Crystal Lake’s downtown features buildings adorned with terracotta bricks in vibrant shades of green, crafted locally over a century ago. The Historic Preservation Commission recently recommended landmark designation for 77 E. Woodstock St., home to Aroma Coffee & Wine and Blush Salon & Spa. The City Council will vote on this 112-year-old building on May 19.
These iconic green bricks, made by the American Terra Cotta & Ceramic Company, demonstrate a unique chemical and firing process that produces a distinctive finish. Historic Preservation Commissioners emphasize that the bricks represent a synergy of chemistry, engineering, and design, with their light-diffusing glaze likened to the beauty of jewels.
Originally built as Bowers Garage, the structure was valued at $12,000 in 1914 and was known for selling and repairing high-end cars, including Auburn models. Its strategic location near the Crystal Lake Metra Station once served affluent Chicagoans traveling to Lake Geneva resorts.
Current owners Dawn and Kevin Kincaid have restored the building while maintaining its history, expressing pride in preserving it as a key part of downtown. If approved by the City Council, this landmark designation would be the second for a business facility in Crystal Lake, following the Laue Center for the Arts. Last year, a previous landmark initiative failed when another historic building was demolished.
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