The Abandoned 100 year old Oscar Mayer mansion in Evanston, Illinois

   

Oscar Mayer mansion

Remember the century-old Oscar Mayer mansion in Evanston, Illinois? The Chicago landmark, home to Oscar Mayer Sr. from 1927 to 1965, sat vacant for over 10 years before it was purchased and renovated.

VHT’s Petr Poliak photographed the abandoned property last year in its neglected state. There were holes in the roof and vines taking over the home’s exterior. Not a pretty sight.

Most homebuyers would run from a listing in that state, but real estate attorney Scott Hargadon and his business partner Jim Kastenholz were open to the challenge. They purchased the property in June of 2015 and renovations began almost immediately after.

“This house had less curb appeal than anything I had ever seen,” recalls Hargadon in a Realtor.com article. They were pleasantly surprised to see that all original woodwork, hardwood floors and light fixtures were still in place. According to Hargadon, it looked like the home was frozen in time.

Here’s what the property looked like before renovations:

Oscar Mayer mansion

Oscar Mayer mansion

Oscar Mayer mansion

View more photographs of the 1901 mansion in its original state here.

“This house, as presented, will in effect be a brand-new 2016 house inside the shell of a 1901 house,” Hargadon stated in the Realtor.com article. The home’s plumbing, electrical, foundation and roof were repaired and modernized. Decorative art glass windows were also repaired.

After renovations were underway, VHT photographer Petr Poliak returned to capture updated images of the home.

Watch an aerial drone video of the property’s exterior below.

Here’s what the home looked like during renovations:

Oscar Mayer mansion

Oscar Mayer mansion

Oscar Mayer mansion

View more photographs of the mansion’s transformation here.

 

Related Posts

1896 Six Bedroom Wisconsin Restored Mansion Lists At $299,900

   

1895 George F. Barber Designed Shingle Style House Lists For Just $29,500!

 

McRaven House: The Most Haunted House in Vicksburg

Late one afternoon last week, my husband and I visited McRaven House — also known as “the most haunted house in Mississippi,” and “the third most haunted…

Haunted Antebellum Houses of Vicksburg: Lakemont

To continue my series of posts featuring the antebellum houses of Vicksburg with a history of “ghost” sightings, I’d like to tell you about a lovely house…

1895 Florida “The Shaw” House, The Most Picturesque In Town Lists For $697,000!

  Overview: Location: 404 N Adams St, Quincy, FL 32351 List Price: $697,000 Specifications: 5 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, 5,766 sqft Historical Charm: Built in 1895, “The Shaw” house is celebrated…

Cedar Grove Mansion Vicksburg Haunted House

In our series of haunted houses during Halloween month, this is the tragic tale of Cedar Grove Mansion. This home is NOT currently for sale, just an…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *