If walls could talk.

Traveling down Main Street in “Our Town” you see some of the most beautiful structures lining the East and West sides of the street.

A fairly non-discreet sign informs you these homes were some of the earliest in what was then known as Danby, IL. Owned by some of the earliest settlers to the town, what’s remarkable is how they still remain intact and structurally sound, after in some cases more than 135 years. (I am sure today’s owners could let us know of some of the creeks and age issues of these homes, but if I were that age I would have them too!)

The homes all have rich history. You have the Benjamin Gault House on one side of the street; Gault was an ornithologist known as the “bird man,” Edgar H. McChesney House---I suspect many of us know what he started in town, the Henry Fennamore House, where a private kindergarten was taught in the residence. (Think home schooling, 137 years later.) Since it’s difficult to hear what went on in these homes, I can only believe there were some very interesting stories as the town grew and prospered.  McChesney for example sold his grocery store and later became postmaster and village president---wonder if he ever imagined his store would still be very much a part of Our Town all these years later?

There is little doubt my favorite home on the street is the former John Newton Nind house built in 1876. Nind was a farmer who lived in Bloomingdale Township and moved to this home after he retired. Nice retirement home if you ask me. Later renovation incorporated the Greek pillars to the home. I am glad someone had the foresight to add these pillars as they help create one of my favorite sites during the summer time.  Since I moved to Glen Ellyn, and there has been more than one owner of this home, one tradition has remained. Every 4^th of July, the American Flag hangs in front of the home. Not just your average 2 feet by 3 feet flag, this one is big---it is beautiful.

I am sure there have been many conversations we will never be privy to in the homes that line Main Street, but during the next few months we will learn more about the original owners who settled in them. Even without know the details of their lives, we will be able to put some interesting pieces to the puzzle together as to what took place during the early years of “Our Town.”

Thanks for stopping by.