New Building Improvements are Happening at The Dole

In the 1921, Mrs. Lou Ringling and a group of investors purchased the Dole mansion and surrounding property and built the annex in a Tudor tower design with French style windows, to house the original Crystal Lake Country Club. The membership was $35 a year for “man and wife”. They had two 18-hole golf courses, 44 bedrooms, and a magnificent ballroom. They also parceled the original CCAPOA lots for home building. The country club survived until 1938, when the doors were officially closed. In the 1940s, the Franciscan Order of Lake Forest purchased the properties and made many changes to the building. Most likely due to weather damage and upkeep, they changed the front facing windows to glass blocks, which have stayed ever since.

In late 2019, we were extremely thankful to have received donations earmarked specifically for building improvements. We repainted the Tudor towers back to the original colors and painted the ornate woodworking on The Dole to keep it from weather damage. The lobby was brought back to its 1920s style, and the Sage Gallery got a much-needed facelift and gallery lighting.

In 2020, when the world stopped due to Covid-19, we received many community donations, and we are most grateful. Your generosity has kept our doors open, allowing us to continue bringing art, music, and a creative space to our community. During this time, we received and are extremely thankful for a very generous donation earmarked specifically for building improvements, which we hope to begin in April of 2021. “The project will restore the face of the Lakeside property annex (the first Crystal Lake Country Club) back to the 1920s era in which it was built. We will be replacing the glass block windows of the annex with windows in the original style of the building, using a local company, Werderitch Construction. The entire cost of this construction will be covered by one restricted donation, and not by other donations received from the community.” Ron Russell, Board Member on the Building & Grounds Committee

“These improvements were approved by the board, following Section 2 of our bylaws, which state the purpose for which the Lakeside Legacy Foundation was formed; namely to ‘…support and provide funding for the purchase, restoration, preservation, and operations of the Dole Mansion/Lakeside property in a manner relevant to the period it which it was built.’” Patti Lutz Lakeside Legacy Foundation Board President

Lakeside Legacy Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Our continuing vision is to provide and foster innovative arts and education to provide a community destination that enriches the lives of those we serve. Lakeside Legacy Foundation’s year-round programs include NMP’s 4th Fridays Art Event, live musical performances in ‘the Listening Room’, LATE NIGHT at the Dole, Community Art Events, Music under the Trees, Lakeside Festival, and much more.