With a packed lawn full of community advocates, history enthusiasts, and supporters of preservation, the Duneland History Center celebrated a major milestone with its official groundbreaking ceremony last week. The event marked the formal launch of a transformative project that will preserve the historic Brown Mansion campus while creating a new home for the stories, artifacts, and shared history of the Duneland region.
The ceremony brought together community leaders, project partners, and supporters who shared their excitement for the future of the historic site.
Speakers included:
- Heather Chaddock, Executive Director of Westchester Public Library
- Justin Martinson, President of the Westchester Public Library Board of Trustees
- Jeff Schroeder, CEO of Moake Park Group, Inc.
- Serena Ard, Curator of the Duneland History Center
- Chris Savoia, Senior Estimator at Berglund Construction
The project will restore the historic Brown Mansion (1885) and add a new barn expansion, designed as a replica of the original structure that once stood on the property. Together, these improvements will transform the campus into an accessible, engaging destination for exhibits, archives, educational programming, and community events. The project is scheduled for completion in 2027.
Attendees gathered to hear project updates and learn more about the vision behind the expansion before taking part in a guided exterior tour of the future barn site. The tour provided a firsthand look at the site plans and the future location of the barn, while highlighting how the project will preserve the region’s history and create new opportunities for future generations.
