Check out the Photo gallery
for House Moving Action

> May 16 - the house has now made the 180 turn to face
Maple Avenue and is in its final location sitting over its new foundation waiting for the concrete to cure.

> The house made its way onto the Museum campus next to its newly excavated basement.

> The cement footings have been poured.


The 1846 Blodgett House was built by Israel and Avis Blodgett. Not only does the house have architectural historical significance as the second or third oldest house in the Village, but it also has great cultural significance as an active stopover point on the Underground Railroad. The Downers Grove Heritage Preservation Corporation has been founded with a mission to save and restore this historic house and create a museum focusing on the underground railroad. click here to learn more

Historic House Returns "Home" thanks to
Philanthropic support
The move represents over a year of grass roots community efforts, governmental cooperation, and corporate support. Companies like Sara Lee, McDonald’s, Dicke Tool, One Smooth Stone, and many others, have made this historic move possible. Together they are helping to preserve a local and national treasure. Click here to see our Sponsors and how you can help

Next Steps for the Move
Now positioned, the foundation forms will be set in place to match the frame of the house, and the the concrete foundation will be poured. After a week or so to let the cement cure, the house will be lowered onto its new foundation.

Fundraising:
A big next step
The move and renovation of the 1846 Blodgett House is dependent on contributions from the community. In order to continue our progress, we need to continue fundraising efforts for exterior renovation. Please help preserve our heritage by making a contribution.

See the video
1846 Blodgett House
gets final positioning over footings

The historic 1846 Blodgett House has moved through adjacent backyards to its new home on the Historical Museum Campus in Downers Grove.  The house is now poised over its footings and ready to be placed on its new foundation facing Maple Avenue. The move was a balance of brute force, pulling the two-story house across 500 feet of ground, and finesse and technical skill, threading the structure between trees and positioning the house within inches of its target point.
Click here to see a
TIME-LAPSE_MOVIE.            

Updated May 16, 2008

Buy Tickets online or at Downtwon Stores
Tickets Available on line
The Village of Downers Grove has determined to once again hold a "Pre-Heritage Festival Concert" and to direct the proceeds to "Put the heritage back in Heritage Festival." Tickets are now available online. Click here for concert and ticket info.

Volunteers wanted for
Blodgett projects
The next few months will be a busy time for the Blodgett project, and DGHPC will need all the help we can get. Preparations for the big move and exterior restoration are getting underway and there will be plenty of opportunity to help out. In addition, we have been selected to partner with the Village for the Heritage Concert, so we can use your help putting up posters, selling tickets, staffing the concert and helping out with odds and ends. To find out more and/or volunteer, drop an email to
volunteer@1846blodgetthouse.org

Village selects DGHPC to partner for
Heritage Concert
After a recommendation by both the Community Events Commission and the Community Grants Commission, the Downers Grove Village Council voted unanimously to select the DGHPC as partner for this year's concert. The DGHPC will derive 40% of the gate proceeds from the concert, while the village retains 60% to defray costs. DGHPC will be responsible for ticket sales, marketing, publicity and concert staffing.