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Read about the historical importance of the McKee House

The structures are some of the most important historic sites in DuPage County.

Robert L McKee in 1955 at Graue Mill (photo courtesy Lance McKee)

Robert L. McKee

In 1934, Robert McKee became first superintendent of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County during the difficult years of the Great Depression. At that time the District included only three small, bare-ground properties that sat behind locked gates at York, Bloomingdale and Herrick Lake. Only two years earlier, McKee had been hired as a caretaker, for $15 a week, to look after the York preserve. However, he was soon promoted to Chief Forester and then Superintendent when his early experience as a US Government surveyor, and later as a tree surgeon for Davey Tree Company, proved him to be a valuable asset in developing the preserves. Over time he persuaded the County Board to begin a plan to purchase wooded tracts that became available in different parts of the county. Using the labor of relief workers from the CCC camps at MacDowell Grove and Fullersburg Woods, he reforested hundreds of acres of old farm land, cleared trails, dug wells and built picnic shelters. Often the laborers worked for a meal, typically home-made soup made by Robert's wife Ada, who also acted as unpaid secretary for Forest Preserve business.

McKee was a dedicated conservationist, fighting local water pollution and the onslaught of Dutch Elm disease. He believed that wild places should be preserved and yet remain accessible to the public. An active volunteer and supporter for the Boy Scouts, he encouraged their explorations and activities within the preserves. He also believed in the preservation of historic sites and was instrumental in saving and restoring historic Graue Mill (c.1852) at Fullersburg Woods.

Robert McKee retired in 1962 and died in 1967.

1936 photo of the Forest Preserve of DuPage County Headquarters and Superintendant's Residence (courtesy Lance McKee, grandson of Robert and Ada)

1936 Construction of Forest Preserve Headquarters

The main structure was designed by Oak Park architect Harold Kohlman. It was fully funded by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and much of the labor was provided by workers from the Civil Conservation Corps (CCC) camp at McDowell Grove. The stone was quarried from the Salt Creek riverbed after coffer dams were built to redirect the water. The large slabs of rock were hauled up the banks on horse-drawn wagons and then were transported to Churchill Woods where they were chiseled into bricks at the site.

The compound of 3 hand-hewn limestone buildings on St Charles Road at Churchill Woods Forest Preserve served as the headquarters until 1982 and and also the superintendent's residence until 1994. The main two-story Colonial Revival structure is flanked by two wings - to the west, a Forest Preserve meeting room and to the east, a three car garage. A basement level housed offices and includes a river stone fireplace. An adjoining Administration building was known as "the workshop" to the McKee family and also housed office space and guard's quarters. A small well house sits between the two buildings.

Based on the historic, architectural and environmental significance of the site, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency has determined that it would qualify to be on the National Register of Historic Places.

H.C. Johnson, Cornelius Amory Pugsley Local Medal Award, 1989

H.C. "Chuck" Johnson

In 1962, Chuck Johnson succeeded Robert McKee and became the 1st director of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.

An early environmentalist, he had a clear-eyed understanding of the importance of acquiring open land for the benefit of the well-being of both County residents and to preserve the last vestiges of native woodlands, wetlands and prairies. Under his guidance, the district developed the 1966 Land Acquistion Plan. He oversaw the growth of the Forest Preserves from under 2,000 acres to close to 23,000.

Johnson lived and worked in the McKee House for 30 years. In 1989 he received the prestigious Cornelius Amory Pugsley Local Medal Award. He retired in 1994 and passed away in 2016.

Landmarks Illinois placed the McKee House on its 2017 list of most endangered places.

What should appear here is a video. The link for video was https://youtu.be/OP1nGVgpa8o, but claims it is private.

In this 2006 video, Russell McKee, son of Robert and Ada, talked about his childhood memories of the 1936 construction of the buildings.