ANSEL B. COOK HOME
The house was built in 1878 by Ansel B. Cook on the site of the first log cabin in the area which belonged to George Vardin. This property was later the place where Dr. Foster, the first doctor to practice in Libertyville, had his office. The first post office was also located here. Dr. Foster's daughter, Helen, became Mr. Cook's first wife on December 2, 1849. Although the exterior was changed to reflect the idea popular in the 1920's of how a library should look, with a classical Colonial Portico, the interior remained in its original style. Authentic Victorian furnishings, many of them gifts from Libertyville area families, take us back into a splendid home of an important citizen of Libertyville and Chicago -- Ansel Brainerd Cook.
THE COOK HOUSE -- A VICTORIAN STYLE HOME
1. Originally had a large, one-story porch
2. Side carriage entrance or port cochere
3. Large reception room or foyer
4. Wide, soft pine floor boards
5. High ceilings downstairs, with original medallions; some chandeliers are original to Cook home, others are reproductions (chandeliers indicated a wealthy owner)
6. Private generator for electric lights added in 1887; (first public electric light plant in village - 1886 electric street lights - 1897)
7. Seven beautiful Italian marble fireplaces
8. Outstanding chimney pots on roof
9. Sliding doors; rods for drapes (portiers)
10. Closets were considered extra rooms for tax purposes so armoires (wardrobes) were used
12. Stained glass in front doors
13. Before house was remodeled as a library, 1921, it was styled with a shingle gable and decorated in ornate manner of Victorian era; first sided house in the village
14. Interior shutters from Rouse home in Mundelein
1. Picture of Ansel B. Cook, with composite frame made from several old frames
2. Lamp holders, clock on mantel--original Cook family items
3. Framed wreath on wall, made from hair combings (hair receiver to save combings is on bedroom dresser)
4. Blue wedding dress (in this era, it was considered practical to use dark colors for brides' gowns)
5. Kerosene chandelier not original, but almost identical to one pictured in upstairs hall
6. Beautiful, ornately carved stairway constructed in 1870's - 80's; rectilinear style
7. Libertyville/Mundelein Historical Society Honor Board
1. Picture of Helen Maria Foster Cook, first wife of Ansel Brainerd Cook, was married in 1849 and died in 1881 as a result of a railroad accident. Second Empire French frame with sheaves of wheat pointing down -- the symbol of death; probably framed after her tragic death.
2. One of the seven beautiful fireplaces with ornate Ansonia clock [Second Empire design] on mantel
3. Victorian furniture; Renaissance Revival parlor set with some chairs designed for women wearing hoop skirts (no high chair arms)
4. Sterling silver water cooler, gift to Mr. Cook upon completion of 3 terms in Illinois General Assembly (legislature)
5. Small oval picture on west wall, original to Cook home
6. Cranberry glass items, many purchased as memorials
1. Above the fireplace -- Ansel B. Cook's picture as a young man; note that the Second Empire French frame matches that of Helen Cook, his first wife, but, as he was living at the time, the sheaves of wheat along the side point upward; both pictures, probably taken at an earlier date, were reframed after his wife's death in 1881
2. Horsehair sofa (early gift to Historical Society)
3. Photo pillow (unusual type for that era)
4. Friendship quilt; in one block, a row of ants march to a flower
5. Renaissance Revival chairs, side table
6. 1880 Estey (mfg.) organ, made in Brattleboro, Vermont
7. Picture of Mr. Mrs. Cook (1876) above organ
8. Turn-of-the-century pitchers on organ have scenes of Diamond Lake and Long Grove
9. Ornate kerosene banquet lamp by organ
10. Picture of A. B. Cook's father
11. Wall telephone like early ones first installed in village in 1896
12. Mechanical Organette; played by using perforated paper sheets
13. Limoges china on center table
14. Stereopticon and slides
DINING ROOM (note pocket doors)
1. Haviland china dinner service
2. Dresden porcelain centerpiece
3. Salt dishes, napkin holders
4. Late Victorian transitional chairs
5. Ornate lamp above the table has chains to allow lowering to fill bottom with kerosene
6. Cherry sideboard - about 1840
7. Second Empire French cabinet with ormolu (copper and zinc alloy used to imitate gold) insets and bas relief panel at bottom of case; beautiful glassware in cabinet, including examples of blue opalescent and milk glass, given as memorials
8. English mirrored shelves flanking mantel -- could be hung "up or down" (either way)
