The city of Macomb is still in the process of trying to get its downtown area designated as a nationally recognized historic district.
Community Development Coordinator Ed Basch said this week that the city has applied for a Certified Local Government (CLG) grant worth $11,600. That grant would allow the city to hire a
consultant to prepare what Basch calls a “complex” national register nomination. Basch expects to find out whether the city got the grant sometime next week.
He said it would be late spring or early summer 2013 before the nomination would be complete.
Basch said there are several advantages not only for the city to receive the national designation, but also most of the building owners in the downtown area. “Other than a prestige-type thing
and marketing enhancement for the city, it also opens up the possibility for federal tax credits for any contributing property in the downtown, which most of them all are.”
Along with the federal tax credits to help maintain downtown buildings, Basch said there are some grants that apply only to nationally designated structures or districts. He added the state
of Illinois may also eventually come up with its own tax credits to aid in upkeep efforts for nationally designated historic structures and districts.
The city previously hired Granacki Historic Consultants to survey the downtown area. Granacki’s survey covered 99 buildings within 11 city blocks.
During a meeting this past August, a member of the consulting firm stated Macomb’s Historic Preservation District is a “very strong candidate” to be accepted to the national register.
At this time, the McDonough County Courthouse and the Lamoine Hotel building are the only two properties in Macomb that are nationally registered.
Macomb’s Maidrite building, 221 E. Jackson St., will soon receive some exterior restoration work. At Tuesday’s Macomb Historic Preservation Commission meeting at Macomb City Hall, the
commission approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for work on the 1920s building.
According to Ed Basch, community development coordinator for the city of Macomb, the Maidrite building’s owner, Josiah “Bill” Collins, of Macomb, applied for the request to replace
damaged steel siding with mineral board siding and possibly do painting and roof repairs. Basch said the mineral board siding matches the 1920s-era in which the restaurant was
built.
Collins’ real estate representative, Joylene Frye, said Wednesday afternoon Collins’ family has owned the building since 1926, when it was purchased for Bill Collins’ late grandfather.
The Collins family ran the restaurant, Frye said, until about five years ago before closing it.
“We don’t know; it’s to be decided,” Frye said about Collins’ future plans for the Maidrite. “We’re just trying to preserve it right now.”
Frye said she expects work on the Maidrite to begin in spring.
Tennessee Township - Gerald and his uncle Wayne White recently accepted a new sign for the White Cemetery donated by the McDonough County Historical
Society.
White Cemetery is located in Tennessee Township in McDonough County.
It is an inactive cemetery founded in 1843 with approximately 60 graves interred from then to 1925.
There is one veteran of the Revolutionary War buried there, Thomas
White who fought for independence. He was the first person buried in 1843.
This private cemetery has been on property in the hands of White’s
descendants from the 1840s up to today.
In 1976, the McDonough County Bicentennial Commission, together with
the local DAR, held a Revolutionary War Memorial service at the cemetery. A large medallion was set next to the government headstone for Thomas White. His is one of only four grave markers of
veterans of the Revolutionary War in McDonough County.
Attending that ceremony in 1976, were four generations of Whites
standing above four generations of Whites buried beneath.
Several days after the new sign was installed last month, members of
Boy Scout Troop 315, chartered by the Wesley United Methodist Church of Macomb, attacked the weeds, brush, limbs, and branches and cleaned the cemetery down to its floor.
In that process, they discovered quite a few headstones that had
been totally covered with sod and grass. These young men restored a beautiful cemetery with a rich and fascinating history.
The cemetery sign project is supported by the McDonough County
Genealogical Society and the McDonough County Historical Society.
Soccer Team Cleans Head Cemetery
Press Release
Immediate
On a recent sunny, crisp day, after school and before dusk, the Macomb High School Boy’s Soccer Team replaced uniforms and balls with weed whips, shears, and shovels and attacked the abandoned and neglected Head
Cemetery in rural Emmet township northwest of Macomb.
Thirteen members of the team, including coach Jeff Moore, took down shoulder high weeds, brush, and scrub trees to reveal 16
headstones, many only partially visible beneath earth and grass.
In addition to lifting and cleaning the 16 known markers, the young men poked and prodded ground both within the deteriorating
fence and outside the perimeter of the cemetery discovering three more markers totally buried, including that of Susan W. Head, the first burial in 1836.
Outside the enclosure, the crew discovered the intact headstone for Mary E. Wade, a person never recorded for being in this
cemetery, who died in 1853.
James Head, a native of Virginia, moved to Emmet Township
from Kentucky on Christmas day 1832. He and his wife Isabella, raised 12 children.
The MHS Boy’s Soccer Team cleanup was in cooperation with the McDonough
County Historical Society and its cemetery identification project.
The Western Illinois Museum
announces Lecture and Discussion
The Gettysburg Address, Emancipation, and the Beginning of American History
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 7:00 pm
On November 19, 1863, President Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address.
On Thursday, November 17, WIU History Professor Tim Roberts will give a talk about the significance of Lincoln's short speech at Gettysburg, its wartime setting, and its significance for
Americans today.
The lecture will begin at 7:00 pm at the Western Illinois Museum and is free
and open to the public. Donations appreciated. Light refreshments will be served.
Tim is assistant professor of history at WIU, where he teaches early U.S.
history, the history of the Civil War era, and world history. Beginning December 8, he will lead a series of monthly discussions, free and open to the public, called "Let's Talk About It: Making
Sense of the Civil War," at the Malpass Library. The program is co-sponsored by the Library and the Western Illinois Museum and funded by the American Library Association and the National
Endowment for the Humanities.
The museum is located at 201 South Lafayette Street, one block south of
Macomb’s historic Courthouse Square.
For Immediate Release
October 26, 2011
The Western Illinois Museum offers
A Scrapbook Workshop
Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
The Western Illinois Museum is please to welcome Peggy Williams of the Scrapbook Nook who will give a workshop on scrapbooking. The program is in conjunction with the current
exhibit, Shared Images: Recording and Collecting a Visual History and will explore ways to preserve family history or record a significant event in a scrapbook.
