Be a Guest for a Jolly Holiday

In the midst of the celebration of Walt Disney's birthday today, I recall Open House Chicago 2023 back in October.  One of the most interesting sites open for visits was the Hermosa home where Walt was born on December 5, 1902.  It had been acquired a few years ago by some individuals who have been working to restore it.

OHC weekend was the first opportunity that it was open to the public.

So on a rainy Saturday morning, October 14, I drove through the West Side and then wound around the blocks near the Walt Disney Birthplace Home on Tripp Avenue to find a parking spot.

Given the high interest, there was a long line.  Fortunately, I was able to bypass it with my OHC priority access pass.  And I was in the first group that went in for a tour.  As I entered, I thought of the Beauty and the Beast song, "Be Our Guest".

There weren't too many furnishings in the house yet.  The paintwork is well done.  And there were a few images on display.  The upstairs has the bedroom where he was born and the bedroom he shared with his brother.  The family didn't spend too much time in Chicago before residing elsewhere.

The front bay windows looking out onto Tripp Avenue

(All photos in this post are mine, unless otherwise specified.)

The entry hallway and the stairs leading to the upper level

Inside the primary bedroom, where Walt was born

The room Walt shared with his brother

When looking at the north side of the house, facing Palmer Street, it is possible to see where the later additions were built.

A fellow visitor photographed me posing in front of the house.

The long line to enter for a visit shows the high level of interest.

It's amazing to be in the place where one of the most prominent figures in US entertainment history was born.

A fellow visitor photographed me inside the kitchen, the room with the brightest lighting.

My visit inside was about 20 minutes.  Afterwards, I drove to the Herban urban garden on Van Buren Street for a quick visit--please see the three photos directly below.

The next day, October 15, I stepped into my role as an OHC volunteer, by which I got the priority access pass, serving at the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center on Armitage.  This organization hosts arts programming.  Like those who stopped by for a visit, I was able to learn more about this organization during this afternoon.  Furthermore, I enjoyed the opportunity to interact with visitors, and even hear about some of the other places they visited.  From talking with Omar, the executive director, I learned the center is named for a Puerto Rican activist in the 19th Century, who advocated for abolition, and participated in raising money to buy enslaved people and set them free.

Stage area

Omar, the executive director, took this photo of my pose by a bust of Segundo Ruiz Belvis.

Outside the center

One place I became aware of was the Stan Mansion in nearby Logan Square.  When I finished around 4 PM, I drove east to Logan Square to visit it.  This place is a historic mansion and Masonic Temple, which is now an elegant event venue.

The ballroom on the upper level

One of the event rooms, complete with a bar made of some type of special wood

Here I am inside the lower-level ballroom, in a photo by a fellow visitor.

Staircase leading to the upper level from the entryway

On the outside, you can see the Stan Mansion's two parts, which appear separate, but are actually joined back away from the front view.  To the right is a private residence.  The event venues are in the part of the building on the left.

Here I am in the landscaped grounds in front--and I thank the fellow visitor who offered to get a photo of me.

On my way back to Oak Park, I stopped at Cook Brothers, a warehouse store I had seen advertised in the past.  I found some splendid drinking glasses there, the type I had been searching for, at a great price.

It was another great weekend of exploring the finer details of Chicago and appreciating what's here.