Most of us live in many different places over the course of our lives. My mother was unusual in that she lived her entire life in Evanston, Illinois, within about a two mile radius. Today that is almost unheard of. Each one of us has our own opinion of what constitutes "home." For most people it is the place where they grew up; where they lived with their parents and siblings. Near the end of her life as dementia was slowly taking over her brain, my mother announced one evening that she wanted to "go home." "But you are home," I replied. "You live here with me in the house I bought across the street from where we used to live." "No, I want to go home - home with my mother and father and brothers and sisters." Unfortunately that was not possible - her parents had been dead for many years and most of her siblings were gone by this time, also. In fact, her girlhood home, 1008 Sherman Avenue in Evanston, no longer existed - it had been condemned and razed by the City of Evanston in 1955 to expand the playground of Nichols Middle School.
No matter where I live on this earth, "home" to me will always be 1027 Harvard Terrace in Evanston:
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| 1027 Harvard Terrace, Evanston, Illinois |
I have talked about this neighborhood and its origins in a previous post:
A few years ago I decided to check into the history of my boyhood home. I knew that most of the houses in this neighborhood were built in the early 1920s and many of them had been built by the same builders. On a trip to the Evanston Historical Society I found an application for a permit to build a house at 1027 Harvard:
the Permit itself was issued on October 13, 1921:
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The application shows a value for the house not to exceed $7,300.00 ($121,500.00 in today's funds). Of course these figures do not include the cost of the land. The owner's name was Bernard Prusener. What could I find out about him? Let's take a closer look at his life.
Bernard Adam Prusener was born January 21, 1878 in Chicago to Bernard Prusener (1840-1890) and Anna Maria Catherina "Katie" Fils (1839-1900). The last name was sometimes spelled "Prusener," sometimes "Prusner," sometimes "Pruesener," and sometimes "Prüsener."
Bernard Prusener and Katie Fils were both born in Nettesheim, Germany. They married in Nettesheim on June 13, 1865, after which they emigrated to the United States, settling in Chicago. Bernard Prusener worked for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad but ultimately went on to own and manage a "Saloon" at 56 Fleetwood Street (now Magnolia Avenue) in Chicago.
Bernard and Katie were blessed with three children: Gertrude Prusener/Mrs. Anthony Delfosse (1870-1941), Jacob Hubert Prusener (1873-1949), and Bernard Adam Prusener (1878-1942).
Bernard Prusener (the father) died on December 26, 1890 in Chicago. He was fifty years old. He was buried in St. Boniface Cemetery in Chicago.
Bernard Adam Prusener makes his first appearance in the 1900 US Census. The family was living at 748 (now 1529) North Ashland Avenue in Chicago. A building built in 1998 occupies that spot today. The family consisted of Katie Prusner (61 years old), son Bernard (22) and "Boarder" Helminia K. Prusner (32).
There are unfortunately several things about what was reported to the census taker that don't add up. First of all, Katie Prusner reported that she had given birth to one child, and that child was still alive in 1900. This is obviously incorrect because Gertrude didn't die until 1941 and Jacob until 1949. Furthermore, other than this census record, there is no record anywhere of anyone named "Helminia K. Prusner." The census taker interviewed Katie Prusner on June 4, 1900; she died on July 19, 1900. Perhaps she was confused by what the census taker was asking.
On a happier note, Bernard Adam Prusener married Rose Louise Yoblonski on May 15, 1901 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Chicago. Rose's last name was sometimes spelled "Yoblonski," sometimes "Yablonski" and sometimes "Jablonski." The groom was twenty-three years old; the bride was twenty-one. Rose Yoblonski was born March 1, 1880 in Carmel, Pennsylvania to Francis Jablonski and Anastazia Peszkoski.
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| Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Chicago |
After their marriage, Bernard and Rose lived at 131 (now 2227) W. Barry Avenue in Chicago:
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| 2227 W. Barry, Chicago |
Bernard and Rose were blessed with two children: Dorothy Prusener/Mrs. William F. Blades (1902-1966), and Harry Howard Prusener (1906-1983).
Dorothy was born February 28, 1902 in Chicago. She was baptized at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Chicago on March 16, 1902. Her godparents were Laurence Lubinski and Anastasia Jablonska.
Harry was born September 25, 1906 also in Chicago. He was also baptized at Holy Trinity on October 14, 1906. His godparents were Jacob Prusener and Mary Gobryk.
The 1910 US Census shows the Prusener Family living at 2143 W. Barry in Chicago. A building built in 2015 occupies that spot today. The family consisted of "Bernhard" (32 years old), Rose (30), Dorothy (8) and Harry (3). Bernhard and Rose said they had been married for nine years, and that it was the first marriage for both. Bernhard said he was a "Bricklayer" in the "Building" Trade, and that he worked for himself. He was not out of work on April 15, 1910, and that he worked for the entire year of 1909.
By 1914 the family had moved again - this time to 3917 N. Sawyer in Chicago:
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| 3917 N. Sawyer, Chicago |
In 1917 Bernard Prusener moved his family into the two-flat building at 4431 N. Spaulding Avenue in Chicago.
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| 4431 N. Spaulding Avenue, Chicago |
During this period, Bernard Prusener reported his occupation as "Bricklayer."
On September 12, 1918, Bernard Prusener registered for the Draft. He reported his address as 4431 N. Spaulding, and that he was forty years old. He was a Bricklayer for Jacob H. Prusener (his brother) at 3811 N. Lawndale in Chicago. His nearest relative was his wife Rose, at the Spaulding address. The Registrar reported that his Build and Height were "Medium," that his eyes were "Brown" and his hair was "Lt. Brown." He had no impediments to his being able to serve in the military if called.
