Oak Park REALTOR® Opened Builders Library

This Month in Real Estate History – January 2010: In 1911 an innovation was introduced to help Chicago-area home builders.  It was the “Home Builders Library,” established by REALTOR® George R. Hemingway of Oak Park, Illinois.  Hemingway was a  prominent  home builder as well as the uncle of then 11 year-old Ernest Hemingway, who would become one of America’s most famous writers.

George Hemingway said the library “was established for the benefit of persons who have an inclination toward building a home of their own, but do not know just how to go about it.”  Connected to his offices, the library’s collection included “house book plans and bungalow design books, catalogues and books from the most prominent concerns in the country dealing with the subjects of plumbing, bath room designs, fireplace designs…and several monthly periodicals.”

“It is my aim to have in the library every bit of material that will be of benefit to home builders.”

In its January 15, 1911 issue, the National Real Estate Journal gave the library good reviews.  “It consists of a beautifully furnished room with comfortable chairs and appropriate wall hangings and is open and free to the public during office hours.”  The Journal also noted “The broker who is best equipped to furnish advice and information to his customers naturally attracts the better class of investors and profits by the service that he renders them.”

Read the full article here.