Naperville couple's gift to college includes Lemak house
A Naperville couple has given a $4 million gift to North Central College that includes a historic house that gained notoriety as the site of the Lemak murders.
The financial portion of Bartley and Maricela Madden's donation will be used to help fund the college's new Wentz Concert Hall and Fine Arts Center.
The 150-seat black box experimental theater inside the new facility will be named in honor of the couple, who are neighbors of the college.
Maricela, a 1999 fine arts alumna, said they are pleased to lend their support to the fine arts project.
"It will have a transforming effect both on North Central College and Naperville not unlike what Pfeiffer Hall meant for the community in the 20th century," she said in a news release.
The $29.2 million fine arts facility is under construction at Ellsworth Street and Chicago Avenue. Scheduled to open in September, it also will feature a 605-seat concert hall with world-class acoustics, a dance studio, rehearsal space and an art gallery.
"Their gift really is a wonderful example of someone in the community and alum that care deeply about Naperville's college, and it's appropriate to have their name on black box theater," said Rick Spencer, vice president for institutional advancement.
The college has only about $3 million in fundraising to go for the project and Spencer said naming opportunities still are available.
The Madden family also will donate its home across the street from the college when they are ready to move.
The college's first president, Augustine A. Smith, lived in the house that was built in 1885 by his son, longtime college professor Henry C. Smith.
It has a darker history as well. The house was the residence of Marilyn Lemak, who drugged and suffocated her three children there in 1999.
While the college is well aware of the events that unfolded in the house, Spencer said it is not a concern.
"The way we look at it, it's a house that our first president lived in. It has a long history with the college because of that," Spencer said. "(The Lemak notoriety) was a pretty short period of time, so it really had no bearing."
After purchasing the home, the Madden family restored it to its original Victorian style. Spencer said the family donated it to the college knowing the school would respect and preserve it as it has done with other campus buildings.
In a history Bartley wrote about the house, he said he would like it to be remembered for its historical significance to the community and the college.
"The Naperville community long ago dealt with its grief for the tragedy which happened in the house," he wrote, "and has moved ahead to build a better future."