Preserving and Promoting the Heritage Sites of the
Fullersburg Historic Foundation
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A plan has been approved to remove the historic Graue Mill Dam and to move the channel of Salt Creek, eliminating the millpond. The foundation opposes this project and encourages you to express your opinion, as well. For further information and contact sources, click on icon.
Save the Graue Mill Dam!
Graue Mill Dam photo by Bruce Nudd
On 10/6/2020, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County Commissioners voted 5-2 to grant a license to remove the dam and alter the channel of Salt Creek for approximately a mile above the dam. There are documented Native American burial mounds along the creek in Fullersburg. The mill, millpond, and dam illustrate the rich history of this location dating to Fullersburg's Settlement Era, and this area played an important role as part of the Underground Railroad. Covid pandemic conditions limited the open public exchange of opinions about this controversial issue.
Fullersburg Historic Foundation President Don Fuller writes, "Please consider opposing the removal of the dam and actively support the Historic Fullersburg Gateway legally identified as such in an agreement between Oak Brook and the Village of Hinsdale, so it can be a truly educational and scenic experience tomorrow as it has been for almost two hundred years." Bonnie Sartore, President of Graue Mill Museum Board of Directors, writes, "The area surrounding the Mill, the Frederick Graue House and the dam itself are all part of the most often visited Forest Preserve District facilities in DuPage County." You can express your opinion by writing to the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County at forest@dupageforest.org. Sign a petition expressing your opposition to the removal of the dam is at http://chng.it/8hC2FYHm8D. An overview of the interconnected nature of this historic area can be found in Fullersburg Chronicles in "For You" or "Suggested Reading" on this site.
Inset of historic Scharf map detailing Native American village, camps, chipping station, signal station, and burial mounds in Fullersburg; see For You section, above.
"For as long as I can remember the people of Fullersburg were particularly fascinated by the two circular mounds about eight feet high and fifteen feet in diameter which were said to mark the burial site of tribal chiefs. The area, known as the "wiccibottom,"is now the forest preserve parking lot... Remaining, perhaps are archeological sites, yet to be explored."
George Ruchty, Ben Fuller descendant
"The old dam was 2 feet higher than it is today. The Indian mounds are still there. We could have picked up bushels of Indian arrow heads at this place and all around it."
George Kolzow
Don and Kathy Fuller display arrowheads from the George Ruchty collection found in the Fullersburg area. To learn more about the artifacts from Old Fullersburg,
see "Events" section, above.
Don Fuller, right, is the great, great grandson of Benjamin Fuller, the founder of Fullersburg. Don is also the president of the Fullersburg Historic Foundation. (Click on video to learn more about historic Fullersburg.) "The mission of the foundation, working in partnership with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, is to raise funds to restore the Ben Fuller Farmhouse and develop educational programs and exhibits. We continue to promote and support the preservation of the Fullersburg Historic District and its heritage sites."
Executive Board
Officers
President - Don Fuller
Vice President - Richard Allison
Secretary - Patrice Macken
Treasurer- Patrice Macken
Directors
John Barr
Robert Crane
Susan Devick
Kathleen Fuller
Marci Hanzlik
Dr. Erlo Roth
Lynnette Ruiz
Kathleen Sievertsen
Advisors
Mike Dutka
Charles Hartley
Audrey Muschler
Matt Stockmal
Sheila Susman-Scheftner
Partners
Thank you to our partners that help make the preservation of these historic sites possible.
The mission of the Fullersburg Historic Foundation, working in partnership with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, is to raise funds to restore the Ben Fuller Farmhouse and develop educational programs and exhibits. We continue to promote and support the preservation of the Fullersburg Historic District and its heritage sites.