Waukegan Tour of Homes offers music, art to complement show
The Waukegan Historical Society will host its annual Tour of Homes from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1. The tour will feature four private residences: 335 N. West St., 333 Douglas Ave., 332 Douglas Ave., and 308 Stanley Ave.; as well as the Waukegan History Museum and Lilac Cottage, both in Bowen Park, 1917 N. Sheridan Road.
The cost of the tour is $20 in advance or $25 at the door the day of the tour. Advance tickets are for sale at the Waukegan History Museum, at 1917 N. Sheridan Road in Bowen Park; the Waukegan Historical Society's Raymond Research Library in Lilac Cottage, at 1911 N. Sheridan Road in Bowen Park; the Jack Benny Center, at 39 Jack Benny Drive in Bowen Park; and the downtown Waukegan ACE Hardware, at 239 N. Genesee St.
The Tour of Homes is a self-guided tour that allows participants to go through carefully chosen homes at their own pace.
The Tour of Homes is an annual event that started in 1969, and it is the main fundraiser of the Waukegan Historical Society that helps to support the Waukegan History Museum and Research Library as well as community outreach, collection preservation, and programs.
This year's Tour of Homes features more than just the beautiful and historic homes of Waukegan. Various musical performances and art demonstrations will be showcased throughout the day.
The home at 335 N. West St. was built in 1885. It is a beautiful Queen Anne style home with much of the original woodwork intact. During the event, costumed tour docents will help transport the visitor back into the 1880s. Visitors will also be entertained with the sounds of a harp being played by Crystal Woolsey.
The home at 332 Douglas Ave. was built in the Colonial style in the 1930s. Artists own the house today and they will showcase their talents in their at-home studios during the tour. Two local piano players, Tina Li and Gina Li, will entertain visitors on the grand piano in living room.
The 333 Douglas Ave. home was built in the late 1920s in the Tudor Revival style. Many original features to the home are still present including a wrought iron hand rail on the stairs. Student violinists in the Waukegan High School Symphonic Orchestra, Peter Tran, Gabriella Mendoza and Catherine Peredes, will gather at this home to play Telemann's Concerto for Three Violins in F major.
The home at 308 Stanley Ave., built in 1927, is another fine example of the Tudor Revival style. Visitors to this home will be able to enjoy the back patio and gazebo while also listening to the music of Tim Flynn on the ukulele.