Chicago remembers.
Every block carries the echo of what came before — from limestone steps worn smooth by a century of footsteps to the ornate cornices that still guard the skyline. Some homes are so rich in story, you can almost hear them breathe.
As a Realtor, I’ve learned that the best listings aren’t just addresses — they’re living histories. Each one has a soul, a rhythm, a whisper. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of representing homes that predate the Great Chicago Fire, former bakeries reborn as residences, and grand Victorians that have watched the city transform.
In October, when Halloween starts taking over Chicago, I’m reminded that some homes have ghosts — not the haunting kind, but the kind that speak softly through craftsmanship, character, and time.
Maybe it’s the season, or maybe it’s just the sentimental side of me, but lately I’ve been thinking about a few of those homes that have stayed with me — one I’m honored to represent now, and two that I still think about often.
The Thompson House — The Grand Dame of Dearborn
Some homes feel like time capsules. The Thompson House at 915 N. Dearborn is one of them.
Built in 1888 by Cobb & Frost — the architects behind the Newberry Library — it was among the first to define the Gold Coast after the Great Fire. You can feel that history the moment you step inside. The mahogany-paneled parlor, carved marble fireplaces, and mosaic floors hum with the energy of a city reborn.
Owned for decades by the Scottish Rite, the home was later restored with extraordinary care, blending 19th-century grandeur with today’s comfort. Every beam and stained-glass panel carries the fingerprints of artisans who built not just a home, but a legacy. The Thompson House doesn’t simply show history; it continues to make it.
1900 Mohawk — From Oven to Oasis
A few miles north in Lincoln Park stands 1900 Mohawk, a home that wears its past with pride. Built in 1880 as a working bakery, it still bears the brick walls that once surrounded the ovens and the exterior hooks where horses were tied.
Now, sunlight floods its modern interior — a complete transformation designed by Laurie Miller. It’s proof that Chicago doesn’t erase its past; it reimagines it. Every renovation, every new family adds another layer to the story, turning a place of work into a place of warmth.
217 W. Eugenie — Where Victorian Meets Visionary
In Old Town, 217 W. Eugenie captures the city’s dual spirit: old-world charm with a modern edge. Behind its classic Victorian exterior lies a sleek, minimalist interior reimagined by Wheeler Kearns Architects. It’s the perfect example of what I love most about Chicago real estate — the dialogue between history and innovation, tradition and reinvention.
Representing homes like these is never just about selling them. It’s about honoring their legacy while helping someone envision the next chapter.
The Stories That Stay
Some homes are flawless and new. Others carry the marks of time — and those are the ones that stay with me.
Because homes, like people, are shaped by the lives lived inside them: the laughter in the dining room, the worn edge of a stair rail polished by generations of hands. In this work, I don’t just sell properties; I listen to them.
This October, as the leaves turn and Chicago glows under its amber light, I find myself thinking about the stories these walls could tell — and the stories still waiting to be written within them.
