Southern McLean County Still Offers Small-Town, Rural Lifestyle
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Affordable‚ small-town living still has its place in McLean County.
The communities of LeRoy and Heyworth‚ while rooted firmly in their mid-19th century origins‚ continue to attract residents with their blend of rural charm‚ convenience and access to urban amenities.
LeRoy‚ just 25 miles southeast of Blooming-ton/Normal‚ benefits from its proximity to the Twin Cities as well as to Champaign‚ a mere 35 miles away.
Following the LeRoy Historical Society’s walking tour will introduce you to such attractions as the Rike House Museum‚ built as a private home in 1853 and furnished with antiques‚ and the Crumbaugh Spiritualist Church and Library‚ with its imposing columns and Victorian gingerbread parsonage.
The town of 3‚200 is still centered around historic Circle Park‚ where a quaint bandstand is a focal point for community activities‚ such as carol singing at Christmastime in the soft glow of luminarias.
Standing in contrast to LeRoy’s traditional side are the additions along Chestnut Street‚ where a new pharmacy and hardware store attract local shoppers.
Modern subdivisions such as Countryside Estates‚ just west of Interstate 74‚ are attracting many newer residents to town.
“We love the location‚” says Brian Anderson‚ who‚ along with his wife‚ Jennifer‚ settled here because it is midway between their jobs in Normal and Champaign.
The Andersons like the convenience‚ but say it’s the old-fashioned events‚ like the neighborhood’s Fourth of July block party‚ that reveal the true spirit of the community.
Neighbor Barb Eby says she likes living in the area because “it’s a nice mix of retirees like us and young families.”
Local businesswoman Nancy Bentley raised her children in LeRoy and says she still values the way people look out for each other.
“You always know what the kids have been up to‚” she says with a laugh. She cites the bowling alley‚ the swimming pool‚ the golf course‚ the ball fields and “many‚ many clubs” catering to a variety of interests as reasons why residents never lack for entertainment in LeRoy.
Just 17 miles west of LeRoy‚ along U.S. Highway 136‚ is Heyworth‚ a town that dates back to the 1856 coming of the Illinois Central Railroad. The town is named for an English investor in that railroad.
Today Heyworth fosters an environ-ment where historic properties coexist with new development and growth‚ says resident Mary Lane.
Owners of historic Victorian homes‚ such as Lane‚ admit doing “…a lot of stripping and varnishing to reveal the beautiful oak woodwork” in their homes’ interiors.
And they seem just as proud of the new developments coming in.
“Heyworth’s population is 2‚431 and growing‚” Lane notes.
The community grew by 50 percent between 1990 and 2000‚ largely because of the availability of land and opportunities for a more laid-back lifestyle.
The new single-family homes sprouting on the edge of town are a bargain‚ says Realtor Kerry Kidwell.
“The lots are bigger than you would find in the big cities‚ and that allows more play area for the kids‚” he says. “And the four-lane highway means you can get to work at State Farm on Bloomington’s southeast edge in 10-11 minutes.”
Heyworth residents also possess the small-town characteristic of generosity. Not only do they give their time for organized activities ranging from youth sports to the Christmas parade‚ but they also give money when asked. For example‚ the volunteer firefighters sent letters to all residents and spoke before numerous service clubs to try to raise $21‚000 for a thermal imaging camera. The drive was a success.
“The community’s response was beautiful‚” says Fire Chief Dennis Powell.
Just like Heyworth itself.
Story by Gretchen Monti
Photo by Theresa Montgomery
