After graduating from Austin High School in 1897, Francis C. Pilgrim joined the real estate, insurance and property management firm of Charles B. Williams & Company established in 1893, located at 340 N. 52nd Avenue (Lake Street at Laramie Avenue) in Chicago. In time, Mr. Pilgrim became Williams' partner in the business, and the company became known as Williams and Pilgrim. By 1913, the company was known by its present name, F.C. Pilgrim & Company and in 1914 moved into a handsome building designed by Frederick Schock, Austin's leading architect, that until recently stood at the corner of Lake Street and Parkside Avenue, across the street from the Austin Bank. Through the next five decades, Pilgrim operated out of this office, growing as the surrounding community grew. For a time, Pilgrim joined in the building boom of the 1920's that characterized the west suburbs of Chicago, building bungalows in Bellwood in addition to selling real estate, servicing mortgages, writing insurance policies and managing rental properties in Austin and Oak Park. In the late 1930's F.C. Pilgrim opened a branch office at 601 N. Harlem Avenue in Oak Park, furthering its ties to the village. Also around that time, Pilgrim expanded the original business into the building directly to the east on Lake Street. After World War II, operation of the business was assumed by John Pilgrim, Francis' son, who oversaw the continued expansion of the company, especially in Oak Park. In 1967, Pilgrim merged with Houser Real Estate, and moved its company headquarters to Oak Park a year later. Emerson Houser who consummated the deal to merge with Pilgrim actively sold real estate until he retired in the 1990s. With the acquisition of Houser Real Estate, Pilgrim tuned in even more closely to the Oak Park market, especially in the field of Property Management. The Houser office at 1026 North Blvd. became a division of F.C. Pilgrim after the merger, moving to an office in the Medical Arts Building on Lake Street for a time. Another branch office was also opened on Chicago Avenue in a building formerly used as a deep freezer locker. The building required a two story addition and in time became the present Pilgrim real estate offices sitting in the heart of the Frank Lloyd Wright historic district, right next to a house designed by Wright and just a block away from the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and studio. In 1970, John E. O'Neill, who owned his own insurance firm, came to Pilgrim as head of their Insurance division. O'Neill, a life-long River Forest resident had worked in the real estate business in Austin before venturing into insurance full time. In 1982, John Pilgrim retired as president and sold F.C. Pilgrim & Company to John O'Neill. John O'Neill consolidated the branch offices, moving the operation under one roof at 1037 Chicago Ave. As the business continued to grow, Pilgrim Management Company opened its own office in River Forest and now is located at 342 Ashland. In 1999, upon Mr. O'Neill's retirement, his son Michael and his daughter Mary purchased the company from him. Continuing the legacy of the Pilgrim family for "trusted service and integrity since 1893," they are deeply commited to providing our customers and clients the best in personal service and providing the Pilgrim agents with the highest quality tools and services as we move toward the future. The company still operates with the same confidence and vision that was the heritage of F.C. and John Pilgrim, and continues to be proud of its position as the leader in the area real estate community.

This information is subject to inspection and verification by all parties relying upon it. No liability for its accuracy, errors, omissions is assumed by the sellers, their agents, or F.C. Pilgrim& Co. Information may be modified or withdrawn at any time without notice. Copyright © 1996, 1997, 1998 F.C. Pilgrim & Company, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Updated on July 16, 1998. 38630 accesses