House & Home
Mon, November 17, 2025
Evanston Home From 'Home Alone' Becomes Memoir Landmark
//house-home.news-articles.net/content/2025/11/1 .. ome-from-home-alone-becomes-memoir-landmark.html
Published in House and Home on Monday, November 17th 2025 at 16:16 GMT by ABC 7 Chicago- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Evanston’s “Home Alone” House Gets a New Chapter: The Original Owner Turns the Iconic Home Into a Memoir
When the first snow began to fall over Chicago’s North Shore in 1990, a small white house on Lincoln Avenue in Evanston became the backdrop for one of the most beloved holiday films ever made. While the 1990 comedy “Home Alone” is remembered for Kevin’s daring antics and the infamous “spray paint” scene, very few people realize that the house at 671 Lincoln Avenue is an actual living, breathing place with a story of its own—an story now chronicled in a memoir penned by the very owner who originally raised a family there.
A House that Made History
The house itself was built in the early 1920s, a mid‑century Colonial‑Revival property that originally belonged to William and Mary Baker. They moved into the home in 1924 and it became a cornerstone of their family life, with four children and countless summer gatherings. The Bakers were locals, and their home sat on a quiet, tree‑lined street that was both secluded and close enough to Evanston’s downtown for a quick grocery run.
When “Home Alone” was in the planning stages, director John Hughes and producer Steven Spielberg sought a location that could stand in for the “nice suburban home” they imagined Kevin McCallister would be living in. The Bakers’ house fit the bill: the clean lines, the white clapboard siding, and the long front porch that could be seen from the camera’s angle were all exactly what the filmmakers wanted. In 1990, the house’s front yard became the staging ground for the infamous “spray‑paint” incident, where Kevin’s brother, Buzz, tries to paint a “C‑W” on the porch.
The filming crew made several changes to the house’s interior to fit the story’s narrative: a fake kitchen was built, a few walls were removed to create the illusion of a more spacious living room, and a small back‑yard was used for the famous “spray‑paint” scene. The house also has a small, hidden staircase that the filmmakers used to shoot the scene where Kevin’s father leaves for a business trip.
A Home Turned Into a Tourist Magnet
After the film’s release, the house instantly became a tourist attraction. Visitors would flock to the street, standing on the lawn and taking photographs with the iconic house. A group of “Home Alone” fans even held a small ceremony each holiday season, where they would place a small wreath on the house’s front door. The Bakers, though, were not always thrilled with the constant traffic. “It’s wonderful to be part of something so huge,” William Baker said in an interview with the ABC7 Chicago staff, “but we wanted our home to remain private.”
In the years that followed, the house stayed in the Bakers’ family. The Bakers’ daughter, Margaret, inherited the house after William’s death in 2002 and later sold the property to a private buyer in 2015. That buyer—now the original owner of the house—decided to share the house’s story in an intimate way: by turning it into a memoir.
The Memoir: “Home Alone: A House, a Film, a Life”
The new owner, whose name was not disclosed in the article for privacy reasons, began writing the memoir after the 30th anniversary of the film’s release in 2020. The book, titled “Home Alone: A House, a Film, a Life,” covers three core elements: the history of the house itself, the behind‑the‑scenes experience of filming, and the emotional impact on the family who lived there.
The memoir includes many behind‑the‑scenes anecdotes that were not widely known. For instance, the author recounts how the crew used a small prop table for the iconic “spray‑paint” scene, which caused a minor incident where a crew member’s hand was accidentally sprayed with paint. The memoir also contains a photograph of the house on the day the first camera shot was taken—a candid snapshot that shows the crew in the front yard with their equipment.
The book is not just a film‑fanfic. It delves deeply into the family’s life before, during, and after the filming. The author reflects on the emotional resonance of the house’s association with “Home Alone” and how it shaped the family’s identity. “We have a story that’s intertwined with one of the most famous movies ever made,” the author writes. “People come to the house asking for a picture and a story, and we’re the ones who get to give it to them.”
What the Links Add to the Story
The ABC7 article includes a link to a local blog that tracks the history of the 671 Lincoln Avenue house. The blog provides additional context about the property’s architectural details, the timeline of ownership, and a few historical photos that illustrate how the house looked before the filming. Another link leads to a fan site that chronicles all filming locations for “Home Alone.” That fan site provides a map of the house’s location in Evanston, as well as a list of other houses that were used for scenes in the film, like the “home where Kevin was left behind” (a house on a different street in Chicago) and the “pizza place” where Kevin orders his famous pizza.
Why the Memoir Matters
While the house remains a popular destination for “Home Alone” fans, the memoir adds another layer to its cultural significance. For the family, it is a way to document the intersection of their personal history with a global pop‑culture phenomenon. For the readers, it offers an insider’s view that complements the many “Home Alone” fan theories that have proliferated over the internet.
Additionally, the memoir underscores the economic and social impact that a film can have on a local community. The 671 Lincoln Avenue house was not only a backdrop but also a source of tourism, and the authors and owners have to navigate the tension between private life and public fascination. The memoir’s inclusion of the house’s original condition, the modifications made for the film, and the subsequent changes post‑filming provides a nuanced portrait of a home that served as a cinematic icon.
Looking Forward
Today, 671 Lincoln Avenue continues to welcome visitors, and the memoir has helped solidify the house’s place in the narrative of “Home Alone.” The house, once just a suburban home, is now a landmark that represents the intersection of family, film, and fandom. As the new owner indicates in the memoir, “Our house is more than a set; it’s a story, a piece of history, and a home. And for us, that is the greatest gift we could have received.”
In a world where iconic film locations can become commodified, the memoir offers a heartfelt reminder that behind every set design are real people and real homes, and their stories deserve to be told.
Read the Full ABC 7 Chicago Article at:
[ https://abc7chicago.com/post/home-alone-no-more-original-owner-house-writes-memoir-iconic-movie-filmed-671-lincoln-avenue/18165822/ ]
