Beth Temple transferred 160 acres of her 1965‑purchased Tempest Farm to the Forest Preserve District of Will County in 2020, leaving 120 acres under a conservation easement that will be fully transferred in the coming years.
The 160‑acre estate, named after a beloved horse, had been the home of Beth, a former elementary teacher, and Dr. Arvid Temple, a surgeon, since their wedding in May 1969.
Arvid bought the property in 1965, and the couple turned the dairy farm into a working community hub, supplying produce to Respond Now and teaching local children about agriculture.
After Arvid’s death in 2007, Beth continued to maintain the land, converting the old chicken coop into a workshop and caring for the farm’s cats and trees.
Forest Preserve District Director Karen Johnson said the easement will restrict development and preserve the farm’s natural habitat, while local resident Sam Patel, who grew up on the property, hopes the land remains a green refuge.
The final legal transfer is slated for a 2024 court hearing, after which the district will open the preserve to public tours and educational programs.