Local residents were grateful when St. James Farm – long the private retreat of Brooks McCormick and family, first opened to the public. Thanks to the care of the McCormick family, the farm was preserved, including many of its early structures. Today’s visitors enjoy beautiful paths and idyllic forests as well as a living museum showcasing the farm’s rich history as the McCormick family’s private residence and 1st class equestrian center.
The farm and greater area are part of a storied past. For thousands of years this farm and area now known as Cook, DuPage and Kane Counties once belonged to Native Americans. When the early nineteenth century brought homesteaders to the area, many conflicts arose. In 1816, a treaty granted this land to the Potawatomi, Sac, Fox and Winnebago tribes. In 1832, this treaty was broken which created further conflicts, culminating in the Black Hawk War of 1831.
Around this time, a council of local Indian tribes was told that President Van Buren had heard they wished to sell their land. Legend has it that the Native Americans responded that “The Great White Father must have seen a bad bird which told him a lie. Far from wishing to sell our land, we wish to keep it.” Ultimately, a treaty was signed transferring the land to the government. Six years later, about one-twentieth of this land became what is now known as DuPage County.
Homesteaders began arriving in the late 1830s. Jude and Erastus Gary were among the first and built a farm on what is now known as St. James Farm. What we know as DuPage County was much different then. The area was remote and wild, and settlers were subject to harsh living conditions. Through perseverance, the Gary family and other settlers were able to survive and grow. Over time, the Cook, DuPage and Kane Counties developed into what we see today.
Thanks to careful preservation efforts, these early structures can still be seen today at St. James Farm. These include the remains of a barn’s fieldstone foundation, a massive wood-planked German-style barn with cantilevered floors, and a gabled roof-and-wing farmhouse which is one of the last of its kind in DuPage County.
St. James Farm is a treasure nestled in the beautiful woods and prairies of DuPage County. Whether it be a hike, bike, or run on its meandering paths, or viewing the numerous historical buildings on its grounds, residents can take advantage of its gifts throughout the year.