Funks Grove - Home of Maple Sirup

ILLINOIS LEGENDS

Funks Grove - Home of Maple Sirup

Some 15 miles south of Bloomington, Illinois on Route 66, a rustic sign stands on a grassy embankment with the simple words “Maple Sirup.” Here, amongst the prairie, sits a natural maple grove dominating the landscape and filled with sugar and black maples of record size.

In 1824 a man named Isaac Funk was the pioneer founder of Funks Grove when he chose to homestead this location for its water supply, fertile soil, and timber. The fact that the timber was primarily maple was a bonus for Funk, as he and his sons began to make maple sirup and maple sugar for their personal use.

Maple Sirup sign at Funks Grove, Illinois,

September, 2004, Kathy Weiser

During this time, maple sirup was the only source of sweetener in the area and Arthur Funk, Isaac’s grandson, capitalized on this when he opened the first commercial sirup camp at Funks Grove in 1891. In 1896 Arthur’s brother, Lawrence, took over the operation and in the 1920's the sirup operation was passed to Hazel Funk Holmes.

When Route 66 came through about this time, the Maple Sirup business boomed and hardly could the sirup be made for the season when it was already sold out.

When Aunt Hazel was ready to retire she asked her nephew, Stephen Funk, and his wife, Glaida, to take over the grove and the surrounding farm in 1947. However, before transferring the operation, she arranged for a trust insuring that Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup would be around for generations to come. Although the trees are worth millions, the trust stipulated that it would never be used for anything other than making maple sirip. The trust also stipulated that the spelling of the word “sirip” remain the same.

As to the spelling of the word, a sign at Funk’s Grove has this to say:

Historically, according to Webster’s Dictionary, “sirup” was the preferred spelling when referring to the product made by boiling sap. “Syrup” with a “y”, however, was defined as the end product of adding sugar to fruit juice. Though the “I” spelling is no longer commonly used, the United States Department of Agriculture and Canada also still use it when referring to pure maple sirup. Hazel Funk Holmes, whose trust continues to preserve and protect this timber for maple sirup production insisted on the “I” spelling during her lifetime. It’s another tradition that will continue at Funks Grove.

In 1988, Stephen Funk retired and his son Michael and wife, Debby took over the business.

Today, a seventh generation of Funks continue to make sirup at this historic place that feels as though it stepped right out a century ago, yet is just miles off of busy Interstate 55.

Funks Grove is about four miles south of Shirley, Illinois on Route 66 where you come to Funks Grove Road. By turning right at this intersection, you will step into a sleepy little hamlet complete with an antique general store and train depot. If you travel about a mile beyond the Depot you will find Funks Grove Church which dates back to 1845.

After returning to Route 66, Funks Grove Sirup Camp is another half mile down the road, where Debby and Mike Funk continue the family traditions laid down by previous generations.

Continue your journey down Route 66 for more vintage peeks of the Mother Road at McLean, Atlanta and Springfield, Illinois.

Funks Grove General Store, September, 2004,

Kathy Weiser

Funks Grove Train Depot, September, 2004,

Kathy Weiser

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