Historical Duncan Manor of Towanda, Illinois
(June 2008)
As
a child growing up in central Illinois, landmarks were our indictors of location
as we rode along old Route 66. The church steeples, grain elevators, and water
towers told us how near or far we were to home. One of the landmarks I remember
fondly is the old “underground railroad house” at Towanda. It was the visual
signal that we were almost to Bloomington-Normal and it was time to begin to
look for the fields of horses across the road at the Reed-Yates farm.
One day as we returned from a girl scout outing in Bloomington and passed the old house, the back seat girl-talk drifted to the myths we had been told about the old place over the years. Much to our surprise, our leader turned the car and drove right up the driveway to the old house. A farmer was busy on that sunny afternoon mowing the lawn. Our leader got us out of the car and asked him for an impromptu exterior tour around the house and the man kindly walked around with us and described features of the old house. From that occasion I only remember one thing clearly--that the basement windows had BARS covering them! That fact just reinforced in my mind the spooky tales I’d heard about the house. The nice man denied any mysterious comings or goings in the past at the old house, but I’ve always wondered about and imagined what it was really like there long ago.
News of the old house at Towanda has not been good over the years. It housed a series of families who never seemed to change it much as we viewed it from our vantage point on Route 66 and later from I55. Eventually there was a chain across the driveway and the old house sat abandoned and forlorn. In 2007 the Duncan Manor, its official name, was placed on the Illinois list of Ten Most Endangered Historical Places. Recent area rumors had it that the old house might be demolished because it was in such bad shape.
Normalite Headline of April 24, 2008:
DUNCAN MANOR OWNER PLANS RESTORATION
Finally some good news for all those who want to see area history preserved. A family from Bloomington recently purchased the home and has plans to restore it to its former grandeur. The couple, a real estate agent and her construction company owner husband, has the knowledge and means to accomplish the task. News out of Towanda has been sketchy, but we have gathered several pieces together here to share with The Fort constituents.
See the online source at www.normalite.com/editorial.htm It relates two articles of April 17 and April 24, 2008 with news of the purchase and open house plans. It also has some additional web links for more information on Duncan Manor.
May 31, 2008: LONG ROAD TO HOME from The Pantagraph D1 by Mary Ann Ford
Malicious vandalism won’t stop Sullivans from rescuing historic Duncan Manor
The full article relates recent news about the 133 year old house built in 1875 by William R. Duncan, who was in the livestock business. The old house has been hit by vandals many times over the years and even 3 times just since the Sullivans purchased the house. The damage on May 17th was more extensive than ever before. A broken hammer was found that was used to ruin many irreplaceable items and do untold damage to the structure. The latest vandalism occurred just hours after the arrival of all the antique window “wavy” glass that was needed for the 65 windows in the house. The original windows had been destroyed through the years. Some of the glass had been found at the Old House Society and some panes from the former Chenoa grade school before it was razed. The Sullivans had spent 3 months restoring or building new window sashes and plans were for cutting and replacing the glass the next Tuesday. Instead they were busy cleaning up shards of glass. Vandals shattered all the glass, damaged the stairway, fireplaces, door knobs, and numerous other items.
Despite all the damage, the Sullivans are determined to restore the old house and make it their home. It’s been their dream for 8 years. “I tried to buy it eight years ago when it was in far, far better shape,” said Diane Sullivan. “I always drove by and called it my house. I had a terrible fear that someone would come by and ruin it. It ate at me.” But owner Daniel J. Greer, a Springfield attorney, was not ready to sell at that time. Greer and Helen Cox were among those listed on McLean County documents showing ownership of the property in 2007. Cox and her father, D.W. Kraft, had purchased the house from James H. Scott. Scott had purchased it from the Duncan heirs. Duncan died in 1876 but one of his daughters and her husband continued to live in the house and carry on the livestock business for some time. It wasn’t until the house was placed on the state’s Ten Most Endangered Historic Places in 2007 that Diane Sullivan had the chance to buy the house. Sullivan was then on the board of the Old House Society. Now she serves as its president. The Sullivans bought the house for just under $200,000. “I had a connection to it,” said Diane Sullivan. “I had to have it.” She believes Greer felt that connection and knew the couple not only would take care of it—but could financially. They have many big plans for the Duncan Manor. “It will take every bit of five years of work, really 10 years,” said Sullivan. “In 10 years there will still be things to do!”
Inside Duncan Manor — Log on for a Video and a photo gallery about this story at
www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/06/01/home-garden/doc48401183e8602773701952.txt posted 5/31/2008
DUNCAN MANOR OPEN TO TOUR FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!! June 7 and 8, 2008
Printed in The Pantagraph Wednesday, May 21, 2008 on page 28 of Community Guide
As they begin their restoration, Diane and Bud Sullivan have decided to invite the public to be a part of the vision. “Because we believe in the mission of the Old House Society: Promote and preserve buildings, landscapes, and neighborhoods that are greater than 50 years old, and the communities and heritage they foster, combined with the overwhelming support we have received from the community, we feel we have a responsibility to share this restoration project. Opening the doors to the public provides an opportunity to increase awareness of the plight of many of our historical buildings and neighborhoods, perhaps convincing someone else to take on the responsibility of saving other properties from being lost forever.”
Visit www.duncanmanor.org for more details of the open house, entertainment, ticket information and shuttle bus services to the site.
Rain dates: June 21 and 22, 2008
Also check out www.towandahistory.org for more Duncan Manor and area historical information