38 APRIL 2018 By Nick Smith W hat is the most extravagant anniversary gift you’ve ever bought for your significant other? Most would point to one of the usual suspects; jewelry, a beautiful outfit, a car, or a 17,000 square foot mansion on top of a hill. Wait a minute? What was that last one? This is how much William Wrigley loved his wife Ada. For their 50 th wedding anniversary, he decided to spoil her by buying a massive “winter cottage” with a 360-degree view of the entire Phoenix area, putting all other husbands to shame. Of course, it’s a little easier to do that when you’re as wealthy as Wrigley was. In fact, the one-time owner of the Chicago Cubs owned four other homes in addition to the mansion in Arizona. Today, the house that sits on a hill near 24 th Street and Lincoln is known as Wrigley Mansion, and has been a decades-long source of curiosity and wonder from those in the Phoenix area. Why did someone build this home? Who owns it? And what is it like on the inside? Fortunately, the mansion provides tours for the public, where guests can go room to room while learning about every aspect of the historical landmark. When visiting the home, there are moments where one can feel as if they have slipped back in time, as if you are now just another guest being entertained by the Wrigleys in the 1930s. William Wrigley was born in 1861 and was an entrepreneur from an early age. At the age of 10, he ran away from his home in Philadelphia to New York City for a few weeks, not because he was mad at his parents, but because he wanted to sell newspapers. Wrigley moved to Chicago in the 1890s, starting a company that sold soap. He would include baking powder as an incentive to try to get customers to by his soap, and quickly discovered that the powder was more popular than his actual product. He switched to selling baking soda, offering chewing gum as a bonus for each can purchased. History repeated itself, as the demand for the gum became greater than that of the baking powder. The third time was the charm, as Wrigley found the product that would make him a fortune. Construction on what is now the Wrigley Mansion began in 1929. The home was a present to Wrigley’s wife Ada, and odes to her can be seen throughout the home. The hand- painted ceilings in a room for entertaining guests showcase four large stars, to represent William, Ada, and their two children. There is also a rose, which was Ada’s favorite flower, etched above the limestone doors at the inside of the front entrance. There is a single petal on the rose that, of course, will never fall, representing William’s love for her that would never die. The Wrigleys loved to invite friends over to enjoy the mansion, with William once saying that he wanted guests to see something new every time they came over. The luxurious nature of the home is stunning, with private bathrooms in each bedroom, walls in one room covered with aluminum foil gum wrappers, and a view of the surrounding areas that is still unmatched. Perhaps the most unforgettable aspect of the inside of the home is the magic piano the Wrigleys had specially built. William loved entertaining his guests, but wanted to find a way to do it without having to get up. The result was a piano that essentially played itself. Constructed by Steinway & Sons after Wrigley allegedly sent them a blank check, the piano was controlled by a large remote, with which Wrigley could pick the song he wanted to play. As modern-day guests crowd around in amazement to watch what seems to be a ghost playing Rhapsody in Blue , one can only imagine the shock that would’ve been on the faces of those watching 80 years ago. William died in 1932, and the home remained in the family for decades after. It was sold to multiple owners before it faced the wrecker’s ball in 1992. Thankfully, the home was saved by Geordie Hormel, a musician whose grandfather had founded Hormel Foods. Along with his wife Jamie, Geordie restored the property and spent years interacting with visitors to their home. Geordie passed away in 2006, but Jamie still owns the iconic home today. The modern-day Wrigley Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Part of the reason for building this home was William and Ada’s desire to entertain guests. Little did they know that they’d be doing this into the 21 st century.        The Wrigley Mansion was constructed between 1929 and 1932, as a gift from William Wrigley to his beloved wife, Ada. The Wrigley Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. PHOTO BY GREG BRUNS/ARCADIA NEWS PHOTO BY GREG BRUNS/ARCADIA NEWS

