RESTORATION & PRESERVATION

Restoring Comely Bank

The Foundation is dedicated to restoring, preserving, and interpreting this historic residence so that future generations can engage with the story behind Rotary’s founding ideals.

Tanaka, Estess, Giay, and Devlyn participating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside the Harris Home.

Tanaka, Estess, Giay, and Devlyn at a Harris Home ribbon-cutting ceremony during the 2005 project period.

2005 | SAVING COMELY BANK

Preserving the original house of Friendship

When Comely Bank became available for sale in 2005, the Paul and Jean Harris Home Foundation was created and acquired the property. The goal was not simply to own the house, but to return the interior to the character of the period when Paul and Jean lived there and prepare the Home for visitors and long-term stewardship.

The Home Foundation extends a special thanks to the Rotarians who donated, and the Naperville Rotary Club which provided a loan, to help make the purchase possible.

RESTORING THE ROOMS

From construction to renewed interiors

The gardens and rooms were stripped back, rebuilt, repaired, and returned to use over several years.

THE ROTARY ROOM ADDITION

Photographs of the Rotary Room addition, during and after construction.

FIRESIDE ROOM

The Fireside Room is shown during construction in 2019 and again upon restoration.

Restored fireplace room with period chairs, rug, and built-in shelving.

GUEST BEDROOM

The process of restoring the doorway and wood flooring of the guest bedroom.

Guest bedroom with unfinished floor and walls during construction.
 
Restored doorway and wood flooring in the guest bedroom.

PRESERVING THE DETAILS

Respecting what remained

All of the windows were removed and replaced with custom windows that matched the original designs while incorporating modern insulated glass panels.

Original elements and fixtures from the Home were used as much as possible. Where they were no longer available, period-appropriate fixtures were selected.

Historic 10856 house-number plate displayed with period lighting fixtures.

Historic House Number and Lantern Fixture

Close view of a period-style table lamp beside a window.

Period-appropriate lamp detail inside the restored Harris Home.

Tall wooden cabinet topped with a copper vessel in a restored room.

Period-appropriate furnishings displayed inside the restored Harris Home.

Wood rocking chair casting a long shadow across the floor of a restored room.
© Rudy Viereckl

Historic Rocking Chair displayed in the Harris Home

Group gathered for a program or discussion in the large Rotary Room.
Large rear addition with unfinished walls and ceiling during construction.

THE ROTARY ROOM

Making room to gather again

To accommodate meetings and events, a large addition, known as the Rotary Room, was constructed at the back of the Home.

THE RESTORATION TODAY

A restored interior. A revitalized exterior An ongoing project.

The initial restoration transformed the interior and created new space for gatherings. The work of preservation continues beyond the completed rooms.

Rotary Room table and chairs beside a wall of framed historical images.
Guest bedroom with two beds, wood floors, windows, and period furnishings.
Restored exterior of the Harris Home viewed from the front steps and garden path.

Photos courtesy of © Rotary International

COMPLETE

Interior reconstruction, meeting/event space, and exterior patio.

CONTINUING

Creation of exhibits, the International Peace/Friendship Garden, an audio-visual center, and additional landscaping.

LONG TERM

The Home Foundation’s approved mission is to restore and sustain the Home and grounds for future generations.

Help preserve Comely Bank for the future.

In recent years, Rotary International has agreed to support the restoration of the Harris Home. As an integral part of Rotary history, the Home could become part of a larger Rotary history tour that would include visits to Rotary International headquarters in Evanston, Illinois; the Rotary Club of Chicago, the very first Rotary club, or one of the 180 Rotary clubs in the Chicago area; and the gravesites of Paul Harris and cofounder Silvester Schiele in Blue Island.

RKRobb Knuepfer, Rotary International Director (2017–19), Rotary International Zones 28 & 29

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

About the Restoration

What restoration work has been completed?

The restoration has included reconstruction of the interior of the Home, construction of the Rotary Room and exterior patio, replacement of windows with custom windows matching the original designs, and the preservation or replacement of fixtures using original or period-appropriate elements wherever possible.

Restoration and preservation of a historic property are ongoing. Future work identified by the Foundation includes continued development of exhibits, the Friendship Garden, visitor experiences, and landscaping as resources become available.