically and architecturally significant homes is a feat that requires support beyond the Society. Due to the amazing generosity of donors, and the remarkable collaboration of dedicated architects, preservationists, and supporters, R. Harold Zook’s home and studio have been saved from demolition. 

The 1924 home and studio, designed and occupied by R. Harold Zook until his death in 1949, was moved to Katherine Legge Memorial Park by house movers, Dillabaugh, Inc., of Crown Point, Indiana. As funds have become available, work continues. The Studio is just about complete and open to the public for programming and events. The preservation effort on the Home is reliant on donations.

R. Harold Zook and his talents can be found throughout our Village. He served on and chaired Hinsdale’s Architecture Committee and the first Plan Commission for seventeen years, fostering the Georgian design in our municipal and commercial buildings still enjoyed today. Each day as we pass through our Village, we see Zook’s impact on Hinsdale. 

The Society has dedicated much time, money, and effort to this project. However there is still a great deal to be done, and your support is needed in order to preserve Zook’s legacy and Hinsdale’s distinctive character. Join us in preserving this important piece of our past!