A Step Back in Time

A Step Back in Time

STORY BY Liz PENSONEAU
PHOTOS BY ADELE HODDE

To experience something means to have firsthand knowledge of it. And this is exactly the premise upon which one Illinois National Historic Landmark bases its operation.

A visit to The Grove, a 123- acre nature preserve and public museum at Glenview is more than a walk through the woods or a "look at, but don't touch" tour through an 1850s home. It's a hands-on educational experience for adults and children alike. It's a place where learning comes to life—a setting for a rare modern-day adventure. And, on top of that, it is a quite a success story.

Looking Back

It was April 1973 when a group of 10 ladies set their sights on preserving an undisturbed and unincorporated oak savanna and wetlands complex long known as The Grove in a highly urbanized area north of Chicago. Surveyors' stakes were already in the ground, and petitions were before the Cook County Zoning Board for the rezoning of the property to allow for the construction of approximately 275 residential units. Armed with determination, the small group launched its all-out effort to "Save the Grove," hopefully by attracting state funding.

According to a 1996 article in Illinois Parks and Recreation authored by Stephan J. Swanson, director of the Grove National Historic Landmark, the ladies amassed information about the history and importance of the Grove and told their story to anyone and everyone who would listen.

"It was told to the media, the Governor of Illinois, the General Assembly and every other elected or appointed official holding public office. Civic organizations, small businesses, large corporations all heard the tale. Citizens heard and vowed support by signing petitions. That this area of beauty and history could be lost was not acceptable to anyone except the developers and subdividers," Swanson wrote.

"When efforts by the state to acquire and preserve The Grove failed, the 'Save the Grove Committee' successfully sought the support of the Glenview Park District. A bond issue public referendum was needed to fund the purchase of the property. The Glenview Park Board agreed to conduct the referendum, but with the provis-

Grove Naturalist Lorin Ottlinger shares information about the site's oak woodlands, considered to be one of only a few natural areas remaining ecologically intact. The unusual snake-like appearance of this oak attracted the attention of our photographer.

so that passage was up to the 'savers'.... And save they did—by the largest margin in local history (89 percent yes). Local funds totaling $875,000 were assured, and coupled with state and federal grants which eventually reached more than $2 million. The Grove was acquired and saved."

And the Rest is History

The end result of this grassroot effort is what you see today—a remarkable place where you can connect with nature and reflect upon the lifestyles of early Illinoisans.

In 1976, the Save the Grove Committee officially dissolved to become the Grove Heritage Association, which today partners with the Glenview Park District to protect and enhance the site. Members of the association have provided thousands of hours of volunteer time as trail guides to interpret the area for children and adults. A staff of costumed guides is on hand to welcome the busloads of school children who come to The Grove for hands-on learning experiences about such things as ponds, plants, insects. Native Americans, habitats, reptiles and amphibians, and pioneer skills related to cooking, weaving, housekeeping and building with logs.

A U.S. Department of the Interior National Historic Landmark, The Grove is comprised of ecologically diverse land, including oak woodlands, wetlands, prairie and many varieties of flora and fauna. It is one of the few natural areas in the state that remains ecologically intact. Many projects and activities at The Grove have been made possible through support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Conservation Fund's Northeastern Illinois Wetlands Conservation Account and Chicago Wilderness.

An inviting greenhouse was erected to provide wetland education. It houses many wetland exhibits, and its antique-inspired architecture contributes to its charm. Two classrooms, including the Natural Science classroom, are housed in the interpretive Center. A collection of snakes is one of the exhibits that can be found there.

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A wooden walkway bridges the wetland area in front of the Interpretive Center. Visitors can collect samples and get a close-up look at the unique landscape. A nearby mallard is seemingly undisturbed by the squeals of the schoolchildren.

