Fabyan Villa and Lunch with a College BFF…

  I gotta open this blog by welcoming another blogger brave enough to try and follow the Cave Dwellers.. If you can “follow” along, you are doing better than most. Welcome aboard to Merri and Steve of Jammin' Along .  I’m likin’ your name and jammin’ along with ya!

  Friday, I met a dear old college friend for lunch.  If you read my blogs, she is the one who took me to the Turtle House last year..This year, she took me for a private tour of Fabyan Villa and Japanese Gardens, located along the Fox River in Geneva IL.  

 

 

My great friend, Peggy Fox.  We had lunch at Noodles and Co. in Geneva, and then she drove us over to the Fabyan Villa.  She works there as a docent and gives tours of the Japanese gardens on the grounds of the park.  We just pulled into the drive that said “authorized vehicles only”..She has that power…and walked around the calming and peaceful beauty so prevalent in Oriental gardens…

 

They give tours of the villa too, but it wasn’t open Friday…That will be another trip…

A Brief History...

“The Fabyan Villa was home to Colonel George and Nelle Fabyan from 1905-1939. Riverbank, the name they bestowed upon their property, was initially their summer escape from Chicago. They hired Frank Lloyd Wright in 1907 to enlarge and re-model the existing farmhouse and shortly thereafter, took up permanent residence at the Villa, as they called their home. They acquired 300+ acres, creating a country estate which soon became a lavish showplace complete with fountains, gardens, a Roman-style swimming pool, a Dutch-style windmill, a private zoo, a working lighthouse, a boathouse, tennis courts, and more.  The Fabyans pursued their varied interests on their estate, including horticulture, animal husbandry, and scientific research.”

“The Fabyans' Japanese Garden:       Installed c. 1910, the Japanese Garden is a tranquil oasis where history melds with nature and design. This historic garden affords the opportunity to experience the uniqueness of Japanese gardening and enjoy a moment of harmony with nature while strolling the winding path of this 100 year-old site.”

“When visiting the Villa Museum, you discover the Fabyans' uniquely fascinating legacy. The Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie-style house contains the Fabyans' private collection of Asian artifacts, natural history specimens, original furniture and more! Documents and photographs detail George's involvement in the Treaty of Portsmouth and Japanese international relations, the Bacon/Shakespeare controversy, code-breaking that significantly influenced both World Wars and pioneering research and development in acoustics.   The captivating combination of significant architecture, military intrigue, Japanese culture and personal exploration makes the Fabyan Villa Museum a unique experience for all ages.”

 

 

The above photos are the arbor that leads toward the Fox River. In the first photo, you can see the river in the background of the arbor. This arbor is covered with Sweet Autumn Clematis vine (See, Peggy, I actually remembered this!)…The photos do not do it justice…and it’s smell was heavenly…

 

 

 

Left, is a Weeping Spruce tree, thought to be over 100 years old. Right, looking through Hydrangeas at the bridge…

I am standing in front of  a rock wall made of Wisconsin Limestone..and right, is a tile embedded in the wall where a fountain once was…This stone is amazing..

 

I gotta say, this cement table , left, looks like some sort of sacrificial ceremonial table..Notice the figures sculpted into it…The bench Peg is sitting on is quite unusual, too. Mr. Fabyan had a taste for the bizzare and different…FYI, above the photo of Peg is what they call a Snow Lantern…she just told me, so I thought I’d share that..thanks for getting my back, Peg…

This was engraved on the top of the table…looks like a vulture to me…WEEEEEIRD!

I highly recommend this place if you get to Geneva, IL…There is a windmill on the property, which we never got to….

 

 

The Fabyan Dutch Windmill is an authentic working Dutch windmill, dating back to the 1850’s.  It was constructed by German craftsmen on a site near Lombard IL in the mid 19th century.  By the 20th century, it was falling to ruin, and in 1914 Mr. Fabyan purchased it for $8000 and had it moved to his estate…It has since undergone a totally revamping ..I have seen this when I was younger and we lived in Elgin, and my feet were not up to walking too far, so we didn’t revisit the windmill..Like I said..that’s another trip..

Well, this blog has rambled on waaaaay too long. I want to say a huge shout out to my BFF, Peggy, for a most wonderful afternoon….I hope I got everything correct, Peg…I’ll never be a docent..I’m having trouble just be decent!!

 

 

 

THANK YOU, MY DEAR FRIEND…HEY!!..WE WERE TOGETHER ALL AFTERNOON AND NEVER GOT ARRESTED ONCE..WE MUST BE LOSING OUR TOUCH!!!

 

 

 

 

“BEST FRIENDS:  THEY KNOW HOW CRAZY YOU ARE, BUT STILL CHOOSE TO BE SEEN WITH YOU IN PUBLIC”