HR1333LRB098 22899 MST 61849 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to recognize the Sheldon Peck Homestead on 
4the occasion of the 175th anniversary of its founding; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Sheldon Peck was born in Vermont in 1797; he 
6married Harriet Cory in 1825, and shortly thereafter, made his 
7way to Illinois; he completed his homestead (then known as 
8Babcock's Grove) in Lombard in 1839 and became involved in many 
9of the reform movements that started to take hold in the 
10mid-1800s; he established the first school in the area to 
11ensure all children would receive an education; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Sheldon Peck became deeply involved in the 
13abolitionist movement and supported it to the extent that he 
14became a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad; runaway 
15slaves would make their way to his home, where they would be 
16given  food, shelter, and a place to rest, before moving on to 
17the next "station"; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, During the years Sheldon Peck was aiding slaves on 
19the road to freedom, he continued his painting business, 
20producing portraits for many local families; it is believed his 
21art business served as a cover for his Underground Railroad 
22work, allowing him to covertly move slaves between safe houses 
 
 
HR1333- 2 -LRB098 22899 MST 61849 r

1in his wagon; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, Sheldon Peck's homestead was sold to the Village 
3of Lombard in the mid-1990s; in 1996, the process of 
4restoration began with historical research, fundraising, and 
5finally physical refurbishing; in August of 1999,  a ribbon 
6cutting ceremony was held and Sheldon Peck's home, restored to 
7its 1839 appearance, was unveiled; in 2011, the homestead 
8became part of the National Park Service's Network to Freedom, 
9an organization that catalogs Underground Railroad sites; the 
10homestead will soon be placed  on the National Register of 
11Historic Places; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, A 3-day celebration event was held in honor of the 
13175th anniversary at the Sheldon Peck Homestead on August 22nd, 
1423rd, and 24th, 2014; therefore, be it
  
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
16NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
17we recognize the Sheldon Peck Homestead on its 175th 
18anniversary; and be it further
  
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
20presented to the Lombard Historical Society as an expression of 
21our esteem and respect.