The workshop will be held at the Western Illinois Museum on Saturday, November 5, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. There will be a $5.00 fee to attend and participants are encouraged to RSVP by
November 2. Tools needed, such as scissors and rulers, will be available for use during the workshop. Scrapbook materials from the Scrapbook Nook will be available for purchase.
Participants may also bring their own materials and albums.
The practice of collecting letters, poems, recipes and drawings date backs to the 15 century and today scrapbooking is considered the third most popular craft in the nation. It is the ideal
way to preserve genealogical information and treasured family photographs while exercising a flare of design. The workshop will include ways to archive photos and documents, and best
practices in preserving important historical materials as family heirlooms.
No experience is necessary to attend the workshop and even seasoned “scrapbookers” will find helpful tips about how to create a memorable scrapbook. Participants can bring projects that are
in progress, or materials like photos, letters, and memorabilia that you have been meaning to organize into a scrapbook. The workshop is open to all ages and is a great activity for parents and
children to do together.
The workshop will be led by Peggy Williams who has been scrapbooking for over 16 years. She was introduced to the craft when a friend invited her to a scrapbook party knowing she had an
interest in photography. At the prompting of friends and family, who could see she had a special talent for both creating books and dealing with people, she opened the Scrapbook Nook
in Colchester in 2000. In addition to owning and operating the store, Peggy is still an avid photographer.
The museum is located at 201 South Lafayette Street, one block south of Macomb’s historic Courthouse Square.
Mike Black of Industry located the Wilhelm Cemetery for the McDonough County Historical Society.
Press Release
October 25, 2011
Industry Township - Mike Black recently located the Wilhelm Cemetery and accepted a new sign at the Wilhelm Cemetery donated by
the McDonough CountyHistorical Society.
Black, a resident of Industry and local cemetery historian, recently
assisted the MCHS in locating several cemeteries in Industry Township for its new sign project.
The Wilhelm Cemetery is located in the northwest quarter of Section
23 in Industry Township in McDonough County. It is an inactive and abandoned cemetery founded in 1850 containing approximately 30 graves interred from then to 1887.
The first burial was Mary Cockerham (1850), daughter of Joel and
Elizabeth Pennington.
There are 12 Pennington’s in the Wilhelm Cemetery. The last person
buried in the cemetery was Ruth Pennington in 1887.
There are 15 headstones for infants and children under
five years old.
The cemetery sign project is supported by the McDonough County
Genealogical Society and the McDonough County Historical Society.
Press Release
October 17, 2011
Industry Township - Steve and Lisa Hood, owners of property that includes the Clayton Cemetery, recently accepted a new sign to mark the site
donated by theMcDonough County Historical Society.
This small family cemetery is located in a cow pasture in the
northwest quarter of Section 28 in Industry Township in McDonough County.
The 15’ x 15’ memorial area is still protected by some wire
fencing attached to old round wooden fence posts.
The first of the five burials was Zebulon Clayton, 16
year old son of William and Margaret Clayton, in February 1847.
His brother, William Clayton, Jr., was killed while serving
in the Mexican War (1846-48). He was 19 when he died in July 1847. His government headstone indicates that he served in McConnel’s Co., 1st Illinois Infantry.
Two months later, their mother Margaret (1806-1847) was
buried.
The last two headstones mark the graves of David F. Clayton, who
died at the age of three in 1864, and his brother Alva who died in 1877, six days short of his ninth birthday. David and Alva were sons of Samuel and Jane Clayton. Samuel was the
brother of Zebulon and William Jr.
William Clayton’s family came to McDonough County
from Pennsylvania in the 1830s, appearing on the census lists as landowners in Industry Township.
The cemetery sign project is supported by the McDonough County
Genealogical Society and the McDonough County Historical Society.
Dave Ruebush accepts a new sign marking the grave of Sarah Beckelshymer which is located on his property in Sciota Township.
Press Release
October 11, 2011
Sciota Township - Dave Ruebush, owner of property that includes the Beckelshymer Gravesite, recently accepted a new sign
to mark the site donated by theMcDonough County Historical Society.
This single monument cemetery is located in a cow pasture
in the southeast quarter of Section 15 in Sciota Township in McDonough County.
The once tall and majestic monument has been toppled and
broken.
The monument records the death of Sarah A. Beckelshymer
(1831-1873), wife of A. Beckelshymer. Genealogical records list an Alexander Beckelhymer as owner of 320 acres in 1870.
The headstone includes the “s” in Beckelshymer but is not
found in the spelling in county records.
Local legend suggests that Sarah died in childbirth while
on a wagon train voyage. Her husband went to his destination, bought land, and settled. Alexander returned to the gravesite and negotiated for this large and artistically carved marker.
For many years, this was thought to be the only grave in
Sciota Township. However, another headstone has been identified, but requires more research for the person’s first name and date of death.
The cemetery sign project is supported by the Clugston
Tibbitts Funeral Home (Blandinsville and Macomb), and the McDonough County Historical Society.
Dr. Tim Roberts
"Choosing Sides: Why Did Americans Support Either the North or the South?" Dec. 8, 2011
The first discussion in the series will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 8, 2011 in Malpass Library's Garden Lounge and will
focus on the question, "Choosing Sides: Why Did Americans Support Either the North or the South?" Dr. Roberts will lead a discussion on materials that show the
complicated decisions and choices Americans faced at the war’s onset. Supporting or opposing the Union, and even knowing what issues the Union and its opponents stood for, were hardly easy
paths to follow.
The event and the books are free and open to the public.
In commemoration of the Sesquicentennial of the first year of the Civil War in 2011-12, this reading and discussion series at University Libraries has been made possible through a grant from
the NEH. The grant provides University Libraries with 25 copies each of the books March and Crossroads to Freedom: Antietam and 50 copies of the
anthology America’s War: Talking About the Civil War and Emancipation on their 150th Anniversaries.
