The Forest Preserve Board acquired the original 541-acre "Singing Hills Farm" parcel in September 1997, creating a new Forest Preserve on Fish Lake Road north of Gilmer Road near Volo.
The preserve name dates back to 1942 when Dan Nelson, Sr., purchased the property as a country retreat for his family. Nelson's son Cliff describes how his father named the site:
"There were so many birds on that land... a Great Blue Heron nest in the trees along the north edge of the farm... pheasants, grouse, songbirds of all kinds. The land was so musical that my father called his farm The Singing Hills."
According to Cliff, his late father's name choice may also have been influenced by an old cowboy song entitled "Singing Hills" from the days of Gene Autry. Cliff Nelson thought his father would have been delighted to know that the name might be retained for posterity. A barn on the property still reads "Singing Hills Farm." |