Solitude in the City

Undoubtedly one of the most surprising facts about The Grove is its location. The site virtually is surrounded by sophisticated urban development, and traffic roars by on busy roadways. But when visitors exit from Milwaukee Avenue and turn down The Grove's gravel road, they quickly are engulfed in an environment where natural beauty, history, wetlands, woodlands, flora, fauna and collections of turtles, birds, snakes and fish abound.

Physical structures at The Grove include the Redfield Center, the Kennicott House, a nature center known as The Interpretive Center, The Grove Schoolhouse, a log cabin, a greenhouse and a Native American village, which includes a teepee and longhouse. Natural features include a prairie, wetlands, oak woodlands and many varieties of flora and fauna. A wooden wetland walkway allows visitors to obtain a closer look at the pond, where green duckweed, black willows and cottonwoods abound. Each spring, blue flag irises and luxuriant greenery edge the wetlands, and from the walkway, visitors might see turtles sunning or great blue heron poised nearby.

The site has three loop trails, some with discrete tapping rails for the convenience of visually impaired individuals. Other trails are wheelchair-accessible.

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Information You Can Use
The Grove National Historic Landmark 1421 Milwaukee Ave. Glenview, IL 60025 (847) 299-6096
Directions: From Chicago go north on 1-94 West to Lake Avenue. Exit west. Continue on Lake Avenue for about 6 miles to Milwaukee Avenue. Turn left (south) and go a short distance to site entrance on the left (east) side of Milwaukee Avenue.
Hours: Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Weekends: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
(The Kennicott House is open 1-4 p.m. on Sundays from February through September.)

For more information about scheduling tours for school groups, call (847) 299-6096.

The Kennicott Legacy

To totally appreciate the significance of The Grove, one needs to delve into its history and realize that this site was home to two famous Illinois naturalists, who just happened to be father and son.

Here, Dr. John A. Kennicott, medical doctor and horticulturist, resided with his family after coming to Illinois from Louisiana in 1836. The family home, a majestic Gothic revival structure built in 1856, still graces the property, having been restored to reflect historical detail. Many furnishings within the home actually belonged to the Kennicott family and can be closely examined, even touched, by visitors.

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The Grove's Native American program highlights Native American traditions and includes sessions both inside and outside the tipi.

Kennicott was not only a kind and respected physician, but also the region's original nurseryman, setting up The Grove Nursery and Garden as northern Illinois' first commercial facility of this type. Even though the doctor rode a circuit to provide medical care to his patients, he still found time to work for a variety of causes, including: the establishment of the University of Illinois; a national system of agricultural and mechanical universities; a U.S. Department of Agriculture; and a state board of agriculture. Dr. Kennicott also served the Prairie Farmer magazine in a variety of capacities, such as horticultural editor, general editor and corresponding editor.

Sharing Dr. Kennicott's love of the natural world was his son, Robert, a sickly youth who earned the reputation of "Illinois' first and most gifted naturalist." Robert was encouraged by his father to pursue exploration, research and writing. In the absence of a formal schooling program, his early years were spent in the woods, prairies and marshes shaping his interest in natural history. On days when confronted with ill health, he pored over reading material and wrote about his experiences in the natural world. So involved was Robert in his pursuit that he discovered animals that were heretofore completely unknown to science.

When Robert was 17, his father sent him to Cleveland, Ohio, to study under Dr. Jared Kirtland, one of the nation's leading natural scientists who introduced Robert to Smithsonian Institution Curator Spencer F. Baird and other important men. Baird was in the process of planning zoological explorations of the entire American continent under the auspices of the Smithsonian. As a result of these acquaintances, Robert spent the rest of his life in exploration, collecting specimens and preserving and cataloging them for the Smithsonian. Before his untimely death in May 1866 at age 30, Robert founded the Chicago Academy of Sciences, made the original collections for a museum at Northwestern University and contributed extensive collections to the Smithsonian Institution. He also made three exploratory trips to Canada and Alaska, sending unusual specimens to the Smithsonian. His explorations were instrumental in the United States' purchase of Alaska.

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