Throughout Hinsdale's history, residents have willingly given of themselves to fill community needs.
Newcomers to the fledgling town built their own sidewalks, opened their own library and maintained
the fire department. Guided only by the acknowledgement of a need and a benevolent spirit,
Hinsdale's volunteer character continues as residents build recreational sites, beautify our public
spaces and provide health and social facilities. This voluntary commitment to the community is a
longstanding Hinsdale tradition.
In 1900, this same spirit built the Immanuel Evangelical Church, now known as Immanuel Hall,
at 302 S. Grant St. German immigrants once occupied much of west Hinsdale.
These talented craftsmen built most of the village's houses and businesses.
Recognizing a need in their own neighborhood, they built a simple, Gothic-style frame
church for $2,000, volunteering the necessary labor and expertise. The church was
constructed in eight weeks. By its size, proportions and materials, the building beautifully
complements its setting in an older residential neighborhood.
In 1920, the building was raised and a full basement was dug, a common practice at the time.
In 1923, a six-rank pipe organ (402 pipes) from M. P. Moeller & Sons, of Hagerstown, Maryland,
was purchased and installed, and the following year 10 stained glass windows, from
Flanagan & Biedenweg Company, of Chicago, replaced what were believed to have been
two-over-two sash windows.
The building was deactivated as a church in 1964, after which it was used as the state
headquarters for the United Church of Christ and then as a Montessori school. The sale of
the site in 1998 made it likely that the former church would be demolished, with Hinsdale losing
yet another irreplaceable piece of its history and tradition. For many months, the Hinsdale Historical
Society, the Hinsdale Board of Trustees and several residents labored persistently to find a way to
preserve the historic building. Finally, with the help of a substantial grant from the State of Illinois, the
Village of Hinsdale purchased the property. The Village eventually deeded the property to the Historical
Society after cleaning up the site.
The Society will operate Immanuel Hall for its own use and that of the public, in accordance
with its historic preservation mission, making the Hall available for meetings, classes and lectures,
shows and exhibits, performing arts programs and receptions. The grounds will be transformed into
a charming, quiet park.
The condition of the Hall is essentially sound, but it is largely unusable because it lacks water and
other necessities. For the past two years, a special committee of the Society worked with a noted
preservation architect to develop a rehabilitation plan, which was reviewed by a well-known
construction management firm. This resulted in a budget for the rehabilitation of $750,000, including
construction, furnishing and landscaping. This amount is now the fund raising goal of a campaign
committee that was organized by the Society in the spring of 2003. The committee created the
Immanuel Hall Auxiliary to assist it in raising awareness about the Hall throughout the community
and in presenting a variety of fund raising activities and events..
The rehabilitation plan includes the construction of
a small addition at the rear of the Hall that will house an elevator, stairs and kitchen.
The building's full basement will be remodeled to
contain mechanical equipment and washrooms, and office, meeting and storage space.
The main floor, which is open space under a 30-foot high
vaulted ceiling, will remain intact for use as a multipurpose area. The work is expected to take
five months.
In the meantime, Immanuel Hall continues to stand, telling the story of Hinsdale's spirit and
community. As the Village continues to redevelop, this elegant little building serves as a tangible
reminder of Hinsdale's proud past, its variety and tradition.
You can help honor Hinsdale's unique heritage and preserve its history. If you wish to contribute
to the rehabilitation of Immanuel Hall, please print, complete and mail the following form. Thank you.
- June 1, 1999 - The Hall becomes the Village of Hinsdale's first official "historic and community landmark," by ordinance.
- July 4, 2000 - During its centenary year the Hall is opened by the Hinsdale Historical Society to the public for the first time.
- February 9, 2001 - The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- March 2001 - The Historical Society receives the deed to the Hall from the Village.
- December 2001 - The Society commission's highly detailed architectural drawings of the building, which are placed in the Library of Congress as part of the National Park Service's Historic American Buildings Survey.
- February 5, 2002 - The building receives landmark status under Hinsdale's Historic Preservation Ordinance.
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