Clicky

Verdurette House Trust

Verdurette House Trust Historic preservation of the Verdurette House located near New Boston Illinois Mr. William (Bill) A. Willits passed away June 6th, 2015.

He set up a 501(c)3 for the purpose of preserving the historical mansion and surrounding structures. There is currently an effort underway to place this on the National Register of Historic Places. There has been approval from the State Board to recommend its' listing. Also planned, is some construction in the coming months and years to restore the house in hopes to open it up for viewing, education, and events. Much more to come - this will take some time.

Operating as usual

Took this years calf crop for a walk this morning before they get their 2nd round of shots, stopped in front of Verduret...
01/13/2022

Took this years calf crop for a walk this morning before they get their 2nd round of shots, stopped in front of Verdurette for a picture.

10/09/2021
Weaning Calves

Weaning calves with my son's help in the same area my son's Grandfather, Great Grandfather and Great-Great Grandfather weaned calves. Swing by this weekend to hear their serenade!

Steve! God be with you until we meet again.
08/04/2021

Steve! God be with you until we meet again.

Thank you to all who attended the event, and all of the generosity.
07/06/2021

Thank you to all who attended the event, and all of the generosity.

We have been officially listed on The National Register of Historic Places.

07/06/2021

Want to help with the restoration?
Donations can be made to the Verdurette Trust (501c3) and sent to Steve Willits, 703 Bluff Road, New Boston, IL 61272.

We have been officially listed on The National Register of Historic Places.
07/04/2021

We have been officially listed on The National Register of Historic Places.

Frozen in Time: Not getting much work done today, it is so beautiful. I wish everyone could see this with their own eyes...
01/05/2021

Frozen in Time: Not getting much work done today, it is so beautiful. I wish everyone could see this with their own eyes. Breathtaking...

Beautiful morning at the Verdurette.
01/04/2021

Beautiful morning at the Verdurette.

12/29/2020

Do we have any fans who are expert plasterers that are willing to donate their time and talents to help us with an interior project?

Its beginning to look a little like Christmas.
11/28/2020

Its beginning to look a little like Christmas.

Beautiful Sunset tonight.
11/19/2020

Beautiful Sunset tonight.

Labor of Love!
11/06/2020

Labor of Love!

New sidewalks are in, thanks to the generous donation of labor by Gene Puckett Concrete Construction. We love the way it...
10/30/2020

New sidewalks are in, thanks to the generous donation of labor by Gene Puckett Concrete Construction. We love the way it turned out. Thank you Gene.

Good Morning from Verdurette, and Elliot!
09/25/2020

Good Morning from Verdurette, and Elliot!

Making progress this week. Can't wait to see the finished product.
08/29/2020

Making progress this week. Can't wait to see the finished product.

08/26/2020
Looking better every day.
08/24/2020

Looking better every day.

Working on replacing/fixing the facia, soffit, and verge boards this week. Almost ready for paint.
08/22/2020

Working on replacing/fixing the facia, soffit, and verge boards this week. Almost ready for paint.

Elliot stopped by for a visit this morning.
08/13/2020

Elliot stopped by for a visit this morning.

Uncovered this century old example of trump loi painting in the Mansion today. What a beautiful piece of history.
07/16/2020

Uncovered this century old example of trump loi painting in the Mansion today. What a beautiful piece of history.

Photos from Verdurette House Trust's post
07/05/2020

Photos from Verdurette House Trust's post

Happy Independence Day!!!
07/05/2020

Happy Independence Day!!!

Ain't she beautiful! Every day she gets prettier and prettier!
06/12/2020

Ain't she beautiful! Every day she gets prettier and prettier!

Diggin up bones today. That is the 5th generation Willits to sit behind the wheel of that tractor. Ian Willits.
06/08/2020

Diggin up bones today. That is the 5th generation Willits to sit behind the wheel of that tractor. Ian Willits.

Artist C.H. Thompson, c. 1864
06/06/2020

Artist C.H. Thompson, c. 1864

Steve Willits...... Bill would be proud!
05/08/2020

Steve Willits...... Bill would be proud!

Celebrating in the rain today. Porch lights are nearly complete.
05/05/2020

Celebrating in the rain today. Porch lights are nearly complete.

Spring snow.
04/17/2020

Spring snow.

Porch remodel is nearly complete
12/24/2019

Porch remodel is nearly complete

This year's feeder calves standing in the park
12/24/2019

This year's feeder calves standing in the park

The porch is nearly complete!
10/07/2019

The porch is nearly complete!

Address

65th Ave
New Boston, IL
61272

General information

William Drury came to this area in 1833 and thought it was "God's Country." Within a short time, he owned land from the Edwards River bottom to the Bluff. Mr. Drury was elected County Recorder in 1835 for the newly organized Mercer County. William Drury and a brother-in-law, Levi Willits, entered into a small dry goods and grocery business in 1840. Mr. Drury married Vashti Lewis of Indiana in the same year. A new home was built for his bride called "Verdurette." A carriage house, barns, elaborate fountains and statues on the lawn, and an octagonal brick windmill tower all added to this stately home. A deer park was located across the road from the main buildings. Verdurette even had its own power plant. The Drury's adopted one son, Edward L. Drury. Edward and his wife had two sons, Purne and Clair. Purne was the inventor or the Viceroy Buggy Builder for Dodge Stables. Clair lived in the Verdurette until 1916. William Drury died in 1897. Mrs. Vashti Drury died in 1909. In Mr. Drury's will, money was left to build a college in the county. Thus, William and Vashti College was built in Aledo and opened in 1908; Clair was an architect for the college. The college name was chosen for each of the Drury's first names. It closed in 1923.

Telephone

+13197688914

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Verdurette House Trust posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Verdurette House Trust:

Videos

Weaning Calves
Weaning Calves

Shortcuts

Category

Nearby museums

Other New Boston museums

Show All

Comments

Time to celebrate!
Here is another article from the 11-7-1916 Aledo Democrat also mentioning the sale.
Came across this article in the 11-2-1916 Times Record about the sale of the Verdurette. Now I need to go in search to see if I can find an article about when it was sold to Willits. This just caught my eye as I was looking for something else.
Thought you would enjoy this old photo I came across. Wish there was a date on it, but you can tell where it was taken by its distinctive fence and label on the photo saying it was at Lawrence Willits. So glad they included the girls names.
These are from a Mercer County book that my mom has. Not the best pictures of pictures....lol, but it was neat to see how an artist rendered these drawings of Verdurette back in the day. :) Judge Connell, who lived in our house in Aledo back around the turn of the century was Levi Willits' witness to his last will and testament. :)
I stopped by on Saturday and was in awe of the house and grounds. The trust is doing such an incredible job!
x

Other New Boston museums (show all)

New Boston Illinois Historical Society Littleton Brothers Toolesboro Mounds National Historic Landmark Essley-Noble Museum & Mercer County Historical Society