The design and layout of Childerley |
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Approximate location in Wheeling |
Dr. Lillie's personal notes on the design document.
" Indusrty Can Never Restore A Life, but Industry Can Try To Atone. " |
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Brief Summary .. ... |
St. Francis of the Orchard
Baron Von Hugel Library
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Chapel Built 1929
Library Built 1040-1941
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It started as a home in 1835. Then in 1910, this small log cabin being was being moved across pasture. First a home, and then a pig barn.
This was to become the first chapel at Childerley |
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Barn in place in orchard.
Cows from neighboring farm, before fence was installed. |
It is hard to believe that this small log cabin, and a pig barn, would become the Chapel at Childerley |
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Garden walls are being erected.
Children make great helpers. |
Renovated Pig Barn and the garden is enclosed.
1910-1911
Trees planted outside, and flowers inside. |
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Inside |
Wooden Altar in 1913 |
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Dr. Frank Lillie with daughter in garden.
1910-1911 |
Mrs. Lillie and Emily Ann 1910-1911 |
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The Steps of the Chapel
1913
Beverly and Lester Anderson |
A May festival years ago in the orchard |
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The Lillie house after the addition in 1913.
It was torn down due to its poor condition after the park purchase. |
Port House - 1912
Built for Elsabeth Port and Family
Teacher and Superintendent (now St. Joans) |
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Aother festival in 1020's |
Unknown participants of a May Festival
Always Music Dancing and Fun. |
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Mothers Club of the Crane Farm
(Childerley) |
Children from Childerley having fun in Buffalo Creek
About 1913 |
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Northern Farm House occupied by Lillie's until a fire in 1913.
Located on the North side of McHenry Road. |
2nd floor added for school, auditorium and library.
This was built on the site of the north farm house. It is now part of the Villa buildings. |
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Monument built to the honor of Elsabeth Ports - Teacher - (Villa) |
Elsabeth Ports |
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Elsabeth Ports - Teacher |
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Mrs. Lillie and Children |
Mrs. Lillie and Children |
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Good Tmes at the swimming pool at Childerley |
Fire at Childerley - North Side of McHenry Rd.
Duplex was along McHenry - Rebuilt |
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One of the first buildings on the North Side.
Noarding House about 1912 |
School and Auditorium in 1912 |
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Crane Farm at Childerley - Sheep Pen. Later turned int a garage.
1912-1913
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Barn burned down by WHeeling Fire Department in late 1950's to make way for Westbrook Farm. |
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History of Childerly, as told by the Calvert House - The Catholoc Student Center at the University Of Chicago. |
In 1941 Mrs. Frank R. Lillie made a gift of Childerley to the Calvert Foundation, to be maintained as a place for retreats, conferences and alumni of the University of Chicago ..... |
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The Crane Fund for Widows and Children ..... |
more .... |
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LET ALL BE SONG, REJOICING AND FESTIVAL MELODY |
CONTINUED ..... |
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Christmass at Childerley 1941 |
Inside of the Christmass document
first page. |
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Inside of the Christmass document
2nd page. |
" THE SOLITARY"
Mrs. Lillies private place built in 1930.
Later the caretakers home and enlarged. |
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Jophanna Doniat (standing), supervisor of the Calvert Club.
Mrs. Francis Lillie (sitting on the stairs), donor of Childerley |
A weekend retreat for some University Of Illinois students. |
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Studying in the library |
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Discussions in the garden |
Rear view of the Lillie House - St. Jerromes |
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History of the Crane Fund For Widows and Children - Written by Frank R. Little in 1931 |
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Lorraine Haben says: "Everybody's got history,
but if you let it go by,
you're going to loose it. "
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'Childerly' Sold To Servants Of Mary
From: Arlington Herald Aug 9,1940 |
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In the summer of 1977 ....
A year ago, the future looked bleak for the Childerley Retreat Home site. Childerley, a 10-acre site at 506 Mc Henry Rd. was deteriorating as Wheeling Park District officials attempted to conclude lengthy negotiations with the owner, the Calvert Foundation of Chicago. Many of the historical buildings, including a chapel built in 1825. were crumbling from lack of maintenance.
TODAY. AFTER passage of a $3.7 million bond referendum in March and hard work by officials of the Wheeling Park District and the Wheeling Historical Society, the prospects for Childerley and Chevy Chase have changed drastically. The park district recently completed purchase of both pieces of land and improvements are under way. Park employees are trimming trees, removing old fences and cleaning up the grounds at Childerley.
"We're also doing a thorough review of the buildings and making a checklist of items to be accomplished. We're trying to determine what needs to be done and if, in fact, we can do it ourselves," said Park Supt. David Phillips. Phillips said work on the buildings "is not something that will happen overnight," but that interior work will begin in the fall. "WE HOPE TO have everything completed by next spring. We're going to take one building at a time and there's a lot of work to be done," he said. The historical society will be working with park officials to restore the historical aspects of both Childerley and Chevy Chase. Shirley Koeppen. historical society member, said a fund has been set aside for several years for restoration of historical buildings at the Childerley site. Most of the funds were raised at the society's annual Brat and Beer Fest. "We always put money aside for the Childerley fund earmarked for restoration of the chapel and log cabin," she said. The Childerley Retreat House has been an important part of Wheeling's history for nearly 70 years. It has served as a country home, a haven for widows and orphans and a religious retreat since it was purchased by the Frank Lillie family in the early 1900s.
ONE OF SEVERAL historical buildings on the site is a small chapel, which is reputed to be one of the oldest buildings in Cook County. The structure, built in 1825, once served as a pig pen. Mrs. .Koeppen said society funds also will be used to research the historical background of Chevy Chase as well as for remodeling of the historical society museum. The museum will be moved later from 84 S. Milwaukee Ave. to a site at Chamber Park, 131 N. Wolf Rd. While park officials and historical society members have accomplished a great deal in the past year, Mrs. Koeppen said there is still a need for funds. The historical society's Brat and Beer Fest will be Aug. 7 at Chevy Chase. The activities will begin at noon with music from a German band beginning at 4 p.m. Mrs. Koeppen said the fest is the society's only annual fund-raising event. Proceeds will go to projects including Childerley and-Chevy Chase. |
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The Childerley Chapel Today
In 1981 it was dedicated as Lorraine E. Lark Chapel of the Orchard. Lorraine Lark, a prominent community leader of
Wheeling, and President of the Board of Park Commissioners, was instrumental in the preservation of the meadows and orchards of
Childerley Park from destruction and development. Childerley is located at 506 McHenry Road in Wheeling. |
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