'Mansion that Snickers Built' Faces Demolition

Photos via Zillow.com.

The former River Forest home of the man who invented Snickers, Milky Way and Three Musketeers candy bars may face demolition under the direction of its current owners.

Avra Properties, based in Chicago, bought the Mars Mansion at 930 Ashland Ave. in Dec. 2014 for $2 million, according to the Cook County Recorder of Deeds.

An application for certificate of appropriateness that included details of the proposed demolition of the Mars Mansion was submitted to the River Forest Historic Preservation Commission.

In a unanimous vote Thursday, the commission denied the application. However, the commission’s decision is purely advisory, and there’s no penalty if the recommendation is ignored, according to the commission website.

The homeowner wasn’t present at the meeting to answer questions about the demolition request or to speak on its behalf.

“The non-presence does however speak to the consideration given to the value of the current structure to the community in the eyes of the new owners,” said David Franek, chairman of the commission.

Harry Franklin Robinson built the two-story home in 1919, according to Zillow, and it still has many original details. There are seven bedrooms, four full baths and two half baths. There’s a conservatory and a giant living room on the first floor.

Franklin and Ethel Mars moved into the Mars Mansion in the 1920s, according to OakPark.com, and the property was sold in 1946 after they had both died.

“Not only is this a loss to River Forest — the property itself because it is a significant property and one of a very select few — it also sends a very bad message to our members of our community that homes of this nature, we don’t care enough about them to delay the demolition, to do anything to protect them other than offer hearing for people to express their views,” said Commissioner Laurel McMahon.