Indian Hill Estates

Indian Hill Estates is a planned neighborhood in north Wilmette, around Illinois Road and Locust Road, north of Lake Avenue. Its curving streets were designed in the 1920s to break from Wilmette's grid and feel like an English park, and they still do.

History

• 1926: about a month after Wilmette annexed the land, the Village Board approved the Indian Hill Estates plat. The original section is bounded by Lake Avenue, Romona Road and the curve of Illinois Road.

• The people behind it: attorney Henry Drucker conceived the subdivision, and his wife, Mary, chose its Native American street names. Planner Philip Maher laid out the site.

• The first homes: Bills Realty hired six architects to build homes in traditional styles, including Tudor, Colonial, Norman and Chateauesque.

• The name: it was borrowed from the nearby Indian Hill Club.

• The entrances: low stone walls with posts and lights still mark the entrances along Lake Avenue. Locust Road is the central entrance.

Streets

Streets include Seneca, Mohawk, Iroquois, Blackhawk (with its cul-de-sacs Shabona, Osage, Ottawa and Chippewa) and Seminole roads, with Romona Road along one edge.

Homes

• Lots: larger than most of Wilmette, with deep setbacks, big rear yards and mature trees

• Styles: 1920s and 1930s period-revival homes (Tudor, Colonial, Norman, Chateauesque), postwar ranches, and newer custom homes

• Price range: recent sales roughly $1.3 million to $2.1 million, with newer custom homes listed higher. Prices vary by lot size and how updated a home is.

Schools

Indian Hill Estates is split between two elementary districts, so the street matters:

• Some streets: Wilmette District 39, typically Harper Elementary, then Highcrest and Wilmette Junior High

• Other streets: Avoca School District 37

• High school: both typically feed New Trier High School

[Sarah: list which streets fall in each district from your re-sorted tours.] Always confirm a specific address with the district.

Nearby

• Avoca Park and Marie Murphy School on Illinois Road

• Lake Avenue for access to I-94 (the Edens)

• Kenilworth Gardens to the east

Indian Hill Estates FAQ

When was Indian Hill Estates built? The subdivision was platted in 1926. The earliest homes date to the late 1920s, and building has continued since.

Why do the streets have Native American names? Mary Drucker, wife of founder Henry Drucker, chose them.

What school district is Indian Hill Estates in? It depends on the street. Some are in Wilmette District 39 and some in Avoca District 37. Confirm any address with the district.

Is Indian Hill Estates the same as the Indian Hill Club? No. The neighborhood borrowed its name from the nearby club.

Thinking about Indian Hill Estates?

Would District 39 or Avoca suit your family better? I can walk you through which streets go where. Let's connect.

Related: Kenilworth Gardens · West Wilmette · All Wilmette neighborhoods

Indian Hill Estates is a planned neighborhood in Wilmette, north of Lake Avenue around Illinois Road. Bills Realty began developing it in 1926, with curving streets, a 50-foot setback and houses by architects including George Fred Keck. I'm Sarah Jividen, and this page is part of my Welcome to Wilmette neighborhood-by-neighborhood series. Here's what I'd tell a friend who was looking here.

Shortly before the subdivision began, Wilmette annexed about 1,500 acres west of Illinois Road. Chicago real estate attorney Henry Drucker came up with the idea for Indian Hill Estates, and Bills Realty, run by three brothers, developed it starting in 1926. The name came from the neighboring Indian Hill Club, and Drucker's wife, Mary, chose the Native American street names.

Architect Philip Maher drew the site plan, with curving streets, a 50-foot setback, underground utilities and ornamental lamps. Standards called for substantial two-story houses with attached garages and slate roofs. George Fred Keck designed 27 houses here, starting with 915 Seneca in 1927. His 1936 house at 2716 Blackhawk, with a welded steel frame and a glass brick stair tower, is called a seminal Modern house by the Wilmette Historical Museum.

Who Indian Hill Estates fits

Indian Hill Estates is worth a look if you love 1920s and 1930s architecture, want curving streets and deep front lawns, and are open to either District 39 or Avoca schools. Many homes here are older, so a thorough inspection matters.

Homes in Indian Hill Estates don't come up often. Tell me what you're looking for, including which school district you want, and I'll let you know as soon as something fits, or start with my free North Shore Upsizing Guide.