It was a busy weekend at the Hegeler Mansion at 1521 North Vermilion, with the Hegeler Foundation and the Vermilion County Museum Society hosting tours in honor of Vermilion County’s 200th anniversary.
Heather Urbanski, who works for the Hegeler Foundation to maintain the mansion, said over the weekend that those taking the tours are so glad to look around inside.
AUDIO: They’re all just really eager to hear about the history of the home and the family. And we share not only about Julius; but his ties to Danville, his grandfather, his great-grandfather, his mother, his grandmother. And I think a lot of folks come in, and they’ve driven past the house for years, and they’re just super excited about the opportunity to actually come in and actually tell people “I’ve been in there!”
The house was built in 1911, and purchased by the Hegeler family in 1927, one year before Julius Hegeler was born. The Vermilion County Museum’s Sue Richter stated that it was fun to put this special weekend together.
AUDIO: And especially with the 200th anniversary of the county, we’ve looked for varied and assorted projects and programs. A lot of what we’ve spent this year has been outside of Danville, so this is actually one of two or three activities within the town of Danville, with it being the county seat. So it’s worked out very well.
And the Hegeler Foundation’s Secretary – Treasurer Mary Norenberg reminded CIMG that they are hoping to have tours sometime next year as well, for Danville’s 200th anniversary.
