BACKGROUND: Booth Manor was originally constructed as the Tilt Mansion, and was completed in 1914 by the Holabird and Roche Construction Company. The grounds encompassed 4 acres, including the main house, a greenhouse/conservatory, garage, servants’ quarters, heating plant, with a brick wall surrounding the grounds.
Mr. Joseph E. Tilt was a shoe manufacturer whose first wife Sarah died in 1893 at the age of 41. She is buried in Graceland Cemetery on Clark Street. Mr. Tilt built this home for his second wife Stella and their three children, Ned, Judith, and Catherine. It was made up of living areas, dining room, kitchen, 14 bedrooms (each with its own bath and walk-in closet), 17 fireplaces, as well as a library, ballroom, billiard room, wine cellar, and gym. The building contained modern conveniences of the day such as electricity, intercom, gas fireplaces, and steam heat. The dimensions of the façade are 125 feet wide by 80 feet deep. With the basement and attic, Booth Manor is approximately 44,000 square feet.
In a letter from Ned Tilt dated 1984 we learned that the original address of the mansion was 3562 Evanston Avenue. During the Tilt family’s four years in residence, 3 maids, a launderer, butler, chauffer, gardener, and helper also lived here. There was only one apartment building on Evanston Ave., now Broadway, and you could see Lake Michigan from the house.
The Tilts lived here until 1919 when they moved to Pasadena, California, where Mr. Tilt’s wealth grew through real estate and art. He died in 1930 and is also buried in Graceland Cemetery. His wife, Stella, died in 1952 in Los Angeles.
The Salvation Army purchased the property in 1920 for $300,000 (Mr. Tilt immediately reverted with a $50,000 gift towards the Army’s mission). In 1920 the assessed value was $390,000.
Great Hall: Some of the furniture is original, most notably the 6 blue chairs and large tables. The light fixtures, marble floor, ceiling, etc. are also original to the house. Each of the 17 fireplaces is unique in construction, design, and materials. On other floors The Salvation Army has changed some of the original design to meet the needs of the College. This room was originally referred to as the Great Hall. Noteworthy features are the carving and design of the ceiling. The design over the fireplace includes grapes and animals; Richard the Lionheart’s (Coeur de Lion) coat of arms is present over the fireplace. This and other symbols of British royalty are found through this floor and the entry to the house, too. This is one of the few fireplaces in the mansion that still works. It is a gas fireplace and is used at Christmas time as part of our Christmas Tea program. The sconces and central light in the foyer are all original to the house; their theme continues in the large library room. The 1914 bust of William Booth can be seen on a pedestal outside the library.
Porte-Cochère: French for “coach door,” family and guests entered the mansion via this grand archway. When the Tilts entertained, the carriages would drive under the canopy and deposit their passengers at the front door. The leaded glass windows are original to the manor; the best example is the “T” for Tilt monogram over the main entrance.
Reception Room: Our general office was originally the coat room. Of note are the fireplace, wood floors, and light fixtures.
Living Room: This is the reference room for the library, but was the Tilts’ living room. Especially beautiful are the wood paneling on the walls, the beautiful wood fireplace/mantle, and the sconces. The Latin mottos on the fireplace are “Vincit Omnia Amor” and “Vincit Omnia Veritas,” meaning “Love Conquers All” and “Truth Conquers All.”
The sculpture, “My Brother’s Keeper,” was created by artist Bud Boller and gifted to the College by Angel and Paul Harvey. When Angel saw the helping hand, she thought of The Salvation Army offering a helping hand to those in need. There were leaded glass doors between the living room and the breakfast room, but were removed before 1978.
Breakfast Room: The librarian’s office was the family’s breakfast room. At the time the Tilts lived here there were very few buildings between them and the lake front. They could enjoy the beautiful view of the lakefront while drinking morning coffee and eating breakfast. Note the stone fireplace, the light fixtures in the corners and the floor. This is the original tile floor of the room. The picture over the fireplace was taken in the late 1950s/early 1960s.
Dining Room: The Tilt dining room was the principal’s office for over 60 years, but when the building was renovated in the early 1980s, it became an additional library room. Walk through and note the wall light fixtures, the fireplace and the French doors. The French doors opened to stairs that led to the greenhouse and conservatory. The room labeled “Librarian” was the butler’s pantry and contained floor-to-ceiling cupboards and drawers made from cherry wood. Meals were prepared in the basement kitchen and sent to the dining room via the dumbwaiter found in that same room.
Elevator and Hallway: Note the wood paneling, marble floor, and ceiling of the hallway. The portraits are of former Generals (international leaders) of The Salvation Army beginning with William Booth. The elevator is the second oldest passenger elevator in the city of Chicago. Prior to 1980, the elevator had been painted chartreuse. The woodwork, ironwork, brass and copper plates, and fittings, are all original, as is the leaded glass door.
Library: This is the original family library. The wood paneling, wall fixtures, fireplace, and built-in shelves are original to the house. Of special note is the wood-carved crest under the mantel: “Live. Learn. Labor.” If Mr. Tilt bought books for this library the same way he did in Pasadena, he bought them simply for their color and the beauty of their bindings. This made for a very interesting set of books with some really unusual topics.
Grand Staircase: These stairs lead to the second and third floors and include original lighting and the Doctrines of The Salvation Army in two facing panels. The gargoyles on each landing also have markings which relate to Richard the Lionheart.
SECOND FLOOR
There were 8 bedrooms a sitting room and the Sun Parlor on this private, family floor. Each bedroom had its own fireplace, bath, and walk-in closet. Sadly, this floor was entirely gutted in an early 1980s renovation. The only thing left truly intact is the Sun Parlor, then Mrs. Tilt’s sewing room, now an office.
THIRD FLOOR
There were 6 bedrooms on this floor for servants and guests, as well as the ballroom, which included a band stage. Next to the ballroom was a retiring room for those who needed a rest from dancing or a quiet place to sit. The ballroom has been used by the College as a chapel, classroom, and museum. Three of the bedrooms are kept as guest rooms. One other feature of note is the “Annunciator” call box used to contact servants throughout the house; it still has the names of the family members on it.
BASEMENT
The basement contained the gym, billiard room, wine cellar, laundry, kitchen (with a huge walk-in refrigerator), and servants’ dining room. Even the gym had a fireplace – together with a dressing room and shower room. The dressing room/shower room is now used for storage. At one time the gym was the dining room for the College; now it serves as the cadet lounge. The billiard room became the staff lounge, and the wine cellar became a kitchen. Today the billiard room is a conference room and the only thing original in the room is the fireplace, which still works, and the sideboard. The laundry room is still used for laundry, but the servants’ dining room is a craft storage room, and the kitchen is a storage room.
