Houses have histories, and the American Foursquare at 2348 S. Millard is connected to the only foreign-born mayor in Chicago history.
The 2 1/2 -story home was the residence of Anton Cermak from 1923 until his death in 1933. State officials said Wednesday that the National Park Service has placed the home on the National Register of Historic Places.
“This house is the only remaining structure that is closely associated with Mayor Cermak, and it is where he lived during the most important years of his political career,” said Jan Grimes, director of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, which runs the national register program in the state.
Understanding the potential of ethnic and racial voting coalitions, Cermak is credited with creating the Democratic Machine that ruled local politics for more than 50 years. Cermak was an alderman, Cook County Board president and Cook County Democratic chairman before he was elected mayor in 1931.
Records show his former home has been owned for years by Martha Miranda and Albert Vazquez. They could not be reached for comment.
The Lawndale home’s recognition as a historic site makes the owners eligible for tax incentives and grants for renovations. It is not a guarantee against demolition.
Cermak was born in 1873 in the current Czech Republic and came to Chicago with his parents a year later. His foreign birth was an issue in the mayoral race, with incumbent “Big Bill” Thompson making fun of his name and humble origins, calling him “Pushcart Tony.”
Cermak replied, “It’s true I didn’t come over on the Mayflower, but I came over as soon as I could.”
Cermak died in 1933 from an assassin’s bullet fired as the mayor was shaking hands with President-elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Miami. Cermak had rankled the Chicago mob as mayor, but gunman Giuseppe Zangara said his target was FDR, who was unhurt........Lol
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