National Register of Historic Places – David Syme House – Sycamore, Illinois – Historic Architecture

If you happen to be in the Sycamore, Illinois area with nothing to do, more specifically if you happen to be in the 800 block of Somonauk Street in Sycamore, no doubt seeing the Chauncey Ellwood House and the Esther Mae Nesbitt House, you could walk south. Walk until you reach the 400 block. At 420 Somonauk is the stately David Syme House. It’s a Queen Anne-style house that’s part of a group known as “painted ladies” (wiki: not the best but good enough).

The David Syme House was designed by architect George O. Garnsey, who designed several other prominent local structures, as well as buildings in other Illinois communities (more on both in other articles of mine). Garnsey was a Chicago-based architect who helped design many buildings after the Great Chicago Fire and what is now the current Illinois State Capitol.

Syme House has two prominent round towers, common to Queen Anne-style houses. Syme House also has a cross-gabled (wiki) gabled roof (wiki), a feature found in about 50 per cent of houses. Queen Anne style houses.

David Syme came to Sycamore in 1868 and the house at 420 Somonauk cost him around $8,000 around 1880. Syme served as president of the local bank as well as mayor and president of the Sycamore School Board.

Sycamore, Illinois is a city of approximately 15,000 people, located in DeKalb County, of which it is the county seat. Sycamore was established in 1835, primarily north of the Kishwaukee River.

Sycamore is well worth a visit for any architecture student, history buff, or photojournalist. The National Register of Historic Places is an excellent combination of the two fields that is well worth seeking out for connoisseurs of either specialty.