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Aurora Beacon-News
March 22, 2002
By Marie-Anne Hogarth
STAFF WRITER
BIG ROCK TOWNSHIP ó Thursday, it was official.
A Chicago preservation group named two Big Rock Township farms ó Mount Green and Merritt Davis Farm ó among the
state's top 10 most endangered historic places.
For the owners, Tracy Dettman and Marvel Davis, and for the Big Rock Historical Association which nominated the
farms, this listing by the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois means a little hope, especially as these
farmers fight a proposed outer-belt highway through western Kane County.
"It (the Prairie Parkway) would go right through their place and cross the Big Rock Creek," said Louise
Judd of the Big Rock Historical Association. "We were very happy that the Landmarks Preservation Council of
Illinois recognized us."
While the Big Rock women hope the publicity will further their cause, a spokesman for the council said its recognition
holds no direct power over government or developers.
The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency's spokesman, David Blanchette, said the farms' historic value might
have more impact on the road's location if the farms are on the National Parks Service National Register of Historic
places (they're not), or if the farms meet the criteria to be on that list.
It that were the case, the Illinois Department of Transportation would have to avoid the farms, Blanchette said,
or, if avoiding the farms proved impossible, the history would need to be preserved somehow, possibly through photography
or documentation.
"We always prefer preservation in place," Blanchette said.
Currently, the two farms aren't on the National Register, Blanchette said, but they might meet that list's standards.
"From the sounds of it (the farms meet the criteria) from the age standpoint," Blanchette said.
The two farms, once a single land holding, date back more than 160 years, but age isn't the only criteria considered
by the National Register.
Also, getting nominated on Kane County's register of historic landmarks can be important, said Julia Evans of
Kane County's planning department. Often, properties on that list meet the national register's criteria.
"The only thing that I know is that Marvel Davis' barns are at least 100 years old," Evans said. "Her
barns are in terrific shape."
Dettman said there has been talk about seeking such historic status for her farm, but so far, she hasn't made
an application.
Kane County Board Chairman Mike McCoy said the Forest Preserve District has discussed for years the possibility
of buying Davis' farm because the area is so pristine.
"You don't need a historic designation to realize this is a bad place for a road," McCoy said.
In Kaneville, the historical society's Lynette Werdin says some people are considering forming a special landmark
district to help fight the Prairie Parkway.
The town already has two National Register landmarks ó the office of a doctor who came to Kaneville in the 1870s
and two farms dating to the 1840s.
"We have many other buildings in Kaneville that are eligible for this designation," Werdin said.