The Goldenstein Sisters of Kane County shared many things – a passion for garage sales, a dedication to serving grieving families at the Conley Funeral Home where they both worked at various times, and also a love of their family farm, open space and the rural lifestyle. This love of the land and conviction that it should be saved for future generations has led to the preservation of their 130-acre property in Kane County’s Campton Township.
For many years the Goldenstein sisters owned this land, along with other property, and rented out the tillable acreage to local farmers. These sisters had much more than blood in common. They both shared a reverence and appreciation for the land, and made it known that they’d like this property and its rich farmland, ponds and woodlands preserved someday. One of the Goldenstein sisters passed away about a decade ago, and the other about 18 months ago. Very commendably, their heirs have honored their wishes for preservation by selling the property to The Conservation Foundation.
We now own the land, and have partnered with the Campton Township Open Space Program, who has assumed responsibility for day-to-day management of the property.
“Campton Township and The Conservation Foundation have successfully worked together for over 20 years preserving and managing open space within the Township,” said John Kupar, Campton Township Supervisor. “We are pleased to manage and help restore this property with The Conservation Foundation.” With this acquisition, Campton Township will manage or own over 1400 acres.
Of the Goldenstein sisters, Dan Lobbes our Director of Land Protection who orchestrated this preservation effort, said, “We are happy to be making their dream of preserving their land come true. Of course, no one organization can do things like this all by themselves, and we are grateful for Campton Township’s assistance. Working together makes all the difference!”
This preservation acquisition was funded directly through the support of The Conservation Foundation’s members and donors. Because of you, the Goldenstein Sisters’ legacy, their family’s landscape of memories, and 130 acres that will benefit their future generations and yours, has been saved. In a writeup after her passing, it was said of Katherine, or Kay, Goldenstein that she was survived by “a countryside full of friends who became family”. With this act, the Goldenstein Sisters and their family have welcomed us all into their countryside of friends.
Written by Jill Johnson, Communications Manager
