It’s not often that a historic preservation battle focuses on and old farmhouse. But that’s exactly what’s happening at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
The university plans to move the 139-year-old Mumford House, which was named for the school’s original Dean of Agriculture. The house reportedly stands in the way of new landscaped plaza and bell tower.
This “Model Farmhouse” was built to inspire quality and efficient housing for Illinois farmers. It was also part of the college’s original “Experimental” South Farms.
In a note to fellow preservationists, the National Trust for Historic Preservation says that moving the house two miles from campus will not only remove the house from the National Register of Historic Places, it’ll put an important part of university history at risk.
I’m all for moving a historic property if the alternative is to tear it down. But I hope the preservationists win this one.
Now more than ever agriculture should be celebrated, front and center.
Check out the Landmarks Illinois site to take action before the Jan. 22 public hearing.
Thanks to Urban Dweller for passing on the preservationist e-mail.
Virtual Farmgirl 
I grew up in a house just like this one. It is about 160 years old, Victorian Farm House. It was one of the first homes in my home town. and the preservation society asked my parents to “save” it. They did. We moved the house 2-3 miles away. went right down 1st Street! We then restored the house to antique style and during the restoration stages, often had many visitors (though in recent history that has slowed down. I would give “tours” to visitors that just dropped by in High School, mess and all).I don’t know if our house lost its “historical” listing and such. But the people still remember it and I thought it was cool as a 9 year old to watch our house driven down main st usa. It was a farm house and local dairy up until around the early 70’s.
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I grew up in a house just like this one. It is about 160 years old, Victorian Farm House. It was one of the first homes in my home town. and the preservation society asked my parents to “save” it. They did. We moved the house 2-3 miles away. went right down 1st Street! We then restored the house to antique style and during the restoration stages, often had many visitors (though in recent history that has slowed down. I would give “tours” to visitors that just dropped by in High School, mess and all).I don’t know if our house lost its “historical” listing and such. But the people still remember it and I thought it was cool as a 9 year old to watch our house driven down main st usa. It was a farm house and local dairy up until around the early 70’s.
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