CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Crete Area Historical Society wants to make sure a church that was once a stop on The Underground Railroad is preserved for generations to come.
The Crete Congregational Church was built in 1853. In 2018, the National Park Service designated the church as a historic site on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Trail for its role in helping those fleeing slavery.
Now, the Crete Area Historical Society, which bought the church, plans to renovate the structure and turn it into a museum.
“We would like to see the entire building renovated,” said Crete Area Historical Society President Ryan Martin.
The Crete Area Historical Society also hopes the property can serve as a home for the organization.
“The depot [will be] made to look like an old depot,” Martin said. “We’ll put the Crete sign up there on the gable and maybe some railroad crossing, crossbars so people can tell it was an old depot. The church, we would like to make it look more like a church. Maybe one day even rebuild the steeple that burned in the ’60s.”
Martin said renovations are expected to take about two years to complete. They're asking the public to help by donating time, money and services.
“Anybody who has anything to donate, we will definitely preserve it, tell the story they went along with it,” Martin said.
The society hopes to open the museum to the public in 2024.
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