Preservationist Hopes To Save Joliet Mansion Of Civil War Hero
(CBS) -- Joliet is deciding whether to tear down a dilapidated mansion from the 1870s -- or to honor its history and try to save it.
WBBM's Steve Miller reports.
It is the home of Dr. William Dougall, a captain in the Civil War who led the 13th U.S. Colored Infantry.
"He was chief surgeon of the Illinois and Michigan Canal Division. He was also pension surgeon under United States President Benjamin Harrison," says Joliet historian Mary Beth Gannon, who wants to preserve the 14-room home of Dr. Dougall.
Gannon says the mansion is in disrepair and back taxes are owed on the place. But she says it would be a shame to lose that part of Joliet history.
There's a Joliet Historic Preservation Commission meeting on July 27.
"I'm hoping someone will come forward who just wants to buy it. And they certainly could get it cheap. They could get it for the taxes, which is roughly $20,000 and a little bit of change," Gannon says.