By Brian Marchetti
Villager Contributor
Come celebrate the closing days of summer on Friday, August 14 as one of the great architectural landmarks of Beverly/Morgan Park hosts this month’s Beverly Area Planning Association Porch Concert.
The L. S. Dickey house, near the corner of 109th and Prospect, will serve as the perfect backdrop for the Outcast Jazz Band. Food trucks from local favorite Americano’s will provide tacos, and classic Chicago-style eats come courtesy of mobile diner Route 66. The show runs from 6-8 p.m.
Built in 1912 by Chicago architectural firm Chatten & Hammond for Luther S. Dickey, the property originally sat on a sprawling four acre lot. Though down to two acres today, it still holds the distinction as the largest residential property in Beverly/Morgan Park’s Ridge Historic District.
Designed as an Arts and Crafts Tudor style home, the structure features a slate roof and five bedrooms. Its aesthetic focuses on natural elements including crown molding, hardwood floors and marble. The home’s current owners, Robert and Paulette Castle, purchased the home in 1984.
“The house had a great deal of curbside appeal,” Robert Castle said. “Leading to the front porch and in between there’s about 12 oak trees that provide a canopy. It’s like a park.”
The Castles have made significant improvements to the house’s interior but have preserved the features of the exterior. The home’s classic look will complement the soaring saxophones and trumpets calling back to the classic era of swing music on the night of the August Porch Concert.
In their 42 years in the home, the Castles raised two daughters, Whitney and Hilary.
“My daughter, Whitney Castle, the current president of BAPA’s board, encouraged me to host the concert,” Robert said. “They’ve always been nice events.”
Formed in 1981 in Beverly/Morgan Park, the Outcast Jazz Band is an 18 piece ensemble featuring five saxophones, four trombones, four trumpets, a rhythm section with drums, bass, a guitar and two vocalists.
“We are a big band and we specialize in swing music from the 1940s and 1950s,” said Vince Clark, Outcast Jazz Band leader, vocalist and trombonist. “We perform songs from artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Glenn Miller.”
While the Outcast Jazz Band celebrates the golden age of swing music, concert goers can keep their energy up with delicious tacos from the Americano’s food truck.
Making their first appearance at a Porch Concert, Route 66, a mobile diner, will offer its take on classic local staples like Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches.
The August Porch Concert is sponsored by the University of Chicago Medicine. Their generous support helps BAPA make these events possible.
As always, BAPA gently asks for a suggested donation of $10 per person or $25 for a family. The concerts are some of the most popular neighborhood events and draw significant crowds. Please lend your support so BAPA can keep the concerts coming.