The books will be available to participants for free from the University Libraries beginning in mid-October. Dr. Roberts, Assistant Professor from WIU Department of History and the project
scholar, will lead five discussions in the Leslie F. Malpass Library beginning in December, allowing time for users to read the books. All discussions will take place in the Garden Lounge of
WIU's Malpass Library at 7:00 p.m. and are free and open to the public.
Press Release
September 29, 2011
Village of Prairie City - John Oakman, mayor of Prairie City, recently accepted a new sign for the Old Prairie City Cemetery donated by the McDonough CountyHistorical
Society.
Old Prairie City Cemetery is northeast of Prairie City, along the Warren County
line.
Although the cemetery land is in Warren County, the graves are of Prairie City,
McDonough County residents.
In the 1980s, a group of Prairie City citizens devoted many hours of difficult labor
rescuing this once abandoned and neglected cemetery. From that time on, the Village of Prairie City has maintained this resting place of about 65 graves.
Approximately 32 of the 65 headstones mark the graves of children under nine years of age.
The first burial was Elizabeth Metcalf in 1856. The last recorded funeral was for W.G.
Patten, who died January 15, 1899.
When the newer and current Prairie City Cemetery was established in 1866, many graves were
moved from the old to the new cemetery. But the Old Prairie City Cemetery remained active until 1899.
Ephriam Tipton (1794-1869) fought in the War of 1812. Two veterans of the Civil
War are buried here: Joseph Baumgartner and Mathew McComb.
The cemetery sign project is supported by the McDonough County Genealogical Society and the
McDonough County Historical Society.
Press Release
September 27, 2011
Blandinsville Township - Matthew and Valerie Butler, owners of property that includes the Mustain Gravesite, recently accepted a new sign to mark the site donated by
the McDonough County Historical Society.
This single monument cemetery is located in a cow pasture in the northwest quarter of
Section 16 in Blandinsville Township in McDonough County.
The 15’ x 15’ memorial area is still protected by some wire fencing attached to old but
solid tree-trunk posts.
Three sides of the tall monument record the deaths of Jane Mustain Howard (1821-1845), her
mother Elizabeth Mustain (1792-1863), and Elizabeth’s husband John Mustain (1783-1869).
John married Elizabeth Glenn in 1812. They had ten children.
John Mustain’s family came to McDonough County from Virginia in 1832,
appearing on the tax lists as a large landowning farmer in Section 16 of Blandinsville Township. This area was once called Job’s Settlement.
The cemetery sign project is supported by the McDonough County Genealogical Society,
McDonough County Retired Teachers Association, Clugston Tibbitts Funeral Home (Blandinsville and Macomb), and the McDonough County Historical Society.
Western Illinois Museum announces an opening reception in celebration of the new exhibit
Shared Images: Recording and Collecting a Visual History
September 20 – December 30, 2011
The Western Illinois Museum is pleased to announce an opening reception for the new exhibit,Shared Images: Recording and Collecting a Visual History, which will be
held Saturday, October 1, from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. The exhibit will be on view through December 30, 2011. The reception will be held at the museum and is free and open to the
public. Light refreshments will be served.
During the reception, Western Illinois University RPTA graduate student, Michael Kolar, will give a brief presentation about the history of photography. The presentation
will start at 2:30 pm. Michael, a volunteer at the museum, is helping develop an outreach program that can be taken to local assisted living center and clubs, bringing the current exhibit
to those who cannot come to the museum. The presentation will include details about the different photographic processes and a look at a few of the local photographers and their work.
Shared Images: Recording and Collecting a Visual History examines our inherent need to collect a visual record and the important role it plays in preserving and knowing
history. The exhibit includes a wide range of photographs, maps, graphics and artwork that date from mid 1800s to the 1980s. The museum’s camera collection will also be on display,
showing the dramatic change in the tools used to record visual history.
By exploring visual documentation and the tools that have been used for over 150 years, it is possible to illustrate photography’s role in collecting history. The exhibit includes examples
of various photographic formats like cabinet cards, scrapbooks, photo albums, films and video that have all contributed to recording and preserving significant events and places. The
current trend of using file-sharing media, like facebook, affirms the primary place visual information plays in our lives.
Through a close examination of what is depicted in each image, it is possible to recount a personal story as well as find reoccurring themes occurring throughout time. The exhibit is
organized by some of these common themes including community celebrations, rights of passage starting with baby pictures to wedding photographs, places, and even conflicts like wartimes.
These subjects, when examined as a whole, reflect the history of a region and provide a visual entry to understanding our collective past.
Behind every camera there is a person selecting what is recorded. The region has had some long-time photographers such as Laure Gaites as well as others who recorded significant moments in
our local history, such as Peterson’s opportunity to photograph Abraham Lincoln in August of 1858. The exhibit draws from the museum’s collection of photographs showcasing the
work of the area’s talented photographers.
For more information about the reception, presentation or exhibit contact the museum at 309.837.2750 orinfo@westernillinoismuseum.org. Visit the museum’s web site for a full calendar of
upcoming exhibits and programs.
Alum Donates Historical Documents Reflecting 19th-Century Life in Hancock County
September 15, 2011
MACOMB, IL – Thanks to a Western Illinois University alumna, a collection of documents featuring first-person perspectives of 19th-century historical events in Hancock County (IL) are now part of
the local history collection in the University Libraries' Archives and Special Collections Unit. Barbara Shave — who earned her
bachelor's degree in education in 1963 and now lives in British Columbia, Canada — has donated the "My Dear Aunt Martha Collection," a collection of letters, poems and other documents exchanged
between Scots-Irish settlers of Hancock County spanning the years 1811-1893.
University Libraries will celebrate the donation and launch the publication of Shave's book, "My Dear Aunt Martha: A 19th Century American Epic from the Letters of Those Who Lived It," with a
reception and book-signing event during Homecoming Weekend (Sept. 30-Oct.1) on the WIU-Macomb campus.
