The Informer
Newsletter of the Dundee Township Historical Society June 2008
The annual garage sale will be held on Saturday July 12th from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. in the museum parking lot.
Check your attic, cabinets or garage for treasures you may have hidden away and you would like to donate. We are accepting donations of antiques and collectibles, linens, household items, glass and china, home decor, tools, garden implements, knick-knacks, etc. No clothing please !!!
Members can reserve a space to sell their own wares for a fee of $15.00. Call the museum (847-428-6996) if you have items that need to be picked up or if you wish to reserve a spot.
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GENEALOGY WORKSHOP FOR BEGINNERS
Sunday, July 20th
Have you ever wondered where your great grandpa came from and how he got to the place he called home? Bonnie Cernosek will present a workshop on beginning genealogy on Sunday, July 20th, from 2 - 4 p.m. at the museum. Learn about the resources available to the general public and how to use them. Where and how to start the search for your ancestors. Join us as we learn how to delve into the past.
The workshop is open to the public. There is no admission charge.
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PHOTO RESTORATION
Sunday, August 17th
Do you have an old family photo that is faded, torn or just deteriorating in general? See how these photographs can be given new life by using a computer to repair damage and enhance them for future generations to enjoy
Larry Pepper will share his expertise with attendees on Sunday, August 17th from 2 to 4 pm.
No admission charge. Members and non-members are welcome
HOUSE WALK
The annual House Walk is scheduled for Saturday, September 20th. Mark your calendars.
Several lovely homes from different periods of the past as well as an array of beautiful gardens are being considered for the walk. This is the major fund raiser for the society and we urge our membership to support this event. More details will follow at a later date.
If you would like to be a docent at one of the homes or help with preparations call Marge at 847-428-2279.
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MEADOWDALE RACEWAY
50th
ANNIVERSARY
September 13 - 14 at Raceway Woods
10 am to 6 pm.
Activities include Vintage race cars display, silo ribbon cutting, 50s and 60s car display, hayrides, "Kiddies" activities, food venders, guided trail walks, original race videos, commemorative memorabilia and race history display.
For more information check on line at donnazip@comcast.net.
Meadowdale Raceway Link:
http://meadowdaleraceway.homestead.com/
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ILLINOIS STATE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
40TH ANNIVERSARY
The Fall Conference of the ISGS will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at Elgin Community College.
40 Years of Discovery-Portals to the Future will be a conference with nationally known speakers and genealogists speaking on a variety of subjects.
Registration forms can be found at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilsgs/.
What are the benefits to being a member of the Dundee Township Historical Society? What extra incentives do we offer our members?
These are difficult questions to answer simply. At first it does not seem like there are any extras for members. We sign you up, take your money for dues, ask you to volunteer in your free time; we don’t give you discounts on programs or purchases. Each year we ask for money for dues again and the cycle continues. Where is the benefit in that??!!
Basically you have to go back to why you joined the Historical Society to begin with. Some of us are interested in local history. Others have genealogical or architectural interests. Some are interested in the migration of people and the beginnings of our area. What brought those earliest residents to settle here? Why did they leave where they were from?
Our programs, museum and library help us in our research and expand our knowledge. They also allow us to teach and expand the knowledge of others-our area residents from school aged children on up.
Some of us volunteer while others are unable to. Our society is run by volunteers from weekly docents in the museum and library to program coordinators and script writers to newsletter and website chairmen. There are members that volunteer many hours and those who can donate only a couple hours once in awhile. There are even volunteers who recruit volunteers. All are important in getting the needed jobs done.
We are supported by membership dues, donations and fundraisers such as our programs and annual garage sale. We are not financially solvent enough to have hired staff or offer discounts to our members. If we could, we would.
But we can give you the chance to meet new people, to learn more about the area in which you live and the people who preceded you. We can sharpen your research skills, let you make your acting debut by portraying one of our earlier residents during the Bus Tour or Cemetery Walk, learn about architecture during our House Walk or Historic Sites, etc. Your incentive is to be active and involved.
As an active member you can reap all the benefits of a museum with a research library and a society that will service your needs while at the same time enhance our community.
Kristie Benedik
President 2008/2009
(847) 428-0932
DUNDEE - 100 YEARS AGO
DUNDEE HAWKEYE
June 1908
Dundee local happenings:
Positively the last dance of the season at the Dundee Opera House, Friday, June 19.
The 40th annual reunion of the early settlers of the Fox River Valley will be held at Lord's Park, Elgin, on Saturday, June 20.
Lost - Lace handkerchief; Thursday night, either in Opera House or between there and Sixth Street on Main. Initial "S" in corner. Finder please leave same at this office.
