Our History

In 1837, brothers Julius and Edward Alexander arrived in Geneva where they planned to build a blacksmith shop from where they would forge the tools and plows to farm the rich soil of Kane County. Julius Alexander wrote in his memoirs: We moved to Geneva, arriving there about July I, 1837...came with wagon and oxen, bringing tools and a little iron and steel.

They chose the east bank of the river to build their blacksmith shop. A dam had been planned to furnish power for a small grist mill built by the Bennett brothers. Water was diverted from the river through a narrow channel to turn the mill wheels. This was called the mill race.

In 1891, a fire destroyed the blacksmith shop. The building was quickly rebuilt by the spirited Alexander's and over the years, served as Carlson' s laundry, a wagon shop, a carriage shop and later a plumbing and heating business.

During the Great Depression, Kate Raftery, creator of the Little Traveler on Third Street, urged two spinster sisters from Aurora to open the old blacksmith shop as a restaurant. On May 12, 1933, Ann and Marjorie Forsythe opened the doors of their new summertime tea room. They named their place the Mill Race Inn.

One of the Forsythe sisters' first customers was Ray C. Johns, a Chicago businessman and restaurateur. Mr. Johns frequently visited the Fox Valley area, often accompanied by his wife, Myra and daughter, Rae. He so loved the area that he moved his family from Winnetka to Wayne to retire as a "country gentleman." In 1946, retirement no longer suited Mr. Johns, and he decided to buy the Mill Race Inn from the Forsythe sisters. He convinced his favorite Hungarian cook, Malava Park, to move to the Fox Valley to help manage his recent venture.

Mr. Johns' daughter, Rae, remembers Malava as capable and undaunted. She cooked when needed, baked when there was no baker, and even arranged flowers. She arrived at 7 :00 in the morning, stayed until mid-afternoon, then returned in the evenings dressed spectacularly to welcome quests. With Malava' s help, the business increased and eventually the dining room was expanded. When Mr .Johns died in 1964, his daughter took over her father's beloved Mill Race Inn. By adding her vision to his, Rae continued to expand Mill Race Inn, making it the popular place it is today. Over the years, the entryway was enlarged and the building was winterized. The decks were added and the Gazebo was built. More recently, the Mill Race Inn's personality has developed further with the addition of the Mill Grill, Mallard's and the Duck Inn.

Although the Mill Race Inn has grown and changed considerably over time, we still embrace the values that the Alexander brothers, the Forsythe sisters, and Mr. Johns used to create their vision. We have enhanced that vision, making the Mill Race Inn a gathering place for families and friends, and a pleasant place to work. It has become a home away from home for many of us, including the ducks. As one cook stated, "The ducks have become so tame that they nearly march right into the kitchen!" It is our wish the Mill Race Inn will become a home to you as well.

Since late 2004, the Mill Race Inn has been in the caring hands of Charlie Roumeliotis and his son, George.