Slated for 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 in the Archives and Special Collections Unit (located on the sixth floor of the Leslie F. Malpass Library), the event will include a book discussion, led by
Shave. During it, she will talk about the process of collecting the letters. The reception and book-signing event is open free to the public; copies of Shave's book will be available for
purchase.
According to Jeff Hancks, archives and special collections unit coordinator at University Libraries, the "My Dear Aunt Martha Collection" provides first-person perspectives of significant events
in 19th-century American history, as they played out in Hancock County. The content of the letters reflect pioneering and community building, the Mormon uprising, Mississippi riverboats, gold
rushes and the Civil War in the voices of the people who lived through it, he added.
"These letters are a wonderful addition to our local history collection," Hancks said. "They offer insight into 19th-century life in Hancock County. I am honored that Ms. Shave has selected
Western Illinois University Libraries as the depository."
For more information about the "My Dear Aunt Martha Collection," contact Hancks at (309) 298-3298 or JL-Hancks@wiu.edu.
Richard Wilson (left), Ron Graham and his wife Marilyn Wilson Graham, accept a new sign marking the Wilson Cemetery provided by the McDonough County Historical Society.
Press Release
September 20, 2011
Blandinsville Township - Ron and Marilyn Wilson Graham, and her brother Richard Wilson, descendants of ancestors in the Wilson Cemetery, accepted a new sign donated by
theMcDonough County Historical Society.
Wilson Cemetery was a private family cemetery (1836-1856) in the southwest corner of
Blandinsville Township in McDonough County.
The oldest headstone marks John Wilson’s grave (1813-1836). His father, James, is the
great, great, great grandfather of Marilyn and Richard.
James was born on July 4, 1776 in Virginia. He died in July 1847. A third headstone
marks the grave of his wife, Nancy Wilson (1775-1856).
After the installation of two signs marking the entry path and actual cemetery site, some
current grandchildren of Marilyn and Ron’s explored the area surrounding the three visible headstones and discovered remnants of perhaps other previously unrecorded markers.
Wilson Cemetery is inactive but maintained by Wilson
relatives.
The cemetery sign project is supported by Clugston Tibbitts Funeral Home in Blandinsville
and Macomb, Ron and Marilyn Graham, and the McDonough County Historical Society.
For Immediate Release
September 23, 2011
The Western Illinois Museum announces
WIM-GO!
A fundraiser in partnership with Midwestern Building Supply
The Western Illinois Museum (WIM) happily announces a new partnership with Midwestern Building Supply of Macomb. Their first project will be a fundraising morning of good
time competition on Saturday October 8th from 9:00 am until noon.
In the Museum parking lot on South Lafayette just one half block south of Macomb’s Historic Square, they will introduce their own version of the backyard game cornhole -popularly known as
Baggo. Just for fun, they call it “WIM-GO!” as in “Go! Go! Go! To The Western Illinois Museum!”
The brainchild of WIM board member Leon Clements and Midwestern Building Supply’s Jason Vynanek, “WIM-GO” will have a $20 entrance fee per team. The top two teams will split 50% of the
registration fees. The other 50% will go to the support of the museum.
Parents and children, married couples, high school buddies, girlfriends and college roommates are all encouraged to compete in this game where you attempt to throw a bag into a hole 20 feet
away in a way similar to the game horseshoes.
To pre-register call: 309-837-2750. Registration and practice will begin at 9:00 am; the competition will start at 10am. Rain or shine.
“WIM-GO!” coincides with the recent opening of the museum’s new exhibit, “Shared Images: Recording and Collecting a Visual History,” an exhibit that explores how photographs, maps,
paintings and adverting inform our history.
So you can double your pleasure that morning at the Western Illinois Museum with two kinds of fun: “WIM-GO!” and priceless artifacts. So, “Go! Go! Go! To The Western Illinois
Museum!”
For Immediate Release
September 18, 2011
The Western Illinois Museum to hold
A Volunteer Meeting with Special Guest Speaker Jude Kiah
The Western Illinois Museum will hold a volunteer meeting on Thursday, September 22. A choice of two times is being offered: 3:00 and 7:00 pm, at the museum. Light refreshments will be served.
The meetings will include information about upcoming volunteer opportunities as well as a talk by Go West Transit and Western Illinois University Bookstore Director, Jude Kiah. Each session will be followed by a docent walk through of the upcoming
exhibit, Shared Images: Recording and Collecting Visual History.
The Western Illinois Museum is fortunate to have a number of talented and
active volunteers. The upcoming meeting provides an opportunity for both current and new volunteers to learn more about how to help as well as gain necessary skills to better serve the
museum. At the 3:00 meeting, special guest speaker Jude Kiah will speak about the important role of customer service when volunteering. Kiah is known in the area as an engaging
professional speaker and for building positive customer relationships. He also serves on the faculty of the Western Illinois’ Supervisor training program. An audio recording of Kiah’s talk will
be presented at the 7:00 meeting.
The meetings will be held at the Western Illinois Museum, 201 South Lafayette Street. The program is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact the museum at 309.837.2750 or info@westernillinoismuseum.org.
Western Illinois Museum ReceivesGrant from Serve Illinois to Collect Veteran’s Oral Histories
The Western Illinois Museum has received a grant from Serve Illinois for a volunteer-based oral history project that will engage local disabled Veterans. The museum has a growing oral history
collection and the $500 grant will provide the museum with the financial means acquire additional equipment to allow more volunteers to help build the collection.
“Oral histories are an important part of our regional history and an asset to the museum’s collection. Visitors to the museum benefit from and enjoy hearing first-hand accounts of community
member’s experiences and memories,” commented curator, Sue Scott. The project will focus on collecting oral histories from veterans of all wars and especially those who were disabled in the
line of service.
The museum’s AmeriCorps IIRA VISTAs, Lottie Phillips and Joe Glenn, will coordinate the project offering training for volunteers to collect the oral histories as well as scheduling
interviews.
