Retired tradesmen, the Pleasant Dale Park District wants you.
The park district is looking to create a group of tradesmen who could do work on the historic Robert Vial House, which is under the district’s domain. Park district officials see the group as a way to keep maintenance costs down at the historic home.
Park Board President Kevin Burke suggested the committee earlier this month.
The Vial House, built in 1856, is located on park property at 7425 S. Wolf Road, Burr Ridge. It was moved there in 1989.
The idea for the volunteer work crew came after Pleasant Dale executive director Matt Russian told board members that it cost the district about $10,000 to repair siding on the Vial House recently.
Retired tradesmen interested in providing labor on the home should contact the district at 630-662-6220.
How long the historic structure remains part of the park district appears to be in question.
“If people are not coming, do we really want to spend the money on repairs?” Russian asked.
Burke noted being an old home there are always renovations that have to be done.
“It’s an ever growing problem,” Burke said.
Russian said the district spends $20,000 to $25,000 annually in maintenance of the facility.
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The limited visitors the house gets is partially due to its small size. It is not big enough for a full classroom of children to tour at one time, board members pointed out.
“I don’t think they have a lot of activity there,” board member Ernie Moon said.
“Why do we have it?” board member C.J. Johnson asked.
The Vial House is open from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursdays and from 2-4 p.m. the first Sunday of the month, from April through October.
Robert Vial was the second son of Joseph Vial, an early settler in the Flagg Creek area. The house was originally located on Plainfield Road on the property that has become Timber Trails Golf Course.
Russian said by expanding the adjacent museum space, there would be room for full classes to be seated for education programs.
The park district mentions the historic home in its brochures in an effort to draw people to the facility. But board members say more promotion is needed.
Burke suggested having a future Easter egg hunt in front of the historic home to make residents aware of the facility. Johnson questioned if park district classes could be held in the home.
“We’ve got to draw attention to the house to generate interest,” Burke said.
Despite the Vial House’s limited draw so far, Moon lauded members of the Flagg Creek Heritage Society for their work keeping the home going.
“It is the same four or five ladies,” Moon said. “You have to give them credit.”
Kevin Beese is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.