Pleasant Home and Mills Park,
in Oak Park, Illinois,
on a brilliant fall day.
The Praire Style house was designed in 1897
by prominent architect, George W. Maher.
It is the only Maher building open as a museum.
The Praire Style house was designed in 1897
by prominent architect, George W. Maher.
It is the only Maher building open as a museum.
The Home is on the National registry
of Historic Landmarks and sits on five acres.
Pleasant Home was designed for investment banker
and philanthropist John W. Farson
and his wife Mamie Ashworth Farson.
The design broke with the traditional Queen Anne
and colonial revival styles
of most of the homes in Oak Park.
There is the wonderful expansive porch
and the use of decorative motifs
such as the circle, lion's head and rectangular banner
that unify the spaces and design.
Cleverly named Pleasant Home-
because it sits
at the intersection of Pleasant and Home streets.
The design details are abundant.
Maher was a contemporary of the group
of Prairie architects that included Joseph Silsbee,
George Elmslie and Frank Lloyd Wright.
Maher designed more than 300 buildings
in the United States.
Maher was a contemporary of the group
of Prairie architects that included Joseph Silsbee,
George Elmslie and Frank Lloyd Wright.
Maher designed more than 300 buildings
in the United States.
The newly restored
mahogany front entry welcomes all guests.
Carvings, paintings and marble
as well as beautiful stained glass windows
invite close inspection.
invite close inspection.
The modern day "Tea Room" looking into what
would have been the formal dining room.
In 1910, John Farson's widow
sold the home to the family of Herbert Mills.
This family amassed their fortune
in the amusement machine business.
Thought the Farson's were known
for their life of entertainment,
the Mills family, Herbert and Leonie,
raised four boys and four girls in the home.
In 1910, John Farson's widow
sold the home to the family of Herbert Mills.
This family amassed their fortune
in the amusement machine business.
Thought the Farson's were known
for their life of entertainment,
the Mills family, Herbert and Leonie,
raised four boys and four girls in the home.
This home has a wonderful play
of light and dark,
of light and dark,
as well as the draw
of the outside to the inside.
of the outside to the inside.
We gathered from across
the miles for Tea Time,
the miles for Tea Time,
to step back into the space
that beckons from last century,
and dreamed of parties
given a hundred years ago.
We sipped tea, ate sandwiches,
and almost "left before dessert".
When the Mills family owned the house -
there was the influence
of the Mills Novelty Company.
We were treated to the music of this
Violana Vituoso.
Pleasant Home is a 30 room study
of craftsmanship and detail.
Oak carved woodwork, intricate tilework,
stunning art glass windows and
the addition of the novelty of electric lighting
made for a stunning masterpiece from this era.
The library light fixture, remnants of the kitchen
and a Mills family business- slot machine
gather to tell a bit of the story.
A lovely day with a glimpse
into a bygone time.
Thanks Judy May
and daughter-in-law
Heidi Ruehle May
for organizing such a wonderful time!
More photos for Pleasant Home here:
Pleasant Home
Follow them on Pinterest Here:
Pleasant Home Foundation
More photos for Pleasant Home here:
Pleasant Home
Follow them on Pinterest Here:
Pleasant Home Foundation
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