18 minute read
THINKING OF HOMES
Hinsdale Magazine | History Encore he T Greater Hinsdale area is BY MIKE ELLIS
sprinkled with historical anecdotes recent and distant, and the legend that Graue Mill was once a station along the Underground Railroad is among the most fascinating. The Mill
Located at York and Spring Roads in Oak Brook, Graue Mill dates to the middle of the 19th Century. German immigrant Fredrick Graue came to Fullersburg, Ill., named after Benjamin Fuller, the forefather of Hinsdale’s Fuller family, in 1842, and built a gristmill at that site about a decade later.
Graue Mill Executive Director Leslie Goddard said that in those days, a gristmill was a vital element in pioneer communities.
“You needed a place where people would go to bring the flour that they were growing,” Goddard said. “The corn, the buckwheat—anything they needed ground into flour, they could bring here. Typically, gristmills became a kind of gathering spot, because a lot of people had to use them regularly.”
The mill itself was employed until the late 1910s, after which time it lay dormant until the 1930s, when an attempt was made to restore it to its original condition (1852-68). In 1950, local residents formed the DuPage Graue Mill Corporation, which was responsible for fixing the waterwheel and founding the museum.
Today, remnants of the pioneer days of old Fullersburg are encapsulated at the Graue Mill Museum.
The Great Debate
While Graue was fortifying his mill, the United States was embroiled in a controversy over the issue of slavery that had been raging since its incipient stages as a nation.
The tradition of West African slavery on American soil predates the Declaration of Independence, when the modern-day Eastern Seaboard was comprised of 13 British colonies. Slavery holds an ignominious position in the U.S. Constitution, whose crafters came to an agreement that a slave would tally three-fifths of a person—that is, in determining representation in the House of Representatives.
But by the early 19th Century, slavery had become a decidedly sectional issue between northern and southern states, as manufacturing and mining evolved the northern economy, while that of the South remained predominantly agricultural.
About 1830, the anti-slavery movement in the North received a boost from Abolitionist publications such as William Lloyd Garrison’s The Liberator, that demanded the cessation of this long-standing insti-
tution in the United States. It stated: The conditions of slaves varied from master to master, but it is beyond dispute that many were treated with abominable cruelty and contemptuousness.
Portrait of slaves before their cabin, c. 1861
Portrait of slaves before their cabin, c. 1861
Continued from Page 8
In his Journey in the Seaboard Slave States, Frederick Law Olmsted relates that in Virginia, “I met a comfortably-dressed negro leading three others by a rope; the first was a middle-aged man; the second a girl of, perhaps, twenty; and the last a boy, considerably younger. The arms of all three were secured before them with hand-cuffs, and the rope by which they were led passed from one to another.”
With a growing awareness of the horrors of slavery in the North, over time an “Underground Railroad” was developed to aid runaway slaves in safe passage from their masters’ plantations to free states; after the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, Canada became the chosen destination.
Glennette Turner of Wheaton, author of The Underground Railroad in Illinois, described the horrors of Missouri slaves who dared to flee bondage by crossing the border into Illinois.
“Most freedom seekers who travelled on the Illinois Underground Railroad had been enslaved in Missouri,” Turner
I buy me, [in the first] place, a little house, and little lot land, and [then] I would go to old [Virginia], and see my old mother.” -Louisiana slave in conversation with Frederick Law Olmsted said. “They had to access the best time to escape, set out for the unknown, endure inclement weather, survive on edible plants,
Continued from Page 8 and attempt to reach and cross the Mississippi River.” As its name suggests, the Underground Railroad was In his Journey in the Seaboard Slave States, Frederick Law Olmsted relates that in Virginia, “I met a comfortably-dressed negro leading three others by a rope; the first was a middle-aged man; the second a girl of, perhaps, twenty; and the last a boy, considerably younger. The arms of all three were secured before clandestine in nature. Abolitionists were protected by freedom of the press, but aiding and abetting fugitive slaves was an entirely different story. Under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, those who “harbored or concealed” fugitive slaves could spend up to six months in prison and be fined as much as $1,000—which was quite a sum of money in those days. them with hand-cuffs, and the rope by which they were led DuPage County Connection passed from one to another.” Chicago was a crucial destination on the Underground
