Alfonso Quiroz

13/10/2024

🏡 Don't miss out! Today's the final day of the Historic Pullman House Tour. There's still time to grab your tickets! 🎟️ Check out this exciting Fox 32 News segment from last night and visit PullmanHouseTour.com to secure your spot!

12/10/2024

🏠🎟️ Don't miss out on this weekend's Historic Pullman House Tour featured on ABC Ch 7! Discover Chicago's oldest and most established Home Tours. Tickets still available at HistoricPullmanHouseTour.com!

07/10/2024

We visited Bachelor's Grove Cemetery in 2018, located in Chicago's southwest suburbs. Established in the 1830s by a group of single men who each owned five-acre woodlots, the cemetery site was officially set aside in 1864. The earliest tombstone dates to 1823, with the last burial in 1965, though some dates suggest later burials. Many tombstones are missing, and burial records are incomplete. We found obituaries for people like Adeline Reiher and John Schulz. Unfortunately, the cemetery faced grave desecration from the 1950s to the 1980s, with some graves disturbed.

🌳✨ Visited Bachelor's Grove Cemetery on October 7, 2018 which is located in Chicago's southwest suburbs, this cemetery has a rich history dating back to the...

28/09/2024

🏨 I distinctly remember working at the in the late 1980s as a teen busboy 🚌✨ and the weekends were always so busy, but it was so special to rush through the houses after our restaurant shifts! 🏠💨All these years later, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to volunteer with the amazing team on the ground in Pullman National Historical Park, helping promote the Park to the world. Starting many moons ago with this 📺interview on the Tom Higgins Show (a huge deal for those of us who follow Indiana rural cable access 😉). I’ll be in town on October 12 & 13 and would love to see you there! Grab your tickets now at PullmanHouseTour.com 🎟️

Alfonso Quiroz and Charlie Fabian appeared on the Tom Higgings Show, a Chicagoland cable access show on October 1, 1999 to promote the Historic Pullman House...

19/09/2024

Step inside history at the Historic Pullman House Tour on October 12th & 13th! Explore a unique collection of homes, from elegant executive mansions to cozy 14-foot-wide worker’s cottages and historic multi-unit apartments. Each home tells its own story, blending 140 years of Pullman’s rich architectural legacy with modern living. This is your chance to experience the charm and diversity that make Pullman National Historical Park so special. Don’t miss out—get your tickets now at pullmanhousetour.com!

31/08/2024

🌟 Get ready for today's Chicago Labor Day Parade in my hometown of Pullman National Historical Park 🌟 Check out this WGN Morning News segment that aired this morning. The parade kicks off at 12 Noon, celebrating the hardworking men and women who fought tirelessly for workers' rights. Don’t miss out on this special day of honor and celebration! Chicago Federation of Labor 🎉👷‍♀️👷‍♂️My dad and Uncle Ray will be in the parade.

15/08/2024

Tropical Storm Ernesto caused widespread power outages affecting in Puerto Rico's. Similar to Hurricane Maria's impact in 2017, it left significant damage & devastation in its wake. I had the privilege of joining Con Edison's dedicated team in Old San Juan to assist in restoring power. My role involved documenting the experiences of residents affected by the outage & highlighting the efforts of our hardworking crews. One memorable moment was our team navigating through a historic tunnel to reach areas in need of restoration. I'm still proud of my colleagues and the stories we shared. Today, my thoughts are with the people of Puerto Rico, hoping for their safety as they recover from this latest natural disaster impacting their beautiful island.

Orange and Rockland crews dissemble a truck in order to fit it through a narrow, historic tunnel in Puerto Rico.

09/08/2024

We're utilizing SUNY Purchase campus as a staging area to accommodate over 600 utility workers from across the country. These workers are arriving from states such as South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana, to help restore potential power outages due to Storm Debby.

06/08/2024

After the Pullman Mansion was dismantled, its pieces occasionally resurfaced, culminating in architect Michael Shymanski discovering many architectural fragments in the old Chicago Historical Society building's basement. These salvaged pieces have endured, allowing a tangible connection to the mansion's history beyond black-and-white photos. Today, Prairie Avenue has been revitalized, with restored mansions, period-appropriate townhouses, and the Glessner House Museum, making it a fashionable Chicago neighborhood once again, though the site of the Pullman Mansion now hosts modern residences.

