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Favorite Pages
by John Byrne
1. Samuel Insull, an original founder of General Electric, and later, Commonwealth Edison, built the estate for his family in 1918. John Cuneo Sr. purchased the property as his family home in 1937.
2. The Cuneo estate was home to Hawthorn Mellody Farms, a successful dairy farm that opened its "Day at the Farm" program in 1948. The farm featured a small theme park with petting zoo, steam train, wagon rides, sports stars, and cowboy heroes that provided visitors with a glimpse into farm life.
2. The Cuneo estate was home to Hawthorn Mellody Farms, a successful dairy farm that opened its "Day at the Farm" program in 1948. The farm featured a small theme park with petting zoo, steam train, wagon rides, sports stars, and cowboy heroes that provided visitors with a glimpse into farm life.
3. The mansion and grounds were featured in the Julia Roberts/Cameron Diaz 1997 movie My Best Friend's Wedding.
4. John Cuneo Sr., a devout Roman Catholic, had the sun porch converted to a chapel, which was consecrated in 1941. It is rare to have a chapel in one's home, but a testament to the faith of John Cuneo Sr.
4. John Cuneo Sr., a devout Roman Catholic, had the sun porch converted to a chapel, which was consecrated in 1941. It is rare to have a chapel in one's home, but a testament to the faith of John Cuneo Sr.
5. One of the stained-glass window panels in the mansion chapel features images of the Cuneo children, John and Consuela, with their guardian angel.
6. Screen actor James Cagney visited the Cuneo estate to buy a horse.
7. Jens Jensen's original landscape design featured bird sanctuaries, a vegetable garden, and a council ring—a Jensen trademark.
8. Mr. Cuneo had a seven-hole golf course built on the meadow in front of the mansion. The tees are arranged so that two greens can be played from different approaches to create a full nine holes.
9. The mansion's indoor pool was built in 1962. The walls are travertine stone from Italy, which matches the floor in the Great Hall. Stars on the ceiling add a whimsical touch.
6. Screen actor James Cagney visited the Cuneo estate to buy a horse.
7. Jens Jensen's original landscape design featured bird sanctuaries, a vegetable garden, and a council ring—a Jensen trademark.
8. Mr. Cuneo had a seven-hole golf course built on the meadow in front of the mansion. The tees are arranged so that two greens can be played from different approaches to create a full nine holes.
9. The mansion's indoor pool was built in 1962. The walls are travertine stone from Italy, which matches the floor in the Great Hall. Stars on the ceiling add a whimsical touch.
10. The large dining tables in the breakfast room and the formal dining room could be pushed together to seat 65 dinner guests. John Cuneo Sr. and his wife, Julia, used princess phones at each end of the table to speak to each other during large dinner parties.
By John Roszkowski
VernonHillsReview
December 17, 2009
VernonHillsReview
December 17, 2009
Loyola University is eyeing a variety of plans for the future of the Cuneo Museum and Gardens in Vernon Hills after accepting a donation of the museum and grounds from the Cuneo
Foundation and family.
Loyola announced last week that it had received a $50 million gift from the Cuneo Foundation,
including the museum and gardens and approximately 100 acres of property surrounding the
museum, the museum's artwork and furnishings and an unspecified monetary endowment.
Steve Bergfeld, assistant to the president for Loyola University, said the university is expected to formally take over ownership of the Cuneo property on March 1.
Arts ventures
Bergfeld said while the university has not yet determined plans for the site, it hopes to expand
theatrical, fine arts and dance programming at the museum as well as offer some academic credit
and adult education classes.
"We'll be putting those together in the next couple months," he said. "Right now, we're doing our
market research to try to determine what our needs are."
Bergfeld said some of the programs the university is exploring include a summer Shakespeare
festival, musical performances by students and faculty, and art shows. Other possible events may include a fall festival and possibly reinstating a Halloween Frightfest that used to be held on the Cuneo grounds. Loyola plans continue popular programs such as the museum's holiday light show, he said.
The university is also exploring the idea of building a permanent building attached to the museum that would be used for weddings, conferences and other special events. Currently, weddings at the museum are held on a tent next to the museum, which can only be used during the warmer months.
Bergfeld emphasized the university's commitment to maintain the museum for the community, noting that their agreement in accepting the Cuneo donation requires that the museum continue to operate for at least the next 20 years.
"Obviously, it is our hope that we'd be able to maintain a successful museum and that it would be able to continue on well beyond 20 years. It's Loyola's intent to create a self-sustaining business model and that the museum become a self-sustaining asset," he said.
Bergfeld said while the university has not yet determined plans for the site, it hopes to expand
theatrical, fine arts and dance programming at the museum as well as offer some academic credit
and adult education classes.
"We'll be putting those together in the next couple months," he said. "Right now, we're doing our
market research to try to determine what our needs are."
Bergfeld said some of the programs the university is exploring include a summer Shakespeare
festival, musical performances by students and faculty, and art shows. Other possible events may include a fall festival and possibly reinstating a Halloween Frightfest that used to be held on the Cuneo grounds. Loyola plans continue popular programs such as the museum's holiday light show, he said.
The university is also exploring the idea of building a permanent building attached to the museum that would be used for weddings, conferences and other special events. Currently, weddings at the museum are held on a tent next to the museum, which can only be used during the warmer months.
Bergfeld emphasized the university's commitment to maintain the museum for the community, noting that their agreement in accepting the Cuneo donation requires that the museum continue to operate for at least the next 20 years.
"Obviously, it is our hope that we'd be able to maintain a successful museum and that it would be able to continue on well beyond 20 years. It's Loyola's intent to create a self-sustaining business model and that the museum become a self-sustaining asset," he said.
Nothing definite
The university is looking at opportunities for developing approximately 50 acres of land at the north end of the Cuneo estate to raise money for programs and to fund a new building on Loyola's Lakeshore campus. Some of the possibilities that have been discussed include developing a portion of that property as retail and senior housing.
"Right now, everything is very preliminary. We're not limited to one particular idea at this point," Bergfeld said.
Vernon Hills Village Manager Mike Allison said the village looks forward to working with Loyola on its plans and ideas for the Cuneo property.
"We want to work with them," he said. "Obviously, one of our interests is to see that the museum continues. That's very important to us. They have relayed to us that they plan to continue to operate the museum for at least the next 20 years. We would certainly like to see them improve the museum and improve the grounds and continue to operate the museum going forward."
Allison said there has been preliminary discussion about developing some property at north end of the Cuneo estate for possible commercial or senior housing, but no formal plans have been presented to the village.
"It's kind of premature to talk about that now until they have something more definitive," he said.
Attend a luncheon and lecture celebrating the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. on January 27. Both events will feature Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, a religious and cultural studies scholar, university professor, best-selling author, and public intellectual. The luncheon will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Kasbeer Hall, and the keynote lecture will be held at 5 p.m. in Galvin Auditorium. Learn more about Dr. Dyson.
Loyola University Chicago's Notes
Interesting Facts about the Cuneo Museum & GardensJan 5, 2010
Loyola Explores Possibilities for CuneoJan 5, 2010
2010 MLK CelebrationJan 4, 2010
Student Leadership InstituteDec 29, 2009
Pizza with the President, Jan. 12 & 13Dec 28, 2009
Nativity Scenes and Venice Photography at LUMADec 22, 2009
Chicago Architecture Foundation Honors LUCDec 11, 2009
Inside Loyola Weekly - November 23, 2009Dec 29, 2009