Stellwagen Farm
Originally published September 28, 2014 (Submission copy)
The Stellwagen family last weekend held group tours of the family farm (17701 South 108th Avenue) in Orland Park, which was purchased in 202 by the village for $6 million as part of its Open Lands program to be preserved as a historic farm and open prairie.
Diane Grigus met me as I began the tour and said “this is the beginning of the next stage toward the property becoming a place where students may learn about life on a farm,” which was the goal of her father, Harwood Stellwagen when he sold the 60-acre farm to Orland Park.
“He was very forward thinking, and said ‘kids need to understand where their food comes from,’” said Grigus.
Jim Stellwagen, the brother of Grigus and Betty Maue, conducted the tours, which are held through the foundation. Stellwagen is a member of the foundation board, which oversees the property, which is still a working farm.
The tours began at the windmill, which powered the water pump that provided cooling for the original milk cans before they were transported.
He showed us the silo and explained how it was filled with silage (chopped corn) in the fall, and then gathered from the top to feed the cows. The silo provided safe storage and didn’t allow this feed to rot, Stellwagen said.
He explained the milking stations, and demonstrated a milking machine used to milk the 35-40 cows at any one time.
His father, who died in 2011, was meticulous and kept a log on the wall that detailed the routine of the cows, Stellwagen said, showing us a calendar from 1957 that charted each cow.
Walking into the barn, Jim explained how previously the loose hay was collected and brought up to be stored until baling became the norm. The expansive barn could hold 6,000 bales of hay.
We were then welcome to roam the property and see the corn crib; brooder house; pig house; and chicken house, along with the family’s home.
Entering the family house, I was greeted by Betty Stellwagen Maue, who was conducting house tours. She introduced me to “Aunt Doris”, their maternal Aunt, who also was well familiar with the home. At 91, she still gardens a plot of land in New Lenox, and works harder than most individuals her age.
Betty explained how the house is actually three different houses that were combined into one. The first part of the house (closest to108th Avenue) was the original “home” that Mathias Stellwagen bought when he purchased the first 80 acres in 1860. When the family acquired 80 more acres, the buildings that sat on that land were brought over, and attached to the first part of the house.
The house was used differently throughout its’ history. During the 1940s, when Betty’s parents married, they moved in with Harwood’s parents and the home was accommodating to the multi-generational family. As there was only one bathroom, you needed to cross the home to utilize it. Betty fondly remembers discovering her grandmother secretly sewing a rag doll for her late one evening in the kitchen, when Betty woke up one night to use the bathroom.
The upstairs became the grandparents’ area, with a bedroom and a sitting room. In the later years, part of the upstairs served as a kids’ playroom, which was filled with wonderful old toys and books. Children on the tour stopped and played with the toys.
The barns and other buildings have been returned to their splendor, and a plan has been discussed for the home. A restoration company assessed the needs and created a plan, including renovating the open porch and side porch, and replacing the siding to the original clapboard.
The tours were posted on facebook and through the homeowners associations of their neighbors. Most attendees were curious neighbors who were within walking distance of the farm. The family wanted to see how they would conduct the tours, and provide parking, etc., and plan to conduct more tours in the future.
Ellen Conway, a resident in nearby Brook Hills subdivision, brought her three children, Gabriel, Jacob, and Vivian, to see the farm. She explained that “she had always wanted to see the farm, and when she saw the signs out in front, she just had to stop in!”
Her boys were excited to see the farm, and she was very interested in the house. Little Vivian was happy to explore the house, and looked right at home checking out some of the toys in the playroom.
The Stellwagen Family Farm Foundation established a 501c3 tax status to handle any monetary contributions. For information about Stellwagen Farm, contact Development Services of the Village at (708) 403-5300.