Before each showing, real estate agent Michelle Arseneau and her team are extra careful when vacuuming, dusting and decorating an aging house in an Orland Park neighborhood.
Arseneau referred to a placard outside the home as to why it is special: “The Cox house is the first and oldest residence in Orland Park.”
The house is named after its builder and first resident, Harry A. Cox, a farmer, carpenter and Orland Park’s third mayor.
Cox, born in 1864 in Orland Township, built his family’s home at 14420 Second Ave. in 1880, 12 years before the village was officially incorporated in 1892. Cox took office as mayor in 1915 from Charles Burkhardt and served in the role until 1923. He and his wife had six children. After Cox’s death in 1932, the home stayed in the family into the late 20th century.
The Cox house is on the market for $510,000. It previously was rented, Arseneau said, but the last owner decided to put it on the market. In May, a comparable house sold for $488,000 on the same block in the Old Orland historic neighborhood, Arseneau said.
The Cox home is 2,800 square-feet with four bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. Interior renovations adorned the home with fresh paint, flooring and modern finishes, including a kitchen with new cabinets, appliances and countertops. The addition of bay windows were made to the home in the early 20th century.
The house, built only a few blocks from the 143rd Street railroad station, was made in an architectural style common at the time and used lightweight lumber available through the railroad.
The house today maintains as the same national-style architecture as the original Cox family home, which was only two rooms deep by two rooms wide. Cox built a barn along with the house to the rear of the property.
Rich Carriel, who has lived across the street from the house for 20 years, said before the barn was demolished in the renovation, it “still had hay for the horses.”
“I just fell in love with this house,” Arseneau said. “It’s kind of this old country home, and then you come inside and it’s all new and modern.”
The building is one of 16 structures protected by the village in the Old Orland historic district. The house, therefore, must meet certain design requirements and all renovations must be approved by the village and maintain the original architectural features and style.
The community’s second oldest home is John Humphrey house, the residence of the village’s first mayor that now serves as a museum.
The Old Orland historic district, which spans the area south of 143rd street between West and Ravinia avenues, is cherished by neighbors for its walkability, access to the train station, Arseneau said. Other buildings protected by the district include the1922 brick Orland Park School building and the 1898 Twin Towers Chapel.
Despite the immense change that the village around it has faced during the past century and a half, the Cox house has adapted with the times and remained a reminder of when Orland Park was just a small farm town at the end of the railroad line, local officials said.
“The history behind it has value,” Arseneau said. “I just think it has a great story.”