For those interested in learning how to collect oral histories the museum will be hosting an oral history workshop on Thursday, September 29 at 3:00 and 7:00 pm. The workshop will provide further
details about this project as well as provide training for how to conduct a successful interview. Veterans will be interviewed during the month October. Lottie Phillips commented, “This
project is an opportunity for members of the community to volunteer and at the same time learn about the local heroes of our community. The training is open to all ages and includes information
about how to use the recording equipment as well as best practices for conducting an interview.” Volunteers are encouraged to work teams and this volunteer opportunity would be an excellent
parent and child activity.
The oral histories will be part of an exhibit at the Western Illinois Museum in January 2012. Museum visitors will have an opportunity to learn more about the significant sacrifices our
local veterans have made.
MACOMB, IL- AUGUST 30, 2011- Macomb author Richard Moreno will introduce his latest book, It Happened in Illinois, Saturday, September 10 at New
Copperfield's Book Service. The author will be at the store from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 1:00 to 3:00 PM to greet interested readers, sign and discuss the book.
From the fortunes (and failures) of the Chicago Cubs for the past century to so many other fascinating events in the Windy City,Springfield, and beyond for generations, Illinois has long
been a compelling mix of politics, war, religion, and the just plain weird. It Happened in Illinois goes behind the scenes to tell the story, in short episodes, of the
intriguing people and events that have shaped the Prairie State.
For Immediate Release
August 30, 2011
Western Illinois Museum offers Programs to Coincide with
the Al Sears Jazz Festival
The Western Illinois Museum will again this year offer a series of programs that will coincide with the annual Al Sears Jazz
Festival. The series is designed to enhance the musical offering scheduled for the festival with programs that explore the life and contributions of Al Sears as well as programs to build
appreciation and understanding of jazz music.
The museum, known for its cultural and educational programs, approached the series with the idea that a festival can be more than
listening to music. This year’s programs were designed to bring a new level of engagement to as many members of the community as possible. Programs include an exploration of the
history and contribution of the life of Al Sears offered as a LIFE course, a 1956 movie featuring a performance by Al Sears, and a program and demonstration about improvisation that will be
presented at the museum as well as at two local schools.
The festival is an occasion for the community to come together and celebrate its heritage and enjoy great music. Most of the museum’s
programs take place prior to the festival weekend and are a great way to prepare for and enhance the enjoyment of the event.
The programs will be presented at the museum and are free and open to the public. The museum is located at 201 South Lafayette Street, one
block South of Macomb’s Courthouse Square.
Saturday, September 10 at 1:00 pm
On September 10th the museum will present Improvisation: A Dialogue in Jazz,
a unique program that uses conversation as a way to understand how and
what musicians are doing when they improvise as well as how listening
to music can enhance our ability to communicate. Five WIU School of Music
faculty members who are both active performers in the jazz genre and
recognized music educators will give the program. This event promises to be
thrilling to hear, fun to participate in, and will leave participants thinking.
Funding for the program is provided in part by the Illinois Humanities Council.
This program will also be presented to two local schools this fall as well as adapted to become a part of the museum’s outreach program to local clubs and
assisted living centers.
Musicians include Michael Stryker, John Cooper, Matt Hughes, Kitty Karn, and Kevin Nichols.
Saturday September 17 at 7:00 pm
The 1956 film, Rock, Rock, Rock! depicts the early rock and roll music programs made popular by Alan
Freed, who is often referred to as the father of rock and roll. Freed’s radio and live program promoted a racially mixed group of talented musicians including Al Sears, that helped break
down segregation both among performers and audiences. In Rock, Rock, Rock! Freed tells the audience that "rock and roll is a river of music that has absorbed
many streams: rhythm and blues, jazz, rag time, cowboy songs, country songs, folk songs. All have contributed to the big beat." While the film’s storyline is simplistic, it showcases the
rock and roll culture of the period and includes some of the best music being made in the 1950s.
The program starts with music from the 1950s at 6:30 pm, followed by a short presentation by Bill Maakestad about Al Sears, the rock and
roll musician, and his work with Alan Freed. The movie will be screened at 7:15 pm. The program will be held outside in the parking lot east of the museum.
Friday, September 23 at 4:00 pm
Learn about the life and impact of Al Sears. Born in Macomb in 1910, his
career included working as both a rock and roll and jazz musician, a composer, a band leader and a record producer. Al Sears Jazz Festival organizers, Bill Maakestad and Sterling Kernek, will
tell the story of Al Sears, and the program promises to deepen your appreciation of jazz, historically and musically. Special guest, travel plans permitting, will be Silva Cartwright Sears,
daughter of Al Sears. This program promises to be a perfect launch to the weekend festival.
For more information, please contact the museum at 309.837.2750 or visit
the museum’s web site at http://westernillinoismuseum.org.
Western Illinois Museum
201 South Lafayette Street
Macomb, Illinois 61455
309.837.2750
For Immediate Release
August 24, 2011
Father and son Alvin and Dan Curtis recently installed and accepted a new sign for the Vawter Cemetery which is adjacent to their family
property. The sign was donated by theMcDonough County Historical Society.
The Vawter Cemetery was a private family burial ground in Bethel Township with
Earley H. Vawter being the first interred in 1835. The last burial was in 1920. Alvin Curtis attended that funeral as a young lad.
The headstone of Sebastian Hoover (1789-1839) notes that he served in the War of 1812 in the Virginia Regiment.
The cemetery, about an acre with most of its fence intact, is badly overgrown with brush, weeds, and small trees from the floor, and covered
with fallen trees and limbs of many sizes from above.
One year ago it was reported that all of the headstones had been removed or stolen. This week, Dan Curtis led a more deliberate search, probing
under the earth, weeds, tree trunks, and debris to reveal about 15 of the known 26 head and foot stones.
A thorough cleaning of the cemetery floor might expose even more of the markers. Most are broken and lying flat from farm animals breaking
through the fence. But Curtis was delighted to find over a dozen in a random and casual search.