With a growing awareness of the horrors of slavery in the Railroad, as from there runaway slaves could use Lake Michigan North, over time an “Underground Railroad” was developed to and the Great Lakes waterway system to access Canada. aid runaway slaves in safe passage from their masters’ plantations Numerous rivers, roads and railways terminated in Chicago, to free states; after the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, and consequently, Turner said, DuPage County formed the final Canada became the chosen destination. portion of the journeys of many Missourian runaway slaves in
Glennette Turner of Wheaton, author of The Underground Illinois. Railroad in Illinois, described the horrors of Missouri slaves who “The east and west branches of the DuPage River, old roads dared to flee bondage by crossing the border into Illinois. such as Ogden Ave., and the Chicago Burlington and Quincy,
“Most freedom seekers who travelled on the Illinois Underground Railroad had been enslaved in Missouri,” Turner
I buy me, [in the first] place, a little house, and little lot land, and [then] I would go to old [Virginia], and see my old mother.” -Louisiana slave in conversation with Frederick Law Olmsted said. “They had to access the best time to escape, set out for the unknown, endure inclement weather, survive on edible plants, and attempt to reach and cross the Mississippi River.” As its name suggests, the Underground Railroad was clandestine in nature. Abolitionists were protected by freedom of the press, but aiding and abetting fugitive slaves was an entirely different story. Under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, those who “harbored or concealed” fugitive slaves could spend up to six months in prison and be fined as much as $1,000—which was quite a sum of money in those days.
DuPage County Connection
Chicago was a crucial destination on the Underground Railroad, as from there runaway slaves could use Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes waterway system to access Canada. Numerous rivers, roads and railways terminated in Chicago, and consequently, Turner said, DuPage County formed the final portion of the journeys of many Missourian runaway slaves in Illinois. “The east and west branches of the DuPage River, old roads such as Ogden Ave., and the Chicago Burlington and Quincy,
and Chicago Galena (now the Union Pacific) railroads all passed through the county,” she said. “There was Underground Railroad activity in [present-day] Hinsdale, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Naperville, Lombard, Downers Grove, Lyons, West Chicago, Warrenville, Glendale Heights and Oak Brook.”
Although Graue Mill and several other sites in DuPage County are reported to have been Underground Railroad stations, the only confirmed station is the Sheldon Peck Homestead in Lombard. But that does not mean the mill was not a station it just means that there is not sufficient evidence to prove that it was a station.
“People are really fascinated by the idea that there was antislavery work going on here in Illinois, in DuPage County,” Goddard said. “We have no letter from Frederick Graue saying, ‘Bring those escaping slaves here to Graue Mill.’ But this is not unusual; it was illegal activity. For much of the history of the Underground Railroad, there is no primary evidence.”
The theory is that blacksmith John Coe, a Fullersburg resident whose store once stood in the place of Dunkin’ Donuts, was a conductor on the Underground Railroad, and that station master Frederick Graue’s mill served as a safe house along the journey. Turner said Coe reportedly hid these freedom seekers under a tarpaulin at the bottom of his wagon, and transported them across the Des Plaines River near present-day Riverside. The mill cellar is dark, damp and inconspicuous—a brand of venue that would seem well suited for a station on the Underground Railroad.
“If you look around in the basement here, it’s incredibly evocative of what it might feel like if you were an escaping slave,” Goddard said. “It’s cold, has a stone floor—it would have been noisy and wet. A place like this—which no one would think you’d want to sleep in—would be the perfect place for someone escaping.”
Goddard said that the theory is grounded primarily on a “strong oral tradition.”
“We have a long tradition of oral history indicating that [Graue Mill] was used as a stop,” she said.
There are also two newspaper clippings from the Hinsdale Doings, extracted from the early part of the last century, which appear to corroborate the theory.
In Coe’s obituary, dated Feb. 17, 1906, it is stated that:
“Mr. Coe was quite prominent in the days of the Old Plank road, and during slavery days experienced some exciting adventures, his home being one of the stations on the famous underground railway.”
This clipping, while strongly suggesting Coe’s involvement in the Underground Railroad, does not hint at Graue Mill being a station; that portion being inferred from the oral tradition of the connection between Coe and Graue.
The second clipping, a photo caption taken from Apr. 18, 1929, states that:
“[The Fuller Inn and the Fullersburg Tavern] were of especial significance since they were connected by an underground tunnel which formed a link in the ‘underground railway’ used to smuggle negroes from the slave territory in the south to the free territory in the north.”
