Take a Cruise to the Victorian Summer Retreat of a Chicago Beer Baron
Black Point Estate was built for Chicago Beer Baron, Conrad Seipp, in 1888 as a retreat, and in that spirit the home remains a place to relax, refresh, and explore. Just like the Victorian VIPs who established the estate, you’ll arrive in style and enjoy stunning Geneva Lake views on your cruise to this magnificent summer home, considered one of the finest examples of period architecture and furniture in the Midwest, and one of the oldest homes in Lake Geneva.
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Black Point Estate and Gardens
Step into Gilded Age elegance at the 1888 Summer home of Chicago beer baron, Conrad Seipp. Guests enjoy a narrated boat ride to the property via the Lake Geneva Cruise Line, a guided tour of the mansion, & time to relax and sip Seipp beer on the veranda.
In the summer of 2023, interns Maria Dickfoss and Kyreland (Kiki) Nolan interviewed more than forty Black Point volunteers and staff members. We will be sharing one of those interviews each week during 2025.
What is your name and how long have you worked at Black Point?
My name is Betty Benedetto; I’ve worked at Black Point from the very beginning of 2007. I took a few years off because early on we had several different directors and so at one point I just decided not to do it until we became a little more stabilized. Our current director has been here now for 12 years.
How did you get interested in working at Black Point?
I have always looked up here whenever I walked the lake path and saw this wonderful building, and I always just said to myself “if this ever becomes a museum or anything I want to do something with it.”
What did you do before working here?
I was an art teacher for twenty-seven years at a middle school 5-8 in the western suburbs of Chicago in Villa Park.
How long is your connection to this area?
Since birth. I lived in a variety of towns as a child here, I lived in Zenda, I lived in Fontana, I lived in Sharon, and a little outside of Sharon, and now I am permanently in Fontana.
What is your favorite story or artifact in the house?
The Bubble painting in the Billiard Room is my favorite part of the house because to me it represents the generational love that is depicted in this house.
Is there anything else that stands out to you about Black Point that not many people know?
I think it is a great asset of the lake that a lot of the locals don’t take advantage of. It’s just a wonderful part of our history and when you see what we’ve lost overtime, it makes it that much more special that Black Point is still here. ... See MoreSee Less
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Congratulations. Black Point is a treasure and we are so fortunate to have such excellent caretakers!
Love learning more from our awesome volunteers & staff. You make the stories real!
We are collaborating with the @Geneva Tap House on a new winter series.
Starting in December we will be hosting a storyteller program on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month.
The event is free and open to everyone.
We will gather at 6:00PM and the program starts at 6:30PM.
If you have a story to tell and would like to participate you can message us here.
Stories can be fiction or non-fiction. Want to share a story about your favorite pet, a tale of heartbreak or a life changing adventure you went on....anything goes.
Stories can be from 1-12 minutes in length. ... See MoreSee Less
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Have a great weekend everyone! ... See MoreSee Less
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