Rarely in America, an opportunity to acquire the 785 acre Old Gillett Farm in Elkhart, IL -- stately, and historic. Abraham Lincoln was a lifelong friend and the familys lawyer, Adlai Stevenson wrote some of his presidential campaign speeches on the screened porch, Earnest Hemingway passed through on his way to Florida, Gilletts daughter married Civil War hero and Governor Oglesby and they built Olgehurst, their mansion next door, Gilletts grand-daughter married William Drake of the Drake Hotel family from Chicago, Carry Grant played tennis with his wife Betsy Drake, Marshall Field would stop his private train car for mint julips on the lawn and then Gillett would join Field to travel to the Kentucky Derby. Old Gillett Farm has been treasured by the Gillett family for over seven generations.
The 785 acre property includes the Gillett House, the Drake House, caretaker's home, farm mana...
The 785 acre property includes the Gillett House, the Drake House, caretaker's home, farm manager's home, thirteen historic barns and support buildings, 600 tillable acres and approximately 100 acres of mature woodlands, wooded conservation land on and surrounding Elkhart Hill the highest point between Chicago and St. Louis. The property is located just off Interstate 55.
The Gillett House is approximately 10,000 sq. ft. and features seven bedrooms, five full baths, a powder room, and its own ornately designed water tower. Hardwoods, handcrafted pine paneling, finely crafted hardware can be found everywhere and are the sort of details that are rarely found in modern homes. The property encompasses much of Elkhart Hill, the highest point of land between Chicago and St. Louis and where on a clear day you can see Springfield. At the base of the hill is the site of the 1819 Kentucky House where Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Douglas, and other lawyers of the day stopped on their circuit rounds. It was built on the Edwards Trace, a 100 mile route from Peoria to St. Louis. The only remnant of the trace today is on Elkhart Hill where the wagon tracks can still be seen. The property features tillable land, pastures, protected mature woodlands, a pond, and amazing unobstructed views.
This property is offerd in ten tracts:
TRACT A The Gillett House, carriage house, water tower, upper barns - a total of 107 acres atop Elkhart Hill, including 75 acres wooded land.
TRACT B The Drake House surrounded by nine acres of lawns and woods.
TRACT C A 47.3 acre homesite with pasture and restored prairie.
TRACT D 12 tillable acres adjacent to homes in town.
TRACT E 99 tillable acres with the potential for residential development.
TRACT F 254 tillable acres including caretaker house, barns and cattle pasture.
TRACT G 39 partially wooded acre homesite including a pond, restored prairie and fields with walking trails.
TRACT H 144 acres of tillable land
TRACT J 79 acres of tillable land
TRACT K 8.7 acres including a farm house, barn, sheds and grain storage.
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