Examining the second clipping, one might think that there is overwhelming proof that such a station existed;—but remember that this was written in 1929, 64 years after the eradication of slavery. There is also no physical proof that such an “underground tunnel” exists or ever existed.
We will probably never know definitively whether or not the Graue Mill cellar was actually a station along the Illinois Underground Railroad; but what is perhaps more important is that the legend has fomented a tribute to a momentous chapter in American history right in our own backyard.
Today, the Graue Mill cellar serves as a tribute to the tradition of the Underground Railroad, filled with historical artifacts and vintage reproductions.
“[Graue Mill] provides a sense of place,” Turner said. “It makes visitors aware of how the role of local people, places and events fit into the larger story of the Underground Railroad. This is especially important, because the activities in this part of the country are not as well known as those further east.
“Although it is situated adjacent to 21st-century traffic on York Road, visitors feel as if they have stepped back in time.”
Sources: John Bach McMaster, A History of the People of the United States; Albert Bushnell Hart, Slavery & Abolition; Frederick Law Olmsted, Journey in the Seaboard Slave States.
Further Reading: Ms. Turner’s book, The Underground Railroad in Illinois, is available at your local library. To read Mr. Ellis’s Inquiry into the Abolitionist Press: Its Techniques, Principles, and Effects on the Slavery Question, visit www.HinsdaleMag.com. (Article originally published by Hinsdale Magazine, February, 2013.)
NEW HOME OR REMODEL? UPDATE FROM A BUILDER ?
In this unprecedented, volatile housing market, it continues to be difficult to make the best decisions for either building or remodeling. Because so much is at stake that will be life changing, extremely expensive and time consuming to completion, you want to make the smartest best decisions. Couple those concerns with positives such as interest rates continue to be low, homes are still selling at a rapid clip, and just in the last few weeks, at last, lumber prices are dropping as mills pick up the production slack. What to do now, as we get out from under the pandemic, and we soon will be heading into 2022? What is your best direction?
Build or remodel?
Among others, you can turn to real estate agents who have their finger on the pulse of what is selling now. You can turn to lenders who have insights into trends in rates. And, you can turn to builders, who are facing all these issues, and interact with all the players in the housing market. It may be smart to talk to all three types of experts in the housing market. When it comes to builders, you may want to consider Marcin Kawa, owner of MK Construction that he founded nearly two decades ago.
Here are a couple of his key observations.
1. “I try to stay on top of trends in new home construction and remodeling markets. For example, in an article by
Robert Hughes, American Institute for Economic Research, June 21, quoting Refinity Datastream, let me quote you: ‘Sales of new singlefamily homes fell sharply in May, decreasing 5.9 percent to 769,000 at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate from a 817,000 pace in April. Weakness over the last few months in sales of new single-family homes is consistent with signs of slowing in the market for existing single-family homes as well. Nevertheless, sales are still up substantially vs. a year ago for both.’ In my opinion, the record high prices are a key factor in slowing sales and helping to push up inventory of both existing homes and new home construction.
If you are trying to sell your singlefamily home, that means there is more competition which is reducing the rate of price increases. Those high prices have also driven some people out of the market for the time being. I see a moderation of the rush out of dense urban areas like Chicago, where we build, to the suburbs.
The slight slowing in sales is also due to the recent slight increases in mortgage rates. But some people see those rising interest rates and say maybe I need to act now. 2. I also pay very close attention to the costs of construction. There has been a lot of talk over the past several months that the price of lumber has made new construction and remodeling so expensive that consumers and builders are holding off. However,
in just the past few weeks, believe it or not, lumber prices have started to come down. Let me quote you from an article from the New York Times, by Matthew Phillips using data from the Commerce Department, Federal
Reserve notes: ‘Lumber futures surged to unprecedented heights, peaking at more than $1,600 per thousand board feet in early May. Lumber prices in the futures market, for example, are down more than 45 percent from their peak, slipping below $1,000 for the first time in months as saw mills ramp up supplies.’
In other words, supply and demand is at work at many levels. If you want to stay up with trends, I would be glad to talk with you so you can make decisions on whether to build or remodel, and when.” Here again, from Marcin, are some of the practical pros and cons of building a new home vs. remodeling.
