Bensenville Area Historical Association- BAHA

07/24/2026

July 24, 2026
Office of the President
DePaul University
1 East Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604

RE: Demolition of Historic Properties for Athletic Facility Construction

Dear DePaul University Administration and Board of Trustees,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Bensenville Area Historical Association to express our profound disappointment and strong distaste regarding the university’s decision to demolish historic Chicago architecture to construct a new sports practice facility. We strongly condemn the prioritization of this development over the preservation of our city’s irreplaceable cultural and architectural heritage.

Chicago’s history is inextricably linked to its built environment. When historic structures are razed, the narrative and character of the community are permanently erased. As advocates for historical preservation and adaptive reuse, we find it unacceptable that a prominent Chicago institution would choose to destroy these community assets, particularly when the university has access to alternative land and parcels that would have been far better suited for new construction.

A practice facility does not require the sacrifice of Chicago’s heritage. There were entirely viable alternatives that would have allowed DePaul to expand its athletic programs without inflicting permanent damage on the historic fabric of the neighborhood. Choosing demolition over responsible, forward-thinking urban planning is a profound missed opportunity to integrate the university's growth with the preservation of the community it calls home.

We urge DePaul University to seriously reevaluate its approach to campus expansion and community stewardship. Future developments must prioritize adaptive reuse and historical integrity rather than taking the most destructive path of least resistance.

Sincerely,
Zachary Squires
President
Bensenville Area Historical Association

07/23/2026

I have formally contacted the Village of Bensenville requesting their action in helping save a significant part of the village's historical past. This town doesn't need anymore industrial warehouse and trucks causing traffic. We need more public spaces that everyone in the village can enjoy. That is what we at the Bensenville Area Historical Association hope to do with 115 E Green St. We have suffered enough loss with the O'hare project that saw the lose of St. Johannes Cemetery and Church.

We have taken the steps needed to start the landmarking of the building as a historically significant structure.

Village of Bensenville
12 South Center Street
Bensenville, IL 60106
Subject: Preservation of 115 E. Green Street
July 19, 2026
Dear Members of Bensenville Board of Trustees
I am writing to you on behalf of the Bensenville Area Historical Association to respectfully request the Board acquire and restore the Old Bensenville School building at 115 E. Green Street. It is now for sale.
Over the years, Bensenville has sacrificed a devastating amount of its history, homes, and neighborhoods to O’Hare expansion. To now lose this 1917 landmark would be an irreplaceable blow to the identity of our village.
While the 17,000-square-foot structure currently sits vacant, our nonprofit organization and other members of the community have many ideas for this historic building.
Vision for 115 E. Green Street
You can breathe new life into the property by transforming it into a vibrant, mixed-use anchor for the community. The revitalized building could feature:
• A Local History Museum: Dedicated public gallery space celebrating Bensenville’s rich heritage and stories.
• A Community Event Center: Accessible, welcoming spaces designed to host town gatherings, educational programs, and cultural events.
• Leasable Office Space: Commercial offices situated on the upper level to generate sustainable, long-term revenue.
To make this project a reality, there are state and federal historic preservation grants. Our nonprofit organization is willing to work with you to help secure grants in any way we can.
We are in a race against time to protect what remains of our town’s architectural legacy. The Village is the crucial catalyst to make it happen.
Sincerely,
Zachary Squires
President
Bensenville Area Historical Association

07/20/2026

07/15/2026

Please consider making an irs tax deductible donation today to help us in our endeavors to save what’s left of our village’s great history.

🌟 Join us in Creating Change! 🌟At Bensenville Area Historical Association, we know that change starts with people like you. Every act of kindness, every…

07/05/2026

Happy 250 America from BAHA! 🎆

06/21/2026

One of Bensenville's most historic structures is at risk of being sold and demolished for industrial development. We are seeking investors interested in collaborating on the purchase and restoration of a significant part of the village's heritage. The building in question, located at 115 E Green St., was constructed in 1917 as Bensenville District 2 School, and after its closure in 1978, it was repurposed as offices before remaining vacant for 2 years. We aim to redevelop it into leasable spaces, a village history museum, and a community center. It’s been said to be around 13-17000 SQFT.

05/31/2026

The letter was published throughout Rockford today in print. This represents a significant milestone for the organization and increases our visibility.

05/29/2026

Our letter to the City of Rockford and UW Health was published in the Rockford Register Star today.

"To the City of Rockford and the Historic Preservation Commission, this loss is a glaring failure of local governance and regulatory oversight."

05/27/2026

May 26, 2026
Dear Editor,
I’m profoundly disappointed with UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital over their short-sightedness of demolishing the Civil War-era Briggs Mansion located at 1244 East State Street. The leveling of this 163-year-old architectural masterpiece on May 26 is a permanent stain on the community, and a sobering reminder of how easily our local history can be erased by corporate indifference and administrative complacency.
Built in 1863 by C.C. Briggs, who was a fierce abolitionist and instrumental community builder, this mansion was far more than mere timber and brick. It survived the Civil War, held deep ties to the regional Underground Railroad network, and stood as an irreplaceable testament to nineteenth-century craftsmanship and local heritage.
UW Health purchased this historic gem under the guise of future campus expansion, only to immediately rush through a demolition permit within weeks. This is corporate citizenship at its worst. Claiming the building is “not listed on a historical registry” is an insult to the intelligence of this community. It was your responsibility as a leading community entity to exercise stewardship over an obvious historical asset, explore options for creative reuse, and incorporate this magnificent Italianate-style landmark into your medical campus—much like the preservation of the Lake-Peterson House. Instead, you treated one of Rockford’s oldest homes as a disposable pop can, sacrificing irreplaceable history.
To the City of Rockford and the Historic Preservation Commission, this loss is a glaring failure of local governance and regulatory oversight. Allowing an outside institution to bypass public discourse, ignore the outreach of the Historic Preservation Commission, and bulldoze our cultural identity without a mandatory demolition-delay ordinance is unacceptable. Rockford continues to cannibalize its own soul—first with the Chancery building, then the Elks Club, and now the Briggs Mansion. When we erase the craftsmanship and the historical contributions of those who built this community, we degrade the character of Rockford as a whole.
Progress and healthcare expansion are necessary, but they should never demand the total erasure of our heritage. You have traded a monumental, 163-year-old symbol of American and Rockford history for a patch of dirt.
I urge that the Rockford City Council immediately reform its preservation ordinances to implement strict, multi-party demolition-delay processes so that predatory acquisitions like this can never happen again. This community is tired of watching its history reduced to rubble.
With severe disappointment,
Bensenville Area Historical Association