Geneva group proposes park to save 180-year-old blacksmith shop
New citizen organization seeks to repurpose the circa-1845 structure as a public way station, challenging a pending residential development plan.
By Leila Mansour ·
180 years ago, the Alexander brothers built a blacksmith shop in Geneva, and that structure still stands on the southwest corner of State Routes 38 and 25. A new citizen group called Friends of the Alexander Brothers’ Blacksmith Shop and the Geneva Riverfront wants to restore the building to its 1845 appearance. The group proposes turning the 1.82-acre site into a public park and a way station for people using the Fox River Trail.
The land was once home to the Mill Race Inn restaurant. Geneva developer Shodeen Group owns the corner and has proposed a planned unit development consisting of 84 residences in three five-story buildings. City officials are currently reviewing that development proposal. The new preservation group opposes the plan, arguing it would sacrifice the historic landmark and block public access to the river shore.
Alan Leahigh, a Geneva resident and president of the new organization, said the pre-Civil War shop has long been an asset within the community. "Restored to its 1845 appearance and repurposed, the shop and its site can continue as an asset for many decades to come," Leahigh said. Karen Lando, a board member, added that the building represents an opportunity rather than a burden. She noted that with stabilization and adaptive reuse, the structure can be appreciated for the next 18 decades.
The site holds strategic value for outdoor enthusiasts. The Geneva Spur of the Illinois Prairie Path terminates at the Fox River Trail about three blocks north of the shop. The National Park Service recently designated the river as the Fabulous Fox National Water Trail, and a portage around the Geneva dam is located a few hundred yards north. The group suggests the restored shop could serve hikers, cyclists, and paddlers with public restrooms, concessions, and picnic tables.
Landmarks Illinois supports the preservation effort. Quinn Adamowski, a spokesman for the organization, stated that the group has advocated for the shop since 2018. It appeared on the Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois list in 2018 and again in 2023. "While the blacksmith shop still stands, it continues to be in danger of demolition," Adamowski said. The group aims to complete the project as a community-wide bicentennial effort, dedicated during Geneva’s 200th birthday in 2035.
The preservationists plan to seek state and federal funding to purchase the site. They also identified private foundations and the local tax increment finance district as potential sources. Lee Eysturlid, the group’s treasurer and a 2025 candidate for Geneva’s 3rd Ward, said public adaptive reuse offers economic benefits for the community. Under state law, TIF funds can be used for property acquisition, site preparation, and the rehabilitation of existing public structures.
Shodeen bought the former Mill Race Inn property at 4 E. State St. in 2014 for $550,000. The company later purchased the adjacent Geneva Cycle Shop at 12 E. State St. for $1 million, completing its ownership of the corner. The developer is currently in a dispute with city officials over the building’s condition. An adjudicator recently upheld a city citation stating that wrapping the building in plastic does not make it weather-tight as required by the property maintenance code.
