Greene Farm Barn Preserves History For The Community

Walking the trail path in the Greene Valley Forest Preserve, you may encounter a wide range of nature and come across a little part of history.

Bonnie Olszewski, public affairs specialist for the DuPage County Forest Preserve District, said the Greene Farm Barn was established at the preserve to benefit the community for educational, historical and cultural purposes.

“It ties to the history of our community, a piece of the past preserved that reminds future generations of those who came before them,” Olszewski said.

“It may also bring the repurposing of a once empty building to a public space.”

The barn is located on Greene Road, off Hobson Road just west of Route 53. It's in Naperville, although it is across the street from Woodridge.

The Greene family purchased the land in the 1840s and built a home and barn. The farmstead was constructed and used for dairy operations. The land and property was in the possession of the family until 1971 when the house was given to the Aurora Foundation.

In 1998, the district committed to preserve and renovate the Greene Farm house for the sake of the public, according to its website.

The house remains unoccupied and is not open to the public.

Olszewski said the home is a visual amenity and reminder of the county’s historic past.

“The support for saving the structure shows the strength of community support for ties to our past,” she said. “It also shows the agricultural history in DuPage County. Though it’s hard to imagine today, our area was once dotted with family farms.”

Olszewski said the barn will be stabilized and renovated so that in the future, it might be further rehabilitated. Construction is anticipated to be completed in the spring of 2012.

Greene Valley Forest Preserve is one of the district’s larger preserves. It offers a wide range of activities for the public, from an extensive trail system, picnic shelters, an off-leash dog area and several different ecosystems.