9. Classical revival wedding gown belonged to Mayor Paul McGuffin's wife; most brides wore dark colors and these dresses were used as "best" dresses later; wealthy women often wore white gowns
10. European etagere with Rococo motif; caster set (small bottles or cruets for holding condiments)
1. Pass-through window to kitchen
2. Beautiful hand-painted plates
1. Original Victorian Garland (mfg.) cook stove with hot water reservoir
2. Flat irons (heated on stove)
3. Soapstone bed warmer or carriage foot warmer at end of stove (after it was heated it was wrapped in material to keep it warm and to avoid burns)
4. Zinc with facilities for water from private tower and pump for cistern (called a "zinc" because it was lined with zinc)
5. Corner walnut medicine cabinet
6. Oyster server
7. Child's wagon under table
8. Fire extinguishers (glass) on shelf by south door
9. Mouse trap
10. Lazy Susan
11. Figural napkin rings on shelf
12. Pewter picture with European scenes
1. Cherry pitters
2. Sausage stuffer
3. Apple peeler
4. Waffle iron
5. Dough mixer
6. Ruffle crimper
7. Bottle collection from local drug stores and dairies
8. Old icebox
9. Crystal Springs water decanter from Libertyville
10. Raisin cutter
BACK PORCH (LINK TO LIBRARY) *
1. Cider press
2. Bath tub
3. Curtain stretcher/Quilting frame
4. Milk bottle cases
5. Ironing board
6. Drying rack
* not part of the original house
1. Desk and letter box from Libertyville's first post office
2. Picture of Horace Butler, two-term postmaster, Justice of the Peace, first lawyer to practice in Lack County, member of the state constitutional convention, feed mill partner
3. Unusual stereopticon and third lens magnifier
4. Photo Albums
5. Wide Awake torches
6. Eyeglass collection, including bug protector spectacles, sunglasses
7. Ruby (mfg.) treadle sewing machine
8. Doughboy uniform, WW1
9. Original tread case from Ivanhoe store
10. Royal Neighbor's Lodge charter and voting box
11. Picture of Lincoln and fringe from bunting on box at Ford's Theater where Lincoln was shot
UPSTAIRS HALL -- EAST, NEAR WEST AND SOUTH WALL, TOP OF STAIRWAY DISPLAYS
1. Pictures: original house, grounds (showing water tower, port cochere), Mr. Cook and his favorite dog
2. Scenes of early Libertyville
3. 1873 "birds eye view" map of Libertyville
4. Elaborate Lake County Fair award for prize bull
5. Picture of Sarah Morse Finishing School for Select Young Ladies
1. Picture of Albert C. Strong at 15 months. First grandson of Albert B. Strong, a Chicago physician, and Ida C. Strong, who was the adopted daughter of Ansel and Helen Cook; one of the largest Victorian child photos on exhibit anywhere.
2. Original 1818 calfskin trunk, one of the oldest items in house, brought from East in a covered wagon
3. Button shoes; button hook on dresser
4. skates that fasten on shoes
5. Old-fashioned paper dolls
6. Unusual locking chest of drawers
1. Unusual half-canopy bed
2. Several quilts -- one used for fund-raising with person paying to have name stitched in a block; quilt was then sold at a raffle
3. Elegant embroidery and beadwork on clothing
4. Stick used to smooth feather bed
5. Complete washbowl and chamber pot set -- very rare
6. Commode chair
7. Picture above mantle is one of Libertyville's "town beauties", Mrs. Henry (Myra) Cater
8. Fancy shoes and reticules (small handbags)
9. Hat pins, hair receiver and other dresser items
10. Picture of Katie Farnham, wife of Dr. Smith, dentist
11. Large armoire (wardrobe) from old Chicago Palmer House
12. Sewing basket from Swift (packing) family
1. Mr. Cook's desk with secret compartments (desk was later owned by Dr. Taylor, prominent local physician)
2. Scale for weighing precious metals
3. Picture of Samuel Insull above mantel
4. Personalized shaving mugs--Bradford's Barber Shop
5. Panels on bottom of bookcases carved to match design on mantel
6. Mrs. Cook's Renaissance Revival dresser with books, cards, stationery, plates for sale
7. Safe belonging to Matt Pester, blacksmith
8. Two pictures by hall door: serial view of Libertyville/Mundelein taken from a kite, 1908; press building (razed 1979) of Sheldon School of Scientific Salesmanship; 50,000 people (worldwide) enrolled in correspondence courses; one of Mundelein's former names (1909-24) was AREA (Ability, Reliability, Endurance, Action)--qualities Sheldon emphasized
9. Lake County map, 1915
UPSTAIRS HALL--WEST END DISPLAYS
1. Pictures: Libertyville and Mundelein village bands;
2. "unusual" weddings; early view of Chicago Art Institute;
3. Touch Light view of Wide Awake Banner
4. Wide Awake prize banner with painting of Lincoln's nomination parade; won by Libertyville Wide Awakes from Chicago Wide Awakes on October 2, 1860; (see details on card near frame on south wall)
5. Cardinal Mundelein's personal vestment (north wall)