This year's Pumpkin Fest Historic Homes Tour explores neighborhoods outside of the main historic district. We are featuring homes with rich, interesting histories that are vital to Sycamore's development, but have not been visited by our tours in the past.
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- Built by Theodore (Ted) Niewold in 1959.
- Known as the O House, one of Sycamore’s “Alphabet Houses.”
- Built in the Usonian style, inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright.
- Also called the Six-Sided House.
- Owned by Jim & Mary Jo Bassing of the Sip ‘N Dip
- Built in 1905 by Arthur E. Root
- The first homeowner was Walter H. Loomis himself.
Loomis married Miss Fannie Florence Mason, daughter of the original owner of the farm: Sycamore real estate dealer Horatio H. Mason.
- Built in 1905 by Arthur E. Root.
- The first homeowners were the Charles H. Vosburg family of Paw Paw, Illinois. Childhood sweethearts, they were married for 68 years and lived at 121 Mason Court for ten years before moving to Aurora, Illinois.
- In 1915 the residence was sold to John McMurchy (1846-1923) and his sister, Mary McMurchy (1850-1935) who lived there until her death.
Most of the original woodwork and flooring is still intact.
- Built in c1898 - one of 4 Sycamore Elementary Schools: North, South, East, & West.
- Only 2 are still intact: East & South, both private residences.
- Was the Opportunity House location from 1963 until 1967
- Had several private owners, last owned by the Lloyd family of Genoa - landscapers - Don’t miss the gardens!
- Built circa 1850s.
- Early homeowners were the I. Johnson Woodworth family. She was a niece of Mrs. James S. Waterman, who established Waterman Hall.
- Mr. Woodworth was employed by the estate of the late James S. Waterman for many years, later moving to Colorado to manage the gold/silver mining business Green Mountain Co.
- In the mid 1940s, Virginia Bauer, started a business at the house with her sister Helen Nelson called The Two Sisters’ Doll Shop.
- In the 1950s the James Clark family, who lived in this house, purchased the Sovereign Bakery in Sycamore, renaming it North Side Bakery.
- Current owners have been there for 30 years and have done extensive renovations.
- Built for William Young, who had a tragic life.
- Brother of Ellzey Young, to whom the house is often attributed.
- Ellzey Young served as county clerk, county sheriff, and county commissioner.
- Ellzey Young was responsible for laying out Courthouse Square & getting the 1850 Courthouse built. Also designed the original nine-hole golf course in Sycamore.
- Once owned by Sherret Chase of the DeKalb Ag, who passed away in June 2021 at the age of 103.
- Chase once entertained Eleanor Roosevelt at this home in Sycamore.
- This farm was first owned by Marshal Stark, one of the pioneers of Sycamore.
- Harold V. Engh, Sr. purchased the farm in 1927.
- Farm managers lived in “The Big House” and hired hands in the smaller house. The Engh family lived on Merry Oaks Drive.
- In later years, the small house was divided and rented.
- Property became the Sycamore History Museum in 2009 after the land was gifted to the City of Sycamore.
- The new DeKalb County History Center building was opened in 2018.
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