Grand homes for holidays
Less than one week after hosting their families for Thanksgiving, some homeowners on Elgin's north side are cleaning again -- this time for hundreds of guests.
Six ambitious homeowners are opening their doors to the public during the North East Neighborhood Association's "Homes for the Holidays" tours from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 1.
The event will showcase lavishly decorated historic homes in the Spring-Douglas and DC Cook/Lovell historic districts. Added earlier this year, the DC Cook area is the newest of the city's five historic districts.
Tourgoers can preview this year's homes and plan their route by foot or with a provided trolley on the organization's Web site at www.homesfortheholiday.org. The site includes a short video clip of a past tour with background music provided by a group of women singing "White Christmas."
Homeowner Chris Danzi says she is forgoing her traditional Thanksgiving decorations this year in order to have more time to decorate her 116-year-old Victorian. Next week will mark only the fourth year Danzi has owned her 3,500 square-foot home, which she says "screams to have people inside." This is the second time she has opened her home for a tour.
"I've always admired old houses," said the nursing case manager, who grew up in Des Plaines. "They aren't these cookie-cutter places and each one holds its own secrets.
"Mine has beautiful pocket doors and floorboards and exquisite door hardware. This house spoke to me because of its wide-openness. It's the kind of house that needs to be filled with people."
Three of this year's tour houses are on Douglas Avenue, the former home of Elgin's business elite. Danzi's house was built for John Fleming and his wife, Jennie, in 1891.
Upon deciding to move to Chicago several years later, the couple sold the house to William McCredie, a farm owner and banker. For the next 98 years, the house remained in the same family, first with McCredie's daughter, Margaret, who married John W. McQueen. Their son, John M. McQueen, and his wife also lived in the house. It was also briefly owned by the Davis family until Danzi bought it, making her only its fourth owner.
The house is an excellent example of the Queen Anne style with its characteristic front facing gables, variety of roof shapes, wall cladding and window sizes. The tower topped with a witch's cap and abundant detail on the house further highlight the style.
Outside, tourgoers won't see a lot of blow-up Santas and snowmen, which Danzi despises, but rather live greenery, wreaths, antique sleds and ice skates.
"It's almost as if you closed your eyes and pictured yourself back in the time the house was built," Danzi said.
Inside, tour participants' eyes will dazzle with the decorating details, including an intricately-wrapped stair railing in Danzi's grand foyer decked out in her characteristic ivory, gold and red.
"I will spend a lot of hours wrapping it first in garland, then lights, netting, strings of pearls and ornaments."
Danzi will also display her 15-piece collection of Beyers Choice Carolers and two Christmas trees. One is a casual affair in her kitchen. The other is a more formal affair, twinkling in hand-blown glass ornaments collected over the past 30 years. Even the presents under the tree are coordinated in Danzi's gold, ivory and red.
The fireplace mantle is covered with candles and Christmas-themed items. Crystal beads reflect the light and ivory stockings hang from the mantle. Danzi said she and her son and daughter-in-law have always taken great delight in filling those stockings with the perfect gifts, whether they are tickets to a special show, favorite candies, an admired bauble or an occasional gag gift.
Danzi is planning to stage her dining room using formal Christmas china, which she will use for several holiday dinner parties as well as a family brunch on Christmas morning.
"I use my Christmas dishes from immediately after Thanksgiving to Jan. 6 for every meal," she said.
As tour-goers proceed through her house, Danzi said she hopes one of her many decorations will help people remember something special from a past holiday.
"I hope my home evokes a special memory of the people they love," she said. "Christmas is a time to surround yourself with the people you love the most."
If you go
What: North East Neighborhood Association's Homes for the Holidays
When: noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 1.
Details: This year's house tour features a walking- friendly layout, with the showcased homes conveniently located within a few blocks of one another. Back by popular demand is a festive trolley, sponsored by Sherman Healthcare Auxiliary. The trolley will continuously loop from the registration site, at Sherman Hospital's main entrance annex, to the fine houses featured in this year's showcase. A craft showcase and warming center will also be available during the tour at 808 Douglas Ave.
Tickets: Advance tickets are available for $12 each, or $10 for seniors and children under 12, at the following Elgin locations: Al's Cafe and Creamery, Jewel Food Stores (Summit Street and Larkin Avenue locations only), and Ziegler's Ace Hardware (Spring Street and Lillian Street locations). Same-day tickets will be available at the event registration site for $15 each.
Info: Call Patty Maynard at (847) 931-0239.