Strawberries are very fine this week at .25 cents for two boxes.
Auction: One of the most desirable locations in Dundee, on the
edge of the bank on the west side of the river, overlooking East
Dundee, will be sold at auction to the highest bidder on July
2nd at 10:00 a.m.
This is one of the best propositions ever put on the market in
Dundee, either for a home or for speculation, is located at the
corner of Fifth and Geneva Streets, fronting 120 feet on Geneva
and running back 150 feet on Fifth, is described as lots 1 and
2, block 23. There is a substantial frame house with both city
and cistern water in the kitchen... Possession can be given at
anytime. Terms of sale - one third cash, balance in one and two
years at 6%.
Doings of the Dundee Union: other temperance jottings.
...The new material of the season is the boy and the finished
product is the drunkard. Who in Dundee wants to furnish the boys
to be made into drunkards? Look at them now and look again when
the change has taken place and reflect that this is the result
of the liquor saloon.
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DOCENTS
There are openings for museum docents. Interested persons will be trained. Docents work 2 hour shifts on Wednesdays and Sundays throughout the season from the March opening until the end of the year. Most docents work 1 shift a month. If you are interested, contact Jack or Nancy Wendt at 847‑428‑4614
What the Dundee Township Historical Society does…
Collects and preserves items of historic value to Dundee Township since its settlement in 1835.
Maintains a museum with changing exhibits to display its collection from March through December.
Maintains a research library in the museum which includes books and documents, an extensive group of slides made from old photographs, and a complete microfilm record of the Dundee Hawkeye newspaper from 1890 to 1916.
Encourages the preservation of historic sites and buildings by awarding plaques to qualified structures at least one hundred years old.
Cooperates with the township schools and scouts in the teaching of local history.
Provides programs covering topics of historic interest. A meeting room is available for cultural and social activities, as well as a showplace for private collections.
Stimulates outside interest with a bi-ennial fall house walk and bi-ennial cemetery walk (alternating years). The tour committee conducts a bus trip through the township in the spring covering topics of local interest such as the township’s involvement in the Underground Railroad.
Has for sale at the museum gift shop, items including ready to frame prints of old area maps, stationery, and cross stitch kits with illustrations of local historic buildings. A map is available for your own ride through historic East Dundee, West Dundee, Carpentersville, and Sleepy Hollow.
Assists residents and visitors in researching the history of their home, family, and community.
How it is supported…
By dues from membership, donations from villages, organizations, businesses, and individuals, and by profits from money-making projects. Gifts of money or bequests in wills are gratefully accepted.
Its goal…
The basic objective of the Dundee Township Historical Society is to inspire appreciation in our rich local heritage by encouraging understanding and preservation of the history of our township.
Dundee Township is an area where new growth and historic preservation stand side by side. We seek your active involvement in the Historical Society. Your financial support by membership dues and donations, and/or your gift of time as a docent, library aide, special events volunteer, etc. will enable us to fulfill our goals.
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. |
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426 Highland Avenue |
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West Dundee IL 60118 |
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Audrey Eyman
Lenore McDonald
Marilla Fuge
Connie Kaschub
Lenore Hylander
Lynn Brittain
Betty Gehlbach
Caroline Loritz
IMPORTANT DATES
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July |
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12 Annual Garage Sale 20 Genealogy Workshop for Beginners |
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17 Photo Restoration
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September |
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20 House Walk
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Dundee Township
Historical Society
Kristie Benedik
President
Marge Edwards
President Elect
Colette McDonough
Secretary
Gene Lamp
Treasurer
Dave Culligan
Past President
Faye Williams, Greg Ryant,
Marge Edwards, Einar Graff,
Jack Wendt, Sue Roeser, Cindy Gorski
Board of Directors
Committees:
Newsletter.................... Marge Edwards
....................................... Kristie Benedik
Historic Sites............... Jack Wendt
Library..........................
Museum........................ Jack & Nancy Wendt
Membership................. Faye Williams
Docents......................... Jack & Nancy Wendt
Buildings & Grounds.. Jack Wendt
Programs...................... Marge Edwards
Website......................... Tony & Cindy Gorski
Dundee Township
Historical Society
426 Highland Ave.
West Dundee IL 60118
Newsletter of the Dundee Township Historical Society March 2008
ORAL HISTORY
The goal of the recently organized oral history
committee is to interview township residents in an effort to
preserve the memories and family histories of the people who have
long range ties to the community. These interviews will be added to
the museum archives and will play an important roll in preserving
our history.
