Courtesy of the Patrick Wirtz collection

Garden Party

Thanks to everyone who attended our Fall Garden & Wine Stroll on Sept. 27. Following a tour of the George Street bridge, we adjourned to Montelona Farm where Rommy Lopat (left) showed off her garden splendor.

McConnell Farmstead Among State's 2025 Most Endangered Sites

Landmarks Illinois has announced the 2025 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois. The list calls attention to 10 culturally and architecturally significant sites across the state that face growing threats of disinvestment and demolition.

Find the full info here: https://www.landmarks.org/preservation-programs/most-endangered-historic-places-in-illinois/w-a-mcconnell-farmstead-2025/

Adam Metz

President, W.A. McConnell Foundation

“The 1868 McConnell Homestead is a prime example of how Chicago’s first farmers settled on hilltop oak savannas loaded with springs for drinking water and a flowing creek to power their mills. Now that voters have approved funding for the farm’s owner, the McHenry County Conservation District, there is a new opportunity to preserve this homestead. We can showcase history, architecture and 19th-century culture on a historic entry to Richmond, which is itself a preservation diamond in the rough. Better yet, the McConnell Homestead lies at the entrance to the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge—another preservation success in Richmond.”

Wooden Bridge Named as Top Endangered Site

On May 4, 2023, Richmond's Wooden Bridge was named as one of the 2023 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois by Landmarks Illinois! This designation is well-deserved and, we hope, will help to secure proper maintenance and preservation of this iconic community landmark.

Find the full info here: www.landmarks.org/preservation-programs/most-endangered-historic-places-in-illinois/

What are some ways you can help?

Talk to our local decision makers
Think of any connections you have to trades professionals
Keep your eyes out for available grants
Make a donation
Send us your favorite memories or historic photos
Educate others on the bridge's historical significance
Follow us on Facebook!

Thank You

Thanks to your generous donations, we were able to save Richmond's oldest standing building, Old No. 90, built by Charles Cotting around 1844. Initial preservation plans include stabilization of the foundation, as water along the sidewalk has caused detioration and movement.

Richmond, Illinois

A wooden bridge. A bonafide historic Main Street. An original farmstead. A life-giving creek. Working farms and silos. An oak tree. Centuries-old resting places marking those who have gone before us.

When pioneer William McConnell set his gaze upon the North branch of the Nippersink Creek after travelling from Pennsyvania, he quickly knew this was the place he wanted to call home and start his family. McConnell slept under an oak tree that first night. A carpenter by trade, he soon built a small log cabin next to the shallow winding creek, laid claim to a plot of land, and shortly thereafter married Elizabeth Bodine. While raising three sons, McConnell acted as postmaster, commissioner, and judge, along with founding the Richmond Bank and several other businesses. William McConnell was a prominent and busy man, but he always found time to give back to his community.

William McConnell passed away in 1887, but his legacy lives on in our community and in the original mid-19th century relics sprinkled in and around the town. Our quaint, unique village is known throughout the region for its historic buildings, unique character, and quaint charm not found in most other suburban Illinois towns. Mention Richmond to a friend, and you’ll likely hear a story about a special purchase at an antique store, a sweet treat from Anderson’s Candy Shoppe, or the old-timey charm of historic buildings that line Main Street.

The W.A. McConnell Foundation strives to honor the legacy that Richmond was built upon long ago. We invite you to join us in preserving and celebrating Richmond’s unique heritage.

Because the path to the future is paved by our past.

We're Growing!

Together we can accomplish great things, but only if we are willing to get educated about the history of the Richmond/Spring Grove area. Those wishing to learn more about the foundation and its activities can sign up for our monthly newsletter HERE.

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