Falconer Bungalow Historic District
Falconer Bungalow Historic District is a residential area in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. It covers about 59.2 acres and is roughly bounded by West Wellington Avenue, North Lamon Avenue, North Laramie Avenue, and the alley north of West Diversey Avenue. The district includes 348 Chicago bungalows built from 1915 to 1931.
Why bungalows spread here: In the early 20th century, owning a home became more affordable in Chicago, and the bungalow style was inexpensive and easy to replicate, which led to many being built across the city.
Who developed it: The land was originally farmed by Laughlin Falconer, a Scottish immigrant. He sold the land to developers in 1913. The area’s growth was led by George C. Hield, who bought much of the Falconer family’s subdivided land between 1913 and 1919, with early work by Edward H. Olsen and Henry Van Vooren. The bungalows were designed mainly by Ernest Braucher and Johan F. Knudson, who often included full-length open porches, making the district one of the city’s best collections of open-front-porch bungalows.
Construction timeline: Building began in November 1915 on the 4900 block of West Oakdale Avenue. From 1915 to 1921, nearly all of the 101 homes were built by Hield, Olsen, and Van Vooren; only three were built by others. After 1921, dozens of developers and buyers added 240 more homes through 1925.
Community and economy: The district stays close to industrial and job centers, so residents could work nearby. This helped families contribute to the household economy, especially during tough times like the Depression. An example from the era notes a Norwegian-born piano tuner at Lyon and Healy and his family working together in local factories.
National Register status: The Falconer Bungalow Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 7, 2007.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 03:11 (CET).