Members of the committee recently interviewed Evangeline Sharp. "Vangie", who is a wealth of information, was born and raised in Carpentersville, attended the local schools, and worked at Joseph Spiess department store in Elgin until her marriage to Clyde Sharp. Together they opened The Sharp Funeral home in West Dundee.
This year "Vangie" celebrates her 96th birthday.
Evangeline Bremer Sharp 1929
RECENT ACQUISITIONS
Albert and Mary (Starr) Beelow of Carpentersville
recently donated some family items which will be a fine additional to
the museum archives. Included are photos of the Starr family and the
Carpentersville area, a stereopticon
with pictures, 1878 Kane County History book and local memorabilia.
Tim Loversky, principal at Lakewood Elementary in Carpentersville, found an old drum stored away at the school. It turned out to be from the town municipal band of years ago.
These are things that make a museum. Our thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Beelow, Mr. Loversky, and all who think to donate items to the museum rather than discard them.
VOLUNTEERING
Volunteering is a job that takes commitment, flexibility, dedication, conscientiousness, and team work. It is a job that offers no health insurance or even a pay check. So why volunteer?
In England during the 1700s, men who came together to form a fraternal group from which they could benefit socially, enjoy fellowship and help those in need were thought to be odd. This was in fact the beginning of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. It was odd to do a kindness without expecting something in return. If that is so odd, why do they still exist almost 300 years later? Did you know our local lodge in Old Carpentersville, Century Lodge 492, has been in existence over 100 years? That’s a lot of fellowship and volunteering.
The Dundee Lions Club was chartered in 1937 and the Carpentersville Lions Club in 1959. Members enjoy social events, camaraderie and work to raise money to provide eye exams and eyeglasses to needy residents who cannot afford them. Work? Yes, sometimes volunteering takes work to raise funds needed to help others. Even in addition to a 40-hour work week, members strive to combat blindness during their free time.
When the Girl Scouts began in 1912, its founder asked her cousin to volunteer and the rest is history. Many of us have either been a troop leader, helped chaperone a troop trip, been a girl scout or had a daughter, sister, or friend who was in Girl Scouts. The Sybaquay Council that serves our area has been in existence for 50 years, with the help of volunteers. The Boy Scouts of America and our area’s Three Fires Council also have volunteers to help our nation’s future adults reach their potential. Was your Scoutmaster a volunteer?
Our own historical society is run by volunteers. It takes work to make sure our building is in good repair, clean and has someone to open the door to visitors. Sometimes it takes elbow grease but mostly it takes an interest in preserving history. If we did not know what happened before us, we would not know why we are who we are. Our society was formed by volunteers in 1964. We are a young organization. We should have energy and vitality and eagerness to share things with others. We should be able to work to make sure our society and our museum serve the people who are eager to learn, without looking at it as work.
Take some time this season to volunteer for our society. There are many different ways to do so. A couple hours a week, a month, or a couple of hours once or twice a year is well worth the investment. We can feed on the excitement of learning the how and why of our ancestors and former residents and what molded them that in turn molded us.
When the door of our museum opens, it is just like opening a history book. Help tell the story to those who haven’t heard. You may learn something you did not know before about the people and villages that make up Dundee Township.
Kristie Benedik
President 2007/2008
(847) 428-0932
MEET YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors is responsible for carrying out the objective goal of the Dundee Township Historical Society which is to inspire appreciation in our rich local heritage by encouraging understanding and preservation of the history of our township.
EINAR GRAFF
Einar and his wife Lene joined the Dundee Township Historical Society soon after they moved to East Dundee in 1997 to learn the history of their new community. Soon thereafter they both became docents for the museum.
Einar became a board member in 2001 and continues to be a docent greeting visitors to the museum.
COLETTE McDONOUGH
Attending a class on chair caning was Colette's first exposure to the Dundee Township Historical Society. She has been a Board Member since 1989 and was elected Secretary shortly thereafter and continues in that capacity to this day.
Assisting with programs as varied as Americana Days, the Cemetery Walk, Collector's Day, and Housewalk has kept her integrally involved with the Society year in and year out.
Receiving a plaque from the Historic Sites Committee for a previous residence, an 1892 Victorian, after many years of research and renovation still remains an accomplishment of which she, and her husband Dave, are particularly proud.
GENE LAMP
In the spring of 1987, Gene received and invitation to a board meeting to see if he would be interested in being a board member. He agreed to join and at the Annual Meeting, he was elected treasurer. He replaced Vangie Sharp.
As a history major in college, he was interested in local history, but until then didn’t have time to pursue it. Through the years he has enjoyed portraying various local residents. There have been many fascination and outstanding people in our villages.
