Illinois Town Furious Over Demolition of Historic White House Replica

Residents in an Illinois town are furious after learning their local history faces destruction. A 123-year-old replica of the White House, known as Castle Eden, stands more than 20 miles west of Chicago and will soon be taken down because its owners refuse to pay for necessary repairs.

Suzanne Valliere, a 60-year-old who spent her whole life in Darien, told the Chicago Tribune that many neighbors are angry about the news. 'I think a lot of local people are getting upset,' she said. 'They are shocked that this is happening because it has stood there as sort of a monument. We're just all so used to seeing it.'

Built in 1903, Castle Eden was constructed at one-tenth the size of the actual White House. Republican US Congressman Martin B Madden erected the structure for his wife, Josephine Smart, as a gift to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. He named the home after a historic mansion located in the UK.

The building has changed hands and purpose many times since both husband and wife passed away. In 1959, the Catholic group Order of Carmelites purchased the property for $65,000 to use as a spiritual retreat. Last month, officials approved the order's application to tear the building down.

A statement on the Carmelites' website explained that keeping the structure safe requires extensive work to meet modern safety codes and operational standards. These repairs would cost far more than is economically feasible for them. 'After careful and informed deliberation,' the group stated, 'demolition is the most prudent and responsible way forward.'

Locals view the 123-year-old Castle Eden as an irreplaceable gem of historic architecture and a testament to early 20th-century design. An online petition sprang up to save the replica, yet the Carmelites hold firm on their decision. Martin B Madden originally built the house in 1903 for his wife Josephine Smart on that special anniversary.

Politicians are fielding angry calls from constituents who want the building saved. Debra Kieras grew up right next door and launched a petition to stop the demolition, calling the site 'an irreplaceable gem of historic architecture.' She argued that preserving Castle Eden means keeping their roots alive. Kieras wrote that the structure should be recognized as an official landmark and transformed into a museum or cultural center instead of being razed.

Darien Mayor Joseph Marchese summed up the community's pain: 'It's like losing a piece of our history. I feel badly about it but there is nothing the city can do to stop it.' He estimates renovation costs will run into several millions, placing the project beyond what the town can afford. Marchese admitted he would love to keep it as a historic landmark, but confirmed that 'it's not going to happen.'

Some preservationists believe the Order of Carmelites failed to apply for true landmark status before seeking demolition. This designation would have protected the building and unlocked financial grants to help with repairs. Dean Rodkin, president of the Darien Historical Society, claimed the Carmelites simply were not interested in any suggestions to that effect.

We have reached out to them in the past, asking if they wanted assistance in getting landmark status for the building or in writing grants," he told the Chicago Tribune. "It's apparent that they want it to be gone so they can put a building in its place that suits their purposes." The Daily Mail contacted Mr Marchese and the Order of Carmelites for comment.

Darien Mayor Joseph Marchese ruled out that Castle Eden can be preserved by the city as the cost is 'beyond what we're capable of doing'. The Carmelites have not revealed their plans for the property and provided no timetable for its demolition.

The online statement only mentioned their goal to make the house a place for 'the Carmelite mission of prayer, contemplation, and community presence.' For that, the order wants to keep Castle Eden's entrance gates, stained-glass windows, dining-room paneling, and chandeliers to integrate them in the future plans for the property but not the building itself. They also want to keep the 400-year-old oak trees on the land and add a commemorative plaque to acknowledge the place's history.

The Chicago Tribune reported that the property was seen marked off by sawhorses with no trespassing signs and workers with ladders and tools last week. Residents might lose a historic site before anyone knows what will replace it. The silence from the Order feels heavy given how much they intend to salvage.