To spot Pleasant Home, just look for a grand, square, cream-colored mansion with a wide porch, perched behind elegant columns and framed by huge old trees at the corner of Pleasant Street and Home Avenue.
Welcome to Pleasant Home-though, honestly, I think “Grand Home” would have been just as fitting! Picture yourself here in 1897: horse carriages clip-clopping up these steps, the rich scent of fresh-cut grass from the sprawling lawn, and the sound of laughter echoing from the porch as guests arrived for one of John Farson’s famous gatherings. Architect George Washington Maher dreamed up this gem, and you’re now standing outside one of the earliest and grandest Prairie style mansions in the country. The design is clean and horizontal, blending into the landscape and making it feel welcoming-but with a hint of mystery, like it’s keeping Oak Park’s best-kept secrets tucked inside its walls.
Stories swirl inside this house. John Farson, the original owner, was known for his generosity and community spirit. Imagine him sweeping through the front door, eager to show off his new “Pleasant Home.” In 1910, the baton was passed to Herbert S. Mills-a man with a knack for novelty, who owned the Mills Novelty Company. Here’s a fun twist for your imagination: deep inside Pleasant Home, the magical, self-playing violin and piano creation called the Mills Violano-Virtuoso once played, filling rooms with music even when no one was near the keys. And yes, a restored one is still here on display! If walls could talk, I bet they’d tell stories of late-night melodies and surprised guests.
At one time, the grounds around you were much larger, including a greenhouse bursting with exotic plants and a handsome coach house for horses-and later, fancy new automobiles! As the decades passed, some parts faded away, but the grand spirit of Pleasant Home endured. The house became public property in 1939, thanks to the Park District, and restoration efforts in the late 1960s and 70s made sure its charm would last for generations-complete with careful woodwork repairs and a fresh coat of paint.
Pleasant Home is so important, it’s not just on the National Register of Historic Places-it officially became a National Historic Landmark on June 19, 1996. Generations of Oak Parkers visited here, including those who walked these halls for history lessons from the local Historical Society. So as you stand on these steps, remember-you’re part of a story that began over a century ago and just keeps on playing, note after electric violin note. Now, onward to your next adventure!
