Lilac Cottage Senior Citizens Facility

By Ron W. Dumke

Introduction

There is a constantly increasing number of aged in the general Waukegan area. Their ability to maintain self-sufficiency and personal well-being with dignity must be recognized.

The Waukegan Park District's role in the general coordination of Senior Programs is primarily to offer leisure opportunities. The recreational needs of older Americans differ significantly from other segments of our population.

Seniors want and need identity, which means a visible place in our community. Many seniors have given up their homes, moved into senior housing complexes or into privately owned apartment buildings. In doing so, they have sacrificed the yard they once enjoyed and the general upkeep of their home. This has resulted in many leisure hours. In addition, early retirement has added to more free time.

Recreation and leisure services are the prime concern of the Park District and traditionally seniors have voiced the need for the District to expand service in this area. The Park District in forming senior coalitions and committees has moved forward aggressively to meet the needs of seniors in terms of facility and programs.

The Park District's involvement in the senior population has been very limited to date. This limitation has been due in part to the lack of a facility to coordinate the interests of the senior population in a concentrated leisure services program to seniors.

However, the Park District now wants to use senior expertise in the restoration and utilization of the District's Lilac Cottage. The use of the building will not be solely as a Senior Citizen Center, but also a Park District facility to be used by the community. Restoring the building to the original period of the early 1920's will add to the heritage and significance of our community.

History and Projected Services

Lilac Cottage was built in 1928 by Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen as a residence for herself and Jane Addams when they visited the 72 acre Joseph T. Bowen Country Club. They purchased it in 1911 as a summer retreat for the underprivileged children and adults of the Hull House Association of Chicago. The large country home was designed by Anderson & Ticknor Architects, Lake Forest, Illinois and included several fireplaces, servant's quarters, open-air porches, and fine woodwork throughout.

Lilac Cottage, because of its historic association with the Hull House Association and the Bowen Country Club is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is of great importance to the community. When restored, it will provide the citizens of the Waukegan Park District with a functional and visual link to their past.

When the Bowen Country Club was bought in 1963 by the Waukegan Park District, the house became the home of the Lake County Music Center, a school for the performing arts. The name was later changed to the Jack Benny Center for the Arts in honor of the Waukegan born comedian.

This building, presently being renovated into a Senior Center, will also be used by the Park District for meeting space and office personnel. Additionally, the Waukegan Historical Society, which occupies the former Haines Farmhouse for its headquarters, would use Lilac Cottage for meetings, exhibit space, and

The Lilac Cottage.
Photo courtesy of Ron Voss.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 18 May/June 1981

storage. The building will be open to the public during the Park District hours.

The Park District Staff has prepared and submitted grant proposals for funds through the various titles of the Older American Act to support operation of the facility. Applications have been requested and on-site visitation by the Region II Grants Coordinator Staff has been accomplished.

Several additional avenues for funds are being pursued by the District to help the remodeling, maintenance, and programming of Lilac Cottage as a Senior Center. It is estimated that the operational costs of the facility will be approximately $60,000 annually including staff.

Sources of revenue are anticipated to include program fees, contributions, grants for operational expenses, recreation tax monies, and museum tax funds.

Among other activities, the Senior Citizens could/should be actively involved in planting and maintaining the garden around the Lilac Cottage facility. Duties could include: planting, weeding, watering, hoeing, etc. They should not be expected to prepare the ground for planting. It could also be possible to provide an opportunity for the Waukegan Garden Club to display some of their works.

The possibilities in developing comprehensive senior citizen services while maintaining the historical character of Lilac Cottage seem almost limitless. We are looking forward to accomplishing this multi-dimensional task.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 19 May/June 1981