Gene feels that one of the strengths if the Historical Society is the programs we do for schools, both at the museum and in the individual schools. Recently he portrayed Angelo Carpenter at Perry Elementary School. Marge Edwards and I were Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter at Dundee-Crown High School. He was really pleased when several of the students recognized Mr. Carpenter. He also says that our exhibits are another strong feature of our organizations.
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
The new heating system is up and running. There is still work to be done as finances will allow. The air conditioning will make the summer museum hours much more comfortable for our volunteers and visitors.
A number of monetary donations and volunteer labor have made the new system possible and we are eternally grateful for the financial assistance and volunteer hours from those in our community who came to the rescue.
THANK YOU
Thank you to the following for their monetary and in kind donations toward the heating system project that began in Fall 2006:
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Kane County |
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Village of Sleepy Hollow |
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Do you have a few hours a month to volunteer at the museum ? The museum is open Sundays and Wednesdays from 2 - 4 p.m. There is a need for docents during those times. It is an opportunity to learn local history and share that knowledge with visitors. There is also a need for volunteers in the research library. There are obituaries, newspaper clippings, pictures and family histories to be filed as well as research assistance for visitors and phone and mail correspondence.
Please call the museum at 847-428-6996 if you have a few hours to volunteer on either of those days. Leave a message and someone will return your call.
We take this opportunity to thank those who have spent countless volunteer hours at the museum. Volunteers are an integral part of the workings of a museum. Thanks to our docents, library volunteers, display builders, construction workers and others who have helped to keep our doors open.
The compensation is little, but the rewards are many.
HISTORY QUIZ
1. What native tribe populated the Fox Valley before the
settlers came ?
2. Who were the first permanent white settlers in the place to become
Dundee ?
3. Allen Pinkerton set up shop at 3rd and Main streets. What was made
there ?
4. What was the nickname of the area in East Dundee that was populated
mostly by German immigrants ?
5. Who was Dundee's most prolific photographer ?
6. Who built the R.L.B. opera house ?
7. What was made at Haeger's Pottery before art pottery?
8. Where was the first post office in the Dundees ?
9. Who owned a tavern at Main and 4th streets at the time of the Civil
War ?
10. What "romance" writer is the source of much of the historic
information found in the museum archives ?
The answers to these questions can be found on the following pages of our history book:
DUNDEE TOWNSHIP 1835 - 1985.
1.
pg. 7 - 12 6. pg. 92
2. pg. 33 7. pg 89
3. pg. 83 - 84 8. pg 30
4. pg. 89 9. pg 16
5. pg.116 10. pg. iii
If
you do not have a copy of this book it is available at the museum at a
cost of $20.00.
Proceeds benefit the historical society museum.
Audrey Falese
Jack Festen
Carol Shedden Silvermann
Mark & Kathleen McWhouter
Dundee Township
Historical Society
Kristie Benedik
President
Marge Edwards
President Elect
Colette McDonough
Secretary
Gene Lamp
Treasurer
Dave Culligan
Past President
Faye Williams, Greg
Ryant,
Marge Edwards, Einar Graff,
Jack Wendt, Sue Roeser, Cindy Gorski
Board of Directors
Committees:
Newsletter............. Marge Edwards
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Kristie Benedik
Historic Sites......... Jack Wendt
Library..................
Museum................ Jack & Nancy Wendt
Membership........... Faye Williams
Docents................. Jack & Nancy Wendt
Buildings & Grounds.. Jack Wendt
Programs................ Marge Edwards
The Informer
Newsletter of the Dundee Township Historical Society July 2007
A Letter From the President
We listen to the news and read newspapers. The news is filled with tragedies, political agendas, sports, weather, births and deaths, editorials, weddings and commencements, municipal issues, local organizations’ programs and fundraisers, real estate and classified, and the Sunday bonus of store advertisements, TV guide, and the comics. The news is much more, it is HISTORY.
Historians keep record of all of these things. When we research our families or we are researching for a program at our historical society, we rely heavily on the news. We scour news articles that we have in our files or on microfilm (ours dates back to 1890) to be sure we have as many of the facts as possible. We also check county, state, and national records whether they be census, military or land acquisitions.
When researching an individual from the 1800s or 1900s for a program, we can ask the ancestors if we know who they are. Personal memories and family stories handed down through the generations play an important part but also have to be checked for accuracy. What was the style of dress for that time period? Was the person active in our community in any way? What was their occupation? What schools and church did he/she attend? Where did the person live and where was he/she originally from? The quest for answers can go on and on.
