By Marney Simon | Bugle Staff
Owners at four historic properties in Joliet have had their hard work noted by members of the city council.
On May 15, the city issued proclamations in celebration of the four properties. Councilwoman Jan Quillman read the proclamations to the public during the regular meeting of the council.
The owners of the sites were awarded honors by the city council and the Joliet Historic Preservation Commission for their preservation efforts.
The following properties were honored:
Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus, 604 N. Raynor
“In celebration of preservation month in the city of Joliet, the Joliet Historic Preservation Commission wants to recognize the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus for their front façade restoration of the Neoclassical Style cathedral,” Quillman said. “The cathedral has helped preserve the exterior of this unique structure by carefully selecting Indiana limestone cladding for the monumental front pillars and portico to match the limestone in the main block of the church.”
The cathedral was built in 1954 to serve as the mother church for the Roman Catholic Joliet Diocese.
Featuring a 190-foot bell tower, the cathedral is a prominent landmark on the Joliet skyline.
1924 Sears Model and Craftsman bungalow, 318 S. Midland
The owners of this home restored the original floors and trim, retained original fixtures, and installed period-appropriate fixtures and cabinetry.
Homeowner Lindsey Daniels said she felt emotional at the award, after years of hard work to restore the home.
“We’ve lived in this home for 10 years,” Daniel’s said. “It’s very personal to me, this has been my life for 10 years. This is home. It’s been an honor to live here in Joliet and to help bring the history back into this home and to make it a part of the Joliet landscape once again.”
MyGrain Brewing Company, Union Station
The owners of the new restaurant and brewery housed inside Union Station downtown were honored for their adaptive use of the historic site.
The Beaux Arts style train station and depot was designed by Jarvis Hunt and completed in 1912 and was listed on the national register of historic places in 1978. Union Station has long served as a transportation hub for the city with leasable space inside.
“MyGrain Brewing has helped to preserve the first floor of the historic Joliet Union Station through a complete renovation and adaptive reuse of the building and property, including preservation of the facade, windows, doors, and columns. The completed renovation maintains the historical integrity of both the interior and exterior while providing a unique dining experience,” Quillman said. “Having been there, you really need to go. The food is fabulous as well as the beer.”
The interior renovation took two years.
Sehring Mansion, 310 Bridge St.
The owners were honored for exterior preservation of the castellated Romanesque style mansion.
The mansion was built between 1887 and 1889 for Fred Sehring, owner of a brewery adjacent to the property. The building was designed by Hugo F. Boehme.
“The property owners acquired the mansion in 2016 and have helped preserve the exterior of this unique structure by salvaging the front doors, tuck pointing the limestone facade, restoring the windows, and unearthing the tunnels on the property,” Quillman said. “These efforts are part of a plan to create viable commercial space while preserving the history of this property.”
This was the 13th year for the awards.
The honors coincide with Historic Preservation Month, sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a non-profit, privately funded organization that works to save historic places and sites in the country.