Shocking News

For those in the Joliet area, I have found a bit of news that in today's world may not be quite so shocking, but in historical context changed the life and ended the illustrious career of one of our notable locals.

I tripped over a real estate listing for a home in Altadena, California designed by our friend and local architectural legend F.S. Allen, architect of Joliet Township High School (central), Christ Church and many residences in the 1800's. I grew up in Mr. Allen's home in Joliet and have visited his home in Streator. We knew he left Joliet in 1904 and moved to Pasadena and died in 1930 but his career rather abruptly ends arond 1910. There were stories he retired to run a music store, but the lingering question was why.

Well, I gained a lot of insight into his work there, including tying him to famous design team Greene and Greene. I also found out why his career came to a rather abrupt halt. A piece of research commissioned by the listing agent from Building Biographers turned up a rather uncomfortable scandal involving a young boy who had gone missing for some time. There was a charge of moral corruption but no legal charges ever held. Nonetheless, Mr. Allen's career and marriage did not survive. By 1920 he would be listed as a salesman for sound machines, then listed as divorced.

His grand estate would be developed, though the home survives, albeit heavily modified.

C