The Christmas House

Chicago, Illinois

December 24th

5:45 p.m.

     As the late December winds whistled through the city, a chill in the air embraced the pedestrians cluttering the streets as the temperature hovered slightly below freezing. A light snow begun to fall as the skyline of the city cast towering shadows over the pavement; the result of millions of holiday lights that illuminated the maze of sidewalks intertwined between massive stone and metal giants.

     The holiday ritual of last minute
shoppers
who scurried from store to store, searching for the one final perfect gift that they surely should have purchased weeks before, was ever present. Sounds of the season were in the air and the magic of Christmas would arrive once again in a few short hours.

     Miles away from the bright lights and hectic activity of the city, the Christmas spirit found it’s way to the aristocratic destination of Lake Forest, Illinois. A North Shore suburb, known for its’ wealth and prosperity passed down through the years, from generation to generation, this well-established, dignified sub-culture boasted mansion after mansion for miles on end. The homes were truly magnificent, as most were of an age well into their 90’s, yet maintained so perfectly and with special attention to detail. Distinctly landscaped, the majority of these estates were situated on lots well over an acre, populated with great elms and oaks that reached into the sky for what seemed to be forever.

     Many of the properties were not decorated for the holidays. Lake Forest required only financial security and wealth; religious beliefs and ethnic backgrounds that did not celebrate Christmas were of no concern to this upper crust society. However, there was one block of cobblestone pavement that was the exception to the rule. For as far as the eye could see, the twinkle of Christmas lights
would
shin
e
from every home that was lavishly adorned with every imaginable decoration.

Every home was decorated more spectacularly than the one before. The lights glistened off the snow that accumulated on the ground and covered the brown manicured lawns and perfectly sculpted topiary. From flying reindeer to jolly
Santas, the street proudly lived up to its name of Festive Lane.

             
The scene was not quite Terry Redlin at his best, but it was picturesque nonetheless.

             
In the middle of this vast wonderland of holiday cheer stood a house that was surely out of its element; not from an overwhelming display of lights and mechanical figurines, but from the lack of any decorations at all. A
lthough by all normal standards
still a large mansion, this home did not shine.

This house was a very old Victorian style home that featured many marvelous architectural designs and details. Unfortunately, the caretakers of this estate obviously neglected to properly maintain and care for this home for it was in desperate need of some very major renovation. The trim was blistered and the paint was peeling from the eves, exposing the raw wood to the elements of ever changing weather. The brickwork was in desperate need of tuck pointing from top to bottom. The chimney was missing bricks near the top of the stack as black smoke flowed
out of it
, indicating that it too had not been cleaned or serviced for many years.

     A single, dilapidated dingy yellow wreath hung on the front door of the house. Dormant trees that died long before winter set in, cast gruesome shadows upon the facade of the home. It seemed that the holiday best celebrated at this home was Halloween, not Christmas.

     The interior of the home was in no better condition. The formal dining room featured a scared and scratched dining table that would have been worth thousands in an antique shop. It looked as if it was built with the house nearly a hundred years ago. The large tabletop was a lackluster dark mahogany that shined unevenly from a lifetime of inexpensive polish applications. The dining room chairs, also mahogany with green velvet cushions, were torn and tattered in several places. A dark wood grandfather clock ticked away in the far corner of the room. It was not one of those imitation clocks of today. This clock looked as
if,
it truly was owned by a grandfather. The tweed carpeting, which was a faded gray color, was extremely worn especially in traffic areas. Uneven walls were covered in an awful looking damask material that was of a gold-yellow flower design. Chair-rail woodwork that bordered the room appeared to be a dark oak that was also in need of refinishing.

     The living room as well displayed furnishings that were antiquated and
distinctively antique. Overstuffed horsehair chairs with brass grommets upon textured dark fabrics seized the room. Soiled off-white doilies placed on arms and the headrests suggested a musty odor. Matching ottomans with springs protruding
,
  were
found
in front of each chair. The interior of the home was desperately in need of renovation and a decorator’s touch.