Fabyan furniture travels 700 miles back home

Where is all their furniture? This is a question often asked by visitors of the Fabyan Villa Museum.

The Fabyan Villa Museum though is not your typical house museum.

The house museum, located in Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva, was once the home of George and Nelle Fabyan who lived there from 1905 till 1939. The home, which they called the Villa, in 1907, was transformed from a farmhouse into a modern home by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The home became a celebrated spot for many parties, and delectable dinners with an array of interesting guests.

After their deaths, with no heirs, the home and 200 acres were purchased and came under the management of by the Kane County Forest Preserve in 1940.

Before the sale of the home, a large estate sale was held where many beautiful Fabyan furniture pieces were bought and given new homes. Historic records tells of dwellings that were once filled with a mix of eclectic Victorian and Arts and Crafts furniture with Asian style accessories.

The home started operating as a house museum in 1995 when Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley, under contract with the Kane County Forest Preserve, started managing the museum. Many individuals and groups gave era furniture or but rarely did Fabyan owned furniture find their way back to the museum.

In October 2014, a connection to the Fabyan past was brought to life. Owners Mary Lou and Richard Boehme, former residents of Illinois and now North Carolina, decided to graciously donate a 4 piece bedroom set originally owned by the Fabyans. The furniture, according to the Boehmes, was given to relative Anthony Brazonis, sometime in the early 1950s by Lloyd Colson, owner of Colson's department store in St. Charles.

The Victorian-style bedroom set includes two marble topped side tables, one elaborately carved bed and magnificent mirrored dresser. The furniture move was made possible by Friends of Fabyan board of directors, Dr. John Honey, Beatrice Sutton, Gail Ellenbaum, along with co-president's Darlene Larson and Mary Jean McCleary and their supportive members. Tru-Pak Moving Systems, was responsible for the delivery of these rare antique pieces from North Carolina to Geneva and was overseen by museum director Hannah Walters and senior ranger Anthony Brescia of the Kane County Forest Preserve.

The bedroom set will be on display for the public to see starting on Sunday, May 3, from 1 to 4:30 p.m., when the museum opens for the 2015 season. Guided tours will start every half-hour and a donation of $3 per adult is appreciated. For hours and directions, visit www.ppfv.org.