The 1920 US Census taken January 12, 1920, shows Bernard Prusener and family still living at 4431 N. Spaulding. the family consisted of Bernard (42 years old), wife "Roes" (40), and children Dorothy (18) and Harry (13). They owned their home, and they had a mortgage on it. Bernard said he was a "Bricklayer" in the "House" industry.
On November 16, 1920, Bernard and Rose's daughter Dorothy married William Frederick Blades (1884-1962) in Chicago. The bride was eighteen; the groom was thirty-six.
William F. Blades was born in 1884 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. He emigrated to the- United States in 1909 where he reported that he was a "Mason." In March of 1914 he returned to England to marry married Sarah Anna "Sally" Hazelwood (1889-1917) in Sheffield. Immediately after their marriage William Blades brought his bride to Chicago. They had one son, Wilfred Blades (1915-2002) who was born on February 20, 1915 in Chicago.
Sadly, Sally Hazelwood Blades died September 5, 1917 in Oak Forest, Illinois. She was 28 years old. She was buried September 9, 1917 in Montrose Cemetery in Chicago:
I am sure that in the course of his work as a bricklayer, Bernard Prusener heard about the tremendous opportunities available for builders in South Evanston. The North Shore Line commuter railroad was adding to their routes by building a rail extension from the Howard Street station into downtown Skokie. The new tracks would go right through South Evanston and there would be commuter stations on Ridge Avenue, Asbury Avenue and Dodge Avenue. It was even advertised in the local newspapers as "You Can Get Rich Here" and "Follow the "L" to Fortune." This is from the Evanston News-Index of April 18, 1924:
1027 Harvard Terrace was the first of nine single family homes Bernard Pruesener built between 1921 and 1925 in what is now the Oakton Historic District in South Evanston. Here are the nine houses Prusener built in chronological order:
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| 1027 Harvard |
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| 1103 Harvard |
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| 1104 Harvard |
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| 1107 Harvard |
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| 1108 Harvard |
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| 1106 Brummel |
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| 1109 Harvard |
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| 1115 Harvard |
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| 1012 Dobson |
Bernard Prusener liked the neighborhood so much he moved his family into the house he built at 1012 Dobson after it was completed. By the way, his telephone number on Dobson was UNiversity 6125.
Now that Prusener had some experience under his belt he no longer called himself a "Bricklayer." Starting in 1927 the Evanston Directory referred to Bernard Prusener as a "Building Contractor."
The 1930 US Census shows the Bernard Prusener family living at 1012 Dobson in Evanston. The family consisted of Bernard (52 years old), Rose L. (50), and Harry (23). Remember, Dorothy Prusener had gotten married in 1920. They reported that 1012 Dobson was a house, and that they owned it. They gave it a value of $19,000.00 ($338,000.00 in today's funds). They did own a radio. Bernard reverted to calling himself a "Bricklayer" but he said he "Constructed on Contract." Rose did not report an occupation but Harry said he was an "Independent Draftsman."
Bernard Prusener's name does not show up in any of the Chicago newspapers during the 1930s. The Great Depression had begun in 1929 and the days of rapid expansion and the building boom screeched to a halt.
Bernard Prusener's wife Rose Yoblonski died on February 18, 1940. She was fifty-nine years old. Here is her Death Notice from the Chicago Tribune of February 19, 1940:
Rose Prusener is buried in Ridgewood Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois, Section 12, Lot 2111:
You will note from her Death Notice that the Pruseners were no longer living in Evanston. This was confirmed by the 1940 US Census.
The Census Taker arrived at the home of Bernard and Rose's son Harry on April 7, 1940. He was living at 4721 N. Avers in Chicago:
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| 4721 N. Avers, Chicago |
The family consisted of Harry Prusener (33 years old), and Bernard (62). Harry said he was Single, and Bernard a Widower. Harry owned the house, which he said was worth $4,800.00 ($100,000.00 in today's funds). Harry said he had completed four years of high school, Bernard had gone to school through the 8th grade. Harry said his occupation was "Draftsman" for a "Building Contractor," Bernard said he was a "Mason" for a "Building Contractor."
Interestingly, both Harry and Bernard reported that they were living in the same home in 1935. We know that Bernard and Rose were living in the house that Bernard built at 1012 Dobson in Evanston in 1930. By 1935 they were living with their son at 4721 N. Avers. We do not know what caused them to leave Evanston and move in with their son. 1935 was the depth of the Great Depression and things were tough all over - especially for building contractors. Money was unavailable - nobody was building. Maybe Bernard lost the house, maybe he sold it when he could, maybe Rose's illness caused them to give up the house and move in with Harry. I was not able to ascertain what caused the move.
The Chicago Tribune from January 15, 1942 reported the shocking death of Bernard Prusener:
The Decatur (IL) Daily Review gives a little more information:
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| 72 East Randolph, Chicago |
Here is his Death Notice from the Chicago Tribune of January 16, 1942:
Bernard Prusener was buried next to his wife Rose at Ridgewood Cemetery:
A tragic end for a man who created beautiful homes. I obviously never met Bernard Prusener - he died fourteen years before I was born. Nevertheless, I want to thank him - he built a wonderful house for a boy to grow up in. No matter where I live, 1027 Harvard Terrace will always be "Home" to me.
May he rest in peace.
What about 1027 Harvard Terrace? I am happy to report that it is still standing and has not been turned into a McMansion. Here is a recent photo:
It was lovingly renovated and is now the home for a family who bought it in 2022. I hope they will be as happy living there as I was.
Great story! He built some lovely homes.
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