The Dole
The Dole - A Historic and Cultural Highlight of Crystal Lake, Illinois
Located in Crystal Lake, Illinois, The Dole Mansion, is a Victorian-era Italianate residence constructed in 1865 for Charles Sidney Dole, an influential grain baron and ice harvester, is among Crystal Lake’s most significant historic structures. Dole also purchased over 1000 acres of land surrounding most of Crystal Lake and created Lakeland Farms. The materials used to build the Dole Mansion were locally made brick, native stone, and an abundance of dark walnut wood and oak, which was the best material found on the 1000 acres. When you look at the house today, you can see that the original structure has slightly altered since its original state. Most Victorian homes are typically heavily ornamented with expensive decorative features. The Dole Mansion is no exception.
The sometimes eccentric philanthropist who led a lavish lifestyle pursued interests that engaged the entire community from a backyard horse track to a carpeted and covered walkway and laid special tracks that ran from the train station to his front door for his daughter's wedding. The Dole family left a lasting impression on the landscape of Crystal Lake.
In 1922, Eliza Louise "Lou" Ringling, of the famed circus family, together with a group of Chicago based investors, bought the Dole mansion, including Lakeland Farms. The group restored the mansion with modern plumbing and electrical of the day and added a large tutor style addition to the south of the mansion, creating the first Crystal Lake Country Club. The new Club, built during prohibition, brought the roaring 20s to Crystal Lake. There were 44 bedrooms for visiting guests to stay for the night or for the summer, two 18 hole golf courses and a magnificent ballroom for lavish parties. The group also subdivided much of Lakeland Farms and created Country Club Additions for people to purchase land and build homes on and near the lake.
This area is now called "The Gates". They also sold the east waterfront area of Crystal Lake to the City of Crystal Lake that is now Main Beach. The Dole mansion and Lakeside building enjoyed the most use during the 1920s until the Great Depression hit and became the worst economic downturn in US history. It began in 1929 and did not abate until the end of the 1930s. After struggling for membership for most of the 1930's, in 1938, the Crystal Lake Country Club official closed its doors.
In 1944, the Franciscan Order of Lake Forest purchased the property and converted it into St. Mary Minor School for Boys (Prep Seminary) and the Lakeside building became a school and housing for the boys. The Dole mansion was converted into a chapel and home for the Franciscans. The Seminary lasted for 24 years and was closed in 1969.
In 1976, the First Congregational Church (FCC) purchased the property and the annex portion of the structure was renovated for use by thousands of hour of volunteer work. The Church named the facility “Lakeside Center” which was a Community Center and housed the Friendship House Day Care Center for Children. The FCC also hosted the first Annual Lakeside Festival as an ice cream social and the tradition of the Lakeside Fest continues to this day, although on a much bigger scale.
In 2002, the FCC made the difficult decision to close the Community Center and listed the 12-acre lakefront property for sale. Local leaders from the neighboring community, along with local preservationists responded with a grassroots campaign that created the Lakeside Legacy Foundation and in less than two months, raised most of the $2 million asking price, thereby heading off plans by a developer to convert the property to condominiums and townhouses. The Lakeside Legacy Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) with the mission to preserve and protect the historic Dole Mansion and Lakeside buildings, plus its 12-acre lakefront property.
Today, the property is simply called The Dole, and stands as a place for the community to gather to experience the annual Independence Day Lakeside Festival, the Sunday Farmers Market+, Music Under the Trees, view visual art exhibits such as Nancy Merkling Productions 4th Fridays Art Event at The Dole, and enjoy live entertainment performances in Lou’s Lounge. The Foundation converted the former bedrooms of the Lakeside building into studio residences for local artisans and creative arts entrepreneurs. It also sponsors the Creative Arts Studio Inc., which is a non-profit arts studio offering art classes for ages 4 to adults. The Dole thrives on the generous support, sponsorship and its many volunteers from the local community and attendance at events to raise the funds needed to fulfill its mission to preserve and protect The Dole for generations to come.
Contact
401 Country Club Road
Crystal Lake, IL US