Oscar Mayer Mansion - A classic 7,400 square foot property owned by the late founder of Oscar Mayer meat processing company is up for sale.
The $1.75 million Oscar Mayer mansion, which was built in 1901 by Hallberg & Sturm, has remained vacant for many years and resultantly has fallen into a state of disrepair. Reports indicate that Oscar Mayer Sr. lived in the property, which he bought in 1927, until his death in 1965.
A listing for the Oscar Mayer mansion on Redfin says the elegance of the Evanston home is still evident, but some restoration is needed to bring back its original grandeur.
Pictures of the home shows some hints of its fading beauty - such as its majestic stained glass door and windows, as well as its beautiful wooden stairs and quaint architecture.
Reports indicate that a judge ordered the sale of the Oscar Mayer mansion. Peter K. Schmidel, the administrator of the estate, said there is an outstanding mortgage debt of about $1 million on the home. The property had reportedly been subjected to lien by the city over the failure to maintain it.
The Oscar Mayer mansion, which is located on 1030 Forest Ave., is considered a local landmark. But many critics have noted that given its overly dilapidated state, the asking price of $1.75 million seems a bit steep.
Oscar Mayer founded the Oscar Mayer meat processing company in 1919 after purchasing a meat processing plant in Wisconsin. The Chicago native, who was reportedly dedicated to improving the quality and consumption of meat in the country, also served as the president of the American Meat Institute between 1924/28. He grew the Oscar Mayer, which reportedly employed just 200 people and made an annual sale of $4 million, to one of the largest meat processing companies in the country - with 8,500 employees and raking in $300 million annually by the time he died in 1965.
Experts say the Oscar Mayer mansion is an important bit of Illinois history, which needs to be preserved.
So, if you happen to be looking for a 6 bedroom property with over 4 bathrooms, try out Oscar Mayer's mansion. We hear the property also has many fireplaces.
See pictures of the Oscar Mayer mansion here.
