I have to say that these last 26 years in Humboldt Park have been the most awesome experience of my life. My daughter was born and mostly raised in this workshop. Now she is grown and I want to really focus on my work and teach at a somewhat slower and well defined pace. The new/old Polo Sanctuary is a place to work in peace and retire.
Restoring this 170 year old historic sanctuary in Polo IL, getting it ready to open as our annex and retreat center for dedicated studies as Specimen Luthiery, has been a massive undertaking, but I knew what I was getting into.
Upon entering the building, two helical stairwells made with cherry wood banisters wind their way up three stories to a choir balcony. The twenty foot ceilings of the sanctuary are an acoustic wonder. There is a spatial magnificence here that is baked into the pie.
A fully functional Austin pipe organ was installed in 1914. The motor for the blower is what made me fall in love with the building. I fell in love with an electric motor. The electromagnet had only been invented 26 years before the ground was broken for this building. Horse and buggy days. No electronics. No grid.
The church played a role in the Underground Railroad. It was also an enlistment center for civil war soldiers. The bell in the steeple was rung for the first time on Lincoln’s inauguration day.
An abolitionist congregation built this structure, and it has persevered through to this age: a carapace of the past made of limestone and brick and wood. I’m honored to steward this building, its columns stuffed with ancient newspapers, as we enter a brand new world for Specimen and CSGM. Its former pews of primordial Michigan pine will soon be upcycled into instruments.
The beautiful rural setting of Ogle County may offer a favorable option for some students rather than the urban Chicago location of 25 years in the old Monark Bicycle factory in the Humboldt Park neighborhood.
This place is a veritable cornucopia of history & outdoor activities! Here a few of the nearby attractions:
White Pines State Park (Mt. Morris) – a gorgeous state park just a short drive away. Known for scenic hiking, moss-covered cliffs, fishing, and creek crossings, with campgrounds and historic Conservation Corp cabins available for overnight stays.
Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park – a historic canal not far South of Polo, offering boating, hiking, and fishing. A 93 mile trail stretches along an old canal towpath for cyclists, pedestrians, and equestrians.
Lowell Parkway Trail – a lovely rail-trail along the Rock River, through the town of Dixon.
The John Deere Historic Site – marks where the steel plow was invented in 1837, offering a look at early agricultural life.
Joe Stengel Cycling Trail – follows an old railroad trail for 12 miles into Dixon, starting just a few blocks away from Specimen.
Oregon & Black Hawk Statue – the “Artist Haven” of Oregon and its massive Black Hawk Statue overlooking the Rock River. Plus, explore Lowden State Park nearby.
Lil’ Smoked in Dixon – a bar + grill serving incredible brisket, smoked meats, and other BBQ staples. Good people, good food. A Specimen staff favorite.
These and many more! It’s been a joy to get to know this area as I begin to chart the course for Specimen at the sanctuary. It’s a season of change and I’m excited to see what comes. Expect to see classes and extended sessions in Polo open up in the very near future.
For now, we’d love to have you join one of our final classes in Chicago. Come help us celebrate the end of this very special era, and the dawn of a new one to come.