Responses to the post on Jens Jensen and his 1913 landscape plan for the house at 10520 Longwood Drive raised interest in other projects Jensen did on the Ridge.
Documentation shows Jensen did work for three private estates: 10520 (then 10560) Longwood Drive; the Hopkinson-Platt House at 10820 S. Drew St.; and 9900 S. Longwood Drive, the home of Orlando J. Buck.
Jensen and/or associates in his company did plans for two local institutions. In 1918, his company designed plans for the sports grounds around the gym south of 122nd Street for the Morgan Park Academy (attached). In 1924, his associates developed a planting plan for Oakhaven Old People’s Home, which is today’s Smith Village.
It was his work for Morgan Park’s public parks that benefited “the people.” He planned Crescent Park in 1915. Prior to that, he designed Prospect Gardens Park and Bohn (Depot) Park in 1906.
Jens Jensen immigrated to the United States from Denmark in 1884, after attending agricultural school and serving a mandatory time in the Prussian army. In Chicago, he started as a laborer with Chicago’s West Park Commission and was soon promoted to foreman.
In a famous story, Jensen designed and planted a garden of exotic flowers. When the flowers all died, he went out into the surrounding prairie and gathered native wildflowers, which he transplanted into a corner of Union Park, creating his first “American garden” in 1888.
This became his signature, a natural style with open meadows and horizontal lines bringing the Midwestern prairie into the city. He became the Prairie School landscape architect equivalent of Frank Lloyd Wright, with whom he collaborated.
By 1905 Jensen was the general superintendent of the entire West Park District. His expertise was sought by other communities, and Morgan Park, part of the Calumet Park District, asked for his help in 1906. [All of the parks were consolidated as the Chicago Park District in 1934.]
Jensen designed a plan for Depot Park, which is to the immediate west of the 111th Street Metra train station. An article in the Morgan Park Post (attached) described the project. The park was renamed as Bohn Park in 1933, for Henry J. Bohn, a publisher and first president of the Calumet Park District. Bohn was president when Jensen did his work. A real picture postcard ca. 1910 (attached) gives an idea of the park from that time.
Prospect Gardens Park was a real jewel in its time but Jensen’s plans, and pictures of the features he designed, are all we have left now. The planting plan lists the type of plans and locations. He also designed tennis courts, footpaths and a rock pool.