HOW THE WARREN TAVERN PRESERVATIONISTS SAVED THE COLONEL'S TAVERN

The historic landmark of DuPage County, built by the Founder of Warrenville, "Colonel" Julius Morton Warren, was almost lost.
​
The Warren Tavern was operated by Julius Morton Warren and his business successors as a hotel until the turn of the 20th Century, then became a home for two prominent Warrenville families until the late 1980’s.  By that time, the building had been enlarged and modified with additions to accommodate the needs of family life.
The choice site where it rested, at the intersection of modern-day Warrenville Road and Winfield Road, had also become a prime developable piece of real estate in the 150 years that had passed since its construction.  With demolition impending, a group of civic-minded volunteers emerged under the banner of The Warren Tavern Preservationists in late 1991 to assume responsibility for relocating, restoring, maintaining, and interpreting the historic 1838 pioneer-era structure, which had laid vacant for two and a half years.
​A number of concerned residents generously responded to a fund-raising appeal and their efforts were supported by both the City of Warrenville and the McCormick Foundation.  Hundreds of work hours ensued as volunteers toiled at the worksite to prepare the structure for moving day on October 7, 1992.  Thus, the fragile old structure made its triumphal journey to a new home, just around the corner from its original location (where a Walgreen’s drugstore stands today) to reside alongside the Albright Studio City Museum within a new Historic Park planned by the City of Warrenville.
Progress on restoring the building proceeded in fits and starts for another ten years.  Warren Tavern Preservationists volunteers continued their work on the building, which was settled upon a new foundation and stabilized from the elements.  The Kiwanis Club donated new windows and doors, and through further grant funding, the exterior received a new roof and siding.  Then the Union building trades donated essential construction services for new plumbing, wiring, heating and cooling, carpentry, masonry work, and painting.  Authentic interior doors were salvaged from a farmhouse in Nebraska, a local plastering company completed interior finishes, and fresh softwood flooring was installed.  Period-correct Civil War-era wallpaper provided the finishing touch to décor, and soft candlelight fixtures were subscribed by residents across the community. 
By 2002, the work was completed, and the Warren Tavern entered its new era of service to the community.  Ever since, the Warren Tavern Preservationists have continued maintaining and managing the facility as a restored meeting place and community center.  In 2015, construction of a new Warrenville Road bridge led to further enhancements of the grounds at Leone Schmidt Heritage Park and installation of new handicapped-accessible entryways to the Tavern for three of the four entrances.
Throughout the entire period since the town was first motivated in 1991 to preserve one of its most treasured architectural treasures, the Warren Tavern Preservationists have enjoyed considerable grant assistance and support from the City Council of Warrenville during the administrations of Mayors Vivian Lund and David Brummel.