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Village of Deer Park Government

Throughout the last five years, the Village of Deer Park has experienced significant growth and prosperity. The Deer Park Town Center, a shopping center with 70 stores and restaurants, has become a major draw for locals and tourists alike. Because of the new financial resources provided by the Deer Park Town Center, the Village was able to manage and finance the long-term renovation project of the 19th century Vehe Barn, 23570 W. Cuba Road, Deer Park.

In the 1850s, German immigrants came to what is now the Deer Park area. John Leonard Vehe and his wife, Anna, were two of those immigrants. In 1866, John purchased three land parcels. The largest of these parcels was 80 acres and included the current Vehe farm site. John built the farmhouse in the L-shaped style typical of that time period. He built the barn with pegged mortise and tenon joints. The barn had a field stone foundation and post-and-beam construction, typical of German barns. John grew barley, oats, wheat and corn, and he raised oxen, horses, cows, hogs, sheep and chickens on the farm.

After John and Anna passed away in 1901 and 1905, two of their sons, William and Fredrick, continued to work the farm. Later, in 1920, William gave full ownership to Fredrick. Then, in 1930, the farm went to Fredrick’s son, Edwin. He applied to the State of Illinois for designation of the farm as a Centennial Farm, which was granted in 1972. Edwin died in 1988, but his wife, Mae, continued living on Vehe Farm until she passed away in 1999. The couple had no children.

After Mae passed away, the residents of Deer Park voiced their interest in preserving the farm to Village officials. The Village of Deer Park responded favorably and purchased the farm from the Vehe estate. Revenue from the Deer Park Town Center made this purchase financially possible.

In 2000 the Vehe Farm Foundation was created to service the Vehe Farm and help the Village achieve its goals for the property. According to the Foundation’s website (www.vehefarmfoundation.org), the purpose of the Foundation is “to provide the public with a visual and interactive experience featuring the essence of the original prairie, history of local farming, community recreation and a restored centennial barn and outbuildings serving as a community and cultural center.”

Since 2000, the Village has successfully rehabbed the old Vehe home and made it into the Deer Park Village Office. The first phase of the restoration began on the exterior of the barn. Volunteers provided their time and money to help complete the project. Outdoor improvements included a memorial butterfly garden, walking trails, two soccer fields and the restoration of the prairie and wetlands.

After the barn’s exterior was completed, work was started on the interior of the barn. The objective was to turn the barn into a facility suitable for public and Village use. The original components of the barn were preserved for all to see during and after the renovations, which was completed in 2007.

Now the barn has become a community center equipped with Internet access and audio/visual electronic capabilities, and it hosts meetings, weddings, social gatherings, private parties, historical exhibits, outdoor celebrations and corporate functions. Consisting of over 6,500 square feet of interior space, the barn’s three levels were completely renovated. The lower level houses an exhibit room, gallery and office. On the main level there are meeting rooms, a museum and a catering kitchen, while the upper level contains additional balcony seating for meetings and banquets.

As the Village continues to flourish, it is preserving its history and carrying it into the future. The Vehe Barn renovation project has united the present and future community with the past through education and fellowship. Deer Park’s heritage and history is now embraced by its residents through the reinvention of the Vehe Barn.