“Carved from rich, gently rolling farmland, the graceful curving streets fit into a master landscape plan which changes the character of the terrain only where engineering improvements make it necessary… It will be a profoundly practical as well as beautiful city.”
So said the brochure that F&S Construction handed out at their new model homes at the corner of Higgins and Roselle Roads. Ads also began appearing in the Chicago Tribune in 1956 and an even earlier 1955 ad in the Daily Herald headlined the community that was coming to Schaumburg Township.
An article from the November 3, 1955 issue of the Daily Herald, stated that “the first unit of 262 homes, priced at $15,000 is now completely sold out. First families will move in this month with all homes occupied by April.”
The half acre lots where these homes could be found were in the wedge formed by Higgins, Golf and Roselle Roads, in a subdivision known as Parcel A. It’s a simple name and one that was never updated by F&S Construction. (Those half acre lots were never offered again.)
Both the Chicago Tribune ads and the brochure were prolific in their details on the models that were available. It appears that the Country Clubber and the Cleveport–advertised in the March 24, 1956 issue–were the first two models, followed by the Westerner that made its appearance with the Deluxe Country Clubber in the September 16, 1956 issue of the Tribune.
All of the land for the Parcels was purchased by Sam Hoffman who owned F&S. It was rezoned from farming to residential by the Cook County Zoning Board in February 1955 at the request of owners, Werner W. and Irene Kastning, and Dorothy Dalton Hammerstein.
The Kastnings owned the property where Hoffman Plaza, Parcel A and Parcel B were built. Those areas stretch across Higgins Road and are bordered on the west by Roselle Road and on the north by Golf Road. Dorothy Hammerstein, the former silent film star, owned the acreage where Parcel C was developed. It is bordered on the north by Higgins Road, on the east by Roselle Road and on the south by Schaumburg Road.
The Country Clubber opened at $17,950 and was a “luxurious home of 1650 square feet under roof.” It had 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a garage and equipped kitchen. It was their upgraded model and also included a 29-foot living-dining area, Western-Holly built-in gas oven & table-top range, Waste King garbage disposer, Air King vent hood & fan, oak hardwood floors and natural mahogany kitchen cabinets with your choice of interior colors.
The Cleveport was the smaller model at 1176 square feet and was listed at “just $15,500 and offered 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a carport.” However, not to be overlooked was the “scientifically planned, stepsaver kitchen and adjoining utility room.” An “open living-dining plan” gave a “feeling of extra space.”
By September when the Westerner was advertised, Hoffman Homes had found their in-between model that was offered at $16,950. It was 1477 square feet and included “outside storage and carport, 3 bedrooms with large closets, linen and guest closets, 2 baths, oak hardwood floors, asphalt tile in [the] kitchen and baths, separate utility room, separate dining room, big kitchen with breakfast area, natural mahogany cabinets, your choice of interior colors, central heat with thermostat, brick and siding exterior, concrete driveway and walk.”
And the plusses for this up and coming community?
- With a 10-mile radius of Illinois communities which provide shopping, entertainment and other services
- Less than a half-hour drive away from resort lakes
- Picnic and park areas in every direction
- The “big game fish” lakes of Wisconsin that are but 70 miles to the north
- A central municipal water system
- City sewerage system, central disposal plant
- Natural gas service through the Northern Illinois Gas Co.
- 110-volt electric service (220 volt service was available at extra cost)
- All regular utility service connections including meters
- Full insulation
- Loads of electrical outlets
- School facilities furnished at no added cost
- Streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, driveways
- Fire hydrants installed
- Parks, shopping center, community center planned
- Shuttle bus service for commuters to Palatine and Roselle
- Beautiful, 27-hole golf course is immediately adjacent
The homes in these parcels, begun by Sam and Jack Hoffman, are now over 60 years old and have either remained true to their original footprints, been added onto, or have been torn down so that newer, larger homes could be built on the sizable lots.
The Parcel A, B and C neighborhoods of Hoffman Estates were the beginning of a residential boom in Schaumburg Township that would, largely, run from the late 1950s to forty years later into the 1990s. Sam and Jack Hoffman of F&S Construction saw the potential and got the ball rolling.
Jane Rozek
Local History Librarian
Schaumburg Township District Library
jrozek@stdl.org
If your family was one of those who bought any of the models in Parcels A, B & C–and you still have the floor plans in your possession–the library and the Hoffman Estates Museum would love to acquire scans.
And, actually, we are trying to put together a collection of ALL of the subdivision floor plans in Schaumburg Township and would very much appreciate paper work you can lend, send or donate of any home or apartment model. Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Hanover Park–we’re open to it all. Please feel free to email me if you have anything to contribute. We would be so grateful!
History of Schaumburg Township 