The Browne School: Fun With Maps

 Maps Used to Document the Browne School

Milan Township, DeKalb County, Illinois

1837, 1848, 1849 - Illinois Surveyor Maps

1843 - Milan Township Plat Map

1850 & 1860 - Milan Township Plat Maps

1868 - Milan Township Plat Map

1869 - Milan Township Plat Map Certification Map

1870 - DeKalb, Lee and Ogle Counties, Illinois Map

1871 - Milan Township & DeKalb County, Illinois Maps

1872 - Boone, DeKalb, Lee, Ogle & Winnebago Counties, Illinois Map

1876 - Milan Township & DeKalb County, Illinois Maps

1892 - Milan Township Plat Map

1905 - Milan Township Plat Map

1929 - Milan Township Plat Map

1930 - Milan Township Plat Map

1934 - Milan Township, Geological Survey Map

1936 - Milan Township, Plat Map

1937 - Milan Township, Geological Survey Map

1940 - Milan Township, Plat Map

1947 - Milan Township, Plat Map

1965 - Milan Township, Illinois Farm Directory Map

1989 - Milan Township, Illinois Land Owner Directory Map

2020 - Milan Township, Plat Map

*If any links are incorrect, please leave a message in the comments

The Browne School: The Plains of Milan Township, DeKalb County, Illinois

The Browne school was located on the plains of Milan township, DeKalb county, Illinois.  Fertile for farmland you can see corn, soybean, hay, alfalfa and other crops for miles.    In recent years, windmills have popped up.

Northern view:

Eastern view:

Southern view:

Western view:

2020 - Plat Map, Milan township, DeKalb county, Illinois

The 2020 plat map for Milan township, DeKalb county, Illinois shows the farms and their owners.    The Browne school, now a residence does not show on the map.     It can be found in the southwestern corner of Section 1 at the intersection of University Road and Keslinger Road.     

October 29, 1999 - Warranty Deed

On October 31, 1999, after living at the the Browne school property for 37 years, the Finnestad family sold the property to Arthur Alberts.    A warranty deed was signed on October 29, 1999 transferring the property which was sold for $134,000.

1989 - Milan township, DeKalb county, Illinois Landowner Directory

A landowner directory is published for DeKalb county, Illinois, which includes a map and phone numbers of property owners.   The 1989 directory is slightly different from the 1965 which only published farm owners.

The Browne school is located in the southwest corner of Section 1 in the upper right hand corner of the map.    The owner is listed as (Kenneth) Gene Finnestad.

1980 - Browne School Aerial View

Five years after the last aerial photograph of the Browne school, another was taken in 1980.   This one appears to have been shot in September or October based upon the first few rows of corn having been harvested.

The Browne school original structures still standing in 1980 are the original school building, the pump house and the concrete foundation for the out building or as it is commonly known, the outhouse.    The out building is hidden in the trees.

The building in the foreground is a 3 car garage.    The building to the left of the Browne school building is a porch built in the 1960's.   The building to the right is a family room and utility room which replaced the coal shed.   The building between the 3 car garage and the family room is a single car garage, most likely built after Joseph Faivre Jr purchased the property from the school district.  And the small building between the single car garage and the 3 car garage is a shed.

July 27, 1977 - The Browne School

Here is a photograph of the west side of the Browne school taken July 27, 1977.

The coal shed was removed and replaced with a family room seen to the left of the main structure.

Here is a shot of the north side of the Browne school, attached to the recently added family and utility room. 

A few weeks prior to this photo, a lightening strike caused a fire in the utility room which is why the siding had been removed near the window.

The Browne School: Archeological Studies, Part IV

In 1977 the Finnestad family razed the coal shed in order to build a new structure that would replace the utility room and add a family room.

Above the ceiling panels,  a black door panel to the furnace which heated the Browne school was found.    The door panel was similar to this one though it appeared less ornate.     

Another item left in the rafters was a damaged piece of wall art in yellowish black and white depicting Jesus and a lamb.   A corner had been missing either by the process of discarding it or by hungry mice.

Unfortunately I do not have photos of either of these, though it is interesting what items were discarded on the Browne school property only to be found decades later.

