Of Wesley Township Will County, Illinois
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Rural Historic Structural Survey of Wesley Township Will County, Illinois Rural Historic Structural Survey of Wesley Township Will County, Illinois July 2012 for Will County Land Use Department and Will County Historic Preservation Commission Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. 330 Pfingsten Road Northbrook, Illinois 60062 (847) 272-7400 www.wje.com Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Rural Historic Structural Survey Wesley Township Will County, Illinois TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary vii Federal Assistance Acknowledgement viii Chapter 1 – Background and Methodology Background 1 Survey Methodology 1 Survey Gaps and Future Research 2 Chapter 2 – Context History of the Rural Survey Area Geologic and Topographic Background to the Illinois Region 5 First Nations in the Illinois Region 6 The Arrival of European Settlers 7 Settlement and Development of Northeast Illinois 13 Wesley Township Developmental History 21 Schools 26 Churches and Cemeteries 29 Bridges 30 Chapter 3 – American Rural Architecture Farmstead Planning 32 Development of Balloon Framing 32 Masonry Construction 36 Classification of Farmhouses 42 Development of the Barn 54 Barn Types 58 Chapter 4 – Survey Summary and Recommendations Period of Significance 73 Significance 74 Potential Historic Districts, Thematic Designations, and Landmarks 78 Survey Summary 80 Table 1. Farmhouses 82 Table 2. 114 Table 3. 121 Notable Farmsteads in Wesley Township 124 Killey Farmstead 124 Gooding–Issert Farmstead / Butcher Farmstead 125 Goodwin Family Farmsteads 127 Willard House 130 Neese–Carver Farmstead 131 Moulton–Bitterman Farmstead 131 Richardson–Cusick Farmstead 132 Kimble House 132 Will County Rural Historic Structural Survey Wesley Township v Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Hiles Farmstead 133 Warner–Butterfield Farmstead 134 Byron–McCorkle Farmstead 135 Beckwith Farmstead 136 Bibliography 137 Glossary 148 Appendix A: Historic Plat Maps Appendix B: Survey Maps Key to Properties by Map ID number Map 1 – Will County Key Map Map 2 – Wesley Township: Overview of Survey Map 3 – Wesley Township: Significance of Sites Map 4 – 1939 Aerial Photography Map 5 – Potential Ritchie Historic District Will County Rural Historic Structural Survey vi Wesley Township Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Executive Summary At the request of the Will County Land Use Department, acting as liaison for the Will County Historic Preservation Commission, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) has prepared this summary report of the intensive survey of existing farmsteads in Wesley Township in Will County, Illinois. The survey was performed between September and December 2011 and included approximately twenty-eight square miles with 95 farmsteads and related sites containing more than 520 individual structures. Wesley Township contains three Will County Landmarks, the Ritchie Railroad Depot, the Wesley Township Hall, and the Ritchey United Methodist Church. Of the 95 farmsteads identified in the current survey, 14 sites have the potential to be considered for Will County Historic Landmark designation or listing in the National Register of Historic Places. In some cases, the eligibility of the site would be enhanced if certain historic features were restored or non-historic cladding materials such as vinyl siding were removed. Other sites have either been designated Contributing, which means in the context of this report that they retain their overall character as historically agricultural sites but lack individual distinction; or Non- contributing, which indicates that the site lacks sufficient integrity to present the theme of agricultural history in the survey region. Additionally, the hamlet of Ritchie has sufficient historic integrity to be designated as a Will County landmark district. The Wesley Township intensive survey was performed to update the previous survey of the township performed in 1988. Because of the rapid pace of contemporary development in Will County in the 1990s, the Will County Historic Preservation Commission recognized the need to reassess the agricultural heritage of the region. WJE has previously completed thirteen intensive survey projects in sixteen of the County’s twenty-four townships covering Wheatland–Plainfield–Lockport, Du Page, Homer, New Lenox, Green Garden, Manhattan, Frankfort, Joliet–Troy, Channahon, Wilmington, Jackson, Reed, and Florence Townships as well as field survey work in Custer Township. Copies of the previous survey reports were provided to public libraries and respective governing agencies in the area. Cumulatively, the surveys have documented almost 6,500 structures on more than 1,450 sites over approximately 650 square miles of Will County. Performing a separate survey for each township has allowed more detailed information to be collected, such as individual photographs of each historic structure, an assessment of current conditions, and preparation of annotated aerial photo-plans. With the permission of property owners, the survey work was performed with close-up access to the buildings, which allowed for close range photography and a reliable identification of building materials. The survey data was compiled and analyzed using database software and geographic information system (GIS) software. In this report, Chapter 1 contains a description of the project methodology. Chapters 2 and 3 provide the historical and architectural context, within which the surveyed farmsteads were established, grew, were reconfigured, and in some cases were abandoned. Chapter 2 covers the historical context of Will County agriculture, as well as the historical development of Wesley Township. Chapter 3 discusses the architectural context of the rural survey area. Chapter 4 summarizes the survey results and includes a discussion of the National Register and Will County criteria for designation of historical and architectural significance. Also in Chapter 4 are several tabulations of the survey results and an overview of a select number of historically and/or architecturally significant farmsteads. A bibliography of research sources follows the text. Appendices include historic and contemporary plat maps for Wesley Township, and maps developed for this report to present the results of the survey and research. Will County Rural Historic Structural Survey Wesley Township vii Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Federal Assistance Acknowledgement The activity, which is the subject of the Will County Rural Historic Structural Survey, has been financed in part with federal funds from the Department of the Interior, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior nor the Illinois Historic Preservation Ageency, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior nor the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. This program receives Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabiliitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, or disability or agee in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office for Equal Opportunity National Park Service P.O. Box 37127 Washington, D.C. 20013-7127 or Equal Employment Opportunity Officer Illinois Historic Preservation Agency One Old State Capitol Plaza Springfield, IL 62701 Will County Rural Historic Structural Survey viii Wesley Toownship Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. CHAPTER 1 BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY Background At the request of the Will County Land Use Department, acting as liaison for the Will County Historic Preservation Commission, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) has prepared this summary report of the intensive survey of farmsteads in Wesley Township in Will County, Illinois. A previous survey of farmsteads in Will County was performed in 1988. Beginning in 1999, WJE has prepared intensive surveys of individual townships in Will County. Previous townships surveyed included Plainfield, Wheatland, and Lockport (completed November 2000), Du Page (November 2001), Homer (November 2002), New Lenox (August 2003), Green Garden (July 2004), Manhattan (September 2006), Frankfort (December 2007), Joliet and Troy (April 2009), Channahon (April 2009), Wilmington (December 2009), Jackson (December 2009), Reed (January 2011), and Florence (August 2011). Concurrently with this survey and report for Wesley Township, a report for Custer Township was prepared. The objectives of the study are to provide comprehensive information on all historic rural structures located in the area; to assess the eligibility of rural districts or individual buildings for designation as local landmarks or nomination to the National Register of Historic Places; to inventory the existing structures in the area for future study; to provide background on significant architectural styles and rural structure types common to the area; and to provide background history of the development of the area. The present study has been developed to meet the requirements and standards of the Certified