HR1333 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1333 LRB098 22899 MST 61849 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to recognize the Sheldon Peck Homestead on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of its founding; and

WHEREAS, Sheldon Peck was born in Vermont in 1797; he married Harriet Cory in 1825, and shortly thereafter, made his way to Illinois; he completed his homestead (then known as Babcock's Grove) in Lombard in 1839 and became involved in many of the reform movements that started to take hold in the mid-1800s; he established the first school in the area to ensure all children would receive an education; and

WHEREAS, Sheldon Peck became deeply involved in the abolitionist movement and supported it to the extent that he became a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad; runaway slaves would make their way to his home, where they would be given food, shelter, and a place to rest, before moving on to the next "station"; and

WHEREAS, During the years Sheldon Peck was aiding slaves on the road to freedom, he continued his painting business, producing portraits for many local families; it is believed his art business served as a cover for his Underground Railroad work, allowing him to covertly move slaves between safe houses in his wagon; and

WHEREAS, Sheldon Peck's homestead was sold to the Village of Lombard in the mid-1990s; in 1996, the process of restoration began with historical research, fundraising, and finally physical refurbishing; in August of 1999, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held and Sheldon Peck's home, restored to its 1839 appearance, was unveiled; in 2011, the homestead became part of the National Park Service's Network to Freedom, an organization that catalogs Underground Railroad sites; the homestead will soon be placed on the National Register of Historic Places; and

WHEREAS, A 3-day celebration event was held in honor of the 175th anniversary at the Sheldon Peck Homestead on August 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, 2014; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the Sheldon Peck Homestead on its 175th anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Lombard Historical Society as an expression of our esteem and respect.