Historic Glen Ellyn house set for demolition

GLEN ELLYN – Preservationists are trying to save a Glen Ellyn house built in 1845 that is slated for demolition.

The current owners of the house at 426 Hill Ave. have applied to the village for a demolition permit. During their July 20 meeting, members of the Glen Ellyn Historic Preservation Commission discussed how to save the house from being razed.

Historic Preservation Commission Chairman Lee Marks bemoaned the potential loss of the house. He said the owners plan to raze the building to make way for a new home.

"It's just a complete battle," Marks said in a phone interview July 24. "Nobody understands the importance of preserving what we had for future generations, so they have some clue about life in the earlier periods in this town. It's just sad. ... We've lost an awful lot of important – either historic and/or architecturally significant homes – over the last 30 or 40 years. It's just sad how many great houses have come down in this village."

The owners purchased the house in late 2016, according to online records. Prior to the sale of the house, Marks toured it with fellow historic preservation commissioner John Schreiber, who has experience with restoring historic buildings.

"He said that the house was structurally sound, and that there was no reason the house couldn't be restored," Marks said. "He said the house was in remarkably good shape."

The house is one of the few houses from the 1840s left in the village, Marks said.

"There's hardly anything left from the 1840s," he said. "That was just the very beginning of our settlement period here. The first settlers came here in 1834, so you're not talking too many years prior to this house being built. In fact, William Johnson, who built that house, came here in the 1830s. He was a veteran of the War of 1812, and I think he was the first treasurer of DuPage County."

Someone has voiced interest in moving the house as a way to save it from demolition, Marks said. However, the fate of the house remains unknown.

"Ninety-eight to 99 percent of the time we strike out," Marks said. "The builder says to us, 'Oh, you can have the house for free or you can have it for $1 if you move it.' Well, who can afford to buy lots today anywhere around here? And not many people can afford to pay to move a house."