Picnic at Graue Mill Dam                                       Photo by Dave Waycie

     Audrey Muschler is the history component of a duo formed with Valerie Spale, mentioned a few articles back. The two have championed the cause for creating and maintaining a flourishing environment of recreation, open space and historic preservation along the Salt Creek, extending from Lyons to Schaumburg. 

     Keeping the greenway green and not overdeveloped should help the waters flow cleaner and clearer and help prevent sewage and flooding overflows to downstream, so that it is something to enjoy, with canoeing, biking, hiking and visiting historic sites. Along the way photographers, historians, brush-clearers, tour guides and docents keep it fresh.

     During the 1970’s, when Muschler, many years into the Oakbrook Historical Society, responded to a plea by Spale and a powerful team was formed.  Spale had begun her own volunteerism in response to a news article pronouncing a threat of development to Wolf Road Prairie, and was looking for a historian to join her efforts for open space preservation.  Spale mused that in times of difficulty when they’d somehow “get over the hump; you have to wonder sometimes if there is a plan.”

     They’ve bound efforts of forest preserve officials, towns, and park districts while mapping the historical aspects of the watershed overseen by multiple municipal jurisdictions. Their efforts were driven by a fascination with historic and environmental preservation that have been augmented by state funding, groups, organizations and individuals, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the National Historic Register.
     Muschler represents the DuPage County faction, and Spale the Cook County sector of the Salt Creek Greenway Association.      Muschler fell in love with history in 8th grade, when she was inspired by a teacher.  She went on to marry forester and wood technologist, the late Arthur F. Muschler. Each August the couple and their three sons camped throughout the U.S., visiting national parks and bringing along a history book to read about each town and city along the way.
     During the ‘80’s Muschler’s interest perked when she saw a map describing a trail along the North branch of the Chicago River, traveling all the way to the Chicago Botanic Gardens. In 1985 she and Spale formed the Salt Creek Greenway Association, setting in motion the joint actions of local towns, villages, park districts, and earlier efforts of the Cook County and DuPage County Forest Preserve Districts. Oakbrook’s pathway system was planned in the ‘70’s, the Village of Elmhurst had continued trail work up Madison Avenue, and trails had been done in Cook County through various towns along the greenway.        Setting these groups further in motion was a good thing, because the two women soon were sidetracked by what became an urgent call ending up taking the years from 1992-1999 to focus their efforts on the salvage and restoration of the historically significant Mayslake Peabody Estate and grounds. They formed a coalition for the open lands, working with others to save the 90 acres that included two lakes, a wetland, and three historic buildings, by means of the voters of DuPage County’s resultant choice to tax themselves. Forest Preserves commissioners laid the initial groundwork for renovations, and an $80,000 grant from The National Historic Trust advances the restoration of Mayslake Hall, for which fund-raising continues.

    Muschler and Spale picked up again on the Greenway, and one would think that this was each of their entire lives, but Muschler, at least, is still working for the past 40 years as an insurance agent, spending 30% of her time on these projects. Spale has done much more than gone on vacation, if she has ever even done that, in her retirement years.    

   Muschler and Spale continue to document the history along the Salt Creek trail, working with local historical societies.  

        Of their successes, Muschler said, “You have to get as many people involved at the organizational stage."  Today that translates to their efforts to save Graue Mill dam. In a choice between water quality issues, of which Spale says can be resolved in other ways, and preserving a beautiful and historic spot, Spale chooses the latter, saying that “(due to) … its incredible beauty, (the dam) should be saved.” Their focus now is on the Fullersburg area and preservation of Ben Fuller’s house and the Graue Mill.  

     The area of Fullersburg in Hinsdale, and the village of Oakbrook, an archeological survey reveals, were home to the first humans dating back to sometime between 8000 to 5000 B.C., Muschler reports.   Ancient artifacts have been found in people’s backyards and around the mill. When the area was settled in 1833 a mass exodus of the Potawatomi ensued westward over the Mississippi along Old Plank Road, now Ogden Ave. Fullersburg, now Hinsdale, and Naperville were the only two towns going west from Chicago, Muschler said.

     The Fullersburg Historical Foundation's focus is on the preservation of what comprise the only historical district in the Chicago metropolitan area where there are five original buildings; Graue Mill (an Underground Railroad station) and Frederick Graue home, Ben Fuller house, old St. John’s church, and York Tavern.  To find out more information, or to volunteer, contact Spale.

     Spale and Muschler have formed different organizations along the way.  While some have “Unfortunately, perished,” Spale says, “Organizations come and go. You need to get a group of really dedicated people who all agree on the importance of the project, and are of the same culture (meaning) …. no egos, personalities and motives, but who are truly dedicated and there to serve the project, not themselves; to serve the purpose of the committee. Successful volunteers have that ethic.”

     Like the rivers, the projects that need work along the way provide more branches to spark people’s interest and create a hobby for a good cause. There are circles of people such as senior citizens who feel a desire to accomplish something, scout groups, and volunteers who appreciate the area’s needs and benefits, and believe in them. “It is an instinct that most humans are born with, to fight for what is of value to them, and to work hard to do something about it,” said Muschler.
In the meantime the towns, villages, forest preserve districts and local historical societies have filled in, and this year they are looking at the completion of the trail markers through the river’s head at Busse Woods.

     Check out the website links for volunteer and recreational opportunities attuned to all interests and ages. Read more about the bus tour you can take from the Lyons Portage that will take you over the spot where DuSable planted his first hut to lay claim to discovery of the city of Chicago, and follow the secret river trails the Indians showed Marquette and Joliet. Follow your passion and get involved in appreciating and maintaining these historical and beautiful natural areas in both DuPage and Cook counties.  

     Another way to see the results of these volunteers' efforts, from Forest Preserve District of DuPage County Mayslake Events Calendar:

Visit Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook on Saturday and Sunday, July 25 and 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for an art fair and open-house celebration.  

During the event, explore historic Mayslake Hall, and see the newly restored living room. Enjoy performances by First Folio Theatre, the Windy City Harmonica Players, Flutissimo, Bill Dinchak, Acappellago and others.