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Community Corner

John Hughes' Former Lake Forest Home on the Market for $6 Million

The 12,000-square-foot home is being sold.

 

Editor's Note: There has been recent attention on the sale of John Hughes' former house in Lake Forest. Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch had this story back in November 2011.

Lake Forest resident Julie Priebe has visited the estate at 855 Westminster Ave., in Lake Forest many times.

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"My husband lived there with his parents in the 1950s," she said. "Eventually, though, his parents sold it to the Kelly family."

The Kelly family sold it the Shelton family, who, in turn, sold it to famed Hollywood director John Hughes and his wife, Nancy Ludwig, who lived in the estate for more than 20 years.

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"I spoke with Mr. Hughes about the home a few years ago. He said that he and his wife decided to remodel it extensively, and the inside of the home now looks quite different than it did when I used to visit, but the outside hasn't changed much. It's a beautiful home and it's in a beautiful area."

Carol Blomquist, who works only a few blocks away from the Hughes estate, agreed with Priebe that the neighborhood is picturesque.

"I think that Mr. Hughes was often influenced by the neighborhood he and his wife lived in," she said. "The characters he created always seemed like they would be right at home in a town like Lake Forest, like they belonged to a community like ours. Mr. Hughes truly loved his community, and it really showed in his work."

Ludwig decided to put the home on the market last month, saying she wanted to move somewhere slightly smaller and easier to manage. Her new house is less than three blocks away from the Hughes estate, though, meaning that  Ludwig will be able to continue enjoying the charms of the neighborhood that she and her husband lived in and loved for so long.

Hometown Hero

Hughes, who passed away two years ago, was known throughout the world as an accomplished, writer, director and producer, and — for the last few years of his life — he was one of Lake Forest's most esteemed residents. He is perhaps best known for quirky comedies like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles, but he was also the creative force behind blockbuster hits like Home Alone.

Each of the movies were set in the North Shore, as Hughes took advantage of his own youthful upbringing when looking for locations for his movies.

Nearly everyone in the Chicagoland area knows his name, and most of them would be thrilled to purchase his home.

There's a slight catch, though.

The home — which clocks in at a whopping 11,233 square feet — will set its new owners back nearly 6 million dollars. Well, $5.89 million, to be exact.

National Lampoon's Vacation Dream Home

Anne Lyon of Coldwell Banker believes that the listing price is more than fair, however. The home's "Ludowici clay roof tiles, intricate brick patterns, hand-carved wood elements and stucco panels create a rich architectural vocabulary rarely seen today," she explained.

The Hughes estate, which contains no less than 21 rooms — including six full baths, four half baths and a multi-room office suite — features luxury amenities like custom millwork, multiple fireplaces, a large swimming pool, four bluestone terraces and lavish landscaping. It also features a heated three-car garage that will undoubtedly help its new owner make it through another chilly Lake Forest winter.

To learn more about the property, visit http://855westminster.com/.

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