Morgan Park mansion that sits on 2.5 acres, unusually large in the city, sells for $625,000

A 19th-century, Italianate-style mansion on more than 2.5 acres in the South Side Morgan Park neighborhood sold on March 28 for $625,000.

Known alternately as the Hopkinson House or the Platt House after the surnames of early owners, the five-bedroom, 4,428-square-foot structure sits on one of the largest land sizes of any single-family home inside Chicago’s city limits.

The property includes five separate parcels of record, including several properties that extend into the middle of the block, between the backyards of neighboring houses.

The year that the home, on South Drew Street, was built is in question. Early Tribune articles state that the house was built in 1845, while research provided by listing agent Nancy Hotchkiss of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, including a plaque in the home, pegs the home’s construction date to 1862. Either way, the house has been reported over the years to be the oldest home in the greater Beverly and Morgan Park area.

The house’s first owner was William Hopkinson, and a 1963 Tribune article claimed that the house was a station on the Underground Railroad.

In the mid-1920s, Robert Platt, a University of Chicago geography professor, and his wife, Harriet, bought the house and remained there until his death in 1964. A 1989 Tribune article noted that the land once was used as a Potawatomi tribe council site.

During the Platts’ ownership of the home, more than 100 U. of C. students lived in the Platts’ home, free of charge, according to Robert Platt’s 1964 Tribune obituary.

The house has 3-1/2 bathrooms, two fireplaces, hardwood floors, original moldings and plasterwork.

“You walk in the front door, and you’re awestruck,” Hotchkiss said. “It does need work, but it’s impressive and amazing and so unique and different. The couple who bought it is great and amazing and are going to keep the character alive. They’re so into the house and into the history. They wrote a lovely letter to the seller stating their intention to restore the house and keep the original integrity intact.”

Hotchkiss’ client paid $735,000 in 2004 for the property.

“He purchased it because he was afraid it would be lost,” Hotchkiss said of the seller. “He wanted to just keep it. It has so much history, and he just wanted to make sure it went to the right person.”

The five parcels collectively had a $22,676 property tax bill in the 2020 tax year.

Goldsborough is a freelance writer.

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