The Hegeler Family

Edward C.Hegeler was a German immigrant who came to America shortly before the Civil War. He was a mining engineer, and after some exploring, he settled in LaSalle, Illinois to start a zinc mining business with his fellow student, F.W. Matthiessen.

From Wikipedia:

The Matthiessen and Hegeler Zinc Company was a mammoth industry which put La Salle, Illinois, on the map. Its plant was one of the conspicuous features of the city, whose prosperity for many years depended to a large extent upon the activities at these works. However, the story of their inception and expansion is not a mere record of business prosperity. The founders, two young men of German birth and training, whose names are still carried in the title, came to this country seeking the opportunities which the Old World did not afford and attained success beyond their expectations. What they accomplished by indefatigable diligence, ingenuity, patience, and the application of every resource, is substantially represented by the great establishment in which the production of zinc is carried on at La Salle, affording regular employment to many residents of that place, and drawing in its wake a tide of incidental business that swells the total sum of commercial transactions at that place considerably.

The Matthiessen and Hegeler Zinc Company was in business for 120 years, and during it's hey-day, the company employed over 5,000 people.

They were smart, they worked hard, they were innovative, and they treated their employees well.

Both men were philanthropists -- (Matthiessen State Park)...

But, now -- BACK TO THE HEGELER MANSION.

The thing that sets this mansion apart is that it has ALWAYS BEEN OWNED AND OCCUPIED by the Hegeler/Carus family.  Edward's daughter Mary married a guy named Carus -- who joined the family businesses.

Really -- every stick of furniture is original to the house. As we went on the tour, Tricia pointed out
all the things that were used by the family...for over 100 years...

In the children's playroom, there's a picture of this beautiful baby boy...taken at the turn of the century.

The Caruses' youngest child, Alwin, born in 1901, was the home's last occupant. In 1995, he donated it to the then newly established Hegeler Carus Foundation, with the stipulation that no possessions be sold to pay for the home's upkeep. The other condition was that he would continue to live in the home.

Tricia said Alwin would often wander downstairs to mingle with the tour guests...he lived in the home until he was 102.

THE FAMILY STUFF was everywhere you looked...This is the original stone sink (in the butler's pantry)

The dishes the family actually ate on...

They loved blue and white dishes.

When we got to the dining room -- it was just breath-taking.  This massive table was built IN PLACE...in 1876...

And the intricate wooden edges were like nothing I've ever seen...