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A Bit of History to Disappear at Princeton
PRINCETON, IL (November 29, 2005) - A bit of history will disappear next
spring when the 1920s-vintage original house and dormitories of Covenant
Children's Home are razed.
Continued deterioration of the structures and modern safety codes led to
the unanimous decision by the Covenant Children's Home and Family
Services (CCHFS) Board of Directors. Other buildings on the campus will
remain.
"We realize the emotional attachment that many former residents, staff
and friends have for the Covenant Children's Home and for the original
buildings," says Bonnie Pihl, board president. "This is a difficult
decision, but one that all of us on the board feel is necessary in order
for CCHFS to continue to move forward into new areas of ministry and
service."
"We realize that when these special buildings are removed, there will be
a grief process for past residents as well as former staff members and
longtime supporters of Covenant Children's Home and Family Services,"
says John Weborg, chaplain to the board and its various ministries. "It
is important to incorporate the grief into anything that is done to
commemorate the buildings."
The board is discussing building a memorial park or garden on campus and
will plan a special service to celebrate the buildings' importance.
The buildings were used constantly throughout the home's 80-year
history, and several agencies considered using them over the past four
years, but only if they were renovated. The board considered renovating,
but cost estimates exceeded more than a million dollars for several
scenarios. The buildings still would not be optimal, despite the work.
When the Sunday School Association of the Central Conference of the
Evangelical Covenant Church wanted to open a home for children in need,
Princeton proved a logical site because of its central location and the
fact that the original home already was standing in 1921. The
dormitories were built in 1924.
The two buildings housed children, staff and offices until the early
1980s. By that time, the home had changed from a haven for children
whose families were unable to care for them into a residential center
for abused, neglected and troubled young people. A new residential
building was opened in 1981 because the original buildings could not
meet new state codes for that purpose. The buildings continued to house
Covenant Counseling Services, which provided community based services
and programs to area residents. The residential treatment services were
discontinued in 2000 and the counseling services in 2001.
Through partnerships with other organizations, the campus continues to
be used. The County Health and Wellness Clinic is housed on campus, as
is the Freedom House shelter and services for abused women and their
children. The Covenant Life Skills Development Center is in the planning
stages and other ministries are under consideration.
To learn more about the project, call the staff at 815-875-1129.
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