Bishop Hill residents concerned over condition of landmarks
A Quad-City Area village isn’t showing its historical charm. Instead, it’s showing its age.
Peeling paint. Rotting roofs. Broken windows. Buildings in Bishop Hill are falling apart. The village in Henry County was settled by Swedish immigrants back in 1840. Some of its buildings date back more than 150 years, and as time goes on, they are starting to decay.
People like Bishop Hill Creative Commons owner John Taylor fear the worst for these state-owned properties. He says the neglect of the buildings is heartbreaking because of the historical significance. “They’ve been neglected for a very, very long time and they are at that point now where they may not be able to be saved,” Taylor said. “If there is not action taken soon, we could lose these historical properties forever. I think it would be a huge shame if that would happen because they cannot be replaced.”
Taylor says he hopes state lawmakers can provide funding to fix landmarks like the Colony Church, the Olsen Barn and the Boys Dormitory. Todd Dedecker, an administrator for the Bishop Hill Heritage Association, agrees with preserving the legacy of Bishop Hill. Dedecker hopes the state can prioritize funding in order for landmarks to be restored. “We just hope that the state will appreciate and understand the significance of the Bishop Hill Colony and we hope they will put some additional money into keeping the Bishop Hill State Historical Site going for years to come,” Dedecker said.
Taylor also says seeing the buildings decay has been frustrating. He hopes the past can be preserved because people locally and from around the world are passionate about the village’s history.
“The whole village of Bishop Hill, it’s important for not only its history but because of the tourism it brings in, so economically,” Taylor added. “The different social events that happen here because of the culture and the history, the state-owned buildings are a huge part of that. Time is really of the essence. It’s become a really urgent situation.”
The condition of Bishop Hill has the attention of State Senator Neil Anderson from Moline. He’s made his case for the state to include restoration funds in its budget for fiscal year 2025. In a press release, Anderson said, “As a state we have a job to maintain our infrastructure, and it’s unfortunate that these historical buildings have been allowed to fall in such disarray.”
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