How can you help preserve Chicago's workers cottages?
Walk around your block and get to know the houses and your neighbors better
Get involved in community groups in your area
Join a local preservation organization such as Preservation Chicago or a neighborhood preservation group to stay informed
Write to your alderman to tell them how these houses are a benefit to your neighborhood and worth preserving
Find tips on renovating historic houses at the Chicago Bungalow Association
Talk to your neighbors about decreasing the zoning classification of your street to lower the financial incentives for demolition
Share photos and stories about your favorite workers cottages on social media
Join the Chicago Workers Cottage Initiative mailing list to learn more!
Historic Preservation Organizations
Preservation Chicago - focussing on Chicago history in all neighborhoods
Landmarks Illinois - statewide historic preservation group
Chicago Bungalow Association - tips and resources for improving historic homes of all types
House History Research
Chicago Ancestors - list of historic resources and map of local history
Family Search Wiki - go-to resource for locating Chicago-specific historical info
Workers Cottage Background Info
This Popular House Style in Chicago Is Going Extinct - Bob Vila
Chicago Building Types: Worker Cottage - Moss Architecture
The Working Man's Reward: Chicago's Early Suburbs and the Roots of American Sprawl by Elaine Lewinnek
City of American Dreams: A History of Home Ownership and Housing Reform in Chicago, 1871-1919 by Margaret Garb
From Cottage to Bungalow: Houses and the Working Class in Metropolitan Chicago, 1869-1929 by Joseph C. Bigott