Historic mansion near Belleville — and the 4 acres it sits on — to become community park
Local governments are working together to buy a historic mansion and the 4 acres it sits on just east of Belleville to turn the large property into a new community park.
At its last meeting, the St. Clair County Board voted to give St. Clair Township a $500,000 special park grant that will be used to purchase the 1800s-era mansion at the intersection of Carlyle Avenue and Shady Lane, the entrance to the Chenot Place subdivision.
It was home to one of the first county commissioners and a former state’s attorney. The 1 Shady Lane property was recently put up for sale by the family who owned it for the last 78 years.
Township Supervisor Shelly Korves said officials expect to use $340,000 of the $500,000 grant on the real estate transaction and may seek additional grants for more work on the park. (The property owners asked for $360,000 in real estate listings.)
The township plans to add a walking trail around the property by next summer, but beyond that, officials want input from the community about future development at the new Chenot Park, according to Korves.
“We’re kind of excited about starting a new venture,” Korves said.
She estimated that the township would start seeking input from the community, including Chenot Place resident groups, by the fall. Residents will find details about how to give their opinions on the township website, stclairtownship.com, at that time.
Mansion was home to notable residents
The St. Clair County Historical Society designated the mansion as a landmark in 1963.
It was originally built for wealthy farmer Augustus Chenot, whose family came to the United States from France when he was a child. He moved in over 160 years ago, in 1857.
During the time he lived there, Chenot had been a director of Belle Valley School, head of a local Civil War commission, delegate to the 1868 Democratic National Convention, one of the first elected county commissioners and president of the St. Clair County Farmers Fire Insurance Co., BND Answer Man Roger Schlueter wrote in a 2011 column.
When Chenot died at age 94 in 1923, the Belleville Daily Advocate called him the city’s “oldest and perhaps best-known resident,” according to Schlueter’s column. Chenot is buried at Walnut Hill Cemetery in Belleville.
The mansion stayed in Chenot’s family for over eight decades until real estate developer Frank Hollman bought it in 1945, according to information provided by the St. Clair County Historical Society. Hollman was the original developer of the Chenot Place subdivision.
From there, the historical society states that it was sold to another family who has owned it for over seven decades. Theresa Gaerdner Hodge bought the mansion in 1946 and transferred the deed to another Gaerdner, who died in 1960.
Louis Zerweck, the St. Clair County state’s attorney from 1932 to 1948, lived there in the 60s while the Hodges continued to own it.
The Hodges’ daughter, Jean Vaughn, then moved into the mansion with her family in 1964, and she lived there until her death at 100 years old last April.
The family renovated the interior and exterior in the 40s, according to past BND coverage.
The real estate listing describes it as move-in ready today, having passed its county occupancy inspection.