October 18, 1975 - The Browne School

This photograph of the Browne school shows a portion of the eastern side of the building.   The coal shed (with the white door) was pushed up against the main structure and used as a utility room for the residence.

The vent mentioned in a previous post is approximately where the arrow is depicted below.

The garage to the right of the photo was built probably in the 1950's following the purchase of the school by Joseph Faivre Jr.

October 11, 1975 - The Browne School

By 1975, color had arrived in America.     This photo of the Browne school was taken with a Polaroid camera by an unprofessional photographer.

The attached structure to the Browne school in the foreground is a patio built in the 1960's by the Finnestad family.    The building behind the pump house is a 3 car garage built by the family in 1975.

1975 - Browne School Aerial View

Four years after the last aerial photograph of the Browne school, in 1975 a different angle provided a southeastern view of the property.

The photo below lists the original buildings associated with the Browne school:  the school, the coal shed, the out building (outhouse) and the pump house.    Both the out building (outhouse) foundation and the pump house are not visible due to the trees.   The pump house was motorized at this time; it was most likely a manual pump during the time the school was in operation.

Other buildings not highlighted include:   a dog house to the left of the garage, the garage, the shed and the 3 car garage.

The 1937 Liberty coin was found near the left window at the rear of the three car garage on the right side of the photo near the cornfield.     

The Browne School: Archeological Studies, Part III

In 1975 the Finnestad family built a 3 car garage.    Defying child labor laws, the Finnestad children were put to work.    During the construction, while digging the foundation for the building another piece of the past from the Browne school was discovered.    Approximately 3 feet below the surface a shiny object appeared.     As the digging continued a coin was retrieved from the soil, a 1937 Liberty 50 cent piece.    

Based upon inflation, the coin's value would be $8.99 in 2021.    However as it is a somewhat rare coin, the approximate value is much greater.

The coin was found on the backside of the building, possibly where the playground equipment was located while the Browne school was in operation.   If any student of the Browne school lost their half dollar, please leave a message in the comments.   Storage fees have been accumulating.

The Browne School: Archeological Studies, Part II

About 10 years after the Finnestad family had been living at the Browne school, Donna Finnestad, co-owner of the property removed a vent that provided access underneath the structure.     Just inside was a crank used to start a car or truck.

The crank looked similar to those below:

I do not know what happened to the crank and why it had been placed underneath the Browne school.  It is unknown whether the owner ever got their vehicle started following the loss of their crank.

October 9, 1972 - Indenture

On October 9, 1972, a quit-claim deed was signed by Margaret Cummins releasing the owners of the Browne School, Donna and Gene Finnestad from the loan they had acquired in 1965 to purchase the property. 

Trivia:   The Finnestad purchase of the Browne school was 100 years after the property was originally sold to The School Trustees of the town of Milan, County of DeKalb and State of Illinois in 1865.

The Browne School: Archeological Studies, Part I

In the early 1970's, the property owner of the Browne school, Kenneth Finnestad built a Heathkit metal detector, similar to the one shown below.   

Besides the usual nails, bolts, tin cans and the general things found while using a metal detector, several iron desk parts were found buried on the property.      The wooden desktops were either removed and used for other purposes or most likely had rotted away after burial.     

The desk parts were found near the concrete on the right side of this photo which appears to show a wagon or piece of garden equipment.

1971 - Browne School Aerial View

Apparently the aerial technology of the 1970's was a huge improvement over that of two years prior. 

This is the clearest photo I have encountered of the Browne school which was taken in 1971.    The school had been converted into a residence after the school district closed the school and sold the property.

The building behind the coal shed was a garage, most likely built sometime after Joseph Faivre Jr purchased the Browne school from the school district in 1953.   Behind the garage is another structure, a shed that was obtained by the Finnestad family several years after moving into the home in 1962.

The structure attached to the right side of the Browne school was a porch added by the Finnestad family a few years before this photo was taken.

The label 'Outhouse' was the school's original out building, used as a bathroom for the Browne school students.   By 1971 all that was left was the concrete foundation and is hidden in the trees in this photo.

