The Five Mile House, a historic landmark built in 1837, is trying to raise $50,000 to reconstruct the kitchen, also called the ‘ell.’

Originally, the house was used for a stage coach stop and as an inn. The gold rush in 1848, Dan Thornburgh, president of the Five Mile House Foundation, added, resulted in many people stopping there. It was later documented that Abraham Lincoln visited the home.

“We’re sure Lincoln was there. Lincoln would come by and see people there,” Thornburgh commented.

“Back in the Civil War, they had a kitchen open in the air. The previous owner (a private individual) tore the kitchen down. We want to restore it,” Thornburgh said.

The Five Mile House Foundation is a non-profit group that has eight members. Save the Five Mile House Group, which has 18 members, is doing the fundraising work.

Previously, the group had raised $125,000 for the house from a grant and donations from friends of the group. The state of Illinois recognized the historic project, donating $25,000 towards the restoration. Of the $125,000, $50,000 was used to purchase the house. The other $75,000 was used to restore the house.

In order to raise the money to rebuild the ell, the group, which was founded in 1998, is seeking donations from previous individuals who donated money. On May 5, the organization will host a picnic at Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site to raise funds for the project.

They hope to have the ell completed by this summer or fall. However, they hope to have finished the total restoration by spring of 2003.

The house got its namesake because it is five miles from the Charleston courthouse on the northeast corner of Route 130 and Westfield Road.

The masonry work to the structure was finished in November. In the spring, they plan to touch it up.

The house, believed to be the oldest structure in Coles County, will be used as a tourism site. The organization has two main reasons for wanting to restore the landmark.

“We know from studies the majority of people who come into Coles County, coming to see Lincoln sites, come in from Interstate 70. One of the main reasons (for restoring the landmark) is to have an entry site. It’s also a significant historic site,” Thornburgh said. He also says the group wants to preserve the site for future generations.