Special location and time

Barn Keepers to meet at Funks Grove

"Barns and the Preservation of Their Environment"

The Barn Keepers will meet on their usual meeting night Thursday, May 12, but at a special time 6:30 p.m. and at a special place – the Sugar Grove Nature Center at Funks Grove – directions are included below. The meeting will feature a tour of the grounds and barn.

The Funks Grove Cemetery Association was organized on August 1891. Its membership consisted of Robert Stubblefield and Isaac Funk's decedents. Robert Stubblefield married one of Isaac's sisters, Sarah, and had several children. She died and he later married another sister, Dorothy. They settled on the west side of Funks Grove in 1824. He was the father of eleven children. Both families had a great deal of influence on the development of McLean County and agriculture.

In 2003 the Funks Grove Cemetery Association purchased 2.8 acres of land and a barn, which is adjacent to the west side of the cemetery. The barn is the last remaining structure that may have been built by Stubblefield. Since barns are disappearing from the American landscape and Robert Stubblefield is a patriarch of the Association, it seems fitting for the Cemetery Association to restore the barn to its original condition as a memorial to Robert.

The presenter will be Eric Funk, fifth generation grandson of Isaac Funk and a board member of the Funks Grove Cemetery Association. He is owner of an insurance agency, supervisor of Funks Grove Cemetery, junior partner of a 5,000-acre farming operation and sometime handyman at Sugar Grove Nature Center. JW

Directions from Bloomington, Illinois:

Take I-55 South to the Shirley exit.

Turn right at the top of the off-ramp.

Turn left at the T-intersection onto Old Route 66.

Proceed approximately 4.5 miles to Funks Grove Road. Turn right.

Proceed over railroad tracks, and take the first left.

At this point, there will be signs for Sugar Grove Nature Center.

­Follow this road, being careful of the two dangerous curves.

At the Dead End sign, continue straight.

The road will open up to prairie and you will see the nature center buildings on your right.

When you come to the gravel lane, turn right, and proceed to the parking lot.

Are you passionate about barns? Barn Keepers is looking for volunteers to help with our special events. We will be at the McLean County Fair handing out our new brochure and a calendar highlighting our meeting topics for 2005-2006, a great barn tour and other special events. To volunteer for the fair call 309-724-8016 or e-mail glb@ctechinternet.com

Mission: To promote the appreciation, preservation and rehabilitation of barns.

Our next meetings: Sept. 8 Nov. 10 Feb. 9 May 11

Barn Keepers Membership Application

Name___________________________________________________________

Address________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Town, state, zip code_____________________________________________

E-mail__________________________________Phone_________________

Dues Donation: $ 25 annually/family

(Make check to: Barn Keepers)

Mail to: Barn Keepers

P.O. Box 261

Bloomington, IL 61702-0261

JOIN TODAY!!!

Illinois Barn Alliance to meet

Sept 16-17-18

Great tour and conference

Shawnee Community College