In 1927, Oscar G. Mayer - the son of the founder of the meat processing company - purchased a chateauesque mansion in Evanston, Illinois, that remained in the family for 40 years. Now, real estate attorney Scott Hargadon and his business partner, James Kastenholz, are restoring the home to its former glory.
When the duo first bought the 7,401-square-foot house for $1.1 million last year, it had been vacant for 10 years and was in need of some serious TLC. "It definitely gave the appearance of being a money pit," Kastenholz says. For starters, there was no heat or water, and Hargadon thinks regular maintenance was last performed in about 1966.
The front hall living room circa 1970.
No wonder neighborhood kids thought the place was haunted.
The bulk of Hargadon and Kastenholz's restoration - which Crain's reports cost more than $1 million - involve fixing the foundation, replacing the roof and plumbing, installing air conditioning, repairing stained glass windows, and demolishing a faulty two-story addition.
The front hall living room today.
Original features, such the wood staircase, a dining room fireplace with intricate griffin carvings, and four other fireplaces, have been preserved, according to Crain's. Other details added during a renovation in the 1930s, like Art Deco-style crown molding in the living room, have also been maintained.
The staircase in the mansion's earlier days.
Hargadon and Kastenholz looked to the home's floor plan during renovations, so its original ballroom and billiards room have been restored. That being said, they've also revamped several smaller rooms to create a master suite that boasts a dressing room and a private deck, and constructed a chef's kitchen that features high-end appliances, according to Fox News.
The staircase today.
Throughout the renovation process, Hargadon, Kastenholz, and their real estate agent, Susan Ani, have been sharing updates to the Oscar Mayer Mansion's Facebook page. Their latest status update? The duo's hosted several events at the home to celebrate the restoration, and has listed the six bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath property for $2.95 million. Who knew there was so much money in the bologna business?
h/t: Fox News
