Circus themed tree has Cuneo family history
If you thought decorating your house for the holidays was a big job, imagine decking the halls of a 31,000-square-foot mansion.
Try coming up with creative ideas for all 32 of your rooms.
That's what the staff at the Cuneo Museum in Vernon Hills does each year.
They started the work early and now the house is festooned with garland, poinsettias, mistletoe and an assortment of Christmas trees.
And of all the Christmas trees on display in the Venetian-style manor, there is one that has a very personal connection to the home's owners Herta and John Cuneo Jr. Prominently displayed in the gilded ballroom is a tree trimmed in a circus theme.
Personally decorated by Herta, the tree has special meaning for her. A former performer in European circuses, she came to the United States in the 1970s and joined the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. Performing in an equestrian act, she caught the eye of John Cuneo Jr. who was in the audience. Cuneo was running his own small traveling circus and asked Herta to join his troupe. The couple eventually married and Herta moved into the mansion.
Museum spokeswoman Mary Cook says Herta has made it an annual tradition to personally decorate the tree.
Covered with clowns, lions jumping through flaming hoops, dancing elephants, and women flying on the trapeze, the base of the tree resembles platforms used by lion tamers.
"This tree holds a special place in Mrs. Cuneo's heart," Cook said.
The mansion was built in 1914 for it's first owner Common Wealth Edison Co. founder Samuel Insull. After Insull's fortunes collapsed in the Great Depression, the estate was purchased by John Cuneo Sr. in 1937. Cuneo made his fortune in the printing business and also operated the Hawthorn Mellody Dairy.
The museum is offering special evening tours, 6 to 8:30 p.m. through Sunday, in conjunction with a visit to the Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show. Light show admission is required for access to the mansion for the evening tours. Mansion tours are an additional $8 for persons 16 years of age or older.