St. Clair County will soon begin demolishing 40 buildings at old Freedom Farm
St. Clair County will soon begin demolishing dilapidated buildings at the old Freedom Farm in rural Freeburg as it works to turn the land into a community park.
The 104-acre property at 6355 Hilgard Memorial Drive is a former American Legion post with a campground and swimming and fishing lakes that used to host scout camps, military gatherings, fish fries, concerts and festivals.
But maintenance lapsed as membership dropped over the years, which led to security problems, including squatting and criminal activity, the BND previously reported.
The grounds became overgrown and littered with derelict structures — mostly mobile homes and pole barns that veterans once used as clubhouses or residences.
On Monday night, the St. Clair County Board approved a $157,164 contract for the demolitions with Hayes Contracting, Inc., the lowest of six bidders on the project.
County Board Chairman Mark Kern told board members that a total of 40 structures will be demolished.
Crews will begin the work in an estimated two to three weeks, according to information the County Building and Zoning Department presented to the County Board’s Environment Committee.
The St. Clair County Board purchased the site from the George E. Hilgard American Legion Post 58 with $640,000 in federal COVID-related relief funds. The county closed on the purchase in the fall and installed a $30,000 fence.
Six County Board members were absent from Monday’s meeting: Democrats Roy Mosley Jr. of District 3, C. Richard Vernier of District 12, Jerry Dinges of District 15, Jana Moll of District 23 and Richie Meile of District 25 and Republican Stephen Reeb of District 13.
