Editing Wayne, Illinois (section)

===Oaklawn Farm and Dunham Castle===
[[File:DunhamCastle.JPG|thumb|Dunham Castle, November 2006 during Stirrup Cup Celebration.]]

Wayne's primary landmark is the Dunham Castle, originally built between 1878 and 1882. The stone structure, complete with turret, was inspired by a [[Norman architecture|Norman]] castle and was built by one of Wayne's first pioneers, [[Mark Wentworth Dunham|Mark Dunham]], a [[Percheron]] horse breeder. Assisting Mark in the design was architect Smith Hoag of [[Elgin, Illinois]].<ref name="foxvalleyrealestateil">[http://foxvalleyrealestate.net/dunham-castle-wayne-il-history Dunham Castle in Wayne, IL - FOX VALLEY LIVING<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Mark Dunham's horse farm, [[Oaklawn Farm]], founded in Wayne in 1866, was one of the earliest [[Percheron]] breeding farms in the U.S.; Dunham is known as the “Father of the [[Percheron]] in North America”. During the 1893 [[World's Columbian Exposition]], a train from Chicago to Wayne brought guests to see the Percheron horses at the {{convert|2,000|acre|km2}} farm. Those that made the trip included [[Cyrus McCormick]], [[George Pullman]], and the [[Duke of Veragua]].

At the height of the [[Percheron]] business, Dunham built a house, now called Dunham Castle, near the farm, on the northwest corner of Army Trail Road and Dunham Road. The Dunhams-based the idea for the design of their new home on that of French chateaux. The building, of brick, and stone, with different colored slate roofing, stands surrounded by woods, gardens, and a gently sloping lawn. The interior has parquet floors, statues, tapestries, and copies of fine, French artwork.

In 1899, Wirth Dunham inherited Dunham Castle. He died in 1931. In 1953, Dunham Castle was converted into four spacious apartments. No interior alterations were made that affected the structure. Between 1953 and 1976 there were several owners. In 1976, the Castle was sold to the Griffins family, who looked into making the house a museum, professional office, or private dining club.  In 1976, the house was put up for sale.

The castle has been rarely open to public tours, and for charity fund raisers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shawlocal.com/2012/11/28/dunham-castle-to-open-during-relay-for-life-fundraiser/abj1jyn/|title=Dunham Castle to open during Relay for Life fundraiser|date=November 29, 2012|website=Shaw Local}}</ref><ref>dunhamcastletour.eventbrite.com</ref> The house is again privately owned, having been sold in October 2013 and in early 2016 started extensive renovation by its private owner with completion expected in 2021.

When Marc Dunham finished the construction of Dunham Castle, and made it his primary residence, the original Dunham home evolved into an inn and sales pavilion for the Dunham family's Oaklawn Farm. However, [[Percheron]] horse demand declined steadily as gas-powered cars, trucks, and farm implements grew in popularity, finally making [[Percheron]]s a novelty or parade horse, and Oaklawn Farm ceased operation as a commercial enterprise.  The offices of Dunham's farm, then popularly known as the “Inn”, are well-preserved, now home to Wayne's only dining establishment and social club, the Dunham Woods Riding Club.