Dick Van Dyke's Boyhood Home in Danville, IL Slated for Demolition

Caption: Condemned boyhood home of TV and film actor Dick Van Dyke in Danville, IL. WAND-TV

A condemned house in Danville, IL, has gained worldwide attention since it became known that it is also the boyhood home of famed actor Dick Van Dyke.

Van Dyke, best known for his roles in Bye Bye Birdie, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and of course, television writer Rob Petrie in the breakthrough TV sitcom “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” grew up in Danville, IL, about a two-and-half-hour drive from Chicago.

Danville Mayor Scott Eisenhauer told NBC affiliate WAND-TV that city staff were unaware of the home’s history at 930 N. Hazel St. when they added it to the list of condemned structures in December 2014.

Now, the mayor is receiving social media messages and phone calls from local residents who aren’t happy about seeing the boyhood home of Danville’s most famous resident about to be demolished.

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“You need to give out-of-town people something to come here for,” said a neighbor who lives across the street from the home.

Van Dyke and younger brother, Jerry, who starred in “Coach” and currently has a recurring role on “The Middle,” spent their childhood years in the house from 1935 to 1944, according to U.S. Census records, WAND-TV reported, after their parents relocated to Danville from Missouri.

The about-to-tune 90 Van Dyke would like to see the house saved. In an interview with Danville Commercial News, Van Dyke fondly recalled his growing-up years along the Vermillion River in the Central Illinois town during the Depression.

“I was sad to hear it,” Van Dyke said. “That’s where I spent my whole childhood and so did my brother (Jerry Van Dyke). I have a lot of great memories there.”

The mayor said he is not adverse to the city gaining possession of the house if someone stepped forward with the financial means to renovate it.

The Danville public works director said that a relative of the former owner has expressed interest in restoring the property but hasn’t shown evidence he can afford to do it, WAND-TV reported.

Van Dyke told Commercial News that he’d like to know from city officials more about the home’s condition.

“I’d like to know if it’s fixable,” Van Dyke said. “Then maybe we could do something ... Danville is my home and I do still care.”