Just Call Me “Skip”

Skip has always believed in a can-do approach to life--starting with winning the heart and hand of a pretty coed named Carol at McKendree College in 1959. Together they decided they wanted to live, raise their children, teach and farm in rural Elizabeth, arriving here in August, 1964.

As a teacher, Skip was twice chosen as the outstanding history teacher in Illinois. His masters research was on the Black Hawk War, hence the forty year focus on finding and rebuilding the Apple River Fort. (See Area History)

Carl R. Schwerdtfeger

Founder & Past President/CEO

OLD NORTHWEST LAND CO.

4359 Industrial Park, Suite 101 , Galena IL 61036

Licensed Managing Broker in Illinois

Always active in Illinois politics, Skip ran for U.S. Congress in 1982 and 1984. The race gained national attention and built a volunteer base of over 4000 dedicated people. However, the other side won! Then Skip ran for State Central Committee giving eight years of service before retiring.

Meanwhile Skip was accepted into the administration of the University of Wisconsin, Platteville as Director of Information Services and Publications. In that role he won two national awards for his marketing concepts. He also taught U.S. Military History in the Graduate School.

Skip's interests outside of his real estate business include: farming, sailing, tennis, guitar, flying and travel. Four grandsons, Dylan, Luke, John and Michael  get
a lot of Skips attention.

What we can envision we can achieve. This is what directed and still directs Skip's life. Like many readers, he still wonders what he is going to do when he grows up.

In 2002 Skip was honored as Realtor® of the Year. Realtors The Following article was printed in Village Voices, week July4-July 10, 2002:

ELIZABETH - Carl "Skip" Schwerdtfeger, and his wife Carol, founded Old Northwest Land Company, Inc. in January of 1989. Since that time, the real estate agency has grown into one of the largest and most respected in northwest Illinois.

Earlier this year, the Freeport-Galena Area Association of Realtors honored Schwerdtfeger by naming him the recipient of its 2002 Realtor of the Year award.

"It took me by complete surprise," Schwerdtfeger said after receiving the award. "It's very nice to be recognized by your peers. I've done many things in the real estate business, but this (award) is a first for me." Schwerdtfeger explained that Old Northwest takes a cooperative approach to working with fellow agencies.

"We have a unique industry in that our competition one day may be a partner in the sale of a home the next day, due to the listing of a seller and the agency representing the buyer," Schwerdtfeger related. "Old Northwest is very careful to maintain those good working relationships for the benefit of our customers."

Schwerdtfeger's philosophy of business has been to create an ever widening "footprint" for the agency. "By that I mean we actively seek associates that can represent ONLC over a wide geographical area that now includes northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin," Schwerdtfeger explained. "We may not be number one in any single community, but if we're number two or three in all of them, we know we'll be close to number one in sales overall."

Schwerdtfeger teaches that all real estate transactions are "local." Land or property doesn't move, but buyers can come from all over.

"Right now our website receives almost double the daily 'hits,' and people spending time per session in it, than the Galena Chamber of Commerce. About 47 percent of our buyers are from outside the immediate area," he said.

Schwerdtfeger taught  real estate certification courses at Highland Community College for the fourteen years and enjoyed working with aspiring real estate salesmen and women.

Skip gives credit to his wife, Carol, for introducing him to the real estate business.

"Carol began selling real estate in 1985," he added. "She got after me to join in the fun and I became active in 1986." The couple have been married since 1960 and make their home north of Elizabeth.  (End of Article)

Skip and Carol with their family at the farm.

Hickory Ridge Ranch where Skip and Carol raised their family Caren and Rick as well as beef cattle and Morgan Horses. It has been their home since 1968. It is also the birthplace and original home of Old Northwest Land Co. inc. from 1989 to 1990.