History and Beauty Matter

I just now discovered that the State of Illinois indefinitely closed the Susan Dana-Thomas house in Springfield today because of budget cuts to the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

This is so not cool. The Susan Dana-Thomas house is a Frank Lloyd Wright house; it has the most complete collection of original FLW furnishings. It is an incredible house. I first visited it on a field trip in high school, thanks to a teacher who loved FLW. I have been back three or four times. It is the one thing in IL I especially wanted my spouse to see. I would take international visitors there if I had the chance. I love this house. It is huge. It is beautiful. It is historic. It has a one-lane bowling alley in the basement, for crying out loud!

The house needs to remain open to the public. People need to have access to things that are large and incredible and beautiful and amazing. Such access is a public good.

May the people of Illinois rise up and demand that the government support the preservation of history. Or may some people in Illinois rise up and preserve it themselves, if the government won't. I would like to be able to visit again some day.

You can learn more about the house here:
http://www.dana-thomas.org/index.htm

You can contact people who can help with this info:

Governor
Governor Rod Blagojevich (D)
207 Statehouse
Springfield, IL 62706
Capitol Phone: (217) 782-0244
Chicago Phone: (312) 814-2121(800) 642-3112
Email: unknown

House Leadership
Michael J. Madigan (D-22nd District)
Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives
300 State HouseSpringfield, IL 62706
District Phone: (773) 581-8000
Capitol Phone: (217) 782-5350
Email: mmadigan@hds.ilga.gov

Senate Leadership
Senator Emil Jones Jr. (D-14th District)
President of the Illinois Senate
327 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
District Office: (773) 995-7748
Capitol Phone: (217) 782-2728
Email: jones@senatedem.state.il.us

Republican Leadership
Frank Watson (R-51st District)
Illinois Senate Minority Leader
309A Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
District Office Phone: (618) 664-9108
Capitol Phone: (217) 782-5755
Email: unknown

Tom Cross (R-84th District)
Illinois House Minority Leader
316 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
District Office Phone: 815-254-0000
Capitol Phone: (217) 782-1331
Email: Tom@TomCross.com

IHPA Director Jan Grimes
313 South Sixth Street
Springfield, IL 62701
E-mail: Jan.Grimes@illinois.gov

U.S. Senator Barack Obama
Springfield Office Liaison: Kathy Harrington
607 E Adams St
Springfield IL 62701
Phone: (217) 492-5089 Fax: (217) 492-5099
Email: send on email form at Obama website

IL Senator Bill Brady (44th District)
2203 Eastland DrSuite 3
Bloomington IL 61704
Phone: 309-664-4440 (Karen)
Fax: 309-664-8597
Email: billbrady@senatorbillbrady.com
Email (events): karenotto@senatorbillbrady.com

Congressman Timothy V. Johnson (15th District)
1 Brickyard Dr Suite 201
Bloomington IL 61701
Phone: 309-663-7049 (Beth) Fax: 309-663-9880
Email: rep.johnson@mail.house.gov
Email (events): phil.bloomer@mail.house.gov

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin
525 S 8th St
Springfield IL 62703
Springfield contact: Bill HoulihanPhone: (217) 492-4062Fax: (217) 492-4382
D.C. contact: Deena MorrisPhone: (202)224-2152
Email: send on email form at Durbin website

State Representative Dan Brady (88th District)
2416 E Washington StSuite G
Bloomington IL 61704
Phone: 662-1100 (Rochelle)Fax: 662-1150
Email: dan@rep-danbrady.com
Email (events): linda@rep-danbrady.com

Congressman Jerry Weller (11th District)
D.C. Office Legislative Assistant: Eric Gray
Phone: 202-225-3635
District Office Liason: Tyler Sidwell
2701 Black Rd. Suite 201
Joliet IL 60435
Phone: 815-740-2028 Fax: 815-740-2037
Email: send on email form at Weller website
Website: http://weller.house.gov/

UPDATE: Okay, not all those email addresses work. Like the one for the governor. He's a sneaky one. The one for Frank Watson doesn't work either. Sorry.