Bill Text: IL HR1333 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Recognizes the Sheldon Peck Homestead on its 175th anniversary.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2014-11-19 - Resolution Adopted [HR1333 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-HR1333-Introduced.html

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HR1333 LRB098 22899 MST 61849 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives wish to recognize the Sheldon Peck Homestead on
the occasion of the 175th anniversary of its founding; and
WHEREAS, Sheldon Peck was born in Vermont in 1797; he
married Harriet Cory in 1825, and shortly thereafter, made his
way to Illinois; he completed his homestead (then known as
Babcock's Grove) in Lombard in 1839 and became involved in many
of the reform movements that started to take hold in the
mid-1800s; he established the first school in the area to
ensure all children would receive an education; and
WHEREAS, Sheldon Peck became deeply involved in the
abolitionist movement and supported it to the extent that he
became a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad; runaway
slaves would make their way to his home, where they would be
given food, shelter, and a place to rest, before moving on to
the next "station"; and
WHEREAS, During the years Sheldon Peck was aiding slaves on
the road to freedom, he continued his painting business,
producing portraits for many local families; it is believed his
art business served as a cover for his Underground Railroad
work, allowing him to covertly move slaves between safe houses

HR1333 - 2 - LRB098 22899 MST 61849 r
in his wagon; and
WHEREAS, Sheldon Peck's homestead was sold to the Village
of Lombard in the mid-1990s; in 1996, the process of
restoration began with historical research, fundraising, and
finally physical refurbishing; in August of 1999, a ribbon
cutting ceremony was held and Sheldon Peck's home, restored to
its 1839 appearance, was unveiled; in 2011, the homestead
became part of the National Park Service's Network to Freedom,
an organization that catalogs Underground Railroad sites; the
homestead will soon be placed on the National Register of
Historic Places; and
WHEREAS, A 3-day celebration event was held in honor of the
175th anniversary at the Sheldon Peck Homestead on August 22nd,
23rd, and 24th, 2014; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we recognize the Sheldon Peck Homestead on its 175th
anniversary; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the Lombard Historical Society as an expression of
our esteem and respect.