THE LOVELAND COMMUNITY HOUSE
An enormous building which rests quietly through the nights, and
located in the 500 block of West Second Street in Dixon suddenly
comes to life each day.
For it is here that social gatherings along with civic,
professional, religious, service groups and clubs meet regularly
within the building. The facilities are utilized for commercial
meetings, dinners, private parties, weddings and receptions.
On Oct. 8, 1940 the community of Dixon and the surrounding areas
became benefactors of a promise made by George C. Loveland and his
wife. For it was on this date that the Loveland Community House came
to be and first opened its doors.
The building was intended as a memorial to his ancestors and it
gave the Lovelands a chance to give something to the community while
perpetuating the name of the family that located in Dixon some 156
years ago during 1837.
Ground was broken for the construction of the building in July of
1939 with the work being completed some 14 months later. The
architecture is of a Cotswold style, which is a design that had been
originated in the rural country of England and was quick to be
adopted in this country.
The building, site and furnishings at the time cost slightly over
$200,000 which was provided for in the Loveland's will. An endowment
fund was also established at the time for the maintaining of the
building and grounds.
An estimated 5,000 people, including many out of town visitors,
visited the beautiful new building throughout the afternoon and
evening. Many attended both the afternoon open house and the evening
dedication program.
This was the second of outstanding contributions made by Mr.
Loveland to Dixon's cultural life. The first being the Loveland
school building which was located in the Northwestern part of town.
He had furnished the funds for the school to be built, accepting only
nominal interest on the loan until his death, which then had the
bonds reverted to the school district.
Otis Loveland, the grandfather of George C. Loveland came to Lee
County during 1837 with his wife, two sons and three daughters and
settled in Dixon. George Loveland was born in Dixon on Feb. 14, 1847.
He lived in Mt. Carroll for a brief time where he was a partner in an
auction business. It was there that he would meet the woman that
later he would marry, Emma Tomlinson, on Oct. 13, 1880. She was born
in that community on Jan. 13, 1852.
Mr. and Mrs. Loveland would spend their entire lives in Dixon and
vicinity, becoming vitally interested in the progress of this
community. Mr. Loveland at the age of 81 died here in June of 1928
and Mrs. Loveland departed this life nine years later in 1937.
The Loveland Community House was described in 1940 as a beautiful
and exceptional well planned building for its purpose, to occupy a
large place in Dixon's social and educational life.
With countless artifacts hanging from its walls, items in display
cases, shelves and items displayed on the floor, serve to illustrate
the progress of our area and the country through the years. The
community house has three usable floors. The top floor contains a
museum which was established in 1946.
Still today, walking into the Loveland building is likened to
walking into another world. No matter what your interests may be, to
walk through the halls, rooms and museum of this grand building will
give you a feeling of our community's past, the present and the
character of its future.
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