The Pros of a New Home
There are several reasons people choose when it comes to building a new home. “First, and foremost: Appropriate customization. This assumes you have thoroughly thought through your potential future for the next 20 to 30 years, beyond the last unusual 12 months.” “You have been cooped up with your family for last year, more than ever before, so you have gotten to know everyone a little better and vice versa. You know yourself and your significant other better. You know the kids a lot better. That means you know what interests each family member has and what they don’t like. We all know how important the kitchen is in most homes. How important has the kitchen been the last 12 months? Has it become the nerve center for the family, where the meal making takes place as well as meal eating takes place? Is it a study center? When things get back to ‘normal’, will family members still want to get together as much in a central place like a kitchen?”
“Or should a dining room or dining area be the focal point? Is a lot of open space the future for a new home? Is a home office/ study area a permanent requirement, or will that space go for other activities? Is the company you work for going to allow you to still work at home. Or, will you be commuting and going back to an office? Or, is your work situation going to be a hybrid of work from home and work from the office? “There are a lot of other decisions. How about your bedrooms? Is there What kinds of cabinets, flooring, a great desire to have not only a great bedroom suite but also a spa/ bath where you can get away and luxuriate? Separate bath for the kids? Study areas in bedrooms for the kids? Is it a family room? Or is it a tv/tv games room? Or a workout room? Or all three?. Or do you need separate rooms?” “How about not so mundane factors such as lighting and windows and landscaping? Do you like to have the outside view of a beautiful backyard, or do you want more privacy? Do you want both?” “Are you big into outdoor play and entertaining, inside and around the home? What kind and what size patio would you like to have in the future? How important is “grilling” to you? How about the location of outdoor entertaining relative to the kitchen? How about the garage? Besides the cars, has it become the roofing, appliances, fixtures, landscaping, on and on. Then there are the inevitable “hidden costs” unless you have planned exceedingly well.” - MARCIN KAWA, Founder and Owner, MK Construction & Builders ? mud room, back-pack room, and outdoor
play equipment room? Should it?” “The last 12 months have been a stress test, not only for the family, but the home you are living in. You’ve learned a lot about your home and how it has survived … or not. This not only includes the home itself, but all your furnishings and appliances. How have they performed? It is all part of an experience you can use to your advantage in thinking through your customization for a new home. Now you know better which appliances to buy.” “Obviously, those who want new vs. remodel have concluded that new is the better answer.” “Besides newer, more energy-efficient appliances, there will be newer, better materials for flooring, cabinets, more modern fixtures and furnishings, and decorating schemes, just to your liking because you are installing just what you like.” To sum it up, there is real excitement and expectation that comes with new and better! And last, but not least, you can cross house tours and the stress for competing for a home, off your list.
How About The Cons of New Construction?
and the National Association of Home Builders indicates that the sales cost of a new home vs. an existing home will continue to be tens of thousands of dollars more. That just makes sense, if only from the standpoint that new housing is using materials that cost more than when existing homes were built. “Not only that, National Association of Home Builders statistics indicate the physical construction of a new home can take an average of 7 months from start to finish, and that doesn’t include planning and approval stages. That length of time could also involve arrangements in selling where you currently live, and the potential of having to rent.” “In addition, you might not have the “wiggle room” to negotiate on price on a new home vs. an existing home. On top of all that, there is the continual inconvenience of visiting and revisiting a home in progress…not always the neatest experience. And there are lots of decisions to be made along the way. Where to find a lot…which is becoming scarcer and scarcer here is the western suburbs, in a location you like. Then there is actual design of the home. What square footage will you need for the next 20-30 years and will you be able to afford it? Or do you plan for the future, in stages?” “There are a lot of other decisions. What kinds of cabinets, flooring, roofing, appliances, fixtures, landscaping, on and on. Then there are the inevitable “hidden costs” unless you have planned exceedingly well.” “Do you know or can you get referrals for a designer, architect? How about a lender? Do you know a realtor you can trust?” “Then there is finding a builder you can trust. MK Construction and Builders is renowned for building excellent housing and is recommended by architects and designers.” “We pride ourselves in providing the finest construction techniques and the finest building materials, no matter the project. We also pride ourselves in our willingness to listen closely to our customers and then work with them to realize their dreams. We are very price competitive on a comparable basis. Please go to our website to see the testimonials.” “We also always have spec homes where customers can actually see some of our homes for the quality of design, construction and materials.” Marcin concludes, “Of course, in the end, you decide on whether to build a new home or remodel. Don’t let anyone talk you into something you don’t really want.” For more, please go to mkconstructioninc. net or call 773-817-1861. ■
