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Resident asks Oswego to reconsider historic exclusion for 'Turtle Rock' stone barn
Summary
A resident identified himself as John Burdemas and asked the village to reconsider excluding a circa‑1850 stone barn (known as Turtle Rock) from local historic recognition; he said the property has long local significance and urged reconsideration of the one-and-a-half‑mile exclusion rule.
At the Committee of the Whole public forum, a resident who identified himself at the podium as John Burdemas described a circa-1850 stone barn on State Route 31, called it “Turtle Rock,” and urged the village to reconsider an exclusion that prevented the house from receiving a local historic designation because it lies just outside the village border.
Burdemas said the property — long used as a residence and known locally for its glacial erratic rock and role in early Oswego history — has appeared on stone‑home tours and participated in community events such as Prairiefest. He said the Oswego Township placed a historic designation plaque on the property, but the village declined to recognize it because it is outside the village limits and therefore not eligible under the current exclusion policy.
The resident requested that the board remove or amend the exclusion so historically significant properties just outside the municipal boundary can be considered; he said he has discussed the matter with some village officials previously.
The board thanked him for his comments and the chair complimented the photographs the resident shared.