1969 - Browne school aerial view

The previous aerial shots I posted of the Browne school, 1939 and 1953 were not very clear and while a 1969 aerial is slightly better, it still lacks the clarity that would show detail.

I do not know the month and day this photo was taken, nor do I recall where I found it but I was able to spot details.

The coal shed was pushed up to the original structure of the Browne School and used as a utility room.   I do not know the location of the coal shed when the building was originally constructed.    

I believe the garage was built sometime after the property was purchased by Joseph Faivre Jr in 1953.    

Other objects in the photos: 

- The 'L' in the lower left corner is a split rail fence.    

- At the top of the photo the 3 large shadows toward the center are evergreen trees.   

- To the right of the evergreen trees is a propane tank which provided gas for the residential heating system.

If anyone has a higher resolution photograph or of the previous aerial photos posted, please post in the comments.

1965 - Milan township, DeKalb county, Illinois Farm Directory

While this isn't a plat map, the Farm Directory provides a similar function.     By 1965 all rural schools had closed.        The Browne school can be located in Section 1 of Milan township, DeKalb county, Illinois, located in the upper right hand corner.     

The Browne school, now functioning as a private residence was included on the Farmer's Directory.  As the property was not a farm, the name of the owner, Donna and Kenneth Finnestad, was not listed other than the small square in the southwest corner of section 1.

January 21, 1965 - Indenture

On January 21, 1965, an indenture was signed by Donna and Kenneth Finnestad for a promissory note in the amount of $8,000 with an interest rate of 5 1/2% to purchase the Browne school property.   The final payment on this loan was scheduled to be due on January 1, 1975.  

This loan for the purchase of the Browne school property does not account for the down payment.   I believe the purchase price was $12,000 which would indicate a $4,000 down payment was provided to the sellers, Jeannette and Ronald Aska.

For some perspective on the specifics of this loan, $8,000 in 1965 would be approximately $65,729.28 in 2020 adjusted for inflation.   The interest rate of 5 1/2% was slightly higher than the average at the beginning of 1965 for a 10 year loan, which was 4.2%.    As this loan was provided by a private party, Margaret and Leonard Cummins, it is not uncommon for a higher interest rate to be used due to the higher risk a private party has as opposed to a financial institution.

 

Margaret (Olson) Cummins and Leonard Cummins were the godparents to the Finnestad children.   The memorial for Margaret Cummins can be found here.    The memorial for Leonard Cummins can be found here.

January 16, 1965 - Indenture

After renting the Browne school property since November 1, 1962, the Finnestad family purchased the property.

On January 16, 1965 an indenture was signed transferring the property from Jeannette and Ronald Aska to Donna and Kenneth Finnestad and processed in the amount of ten dollars.    The document does not indicate the sales price, though the original price paid to the school district by Joseph Faivre Jr was $1,250 eleven years earlier.    $1,250 in 1953 represents $1,474.72 in 1965 dollars and $12,183.01 in 2020 dollars accounting for inflation.  

Because the document is stamped "revenue stamps to be affixed after recording" the breakdown of the sales price, down payment, mortgage and any other deductions or expenses such as taxes would be filed at a later time and are not included in this warranty deed.

Had a revenue stamp been affixed a PTAX-302 form would have been filed.   This warranty deed does not have a revenue stamp therefore that form was not required.

January 6, 1965 - Deed of Partial Release

 A Deed of Partial Release was signed on January 5, 1965 in regards to the mortgage obtained by Jeanette and Ronald Aska from The Prudential Insurance Company of America a few years earlier.   This partial release lists the legal description for the Browne school property portion of the mortgage and was recorded on January 8, 1965.   A copy of the document is posted below.    This release paved the way for the eventual purchase of the home by the Finnestad family.    

November 1, 1962 - The Second Residents of the Browne School

Following the first family to reside at the Browne school, Kenneth Finnestad, wife and three children moved into the rental home on November 1, 1962.     

At this time the building and property were most likely in the same condition as it was when the Valerius' family lived at the residence.   Unfortunately any photos of the Browne school during this period and any since the time the building was originally constructed in the 1860's, if they exist, have never been found.

If you know anyone that attended the school or a neighbor that may have photographs of the Browne school, please leave a message in the comments section.

