After months of fundraising, work with local officials and historical study, 1846 Blodgett House on the Move is ready to live up to its name. The historical home now at 812 Randall St. will be relocated to Downers Grove Park District Museum property, with the goal of converting it into an Underground Railroad learning center. Volunteer president and Downers Grove resident Charley Smart is looking forward to getting the next step rolling.

Q What is the next step for the Blodgett House committee?
A On Nov. 1, the Park Board agreed to have the 1846 Blodgett House moved onto the grounds of the Park District Museum on Maple Avenue. This action now makes it possible for us to roll up our sleeves and begin the practical work of implementing this move. Our next step is to cooperate fully with the Park District staff to work out details and get going on moving the house. 

Q What do you feel was the biggest obstacle to getting approval to move the Blodgett House?
A Our overall approach to preservation and restoration of this historic structure is very different from the way citizen groups usually proceed. Typically, a citizen group would be asking governmental leaders to take some action and also to provide the necessary funding. We have proposed a very different type of project, which is more of a community partnership. The 1846 Blodgett House group will be funding the move and restoration work, while the Park District provides space on the museum campus and ongoing staff support for the project. Becoming comfortable with our fundamentally different approach has required time for all parties to work through various possible scenarios and to make sure we are all being responsible to our missions. In the end, I believe that everyone is not only comfortable, but also excited about the outcome.

Q How will the group try to keep enthusiasm and fundraising high as the project goes on?
A First of all, now that the project is approved and project management is getting under way, we will begin to see physical activity. I believe it is easier for people to keep and build enthusiasm when everyone sees the fruits of their labors. In addition, a variety of defined roles will become evident where people can apply their skills, whether labor, fundraising, services or research. In the very near term, we will be launching a newsletter to help keep the community aware of the progress. We believe this will also help recruit members and volunteers who would like to become involved at various levels.

Q What other sources of funding are you looking at for restoring the home?
A Fundraising is a very important aspect of the project, as we intend for this to be funded largely by private and corporate citizens. We have been fortunate to have a number of corporations already step up and commit significant funds, which we appreciate very much. Many companies have been hesitant to commit funds until the project was approved. Some of those have already made financial commitments since approval of the Park Board motion last week. We are also applying for various historical and educational grants. In addition, we expect to hold more fundraising events like the pre-Heritage Festival Gin Blossoms concert last summer and the Kim and Reggie Concert a couple of weeks ago. Another aspect that affects our need for fundraising is the donation of in-kind services. There is a tremendous amount of work such as painting, plastering, plumbing, electrical, roofing, etc. that can be donated or offered at a reduced rate, which lowers the amount of money we need to raise. We have already had a very positive response with that type of offer. It is really great to see our local building community take such a strong interest in preserving our heritage.