01/08/2024

On July 21, 2018, I shot this video of the Stephen Foster House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1900. Unlike Wright's more daring designs of the period, the Foster Cottage reflects a simpler approach reminiscent of his early 1890s "bootleg" houses. Featuring a square plan and wood siding, it deviates from the dynamic floor plans of its contemporaries. The roof and dormers exhibit a dramatic outward flare, drawing inspiration from Japanese architecture, which adds vitality to its otherwise conservative design. Located at 12147 South Harvard Avenue in Chicago's West Pullman neighborhood, the Foster House and Stable served as a summer residence for Stephen A. Foster, an attorney involved in the area's development. The home embodies Wright's experimental phase, showcasing rare elements such as Japanese-influenced roof flares and a unique tumblehome design where exterior walls slope inward from base to top. The house and stable also feature robust, flared supports reminiscent of wooden water tower construction, ensuring both aesthetic appeal and structural strength.

31/07/2024

Harriet Sanger Pullman, wife of George Pullman, died on March 29, 1921, marking the beginning of the end for the Pullman mansion. Following her death, her daughters organized a auction on November 28-30, 1921, selling off every item from the mansion, including architectural elements, before the house was demolished. The auction allowed the public a rare glimpse into the Pullmans' private lives, though many items sold for far less than their original value. After demolition, the site eventually became a parking lot and later housed a large one-story brick garage amidst the changing landscape of Prairie Avenue.

30/07/2024

In 2020, I teamed up with small businesses in Queens and the Queens Chamber of Commerce to raise awareness about their economic struggles due to the COVID-19 pandemic, urging officials to provide more support.

As more businesses struggle to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a call to action for officials in Queens. The Queens Chamber of Commerce stood...

27/07/2024

The appeal of the humble roadside motel, once dismissed as outmoded by older generations, is experiencing a revival among a new wave of younger enthusiasts drawn to road trip adventures. This "motel culture" encompasses both aspiring owners revitalizing these properties and travelers, particularly young adults, who are rediscovering their charm. Instagram pages showcasing quirky motel designs have amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, highlighting this resurgence.

What’s old is new again, and the humble roadside motel that an older generation might dismiss as outmoded is appealing to a new group of younger fans attracted to hit-the-road adventures.

23/07/2024

George Pullman's passing in 1897 deeply affected his family and friends, marking a somber turn for the Pullman household. As changes unfolded, his sons passed away early, his daughters moved out, but Harriet Sanger Pullman continued to live in their Prairie Avenue mansion. However, the neighborhood soon faced decline as industry encroached, transforming the once-exclusive enclave into "Automobile Row" by the early 1900s, later dominated by the printing and publishing industry, marking a significant shift in its character before Mrs. Pullman's death in 1921.

18/07/2024

🌟 Through a rarely-heard audio tape, a letter from Mrs. Pullman, and interviews with descendants, Pullman House Project has uncovered the story of Maggie Davis, a devoted maid for the Pullman family. Maggie was part of a dedicated team of servants at the Pullman Mansion on Prairie Avenue in Chicago during the 1880s and 1890s. Her responsibilities ranged from daily chores like bed-making and linen care to unique tasks such as protecting valuables during grand events. Maggie's bravery was evident when she thwarted a thief attempting to steal fur coats. As a young widow, she often brought her daughters to work, managing to balance her professional and personal life. Her story offers a vivid glimpse into the lives of the individuals who maintained the grandeur of the Pullman Mansion. 🏰✨

13/07/2024

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library has been honored with a national "Leadership in History" award for its exhibit exploring the diverse histories of Illinois residents over the centuries. The exhibit, "Here I Have Lived: Home in Illinois," features a video I created for the Pullman House Project, "The Jordans of Pullman," spotlighting an African American family's life in late 1880s Pullman. The award, presented by the American Association for State and Local History.

