ENGLEWOOD — On the off chance you’re in the market for a massive 19th century home, the famed O’Leary mansion is back on the market and looking for a new owner.
Gambling boss James “Big Jim” O’Leary had the four-story mansion at 726 W. Garfield Ave. built for and in honor of his mother, Catherine, according to realtor Jose Villasenor. Spanning 6,720 square feet, the 18-bed, 10-bath home is listed for $535,770.
The listing says it was built in 1885. The Cook County Assessor website said the building is 130 years old, dating back to 1891.
Catherine O’Leary’s cow famously was suspected to have started the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, but the man responsible for the rumor — a local reporter — would confess to making it up more than 20 years later. But the lore stuck, forever becoming a part of her reputation.
It’s not known whether Mrs. O’Leary lived at the mansion full-time or for how long. A local obituary noted she died in 1895 at a home near 51st and Halsted streets.
James O’Leary lived at the mansion. He died in 1925.
It’s the only property in the city to have its own dedicated fire hydrant — an interesting tidbit considering the family’s place in Chicago history. The mansion also has two large vaults on the first floor and in the basement.
Villasenor, of Realty of Chicago, said the current owner is ready to move on after 30 years.
“Sometimes I’ll get 50 calls in a week from people interested in the home,” Villasenor said. “It’s truly a beautiful place, from the hardwood floors, the coffered ceilings, the wainscoting…it’s like going back in time.”
A coach house at the edge of the property sheltered the family’s horses. Villasenor said the stepping stone mother O’Leary used to enter her carriage has remained intact for more than 130 years.
Another unique feature is the secret tunnel once connecting the O’Leary mansion to another home next door. It’s been sealed off for years but the owner has the original blueprints for it, said Villasenor, who added that O’Leary’s Prohibition-era vices may have been behind the tunnel’s construction.
This is not the first time the home has been put on the market. It was listed as far back as 2007 and with other agents in early 2020, before being listed again by Villasenor in November, according to Crain’s.
Villasenor also has said the interior needs considerable upgrades.
“It’s an ideal property to convert to condos. We’ve had several people reach out about that. It’s a massive property,” said Villasenor.
Ward Miller, president of Preservation Chicago, said the mansion is not currently landmarked but the group would like a new owner to seek landmark protections especially if they plan major changes to the interior.
“Ideally we would like it to remain single family, but if the only means of preservation is to convert it into condominiums it would have to do be done carefully, with certain interior rooms kept intact,” Miller said. “These are the wonderful stories that are sometimes overlooked. We would like to see the city be more proactive in protecting these buildings and promoting them.”
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