 Landmarks Illinois has released its annual report of threatened
historical places and has put the Main Street program at the top of
the list.James Peters, president of Landmarks Illinois, said a
lack of state and federal funding has led to layoffs and cutbacks at
the Main Street program.
Peters said that for years it was Main Street Illinois that saved
the historic places across the state -- now they need the help.
"More than 70 communities from north to south, east to west have
been enrolled in this program, Peters said. "And through the efforts
of local economic development groups, they have done a tremendous
job of rebuilding the downtowns of Illinois."
The Illinois Main Street office is all but closed. State cuts
have ended all technical assistance to the program, and the national
Main Street has suspended Illinois' efforts until the state can meet
national standards.
Gov. Pat Quinn isn't saying how he'd help ensure that or how much
he'd be willing to spend to make it happen, but he said Main Street
needs to be saved.
"We're going to keep Main Street alive and well," Quinn said. "We
obviously, in state government, have cutbacks everywhere. We just
have to weather this economic recession and get to a better place.
But Main Street is always going to do OK as far as I'm concerned."
Quinn was one of Main Street's biggest supporters as lieutenant
governor and said he plans to continue to be as governor.
The other nine endangered sites range across the state of
Illinois. Four are in Chicago; the other five are all downstate,
including the Red Cliff home in Moline.
Barbara Sandberg is trying to save the 1874 home that was home to
John Deere. The house is facing foreclosure after a failed attempt
at restoration.
"We're desperately concerned about someone coming forward and
finishing this," Sandberg said. "We want it to be available to the
public if at all possible. The restoration is three-quarters of the
way completed. We're mainly talking about interior mechanicals and
that type of thing."
Sandberg said local organizers fear the home may end up like many
others during this recession and will be sold off because of
foreclosure.
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Another downstate property on Landmarks Illinois'
endangered list is the Manske-Niemann farm in Montgomery County.
Ophelia Niemann said she's been trying to find the money to
restore her family's 19th-century farmstead. Preservationists say
it's one of the best examples of history from that time period.
Niemann said it's a piece of history that should not be allowed
to fade away.
"It's a one-of-a-kind, I'd say ... with a lot of buildings, and
it’s very rare," she said.
Landmarks Illinois officials said the organization cannot save
every building or landmark on its annual endangered list. But Peters
said that during the 16 years of the program, more history has been
saved than has been lost.
___
On the Net:
Main Street program:
http://www.state.il.us/HPA/ps/mainstreet.htm
Landmarks Illinois:
http://www.landmarks.org/
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BENJAMIN YOUNT]
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