12/07/2024

The Pullman Mansion, though its overall layout is lost, was meticulously documented before demolition, allowing for virtual reconstructions of its interiors. Decorated in eclectic styles blending Eastern influences, like Egyptian and Néo-Grec, the mansion featured elaborate spaces such as the Grand Staircase and the opulent Pullman Drawing Room. Notable rooms included the Egyptian Room, known for its distinctive woodwork and furniture motifs. Later additions by architect Solon S. Beman expanded the mansion, adding rooms like the library and billiard room, each reflecting the lavish tastes of the Gilded Age with their ornate furnishings and thematic designs.

08/07/2024

In 1870, George Pullman purchased a prestigious lot on Prairie Avenue, marking its rise as Chicago's elite enclave. Alongside Marshall Field and Philip Armour, Pullman's presence solidified Prairie Avenue as one of the nation's most prominent residential streets. His mansion, designed in French Second Empire style by architect Henry S. Jeffrey, became a symbol of opulence with its sandstone exterior, towering mansard roof, and luxurious amenities like a 200-seat theater and bowling alley. Renovations in 1892, including a grand Palm Room, further enhanced its grandeur. Pullman, renowned for luxury railroad cars and his company town, ensured his home reflected elegance, employing top decorators like Pottier & Stymus and Herter Brothers to furnish it in various historical and exotic styles.

01/07/2024

In the early 1980s, Mike Shymanski, a young Chicago architect, stumbled upon a remarkable discovery while inspecting the old Chicago Historical Society building for a development project. In the dimly lit basement beneath the grand staircase, he found a cache of over 100 exquisitely carved architectural pieces, including doorframes, wood panels, and staircase railings, some adorned with white and gold paint or dark stain and varnish. These pieces turned out to be long-lost remnants from the Pullman mansion on Prairie Avenue, meticulously labeled with "Pullman" and identification numbers corresponding to their original locations in the mansion, despite having been removed over 60 years earlier in 1921.

27/06/2024

Flashback to a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

I visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland on June 26, 2014.

26/06/2024

This is a 2014 behind the scenes look at a video my company put together to inform employees about our media relations department.

This is a behind the scenes look at a video my company put together to inform employees about our media relations department.

26/06/2024

🎉 Thank you, everyone! With 97% of the vote counted, I'm thrilled to announce that I am the projected winner of the District Leader (M) race in New York's 39th Assembly District! It's an incredible honor to be re-elected to this vital grassroots role. I am deeply humbled and proud to continue representing our vibrant communities in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst in Queens. I promise to work tirelessly on behalf of each and every one of you. Let's keep moving forward together! 🌟

24/06/2024

In November 1921, Chicagoans flocked to the famed Pullman mansion on Prairie Avenue for a massive auction, causing traffic jams for blocks. Crowds navigated the lavish rooms, admiring and bidding on antique tapestries, bespoke furnishings, and priceless art, with even the mansion's custom woodwork dismantled for sale. This event marked the rapid decline of the opulent home and the end of an era for the Pullman family.

21/06/2024

I'm originally from Chicago and since I've been a teenager, I've been involved in preservation efforts of my former local neighborhood, established in 1881, which is now known as Pullman National Historical Park. Over the past decade, I've focused my volunteer efforts on creating short videos that tell the Pullman story. I am delighted to announce that my video titled "Pullman Mansion" has recently surpassed 1 million views. It's a source of great pride for me within this wonderful community. I extend special thanks to our outstanding Director of Photography, Jeff Saunders, and to Mike Shymanski, whose 1980 discovery of long-lost fragments from one of Chicago's forgotten Gilded Age mansions has been instrumental.

In 1984, architect Michael Shymanski makes a discovery in the basement of the old Chicago Historical Society Building that sheds light on one of city's long-...

20/06/2024

The scorching heat in NYC is straining the electric grid. I appeared on PIX 11 this morning to talk about Con Edison's preparations. We're always ready for days like these, having invested over $2.3 billion in the past year to strengthen our system. Extra crews are standing by to address any potential power issues, and we've established a dedicated command center for quick response. While NYC's grid is highly dependable, occasional power challenges can arise, even on blue sky days. We urge our customers to use energy efficiently and to reach out if they encounter any issues.