Kenilworth Maher Sell-Off

A PrairieMod reader sent us the heads-up on a disturbing item in an upcoming Christie's auction. A set of original George Washington Maher art glass windows designed for the 1906 Kenilworth Club in Kenilworth, IL are being auctioned off. Read more after the jump...

What's especially disturbing about this news is that these windows are from a standing and intact building in an extremely affluent town that is in no danger (at this point) of being torn down. Ironically, I was just at the Kenilworth Club this summer for the annual meeting of the Walter Burley Griffin Society and marveled at how beautiful it was, especially with all of its original art glass.

When I contacted the Kenilworth Club directly for a statement, the terse response I received was:

"The decision to sell was made by the Board of Directors at the Kenilworth Club. There is no further information available."

The B.O.D. at the Kenilworth Club could unfortunately be perpetuating the already checkered historical preservation record that the town has become known for (the entire town was on the 11 Most Endangered Historic Sites List in 2006 for its rampant tear-down practices.) (side note: Ironically, the Kenilworth Club website uses the window designs profusely throughout—even in their logo!)

If the Club is in financial difficulties (which I have not received any information about as the reason behind this sale), there has to be better ways to raise money than to auction off the historically-significant fabric associated with your significant buildings. True stewardship is about preserving what is culturally valuable for the generations to come.

You can see the Christie's auction listing here. It should be noted that there is also a window from the still-standing Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Willits House in this auction also...I have no idea what the story is behind its removal, but if someone does, I'd like to hear.

UPDATE: According to more info that was finally received from parties in-the-know about this topic, the windows were apparently never used in the building and have been sitting in storage for many, many years. The decision to sell does come from the need to raise money for the building and poor communication of the events lead to confusion.

UPDATE CONTINUED: According to another, more recent comment by Neal Vogel, it seems the windows in question we're perhaps not "extras" after all. Rather they allegedly had been removed in a previous renovation and thus could represent original building fabric. Read Neal's comment below for the full account. I will continue to follow this story as more details emerge.

NOVEMBER 29, 2009 UPDATE: I just checked the Christies auction listing this morning and it appears that the windows have been retracted. In light of the fact they they DID turn out to be part of the building's original fabric, it is great news that they will remain with the building for the present time. While I lament the fact that the Kenilworth Club is experiencing economic difficulties, selling off parts of an important historic building is not the answer. Hopefully, something positive can be learned from this experience and can be applied to the benefit of the organization in the future.

Image via Christie's

Comments

[Martrese]

This is a disgrace.

[Rachel Noel]

This article has big errors in it! I live in Kenilworth and I am a member of the Kenilworth Club. The Club has indeed been in financial difficulties for many years, trying to make ends meet. The windows that are being auctioned are 'extra' windows that have sat in the Club basement since the Club was new. There are several more of these 'extra' windows. The windows were almost destroyed in at least one flood down there. They were not taken out of the fabric of the building to be auctioned! Ideally the Club would have more members so it would not be forced to sell such a precious resource as some of its original extra windows. The Club has been diligently reaching out to the community for years but fewer and fewer people are joining: It is very sad that it has come to this point. Please fact-check your assertions fully.

[Eric]

Thanks for your email, Rachel — this is helpful info that was not forthcoming from the Kenilworth Club itself.

All of the proper steps were taken to collect both sides of this story. However, the detailed explanation you have provided was not given to me by the current Club's management — only the terse and somewhat stand-offish response that was relayed in the post.

If this situation does come down to the Board of Directors trying to make ends meet by selling-off their "extra" windows, it seems odd they wouldn't be forthcoming about that info in the first place to ward off the appearance of strip-mining their building.

The point must still be made that selling off a historic building's unique assets is a short-sighted way to make ends meet — regardless if they are viewed as "extra" or not. It appears this incident highlights the Club's need to strengthen both their PR skills and their revenue-generating prowess.

Despite any differences of opinion on journalistic approach, I echo your wish that times were better for all historically significant sites like the Kenilworth Club, so that irreplaceable items like these windows didn't have to be auctioned off and lost forever from the site they were only ever intended for.

[Elizabeth Pratt Spevok]

Thank you, Rachel, for pointing out the grossly incorrect assertions put forth in this article. The Kenilworth Club management did respond by asking for information about who was writing this, but when no explanation was forthcoming, they took the "high road" of not providing further comment. And now the writer is turning around and pointing a finger at the board for their silence when the writer was wrong in his/her assertions in the first place.

Ms. Noel is absolutely on point with her correction of these assertions, and as a former board member of the Kenilworth Club I can tell you that these windows were never used in the building to anyone's knowledge (there has been extensive research on this, and the current restorations were approved by the appropriate landmark agencies as in keeping with the building's history and significance). As to whether the Kenilworth Club should be selling off "extra" windows, that is the Board's decision and no one else's business. As to "strengthening PR and revenue-generating prowess," the Kenilworth Club has indeed been reaching out to the community for years, has had a long-term capital campaign to fund the restoration and renovation of the building, and has seen a dwindling membership. Contrary to popular conception, the Kenilworth Club is not supported by any revenues other than what it generates in it's event rentals/fees, the members' contributions, and charitable donations. I have wished for years that this historic building and important community resource be publicly funded through taxes as it is an integral part of this town's history and current daily life. No amount of PR appears able to make the majority of citizens come to that realization.

Perhaps the writer of the article would like to purchase the windows and then return them via donation to their "rightful' place. Moral ideals, historic preservation, and financial deficiencies would all be satisfied!

[Eric]

Ms. Spevok,
I must correct you: Even though I would have been happy to provide them, no request for credentials was ever received (though an easy check of the web address connected to my email would have revealed who I was and why I was inquiring about the window sale).

Regardless--we'll just have to agree to disagree about these window events. I wish all the best to the Kenilworth Club in all of their endeavors.

[Neal Vogel]

To Friends of George Maher:

I surveyed and documented the Maher art glass windows, doors, light fixtures and miscellaneous panels stored in the basement for an Art Glass Conservation Plan of the building in 2001.

I recall that at least some of panels in storage were not "extras" but rather panels that were made for the building and removed from their original locations during previous alterations to the back (south) wing of the building and kitchen area (west); elimination of light fixtures, etc.

It is disturbing that any art glass would be sold that prevents a more authentic restoration of the building in the future.

The issue is further muddied by the fact that the primary individual who "restored" many of these windows nearly 30 years ago replaced original glass on virtually all of the windows he worked on. (I verified this during an interview with the person who worked on them).

My concern is twofold:

First and foremost, the Kenilworth Club Board may be selling original glass while replacement glass sits in the existing window openings; when it could be saved to restore windows authentically down the road.

Moreover, Christies may be offering windows that are falsely promoted as "original" when in fact they are partially reproductions; since many of the panels in storage were damaged it is very possible that the windows offered for sale include reproduction glass.

Neal Vogel
Restoric, LLC
Evanston, Illinois

[Eric]

Thanks Neal,
This information certainly contradicts the current reasoning behind the sale and significantly changes the circumstances surrounding this story. If anyone else has additional details to help get to the bottom of things, please share.