The cemetery sign project is sponsored by the McDonough County Genealogical Society and the McDonough County Historical Society. The Vawter
Cemetery sign is the 81st installed since 2007.
Eva Fisher (right), president of the McDonough County Genealogical Society, presents a donation to Dan Wise, president of the McDonough County Historical Society, supporting the cemetery sign project.
For Immediate Release
August 14, 2011
Eva Fisher, president of the McDonough County Genealogical Society
presented a matching grant donation to Dan Wise, president of the McDonough County Historical Society for its cemetery sign project.
This gift of $250, when matched by the society, will support five signs installed on
cemeteries in McDonough County.
In the last four years over 80 signs have been erected with the help of the Genealogical
Society, the McDonough County Highway Department, funeral homes, banks, family members, interested individuals, anonymous friends, and members of the McDonough County Historical Society.
There are over 110 cemeteries in McDonough County. Project director Gil Belles, is still
looking for over 15 abandoned and neglected sites.
The cemetery sign project has brought attention to the poor condition of many of these
cemeteries, generating interest among volunteers to clean up and restore dignity to these resting places of our forebears.
Press Release
August 10, 2011
Bethel Township - Terry Carnahan, property owner, recently authorized a new
sign to mark the Pruett Cemetery donated by the McDonough County Historical Society.
This small family cemetery is located in the dense woods of section 27 of Bethel Township in McDonough County. There are six markers for the
Pruetts buried between 1846 and 1855 in this abandoned and inactive cemetery.
The first burial was David Pruett who died in 1846. All of the headstones have the family name Pruett on them.
The cemetery is on private property owned by Carnahan. The small area is fairly clear of weeds, but is difficult to find in the woods.
The cemetery sign project is supported by Ginny Boynton (chair, WIU department of history) and the McDonough County Historical Society.
Press Release
August 11, 2011
Colchester Township - Brandon Dowacter, an Americorps volunteer with the Big Brother/Big Sister program, recently helped clear the Barber Cemetery in Colchester and
Chalmers Townships.
Barber Cemetery is located on a bulge in road 700 East on the border of Colchester and Chalmers Townships one-half mile
south of the new highway in McDonough County. It is an inactive and neglected cemetery with approximately 20 family graves.
The original cemetery, established by the Barber family in 1835, covered about an acre of land. Only a few markers remain
on this much smaller plot.
In 1992, Macomb police officer Gary Tilden, with his wife Vivian, and friends Tom Carey, Randy Allison,
Joe Richbark and Steve Richbark, cleaned up this cemetery and found the marker of William Lucas, a Civil War veteran.
Dowacter learned about the cemetery location and marking project of the McDonough County Historical Society. He offered
to help in this community service activity.
Dowacter discovered several headstones that perviously had been buried in the dirt and grass.
He has offered to assist in some additional clean-ups as well as help locate the Old Plymouth Cemetery in the far
southwest corner of the county.
I'm wondering if there would be an interest on the part of some of the McDonough County Consortium Societies to chip in to buy a computer projector & screen. This is almost always a panic item that is
hastily brought together at the last minutes before a presentation. Add to the stress, the fact that most people don't know how to set their computers up to run a projector, and you will see that
the act of giving a presentation can become less than enjoyable. Using the ones from WIU has its own drawbacks, since WIU doesn't like to let things go out for more than one day.
I'll checkon new and used prices just so we have a rough idea of cost. We would also need someone to be the keeper
who would check-out and then monitor the return of the equipment. There will probable also be some maintenance cost.
The real issue here is (is the cost of the equipment offset by the ability to control our own programs in a less stressful way)?
Food for thought!!!!!!
Contact Marty Fischer for further information
For Immediate Release
August 4, 2011
Western Illinois Museum’s Walking Tour to be
featured on Illinois Stories
In 2010, Heather
Munro developed a walking tour for the Western Illinois Museum of Macomb’s historic Courthouse Square. It was an immediate hit
and she gave the tour throughout the summer. Museum visitors learned about the region’s history while seeing the interesting historic architecture and hearing the stories behind the
buildings.
The tour is being offered again this year and Heather, along with Macomb’s Historic Preservation Commission President, Marty Fischer,
hosted a special guest: Mark McDonald, host of Illinois Stories. The tour was taped and will be aired on WMEC. The program will be aired on the following dates:
Thursday, August 4 at 7:30 pm
Friday, August 5 at 6:30 pm
Wednesday, August 10 at 6:30 pm
The next walking tour will be held on Saturday, August 20 at 1:00 pm. The tours leave from the museum, located at 201 South
Lafayette Street. There is no charge for the tour, donations are appreciated.
More tour dates are scheduled for this fall. For a complete list of tour dates visit the museum’s web site athttp://westernillinoismuseum.org or call 309.837.2750.
For Immediate Release
August 4, 2011
The Macomb Woman’s Club in partnership with the Western Illinois Museum will host, Get the Scoop, an ice cream social for theMcDonough County Women’s Social Service Memorial on Saturday, August 20, 2011, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. The event will take place at the Western Illinois
Museum.
The event will offer an opportunity to meet and greet the areas new leaders: Macomb Mayor, Mike Inman; WIU President, Jack Thomas; and
McDonough District Hospital CEO, Kenny Boyd.
The ice cream social will raise funds for the Women’s Social Service Memorial being planned for Chandler Park. The monument will honor local women who have made lasting contributions to our community. Information and photographs about the project and some of
the women who will be honored will be on display at the event.
Tickets to the event are $7. Creative ice cream creations will be available such as the Jose Westfall Float, and the Rose Jolly
Sundae.
Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Western Illinois Museum, Citizens National Bank, MidAmerica National Bank, and Vintage
Accents.
Proceeds go to the McDonough County Women’s Social Service Memorial.
The Western Illinois Museum is located at 201 South Lafayette Street, one block south of Macomb’s Courthouse Square. For more
information contact 309.837.2750 or visit the museum’s web site at http://westernillinoismuseum.org.
