Long-running house walk set for Wednesday
Of the three homes slated for this year’s Flossmoor Service League House Walk, only one predates the tradition itself: a summer cottage pool house retreat built in 1941 that was converted in the late 1940s into a single-family home. And even that saw some renovations in 1989, long after the league got its start in 1955.
To be fair, it would be hard for anything to outlast the run the FSL House Walk has had. Julie Lawton, a Flossmoor Service League member and co-owner of Homewood’s UpsaDaisy Boutique, said that longevity has been built by loyal regulars and a good rotation of newcomers who keep the interest in it alive.
“It’s still popular because we’ve done it for so long, and people look forward to it just because it’s been in the community for so many years,” Lawton said.
That said, the FSL House Walk has faced some renovations of its own. The event has long been held on Wednesdays. Lawton said women who once stayed home and had their days free came out in droves for the event up until roughly 20 years ago. Then, that dynamic changed.
“A lot of women are back at work,” Lawton said. “They’re providers for their household. So it has taken a little bit of a hit. Our numbers are down a little bit. … It’s definitely changed over the years.”
The league tried shifting the house walk to Sundays, but it ultimately returned to its Wednesday place on the calendar. This year’s event is from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 18, making a return after skipping two years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think people in the community are really excited about that coming back,” Lawton said. “It feels great.”
Residents volunteer their homes for the tours, which cost $25 per ticket to walk through them to see how they are decorated. Along with the 1940s pool house, this year’s house walk also includes a 1967 ranch home with views of the Flossmoor Golf Club and a midcentury modern home designed by Bertrand Goldberg. The latter was completed in 1957 and renovated in 2017, matching the midcentury style but adding modern functionality. All three homes are in Flossmoor.
The house walk is one of two annual fundraisers for the Flossmoor Service League — the other being its Candlelight Ball — that combine to bring in between $40,000 and $50,000 a year,
Lawton explained. The league, which is made up of approximately 18 women, has a list of 25-30 south suburban charities, which file grant applications for their yearly needs. A budget and service committee reviews the applications every June to decide where money will be sent.
Tickets for the house walk are available at Gypsy Fix, 1056 Sterling Ave. in Flossmoor; UpsaDaisy Boutique, 18100 Martin Ave. in Homewood; and Art 4 Soul, 18135 Harwood Ave. in Homewood. They are also available along with more information at flossmoorserviceleague. org.
Lawton said there is no cutoff on sales. People can even walk up to houses on the day of the event to buy a ticket. And the three aforementioned businesses will be donating 15% of their sales on May 18 to the Flossmoor Service League.
This year, the League also will raffle four themed baskets — featuring garden accessories, a cozy evening, reading and relaxation, and cooking. Tickets can be purchased for those in advance or on the day of the house walk.