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Home for Rita had first been a farm in the Nevada township just outside the small town Odell, Illinois. Our first "home" together was an apartment at 705 East Grove in the Dimmitt's Grove neighborhood of Bloomington, Illinois. Then, 8th Avenue in Brooklyn, a block away from Prospect Park was where we first lived together as New York City residents. Rita would come to live and die in our loft at another 705 address, 705 Driggs Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It had been our plan, before the treatment for her cancer tethered her to New York City, to have a second home in the Heartland, near her place of birth, to spend time at, to refresh, to be central. After the funeral service, I set out to find that second home, but for a different purpose: As a home to her artwork in honor of her purpose and determination and as a tribute to her legacy. That 1910 house needs a lot of work, but I believe it to be the kind of house Rita would have wanted to while away the summer and at which to do more artmaking. Rita will return in a fashion to Pontiac, Illinois, her place of birth.
Rita grew up on the Finnegan Farm just outside of Odell, Illinois. The house grew by additions in order to accommodate the growing family. Patricia and Paul Finnegan had ten children. And for the longest time, one bathroom.
We are the largest shareholders in the L.C. Driggs Corporation that owns the Tuttle Building (an L-shaped 19th century cast-iron that fronts on both Grand Street and Driggs Avenue). We originally lived on the ground floor, but started from scratch again when our architect told us we needed to have the ground floor for commercial use in order to expedite getting the legal certificates of occupancy.
This is the house in Pontiac in which I am planning to exhibit Rita's remaining oil on aluminum paintings and other works. It is to be filled with furniture we bought through our years together reflective of our eclectic tastes that had long been in storage. Much of her craft supplies will be available to visitors so they might enjoy similar projects. In fact, I think of this house as being "The Button Box" reflecting one of her favorite craft activities.