For Immediate Release
August 2, 2011
The GFWC Macomb Woman’s Club and the
Western Illinois Museum announce
a partnership to build a women’s memorial in
ChandlerPark
The GFWC Macomb Woman’s Club and the Western Illinois museum have joined efforts to build the McDonough County Women’s Social Service Memorial. Both organizations share an interest in
building awareness of and honoring our area’s rich history. The GFWC Macomb Woman’s Club approached the museum earlier this year to explore how the two organizations could partner in honoring
local women who have made contributions to improve our community. In May of this year a partnership was established and the project launched.
The organization plans for the monument to honor women from the area who have made an impact in the community and
bring to the public’s attention the positive role women have had in the region. The monument will honor women such as Jose Westfall who founded and was the Matron of the McDonough County
Orphanage from 1911 to 1941. Rose Jolly founded and directed the McDonough County
Humane Society which oversaw the care of children, animals and women.
The monument is slated to be placed in Chandler Park. Fundraising efforts are underway to cover the expense of having a memorial created to honor the work of Westfall, Jolly and others. The
Western Illinois Museum’s Curator commented, “We are pleased to share in the effort
to bring this memorial to Chandler Park. It is another way to preserve our unique history and bring it to the public’s attention.”
The museum has established a separate fund for all contributions made toward the monument. These funds are
earmarked for the creation of the memorial and will not be used for any of the museum operations. Co-chair for the Woman’s Club Committee, Tina Belz commented, “The enthusiasm for the project in
our club and in the community has been wonderful. Establishing a strong working relationship with the museum, we thought, was key in helping the project to be realized.” The partners plan to
begin construction of the monument in the next five years.”
Fundraising efforts are underway. The two organizations will host, “Get the Scoop” an ice cream social on August
20, 2011, from 1- 4 pm. The event will be held at the Western Illinois Museum. Tickets are $7 and are on sale at the museum, Citizens National Bank, MidAmerica National Bank, and Vintage Accents.
Contributions are also being accepted for the monument.
For more information about how to make a contribution contact 309.833.3435 or visit the museum’s web site at http://westernillinoismuseum.org.
For Immediate Release
July 26, 2011
Western Illinois Museum awarded
Community Grant from the Illinois Humanities Council
to organize jazz program
The Western Illinois Museum has received a $2,000 grant for its program, Improvisation: A Dialogue with Jazz. As a continuation of last year’s Al Sears Primer, this program will also be held prior to the annual jazz festival. The
program hopes to build greater appreciation for jazz as well as increase the community’s involvement with the Al Sears festival.
The Western Illinois Museum staff wrote the grant with the help of Dr. Michael Stryker and festival organizer,
Bill Maakestad. Dr. Stryker, an accomplished jazz pianist and Associate Professor in the School of Music at Western Illinois University (WIU) has assembled a group of musicians who will create a program to be presented at the museum and will be
open to the community. The group will also bring the program to local schools during the fall semester. Stryker will teach the museum volunteers how to present a modified version of the program
to community assisted living centers, and other groups, as part of the museum’s outreach program.
The program will look at the act of improvisation and how it is fundamental to human beings interacting with one
another and their surroundings. It pervades our relationships with one another, with our communities, and with the larger world in which we exist. Words combine to create infinite meanings, with
each conversation being unique and based upon the dialogue between individuals. In the same way, jazz improvisers use rhythm, harmony, and melody to create musical meaning. The program will
include both a lecture and demonstration examining the roots of jazz improvisation and its development in different historical periods.
The group of musicians assembled includes Dr. John Cooper, a jazz artist and composer, who holds the
position of Director of Jazz Studies at WIU. Kevin A. Nichols who teaches percussion courses at WIU and is the Drum line Instructor/Arranger for the Marching Leathernecks. He is an active
performer, and has worked with Marie Osmond, Evelyn Glennie, the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, and many others; Kitty Karn, WIU Associate Professor, who has 23
years experience as a voice instructor. Her performing career has taken her to venues throughout the United States and Europe. Known for her versatility, she is at home singing opera, oratorio, musical theater, jazz, and choral music.
The grant will also provide funding for the program to be filmed by Michael Thompson, Associate Director for
University Television, which will help to bring the lecture-demonstration to a wider audience.
The program will take place at the Western Illinois Museum on September 10th at 1:00 pm. The museum’s
curator, Sue Scott commented, “We are pleased the museum will be able to play a role in enhancing what is being offered at this year’s Al Sears Jazz Festival. The grant from the Illinois
Humanities Council will allow the museum to do what it does best: provide a historical and cultural option for participants of the festival.
The program is free and open to the public; donations are welcome. The museum is located at 201 South Lafayette Street in Macomb, Illinois. For more information contact the museum at
309.837.2750 or info@westernillinoismuseum.org. The museum’s
web site will have details about this and other programs at http://westernillinoismuseum.org.
Improvisation: A Dialogue with Jazzis made possible in part by a grant from the Illinois Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the
Humanities, and the
Illinois General Assembly.
Mark Tibbitts (left) handing a donation from Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral Home to Dan Wise, president of the McDonough County Historical Society. Business partner Scott Conlin (right) looks on. Steve Tibbitts unavailable for the photo.
For Immediate Release
July 26, 2011
The McDonough County Historical Society received a matching grant donation for its cemetery
sign project from Steve and Mark Tibbitts and Scott Conlin of Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral Home of Macomb and Blandinsville.
The gift of $250, when matched by the society, will support five signs installed on cemeteries in McDonough County.
Over 78 signs have been erected with the help of many McDonough County organizations, businesses, and individuals.
There are over 110 cemeteries in McDonough County. Project director Gil Belles is still looking for some of the most obscure, remote, and
abandoned resting places of our forebears.
“Each burial site is not only hallowed ground and legally protected from desecration and vandalism, but represents residents of our area who
laid the foundations for our current community,” he added. “We should respect the history and memory of those who preceded us.”
Dan Wise, president of the Historical Society, thanks all of those who have cosponsored signs, helped locate cemeteries, and assisted in the
installation of the signs.
