They’ll be rolling out the red carpet at Barrington’s White House this Memorial Day weekend with public open houses plus a Barrington History Roadshow planned to prepare for Barrington’s upcoming Sesquicentennial in 2015. The White House restoration and renovation will be a central part of Barrington’s 150th anniversary celebration and the Village is looking for our help in piecing together even more of the community’s colorful history.
Barrington’s White House, previously known as the “Robertson House” at 145 W. Main Street, will be open to the public from 4 to 7 p.m. this Friday, May 23rd and from noon to 3 p.m. this Saturday, May 24th.
(CLICK HERE to learn about the history of Barrington’s White House and CLICK HERE for more about restoration plans for the property.)
In addition to the open house, during these hours, the Sesquicentennial Committee will also be hosting a Barrington History Road Show at the property to collect documents from the public pertaining to Barrington’s history. It is an opportunity for local residents to bring historic photographs, old letters, meeting minutes, directories, or other small memorabilia that reference Barrington’s history. The memorabilia will be scanned and returned to its owners that day – you don’t need to part with your important mementos.
The White House is being restored and renovated into an elegant venue for community, civic and cultural gatherings with the project’s completion as a planned highlight of Barrington’s Sesquicentennial next year. Village officials say Barrington’s White House will not only provide the opportunity for our community to give itself a very special 150th birthday present, the finished product will also embody all that we have held dear in our community for the last century and a half.
During this weekend’s open house, the committee behind the project invites us to tour the building, see the architectural plans and view interior design concept boards. Fundraising materials will be available, along with information about ohter ways to get involved. Members of the committee and volunteers will also be on hand, eager to answer all of our questions.
To learn more about Barrington’s White House and to help support the restoration, visit Barrington150.org and BarringtonsWhiteHouse.com.
