On the Cuneo Estate in Libertyville, Ill. back in the 40's - 60's they had a zoo which like the dairy operation was open to the public. I can only assume it is what started John Cuneo lifelong interest in animals. There was an admission to the zoo, which "would be used to buy milk, for the needy children. No, as some have suggested the "needy children" were the children of farm employees. But I will suggest that the milk purchased was purchased from the farm. 
In this plan layout you will note there was a "country store", where they sold Pauls favorite food, smoked hams and bacon. Every thing was done on the estate, and it was totally self sufficient. When Sr. died in 1977 the home and 125 acres was given to the state of Illinois, who operates it as The Cuneo, a well know museum. The remaing property was sold for development.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Hawthorn-Mellody Farms Dairy Farm Zoo---Libertyville, Illinois
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Wade G. Burck
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5 comments:
I remember the farm/zoo. I became a member of the Club of Champions and had a pin and membership card. With the card, I was able to get my Dad, Mom and siblings into the zoo free. Now when ever I ride past the location, I look for the zoo and farm.
I had several school field trips there over the years. The first thing we all learned was not to drink from the water fountains. As city children, we were shocked at the smell of the well water. I have never forgotten that!
Marilyn Leciejewski said...
We used to go here when we were kids. I still have one of the souveniers my Mom & Dad bought me. They were 2 small native American Indian dolls about 6" tall. It was a great place.
The Cuneo Estate was NOT given to the state! A large portion of the land was sold to Ed Zaleski in 1996 for the Gregg's Landing development that includes White Deer Run golf course which is owned by the Village of Vernon Hills. When Huerta Cuneo died she willed the mansion and remaining land to Loyola University. The western town was the best field trip we took from grade school in Deerfield way out to the country in the '50's and '60's. The western town was about where Lowe's sits now.
Rick,
I believe it was John Cuneo Sr. who actually willed the home and property to Loyola University, with the stipulation that Huerta Cuneo(odd coincidence that John Cuneo Jr's. third wife, whom he was married to at the time was/is named Herta. Mrs. John Sr. being Italian and Mrs. John Jr. being German)be allowed to remain there until her death, at which time Loyola University would take posession. Loyola hospital has a Cuneo section as I am sure you are aware. John Jr's. original intention was to build a compound for his tigers and elephant's and Herta's bears at the estate and return to live in the mansion of his childhood, as he could no longer travel with the circus and would be taking over the helm of the Cuneo empire. He was "miffed" when he learned at the reading of Sr's. will that it was Loyola(and his mother) who got the home. He then purchased land in Northern Illinois on the Wisconsin border, outside a beautiful little villiage called Richmond from real estate developer/pig farmer Arnold May for the animal compound and purchased the Chardon Farm estate in Grayslake(a beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright home). Folks often wondered why JFC Jr. did not live near the animals that were so dear to him, instead of driving almost daily through heavy traffic in the summer, and bad snow covered road's in the wintertime. Quite simply, there were no estate's in Richmond, and Grayslake put him closer to the corporate office's in Niles.
Wade Burck
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