CHICAGO (CBS) — Preservationists fought to save a home from the 1850’s in Joliet, and then it sat empty for years. Now one man is hoping to convert the building into Will County’s first African American history museum.
Rain, shine, or frigid cold, work at the Casseday Mansion needs to stay on track for its second shot at life.
Luther Johnson got himself into a massive undertaking with the support of his family. The limestone building in Joliet is 173 years old, and will take more than half a million dollars to renovate.
Just getting to this point caused plenty of drama in 2019, when the fight to save the Casseday Mansion from getting torn down was a success.
To make room for a gas station, the 1.5-million-pound structure built with original Will County limestone was shuttled down the street.
The 14-hour move happened just before COVID-19 hit.
“My heart was singing because we did it. We saved it. And my heart was sunk because now what are we going to do?” said Sandy Vasko, director of the Will County Historical Museum and Research Center.