Interview with Jean and Wayne WuebbellsBy Roger RowlettJean and Wayne Wuebbels, the first highpoint private property owners to attend and host a Highpointers convention, put on a memorable show that drew standing ovations in Illinois. Just a few days before the convention started, they announced severe access restrictions to the summit in their front yard to just the first weekends of summer months because of problems with non-club members coming at all hours and stealing things. Jean (the "talkative half" while she says Wayne is the silent "brainy half" of the couple) delivered the news at the Galena Convention Center along with a recommendation to vote Republican. She got playful boos along with hearty laughter. The Wuebbels are only the third family to own the highpoint since President Polk made it a land grant in 1848 (Elijah Charles for whom the mound is named never actually owned it). The Chicago accountants weren't looking for owning a highpoint when they planned to move to the country in trendy, un-glacier flattened Jo Daviess County in 1994. They just wanted a place with a view and room to snowmobile. Illinois didn't want to buy one of the few hills in the state (a place where late-melting snow drifts cause the flowers bloom a week later than nearby Scales Mound) and the Wuebbels got a good price, built a home and got commanding views of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. They jumped on the novelty of owning a highpoint and did away with earlier severe access restrictions (and gate fee) until the accumulating problems prompted the latest restrictions. Neighboring residents much preferred the Wuebbels to proposals for a revolving restaurant on the summit. I personally had a wonderful evening talking to both Jean and Wayne
during the convention banquet. Wayne is not nearly as quiet or reserved
as he conveys in public. Below are answers to questions that I put
to them (which arrived after the August 15 tax extension deadline).
What's your background?
Why did you move to the Charles Mound area?
How why and when did you buy the highpoint?
I understand the previous owner Gladys Steifel died last year.
Did she give you any advice on the highpoint?
She wanted the property to be an Illinois landmark- and always to be kept as a nature reserve. The children of Gladys did not care so much about the highpoint. The property was their home. They all grew up in the old farm house at the base of the mound, and it holds the same sentimental values to them as any of our homes might to us. Charles Mound was named after Elijah Charles (from Pennsylvania) who settled there in 1827. He built a home on the south base of the mound, be he never owned the property. This land was not yet open for sale by the government. In 1848 Charles Mound was given as a land grant by President Polk to Mr. Richard Magoon. He wasn't particularly interested in Illinois, and the property was purchased in 1868 by Mr. and Mrs. Glanville. Glady's Steifel was a descendent of Seth. The Glanville family owned the land for nearly 150 years. We purchased the property from the Glanville estate in 1994. Did you get many people who are interested in the geology the region (the "Driftless Region") and lead mines. Not really. Do you get many people who think it's an Indian burial ground?
You did away with the restrictions and fees for accessing the highpoint right away plus added chairs and signs making it a sort of part. What did you originally envision the highpoint and visitors to be? We didn't. We just didn't know there was such an animal as a "Highpointer." you know, we are not really the minority. Stop the average person on the street, and ask him what a Highpointer is. He will say "a high what??" stop anyone in downtown Chicago and ask him what Charles Mound is? They will think it is a candy bar! Who made the signs you originally placed on the summit?
What do you do with the log books?
What's the name of your dog and cats?
Do you have weather that is different from the surrounding area (e.g.,
more snow or lightening)?
What prompted you to gradually begin reducing access so that currently
it is accessible only during the first weekend of June, July, August and
September?
Do you have unannounced visitors in the night?
What do your neighbors think of your owning the highpoint?
How many highpoints have you visited?
Have you traveled in the vicinity of other highpoints?
What was your opinion of the convention?
Did your neighbors say anything about it?
What was money raised at the Lions Club Breakfast used for?
There was a sign by a latrine saying "Better than the Bush."
Does that reflect your politics?
Was the latrine there before?
The picnic tables?
What are the pet causes you mentioned at the Highpointers banquet?
Who painted the signs for the convention and came up with the names?
You mentioned you were considering selling the property to provide
for retirement and your heirs. Would you consider selling it
to the State or Nature Conservancy?
Has the state contacted you?
How big is the property?
Can I ask the asking price?
If you can't get your asking price, what alternatives are you considering?
Is there anything the Highpointers Club or its members can do to
help you?
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Illinois 2003 Convention Chairman John Mitchler presents an aerial photo of the Wuebbels farm to Wayne and Jean Wuebbels. Jean Trousdale coordinated getting the photo. |