History

In the early 1850s, the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad began expanding westward and surveyed a small village along the Chicago-Galena trail known as Little Rock. The people of the village claimed the company was trespassing, and that the railroad would bring an end to their beloved stagecoach and ruin their quaint little village.

Lewis Steward, who envisioned the railroad transporting his grain to Chicago, approached the CB&Q and offered the right-of-way across his family’s farm. To sweeten the offer, he promised the railroad company he would build them a town, and he did. In 1853, Plano was plotted. Steward laid out the streets, planted trees, subdivided his property for new settlers, and even donated the land for the town’s twelve original churches.

In July of 1860, Steward was invited to witness a new invention by the Marsh brothers of Sycamore. The machine was a major improvement to the reaper, but it broke down after going only a short distance. Again, Steward saw an opportunity. He told the Marsh brothers that if it could run 10 rods (165 feet), it could be made to run 10 miles. He urged the brothers to bring their invention to Plano, where there was a man who could make it work.

Thus with the financial backing of Lewis Steward, the Marsh Harvester came into existence and the city adopted the slogan “Plano — the Birthplace of the Harvester.”

Lewis Steward focused most of his efforts on the growth and development of Plano, supporting its industries and maintaining the city’s economic strength. Steward was a lawyer, farmer, merchant, manufacturer, horse breeder, and philanthropist. He served as the area’s Representative in the 52nd United States Congress.

He was always concerned for the welfare of the residents of Plano. He provided the city with its water system, developed a park, built an opera house, and even took school children to Aurora to see the circus. Plano became known as “The Child of Lewis Steward’s Creation.”

The Lewis Steward House, commonly called “The Homestead,” was built in 1854 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Architecturally patterned on the picturesque Italian county cottages that are reminiscent of rural Tuscan villas, the house was expanded in the early 1860s and again in the late 1870s. It remained in the Steward family until 1954. The home sat vacant for three years, until Dr. Stefen Wojtowycz and his wife Olena purchased the home and modernized it for the late 1950s.

Langguth Design Ltd. purchased The Homestead in May 2003 and renovated the house to be used as a bed & breakfast, a decorator’s show house, and a special event facility for intimate weddings, family gatherings, corporate meetings and retreats. The two-acre estate is unique in that it features an outdoor sculpture gallery and a labyrinth surrounded by a recently planted hedge maze.

Our visit was in acceptance of the invitation of Mr. Lewis Steward, the life of the village of Plano, and one of the remarkable men of this state. He has all branches of business in active operation directly under his eye. He drives them all with his characteristic energy and profit. Yet he has abundant leisure to make his home the seat of an enlarged hospitality and to take an active interest in projected railroads, new towns and manufactories. He has the brain of a philosopher and the energy of a steam engine. His handsome house gleams like a Grecian temple out of the shades of the grove on the outskirts of the village.”