39 APRIL 2018 By Nick Smith Touring the Wrigley Mansion can be an overwhelming experience. While taking the tour with a friend, I absorbed a wealth of interesting artifacts and historical nuggets, a kind of welcome overload of fascinating information on the iconic Phoenix home. By the end, we needed a moment to decompress and talk about all we had just seen. Thankfully, there was a place to do that right in the home, at Geordie’s Restaurant. The main dining room at Geordie’s was once the site of parties hosted by William and Ada Wrigley, where guests ate their food at a massive wooden table, that has since been somehow squeezed out the doors and up the stairs to a different spot in the home. If guests are just looking for a conversation over drinks, Jamie’s Wine Bar is to the left, with windows that offer a view down the mountain. But with a day of beautiful weather, the decision for where my friend and I would sit wasn’t a difficult one. We wanted to sit on the narrow outdoor patio, where we could enjoy the cool spring day and take in the sights. And frankly, even an average meal would be worth it for this view. The open-air terrace has a completely unobstructed vantage to the southwest, with an elevated view of the entire city, including downtown Phoenix in the distance. One very enjoyable aspect of sitting outdoors at Geordie’s isn’t really obvious unless you pause to think about it. Halfway through the meal, I realized how absolutely quiet and peaceful the ambience was. There is a road that runs below the mansion, but it isn’t a main road, which meant a welcome absence of constantly running cars that can often accompany patio seating. The bustling city can be enjoyed with serenity from above. Starters at Geordie’s include a variety of salads, including a Beet & Red Oak Salad, which my friend decided to go with. I went a different direction, opting for a Roasted Red Pepper Soup. The flavor of this is almost like a spicy tomato soup, with a thick and creamy texture. There are several enticing entrees, from chicken pesto pasta, to quinoa bowls and hamburgers. But there was one particular item that was just too unique to ignore. Geordie’s is named after Geordie Hormel, who along with his wife Jamie, bought the Wrigley Mansion in 1992 and saved it from demolition. Geordie was the grandson of George A. Hormel, who was the founder of Hormel Foods Corporation, which sold a variety of foods under many brands. One of the most famous was Spam. That’s right. Would you be able to run your eyes past HORMEL Spam Cubano on a menu without going back to look twice? My friend and I had to try this entrée, knowing that it was either going to be delicious or really bad. There just doesn’t seem to be an in between with Spam. Fortunately, this sandwich was delicious. First of all, the presentation is fantastic, with the side of chips stacked in an actual Spam can. The Spam is topped with pulled pork, smoked gouda, pickles and chipotle mayo, blending smoky and sweet into each bite. Although the view from the Wrigley patio would make an average meal a worthwhile experience, Geordie’s does one better and lets you enjoy the food as well. GEORDIE’S 2501 E Telawa Trail Phoenix, AZ 85016 wrigleymansion.com PLACES WE LIKE Geordie’s Spam Cubano TUESDAY FAMILY DEAL NIGHT: Large 2 Item Deep Dish or Extra Large Thin Crust Pizza 1 Appetizer, Mozzarella Sticks, Family Size Salad, & 4 Soft Drinks for the amazing price of $ 30 Come try our new DEEPEST DISH PIZZA YET! More Dough, More Cheese, More Ingredients. Taste Why the City of Chicago has given this new Deep Dish Pizza Rave Reviews! AWARD-WINNING DEEP DISH AND THIN CRUST PIZZA Order online at ginoseast.com or call 602-441-0704. CALL TODAY! 602-441-0704 GINOSEAST .COM 3626 E. INDIAN SCHOOL RD. | PHOENIX #WEROLLDEEP @GINOSEASTRAZ $10.00 OFF When you spend $40 or more. Must present coupon to receive discount. Offer expires 4/30/18. Cannot be used for Tuesday night family deal. Delivery available through Amazon Restaurants, Uber Eats, Grubhub, Postmates or Doordash. VIG SIGNATURE BLOODY MARYS