June 7, 1962 - Indenture

On June 7, 1962, Jeannete and Ronald Aska obtained a mortgage on the Browne school property in the amount of $13,000 through The Prudential Insurance Company of America.     The mortgage document lists in the first paragraph the legal description of the Aska property in Section 11.   The second paragraph lists the legal description for the Browne school located in Section 1 indicating this mortgage was for two plots of land contained in two separate sections in Milan township.   

The quality of the document is not very clear due to the background.

The Browne School: From Education to Residential Living

Sometime following the purchase of the Browne School by Joyce (Aska) and Joseph Faivre Jr the property was converted into a home.   

The first residents of the property were Frances Irene (Harris) and Edward Valerius.    Edward Valerius was hired by Jennette and Ron Aska as a farmhand for their property located just south of the Browne school.

The Valerius family probably moved into the property sometime after March 20, 1954 when the quit-claim deed was filed transferring the property from Jennette's sister and brother-in-law to Jeannette and Ron Aska.     

During their residency at the Browne school, Frances and Edward had a child, Paul E Valerius born March 26, 1955.   Paul passed away just over two months later on June 12, 1955.    His memorial can be viewed here.     

According to a neighbor, Dianne (Craigmile) Weishaar, Paul Valerius was named after her father, Paul Craigmile due to the close relationship between the Craigmile and Valerius family.     The Craigmile family continues to have fond memories of the kindness and generosity of the Valerius family.

Edward Valerius was involved in a traffic accident on September 1, 1961.   His address was listed as RR 1, Malta which would be the address for the Browne school, indicating the Valerius family lived there at least until October 1961.     

Frances and Edward moved out of the Browne school sometime prior to October 31, 1962 and moved to the nearby town of DeKalb, Illinois.   Frances passed away July 8, 1996 in DeKalb, DeKalb county, Illinois.   Her memorial can be viewed here.

Following the death of his wife, Edward moved to southern Illinois to be closer to family.    Edward passed away May 21, 2012 in Du Quoin, Perry County, Illinois.   His memorial can be viewed here.

March 20, 1954 - Quit-Claim Deed

Five months following the purchase of the Browne School by Joseph Faivre Jr, the Browne school property was transferred from Joyce (Aska) and Joseph Faivre Jr to Helen Jeanette (Cook) and Ronald Aska.    Joyce and Ronald Aska were the children of Elizabeth (Brown) and Harold Aska.    Elizabeth Brown was the daughter of Edith Lenara (Markell) and John Theron Brown and the granddaughter of Sarah Seely and William Browne.

A quit-claim deed was signed on March 20, 1954 in the amount of one dollar.

1953 - Browne School Aerial View

While I do not have photos of the Browne school while it was in operation, I did post an aerial photo of the school from 1939.     

I located an aerial photograph taken in 1953 though I do not know the date.   I have lost the source material so if someone has more information about aerial photographs in 1953 for DeKalb county, Illinois, please leave a message in the comments.

The quality of this photo is even worse than the 1939 photo so I'm unable to distinguish any of the structures on the property.     If this photo was taken after October 17, 1953 any changes to the property by the new owner, Joseph Faivre Jr cannot be verified.

October 17, 1953 - Indenture

The Browne school transferred into private hands for the first time since 1865 following the auction that took place on October 17, 1953.   The Trustees of Schools of Milan Township sold the property to Joseph Faivre Jr in the amount of  $1,250.

A copy of the deed is shown below:

Joseph Faivre Jr was the 4th generation of the Browne family to be associated with the Browne school name.      William Browne never owned the property but his name was used for the rural school.    William Browne's eldest son, John Theron Browne married Edith Lenara Markell.   Their youngest daughter Elizabeth married Harold Nelson Aska.    Elizabeth and Harold Aska's daughter Joyce Lenore Aska married Joseph P Faivre Jr, thereby keeping the Browne school within the Browne family.    

The Aska family lived south of the Browne school on the western side of University Road, south of Keslinger road.    Their farmhouse can be seen on the plat map from 1947 in section 11 of the Milan township, DeKalb county, Illinois plat map.