Frank W. “Bill” Bonan, Jr.

What does this mean for certain political aspirations?

SALINE CO.— After several months and numerous rumors, it appears the location of an elusive, members-only, alleged “gentlemen’s club” in Harrisburg has been found.

In addition, the names of individuals involved in creating and supporting the club may send shock waves through the community.

At least three separate sources, willing to testify in court, have informed Disclosure that the club is the brainchild of local businessman and banker Frank W. “Bill” Bonan, Jr.

The exact name of the establishment is said to be the “Chess Club.”

The exact location of the “Chess Club” is said to be the top floor of the Clearwave building located in the center of Harrisburg.

That would explain the logo provided by another source to Disclosure bearing the image of king and queen chess pieces; and since the top floor is also the seventh floor, it explains the Roman numeral “VII” in the logo (as featured on the front page of the December Special Edition 2015).

“He (Bonan) told me he wanted to create the club so public people will have a place to go without being in the public eye,” said one of the sources.

While Bonan is said to have bankrolled the entire venture, including accommodations on the roof of the building for events to be held, it is unclear whether or not he is aware of whether there actually exists a private sex room (or rooms) for “special members,” the alleged open practice of drug use, or the exact wording of bylaws members are required to sign.

Sources, willing to testify, do indicate that Bonan has lost his temper on numerous occasions when anyone aware of the details of the club has told others.

Of concern to the upcoming election season is documentation showing that Harrisburg Mayor Dale Fowler not only cleared the way, but picked up the liquor license for, the Chess Club from city hall.

Above is a screen shot from the website of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission. The bottom line clearly shows the name of the club, the address and the owner of the license as Frank Bonan. The bottom photo is a picture taken of a Liquor Checklist kept at the Harrisburg City Hall. The top line shows the name of the club and that Robert Wilson’s son-in-law, Grady Gaskins, was the contact person. It was explained to Disclosure staffers that the name ‘Dale’ at the end of the first line refers to Harrisburg Mayor Dale Fowler and indicates that he is the one who picked up/delivered the approved city license for the Chess Club.

Fowler has announced his candidacy for the office of State Senate for the 59th District, running as a Republican against long-time incumbent Gary Forby.

The connection between Fowler and the Chess Club has caused substantial misgivings among those studying the coming election season.

Apparently that concern has reached Bonan who, according to a source, contacted Fowler after the Chess Club stories began breaking and suggested that they might consider terminating, or at least playing down, their connection.

That connection could prove difficult to play down, considering the publicity given the Fowler-Bonan Foundation, which is said to raise money for charity.

The source indicated that Fowler told Bonan that he saw no need to terminate or play down their connection.

It is interesting to note that, according to state documents, Bonan has contributed a substantial amount of money, with amounts being in the thousands, either personally or through other entities, toward Fowler’s bid for State Senate.

Some believe that Fowler couldn’t afford to terminate or down play ties with Bonan, who appears to be a major contributor to his campaign for state senate.

There is an additional concern that former Harrisburg mayor/current attorney and CPA Robert Wilson was the man who penned or at least orchestrated the legal agreement prospective members are required sign prior to handing over their $5,000 membership fee.

That agreement includes members being forbidden from talking to non-members about the goings on in the club, restricts them from posting anything about the club on social media, restricts cameras, recording devices and is enforced by a $10,000 fine per violation, with the ultimate punishment being they will get kicked out of the club and the violators’ $5K not being refunded.

Wilson is believed to be the man who brought Fowler to Harrisburg in the first place (more on that in subsequent stories).

Fowler recently appointed Wilson to the Saline County Conservancy District Board on which Wilson also serves as attorney and has additional, behind-the-scenes interests.

Wilson also happens to be the uncle of Molly Dearing, who is running for the office of Saline County State’s Attorney on the Republican ticket, despite the entire family being diehard Democrats for generations.

Additional stories Disclosure is working on in connection with the Chess Club include the breakup of at least one marriage of a Harrisburg doctor after one spouse allegedly caught the other having an affair with a member of and at the club; the connections between the club and prospective political candidates; the facilitating of illegal drugs into the club for use by members; what was allegedly found in one Chess Club board member’s car while it was at a local Harrisburg shop being worked on; and connections with area financial institutions.

Despite Bonan being observed by numerous witnesses arriving and leaving the Clearwave building with what some describe as an entourage, it is unclear how he feels about the allegations being leveled concerning strippers, illegal drugs, prostitutes and a sex room for special members.

Attempts by Disclosure to reach out to Bonan have gone unanswered.

Disclosure will also be publishing a substantial portion, with editorial comment, of the membership agreement in the next issue with a complete copy of the agreement provided for e-edition subscribers on its website at www.disclosurenewsonline.com.

The members-only Chess Club has been confirmed to be on the seventh floor of the Clearwave building, located at 2 North Vine St., Harrisburg. A crane was brought in this past summer in order to install railing along the top of the building.