Group gets grant for Arlington Heights’ Muller House
The Questers’ Godey Chapter recently received a $1,000 matching grant from the Illinois State Questers Renovation & Restoration Fund — the third the group has received and passed on to the Arlington Heights Historical Museum in recent years.
This grant augments the $2,635 the group donated to the museum to continue renovation of the Muller House, a 19th Century Victorian home in the society’s museum complex in Arlington Heights.
The chapter’s donation supported purchase and installation of appropriate wallpapers in the home’s master bedroom and adjacent changing room. Godey Chapter has funded many of the museum’s restoration projects over the years — purchasing period-appropriate lighting fixtures, window coverings, and furniture, as well as funding multiple room restorations involving plaster repair, new portiers, and professional applications of fresh paint and wallpaper.
The Muller House is the oldest of the Museum’s three buildings. It was built by Frederick W. Muller, who came to Illinois from Teterow, Germany, in 1866 and moved to Arlington Heights in 1872. The building was the home for Frederick and his wife Elizabeth’s family, as well as a place of business. Two floors of the building were completed in 1882. The lowest level was a bottling works for carbonated beverages. It was known then as the “pop” factory.
The second floor was the Muller family home. Later, a third floor was added to accommodate the growing family and in 1906 the bottling works moved to a new building west of the home.
Frederick Muller was a community leader as well as a successful businessman. He served as Wheeling Township’s supervisor for 28 years (1887-1915), as mayor of Arlington Heights (1897-1899), and as a member of the local school board (1892-1900).
Godey Questers members believe the Muller house matters. The home and its history help convey to visitors of all ages the heritage upon which our Northwest Chicago suburban communities are built.
The chapter’s commitment to the museum exemplifies the spirit of the current “This Place Matters” campaign sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and supported by The international Questers organization. The campaign’s goal is to encourage citizens to identify places which matter to them and to work to protect, enhance and enjoy them today, tomorrow, and in the years to come.
The Questers is a nonprofit international organization founded in 1944, which encourages an appreciation for antiques and the support of historic preservation and restoration. Godey Chapter, founded in 1967 by a group of Arlington Heights residents, has since expanded to include members from several suburban communities.