Without the news, many questions could go unanswered. Each week our library docents do newspaper indexing to keep record of our history. We may think we will remember the facts we just read or heard on the news but we cannot remember them all. The news articles, obituaries, club news and more are filed for us and our future generations. We are indebted to all of those who safely filed the news of the day.
Think of our museum and our research library as a time capsule. The great thing about it is that you don’t have to wait 100 years to remove a building cornerstone to find out the news of the day whether it be 1860 or 1960. Visit the museum, attend a program, volunteer as a docent or researcher to keep abreast of the latest news, past or present.
Kristie Benedik
President 2007/2008
(847) 428-0932
Docents Needed
There are openings for museum docents. Interested persons will be trained. Docents work 2 hour shifts on Wednesdays and Sundays throughout the season from the March opening until the end of the year. Most docents work 1 shift a month. If you are interested, contact Jack or Nancy Wendt at 847‑428‑4614
HISTORIC SITES COMMITTEE
Each year the Historic Sites Committee researches sites, usually houses, which qualify for a plaque. Some of the criteria for qualification include:
1. The site is at least 100 years old.
2. The structure has original siding or, if replaced, has siding like the original.
3. Additions or to the original structure be sympathetic, with similarities in window design , siding, doors, decorative features, such as the elaborate decorative trim found on many of our Victorian houses.
If you know of a site that may qualify, please call the museum. We would like to add two more sites to the two already chosen to be this year's recipients of a plaque.
Meet Your Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is responsible for carrying out the objective goal of the Dundee Township Historical Society which is to inspire appreciation in our rich local heritage by encouraging understanding and preservation of the history of our township.
JACK WENDT
Jack Wendt has been a part of the historical society since it was founded in 1964. For the past 43 years he has been a board member, with the exception of 1998 when he served as president. He has worn many hats over the years and currently is the chairperson of the Historic Sites Committee.
Jack and his wife, Nancy, are co-chairmen of the Museum Committee, which is responsible for tending to the artifacts in the museum collection as well as creating the exhibits.
MARGE EDWARDS
Marge Edwards has been a member of the historical society board of directors for 20 years. In her capacity as program coordinator she introduced "Collectors Day" and currently organizes the annual bus tour, biennial "Cemetery Walk" and other programs. She has chaired the biennial "Housewalk". She also is co-chairperson of the Newsletter Committee.
Marge has a great interest in local history and is always eager to help with historic or genealogical research.
CINDY GORSKI
Cindy Gorski joined the board of directors in April 2006. While she, her husband Tony and daughter Valerie were restoring their 1890’s Victorian home, a “treasure trove” of antique items literally fell out of the walls. Their house and their fascinating finds were featured on a television program “If Walls Could Talk”, which aired on HGTV.
Cindy’s goals for the historical society are to help bring the interesting stories of the past into the lives of the younger generations. She is currently working on creating a computerized cataloging system for the museum’s library holdings.
Researching Your Family or Your House?
Our research library contains a wealth of information. The Dundee Hawkeye newspaper is on microfilm as well as many census records. There are school yearbooks, telephone and other directories, genealogies and family histories, newspaper articles, municipal and school information, cemetery records, photos and much, much more.
The card catalog and library docents can assist you in finding your way through the shelves and files. If you prefer to have them do your research for you, there is a charge of $10. per hour.
Thank You
Last spring we asked for donations to help with some of our conservation costs. Thank you to the following for donating towards this important part of historical preservation:
David and Janet Oatman
Thank you to the following for their monetary and in kind donations toward our new heating system project:
Advanced Roofing Systems
Air Products Equipment Co.
Althoff Industries
Wynona Burns
Carpentersville Lions Charities
Dave Culligan
Delta Kappa Gamma
Marge Edwards
Home Depot
Gene and Mary Lamp
Myrtle Miller
Sue and Ron Roeser
Seigle Family Foundation
John Sutfin
William and Gwen Sutfin
Village of Carpentersville
Village of West Dundee
More Thank You's
Thank you to the following for their donations toward our new heating system project:
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Mr. & Mrs. James Connelly |
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Dundee Township Lions |
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Dundee Township Visitors Center |
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EFS Foundation |
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Mary Poland |
Thank you to Bob Brown and Advanced Roofing Systems for the replacement of our Annex roof.
Welcome New Members
Amy & Roland Lauer
Email or Snail Mail
Would you prefer your newsletter and other historical society news emailed?
Save the postman some steps, save a tree and save our society some $ by requesting email notices. Let us know simply by emailing your request to us at dths@sbcglobal.net.
If you still prefer USPS mail, do nothing and we will continue to send you things in that manner.
