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Tour of Homes

Tour of Homes 2007

The Society’s annual Tour of Homes, held on June 24 was a huge success. Over 600 tickets were sold for the event, which is the main fundraiser of the year for the Society. The tour featured a broad range of homes&emdash;from a beautifully restored 1870s Italianate to a classic 1950s brick ranch, and from a stately 1920s Sheridan Road estate to a home that showcased the collecting passions of its owners. Highlights included the lovely period costumes worn by the homeowners and room watchers at the Ellis-Buck house, and the refreshing lemonade served in the backyard of the Conrad house. Many of the attendees visited the museum and had a chance to view the newest exhibit, Waukegan Listens! An attendee from Antioch won the door prize, a $100 gift certificate to the Genesee Theatre.

A successful event of this scope is the result of six months of hard work by the Tour of Homes Committee&emdash;Harry Came, Gretta Dieck, Sara Griffin, Chandra Sefton, Bill Tyre, and Denyse Waters, ably assisted by our Museum Supervisor Ty Rohrer. Margaret Martin served as graphic designer and the News Sun once again supported the event as official media sponsor. A special thanks is due to the homeowners for their hard work in readying their lovely homes for the tour&emdash;Brian Bailey, Tim Helke, Dan and Yvonne Sylvester, and Craig and Faith Wilson. We also wish to thank the volunteers who served as room watchers and tour guides. Pierce Florist provided the stunning floral arrangements.

Nearly 50% of the attendees traveled from outside Waukegan for the event, which once again provided a wonderful opportunity to showcase our beautiful residential neighborhoods. Perhaps no other annual event exhibits the dedication that our residents have for making Waukegan a special place in which to live.

Be sure to mark your calendar now for the 2008 Tour of Homes to be held Sunday, June 22!

710 N. Sheridan Road

. Built in 1872, this beautiful Victorian home was designated a Bicentennial Landmark by the City of Waukegan. In the past two years, this elegant Italianate-style home has been extensively and accurately restored to its high-Victorian splendor both inside and out.

1005 Oak Crest

This charming brick home sits on one of Waukegan's loveliest curving streets. The owners have spent years assembling a truly remarkable collection of railroad memorabilia. Model trains will be running during the Tour.

936 N. Sheridan Road

. The tile roof and gracious porch of this stately brick home defines Sheridan Road as Waukegan's finest residential thoroughfare. The new owner has extensively landscaped the large front yard and has furnished the house with an interesting and eclectic blend of antiques and contemporary pieces.

1937 N. Poplar Street

This modest brick ranch built in 1954 holds a real surprise for Tour visitors. The current owner has furnished the house with a wonderful collection of authentic 1950s pieces—from the furniture and accessories to the wall art and kitchen appliances. Even the wall colors accurately transport you back to the 1950s.