By CINDY LADAGE
Illinois Correspondent

WARRENVILLE, Ill. — Horses were part of the annual Homecoming celebration at St. James Farm over the Memorial Day weekend (see page 14B for more).
St. James Farm was named after a street that Chauncey and Marion Deering McCormick lived on as newlyweds in Paris, the Rue St. Jacques. They were the first McCormicks to inhabit the beautiful St. James Farm. The couple loved horses and built a Colonial-style brick stable with stalls lined with wood and iron posts from England.

Later, after Brooks McCormick and his wife, Hope, lived here, the farm became part of the DuPage County Forest Preserve. Hope and Brooks built the estate’s indoor arena, which was used for riding events as well as establishing the St. James Riding School for the Handicapped, one of the couple’s charitable interests.

On May 28, visitors had a chance to revisit a bit of the estate’s equestrian heritage. The homecoming offered horse-drawn hayrides and demonstrations, including classical dressage, driving and Western pleasure in a main arena. The horses and riders were richly arrayed and visitors watched the riders perform with obvious enjoyment.

Visitors had the chance to see the Mario Contreras Equestrian Fiesta Troupe, the Double L Miniature-Horse Driving Drill Team, the Midwest Renegades Western Drill Team, and several hunt and pony clubs. One visitor said she came all the way from Utah to be part of the Friends for Therapeutic Equine Activities group, which featured the benefits of therapeutic riding and equestrian activities for people with disabilities.

Besides the beautiful horses on display, the farm’s array of carriages was also set up for visitors. An amazing water-trough fountain created by Marcia Weese in 1985 is comprised of granite, marble and copper. There are other sculptures and artwork that also depict the McCormicks’ love of horses.

Today the farm is also a wildlife and natural ecosystem set on 607 acres that contain more than 100 acres of woodlands, prairies and wetlands. It is home to more than 300 native plant species and wildlife, with an especially wide array of bird life.