WC_120618

16 | December 6, 2018 | The winnetka Current sound off
winnetkacurrent.com
Back in the Day
The red-brick Georgian on Lincoln that draws visitors 28 years later
Holly Marihugh
Contributing Columnist
The “Home Alone”
house on Lincoln
Avenue is on one of
the routes I take to walk
my two golden retrievers.
Throughout several
years, I’ve seen a collection
of young adults, exuberantly
snapping photos
of each other with the famous
red-brick Georgian
house in the background.
They’ve stood on the sidewalk
or in the driveway or
across the street — anyway
or anywhere they can
to show that for a moment
they’ve stepped back in
time and into the movie.
“Do you think they’d
mind if I knocked on the
door and said ‘Hi?’” one
young guy said to me as
I passed. “I’d like to peek
inside.”
As a bystander, holding
two dogs on leash,
I’m not sure why he
asked me. Was he going
to knock and see if he
could slide down the front
staircase inside? Maybe
the blowtorch that singed
Joe Pesci’s hair was still
hanging? Or perhaps the
tarantula last seen on
Daniel Stern’s nose is now
embalmed and on display?
But the wide-eyed
young visitor didn’t wait
for an answer anyway. He
instantly raised his iPhone
and took photos of his
friend, and their mile-wide
grins reverted both young
men back to age 10.
Funny what reliving childhood
memories does to us.
It’s like eating a spoonful
of sugar.
A couple of summers
ago, I saw a makeshift
RV with a way-out-West
license plate parked across
from the famous abode.
This time, three guys in
their late 20s were posing
all over the street, arms
encircling each other,
pushing and laughing
for the best photo angle.
Visitors to the “Home Alone” House mimic Kevin McCallister from the movie in
Winnetka. Photo Submitted
Smiles broad with movie
memories.
The crazy story of Kevin
McCallister confronting
clumsy burglars is in the
hearts of these starry-eyed
visitors. “Home Alone”
made every kid’s wish
to captain the home ship
come true. Now as young
adults, they’ll keep driving
down Lincoln Avenue
with their out-of-state
plates, remembering the
story that made them
whistle and clap for the
kid who got big time
payback.
The Winnetka Historical Society
promotes awareness of
Winnetka’s heritage through
artifact preservation, public
access to their museum and
Schmidt-Burnham Log House,
and enlightening programs,
exhibits and publications.