The "Save The Bowen" team consist of people that care about the history of this great nation. It is not always better to build newer bigger more functional buildings, sometimes it is better to restore and have something to show our children.

Our goal is to save a building that has become a landmark in the Bartonville area. The Bowen building is one of the original buildings forming the Peoria State Hospital (aka: Bartonville State Hospital)

Over time many of the buildings have been destroyed, either by time, vandals or developers building newer more functional buildings. We wish to save this "Jewel" of the original State Hospital buildings.

We wish to restore this great structure to its original beauty as shown above in the photos dating back to the early 1900's.

The current owner is constantly being approached about looking at the building by friends, family and strangers. The building has been carefully boarded up to not only protect the building, but to prevent any harm coming to persons interested in touring the structure. Numerous dangers lurk in the darkness of this massive structure. It is not a safe place with the current conditions, including asbestos, missing railings on staircases and sections of flooring are gone from the damage caused by time and vandals. The owners do not want people interested in viewing this building to be hurt and they do not need the hassle of law suits and insurance nightmares.

When the building can be made safe for viewing by the public we will gladly allow visitors at appointed times, however, we need your help. We need public support for this project to come together. We also need funding to make the property safe for viewing. We are asking for your support with the city, state and federal programs that we hope to achieve funding from.

We are in the process of taking bids for the removal of the asbestos. This is currently the most limiting danger to wouldbe visitors.

As of this time we do not have a specific timetable for any of the work to be completed.

We will try to keep you informed via this website of the progress toward saving this treasure. 

**Update: We have established a Non-Profit Entity called:

Save The Bowen, Inc.

We have also applied for our tax exempt status from the IRS. When we receive the 501 (c)(3) designation we will start soliciting funds for the acquisition and restoration of the Historic Bowen Building.

**November 6, 2007 Update:

Save The Bowen, Inc. has agreed to purchase the Bowen building from the current owner. Over the next several months we will be requesting funds from private donations, public donations, federal grants and private foundation grants to pay for the acquisition of the building and property.

No actual work will be performed on the property until the property has been completely paid for by Save The Bowen, Inc.

This brings us one step closer to realizing our goal of restoring this historic structure.

When we finally get our 501c3 designation from the IRS we will provide tax letters for donations to the Save The Bowen fund. We anticipate designation prior to the end of 2007.

***January 28, 2008 Update:

We have now received our official Letter from the IRS approving our application for tax exempt status and we are now considered Federal Tax Exempt from income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. We are now qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, tranfers or gifts under section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Code.  

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