A cornucopia of Dick Tracy memories

The basement of Jean Gould O'Connell's home reveals a treasure chest of Dick Tracy memories and stands as a tribute to her father, Chester Gould.

The original drawing board and work table from Gould's office at the Chicago Tribune sits center stage in one small room, while other rooms are filled with bound volumes of Tracy comics, photos of well-known entertainers that Gould met in his lifetime, and awards and letters recognizing his contributions to the comics pages for so many years.

Around one corner, masks of the villains Flattop or Mumbles greet visitors, around another corner two large framed drawing boards that illustrate the hundreds of characters Gould created from Pruneface and Itchy to Stooge Viller and B.O. Plenty are on display.

Copies of the first strips Gould created for the Detroit Mirror in 1931 are in protective coverings, and all of the drawing boards and ink pens that were part of his trade are placed such that one feels he continues to work there to this day.