[The following should be of interest to those of you Mound Citizens who have
been involved with the Mound City Archaeological Society's research project at
the Sutter-Meyer Farmhouse in University City, Missouri, or the on-going efforts
of the Sutter-Meyer Society to develop a long-term strategy to preserve the
oldest standing house in that municipality. For more information on the history
of Glen Carbon, Illinois, visit
http://www.glen-carbon.il.us/TheVillage/history.htm. -- Greg]

Edwardsville (IL) Intelligencer: Board gets Village Farm update (9/26)

09/26/2007

By Norma Mendoza

Plenty of possibilities exist for historic house

The Glen Carbon Village Board heard about possibilities for the farmhouse and
other structures on the Village Farm at its meeting Tuesday night.

Trustee Margaret Moggio, board liaison to the G.L.E.N. Committee, presented a
brief history of the village's involvement with the 20.9 acres known as the
Harmon Farm, now part of the larger tract known as Green Space North or the
Schon property. The planned park also includes nearly 16 acres once known as the
Markowitz property.

Both the Harmon and Markowitz properties were purchased with the help of 50/50
grants from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The Community
Foundation also assisted the village in attaining the property, holding it in
trust until the grants were assured.

The purchases totaled $566,000, half the cost borne by the village. The Harmon
farm was purchased for $334,000, plus $6,000 for the appraisal and
archaeological survey.

When the village decided to keep the structures on the Harmon farm, it returned
the grant money for a 1-acre parcel surrounding the house and other structures
because the grant was for preservation of land and not for structures.

The Harmon Farm was purchased in 2000 and the grant money was received in 2002
the same year that the Glen Carbon Historical Preservation Commission designated
the farmhouse as a Historical Landmark.

Moggio said the house is approximately 100 years old and important to preserve
as part of the history of Glen Carbon. She said the G.L.E.N. Committee
recommends keeping the structures and possibly making some improvements to them.

Some improvements have already been completed. A new roof was put on the
farmhouse and a water line was extended to it.

Mayor Robert Jackstadt reminded trustees of the Willoughby Farm that was bought
by the Collinsville Area Recreation District and turned into an example of a
working farm where fall festivals are hosted and tours are available.

Moggio said the farmhouse on the Willoughby Farm has been restored and noted
that it was in much worse condition than the one on the Village Farm.

The property around the house boasts a Plant-a-Row for the Hungry garden. Linda
Nitchman of the G.L.E.N. Committee said in the last few years, between 600 and
800 pounds of produce was grown in the garden.

"We have a deer fence," Nitchman said.

"How high is it?" Trustee Larry Kacer said. Nitchman said it is 8-feet tall and
Kacer said a deer could jump over that. Nitchman acknowledged that a deer
actually crashed through the fence once.

A plan for improvements to the farmhouse includes three phases. In the first
phase, major improvements to the outside structure of the house. The second
would address renovations and furniture for the inside of the first and second
floors. The possible third phase would consider decoration for the house and
landscaping for the outside.

Moggio said there was discussion of building a small greenhouse for preparing
plants for the vegetable garden.

"This is probably one of the most beautiful pieces of property In Glen Carbon,"
she said. "It's full of wild life and plants you don't see everywhere."

She said the house has lasted more than 100 years and the village has a
responsibility to preserve it, not only for the current residents, but also for
those of the past and the future.

"The nice thing is we don't have to make a decision tonight," Jackstadt said.

The important thing is to reveal where we are and what the plans are."

He urged the G.L.E.N. Committee and the Public Services Committee to work
together to develop a plan for the farmhouse.

In the business session, the board approved the extension of an Illinois
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grant to March 31 of next year,
some six months.

Trustees also agreed to allow James Vostry to carry over six days of vacation in
addition to the amount allowed. They also agreed to permit the Edwardsville
Lions Club to conduct a solicitation of funds from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Oct.
12 and 13 at the intersection of Main Street and Meridian Road.

Jackstadt named Bill Burke Volunteer of the Month of September.

Burke has served as a member of the Glen Carbon Planning and Zoning Commission
since November of 2004 and was recently reappointed for an additional five-year
term.

Burke graduated from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor degree in
Landscape Architecture and is registered as a landscape architect in both
Missouri and Illinois. He is a member of the American Society of Landscape
Architects, the Missouri Association of Landscape Architects and the American
Planning Association.

"Bill was instrumental in the development of the I-55 Corridor Transportation
and Growth Management Plan as a consultant to the Plan Management Team
responsible for Phase I of the plan," Jackstadt said. "Bill has also been a
valuable resource as the village enters the final stages of the Comprehensive
Plan update currently being studied by the Planning and Zoning Commission."

Jackstadt said Burke believes that the village is a wonderful place to raise a
family and to be involved with community activities and the local schools. He
and his wife, Karen and their children, Liam and Anna, live in the Timberwolfe
Estates subdivision in Glen Carbon.

Trustees voted to go into executive session to discuss litigation against or
affecting or on behalf of the body when the same is pending or there is a
specific finding that action is probable or imminent as allowed under Section
2(c)11 of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

They took no action after reconvening in open session other than to adjourn.

Copyright © 2007, Edwardsville Intelligencer. All Rights Reserved.

Link to original article:
http://www.goedwardsville.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18857262&BRD=2291&PAG=461&dep\
t_id=473648&rfi=6

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