Garfield Farm Museum to honor environmental and historic preservation leaders at 35th annual awards dinner

On Friday, May 8, the Garfield Heritage Society and Campton History Agricultural Lands are hosting the 35th annual awards dinner celebrating Garfield Farm Museum’s 49 years and honoring individuals who have contributed to the fields of historic and environmental preservation.

Award recipients include Brook McDonald, CEO of The Conservation Foundation; the Wukitsch family; Nancy Cornelison and Marcia Johnson; and the Goldenstein family and The Conservation Foundation.

Cooperators for Campton’s Conservation

This year, the museum is recognizing individuals who were willing to sell their family property to be preserved as open space.

Nancy Cornelison and her sister Marcia Johnson held a key piece of property surrounded on three sides by the 620-acre Meissner-Corron Forest Preserve. Their 40-plus acres make the preserve more intact and the museum will recognize them as Cooperators for Campton’s Conservation.

Almost in sight of Cornelison property are two parcels of land that came to Campton Township Open Space Program thanks to the last two owners. Growing up on their family farm, sisters Margaret and Katherine “Kay” Goldenstein had a deep attachment to the land, and they desired it ultimately to be preserved.

After Margaret’s death in 2009 and Katherine’s a decade later, the family heirs were receptive to the sisters’ wishes and The Conservation Foundation stepped forward to buy the land and hold for Campton Township. The Goldenstein family and The Conservation Foundation are both named Cooperators for Campton’s Conservation.

Environmental Preservation Award

In 1992, the museum gave an Environmental Preservation award to the Conservation Foundation. Now after serving for 30 years as the foundation president and CEO in charge of the day-to-day operations, Brook McDonald is being awarded an Environmental Preservation Award.

McDonald also worked 10 years prior with the Wheaton Park District and the Forest Preserve District of DuPage. This 40-year commitment to the environment with his steadfast 30 years to the foundation has provided critical leadership continuity.

This has greatly strengthened and made the foundation a vital ally in helping governmental, private and nonprofit environmental efforts in the Chicago metro region and the Fox River Valley.

His leadership has demonstrated a way to bring the power of the many individual lovers of nature to have as great or greater impact than the region’s historic individual philanthropists that first began saving open space over 140 years ago. The museum is pleased to present McDonald with its Environmental Preservation Award.

Historic Preservation Award

The Historic Preservation Award is given this year to Gilbert and Danielle Wukitsch whose historic property was accepted as a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom’s safe house.

Joseph P. Bartlett, who built the house, was very active in helping people seek their freedom from the South on their way north to Canada.

Bartlett lived on the second farm west of Moses C. Richmond, a son-in-law of Timothy Garfield, who established the Garfield farm and inn in 1841. Richmond also was an abolitionist and conductor on the escape route.

In this era where attempts are made to hide history, it is significant that individuals are placing their historic homes on the Network to Freedom. For this, the Wukitsch family is being recognized.

The museum’s awards are held at the former Oak Lawn Farm, one of the world’s largest draft horse breeding facilities in the world in the late 1800s. It survives in part as the Dunham Woods Riding Club that consists of 40 acres, several historic barns, and the late 1830s Solomon Dunham farmhouse converted to a clubhouse.

The late Miss Jane Dunham was a very generous supporter of Garfield Farm. The historic Dunham farm setting is the perfect venue for the museum’s awards evening.

The evening begins with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner at 6:45 p.m. at the historic Dunham Woods Riding Club in Wayne. The awards ceremony at 8 p.m. will start with recognition of the 1840s Society Class of 2025 donors.

Following the awards, a review of the progress toward the 2027 50th Anniversary $4 million Bucket List goal to complete museum facilities will be given.

For museum members, dinner is $65 a person. It is $75 for guests. To help sponsor the evening a donation of $100 or more will include listing in the evening’s program.

To receive an invitation, contact info@garfieldfarm.org or (630) 584-8485.