Glen Ellyn's history park slowly moves along; first property razed

Glen Ellyn Historical Society's history park plans are slowly, but surely, moving along.

Society officials last week razed a building at 820 N. Main St., and now they're using a $20,000 state grant to landscape the area at the northern entrance of the village.

"For the time being, it will just be a nicely landscaped area until we can take further steps in building the history park," said Dan Anderson, chairman of the society's development committee. "It is such a visible difference, and it will show people that the history park is moving along."

After three years of eminent domain court proceedings, Glen Ellyn leaders finally acquired the property in February. Exact plans for the land haven't yet been confirmed.

The village has been working with the historical society to create a history park at the southwest corner of Main Street and Geneva Road featuring interactive tours, a museum devoted to Glen Ellyn history, and a reconstruction of a house that belonged to Civil War-era village pioneer Deacon Yalding.

The roughly $5.5 million history park has a long way to go before it's completed. About $3 million has been raised or invested in properties. Leaders are looking to raise another $2.5 million to pay off mortgages early and complete the history park.

Of the five properties the historical society and village have purchased or acquired for the history park, the structure at 820 N. Main St. is the first to be torn down.

Future projects include restoring the property at 810-816 N. Main St. That work would include restoring an existing house by removing a chiropractic office and nail salon attached to the back of the home.

Officials also would replace the private residence along Geneva Avenue with a stagecoach barn for future classes and demonstrations.

"The timeline is flexible because we don't know how quickly the donations of other grants will be coming in," Anderson said. "This current economic scene is making fundraising even more difficult."

Worst case scenario, Anderson said, officials will continue to use rental income from properties they own to pay mortgages. But that option could take more than 10 years, he said.