Press Release
July 10, 2011
Lamoine Township - Carol Gooden and Darrell Roberts accepted a new sign donated by the McDonough County Historical Society to mark the King Cemetery.
This family and later public cemetery is located in the center of section four of Lamoine
Township in McDonough County. There are approximately 130 markers for the people buried between 1836 and 1954 in this abandoned and inactive cemetery.
The first burial was James Waddill who died in 1836. There are 26 markers with the name
Waddill on them, the last died in 1918. Waddill daughters and their new family names are also marked. The last burial in King Cemetery was James Owen in 1954.
The cemetery is on private property recently sold by Carol Gooden to Darrell Roberts. The
large area is fenced, but overgrowth of weeds and brush from below, fallen trees from above, and tornado damage detract from the condition of this once impressive cemetery.
Edmund Badger, a veteran of the War of 1812, rests here with four veterans of the Civil
War, one of whom, Daniel Badger, was his son.
The cemetery sign project is supported by Clugston Tibbitts Funeral Home (Macomb and
Blandinsville) and the McDonough County Historical Society.
HELP NEEDED ON CEMETERY LOCATIONS
Many readers of the local newspapers might be aware of the cemetery marking project being
conducted by the McDonough County Historical Society, with wonderful support by local organizations, businesses, and individuals.
The members are attempting to locate all of the cemeteries and grave sites in the county
(active or inactive, abandoned, neglected, or well taken care of).
We have installed signs at 79 McDonough County cemeteries and grave sites. Old documents
and records suggest another 25-30 to go.
Now we need some help locating some of the more obscure and difficult to find cemeteries
and grave sites.
The list below has the most popular or common name used in the 1970s and 80s. We have
identified the township and the section where they may be located. But we have not been successful finding these. If you can provide any information I would appreciate it. Gil Belles, 221
Columbia Dr., Macomb, IL 61455, 309/837-9441, AG-Belles@wiu.edu
Eldorado Township:
Miles Cemetery, NE quarter, Section 23
Dennis Cemetery, South Central half, Section 26.
Industry Township:
Peak Cemetery, NW 1/4, Section 23
Osborn/Claybaugh Cemetery, NW 1/4, Section 22
Clayton/Clugston Grave site, NW 1/4 Section 28
Bowman Cemetery, MW 1/4 Section 28.
Bethel Township:
Dunsworth Cemetery, NE 1/4 Section 7.
Lamoine Township:
Old Plymouth Cemetery, SW 1/4 Section 30.
Chalmers Township:
Rabbit Cemetery, NE 1/4 Section 2
Murray Gravesite, NW 1/4 Section 16
O.C. Wilson Gravesite, SW 1/4 Section 9.
Tennessee Township:
Widow Taise Gravesite, NW 1/4 Section 4.
Mound Township:
Drowning Fork Graves, Section 7.
Macomb Township:
Old Bardolph Cemetery, NE 1/4 Section 13
Hoagland Cemetery, SE 1/4 Section 21
Upp Cemetery, Central west Section 17, or Central east Section 18
Brooking Grave site, SW 1/4 Section 7.
Emmet Township:
Post or Shippey Grave site, SW 1/4 Section 32
Heron Cemetery, SW 1/4 Section 9
Wilson Grave site, SW 1/4 Section 33
Jacoby Cemetery, NE 1/4 Section 14.
Bushnell Township:
Solon/Robinson Cemetery, SW 1/4 Section 30.
Sciota Township:
Beckelhymer Grave site, SE 1/4 Section 15.
Blandinsville Township:
Wilson Cemetery, SW 1/4 Section 20.
For Immediate Release
June 30, 2011
The Western Illinois Museum announces
Joe Glenn to serve as VISTA Volunteer for
2011-2012
TheWestern Illinois Museum is pleased to announce that Joseph Glenn will join the museum staff as a VISTA Volunteer beginning August 22,
2011, and will provide one year of service. Joe will work alongside current VISTA Volunteer, Lottie Phillips until her term is completed in October 2011, to manage the museum’s education and
volunteer programs.
Joe Glenn is a recent graduate of Western Illinois University where he earned both a Bachelor and Masters of Arts in History. He earned his Bachelor’s degree Magna Cum
Laude. He is a life long resident of Macomb and is the son of Lisa and Daniel
Glenn. He brings experience working with school age children in the Merit Badge Workshop where he was a counselor for the “Citizen in the Nation” badge. His work as a graduate assistant has
prepared him to foster a love for history and learning.
In the last year the museum has benefited from the work of VISTA Volunteer Lottie Phillips who has developed
programs for children and young adults including the Curator-in-Training program and the History Summer Camp. Joe will continue to build a following for these programs as well as explore how the
museum can offer more family oriented programs. “The museum is a unique place where families and members of our community of all ages can come together to learn about our unique local history in
a thought provoking and entertaining way,” commented board Chair, Lois Lueck. She continued, “The VISITA Volunteers provide an invaluable service to the community through their work at the
museum. We are pleased to welcome Joe to the staff.”
Since 1965, AmeriCorps* VISTA - a Corporation for National and Community Service program - has helped bring
communities and individuals out of poverty. Today, nearly 6,000 VISTA members serve each year in hundreds of nonprofit organizations and public agencies throughout the country – working to fight
illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, increase housing opportunities, or bridge the digital divide. VISTA members leave behind lasting solutions to some of our country’s
toughest problems.
The Corporation for National and Community Service provides opportunities for Americans of all ages and
backgrounds to serve their communities and country through three programs: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. Together with the USA Freedom Corps, the Corporation is working to build a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility in America. For
more information, visit www.nationalservice.gov.
This VISTA project was developed and coordinated through the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs MAPPING the Future of Your Community
Program. The Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) was created in 1989, to help community leaders find ways to improve
the quality of life in rural areas based on research, education, and technical assistance initiatives. For more information, please visitwww.iira.org.
For Immediate Release
June 16, 2011
The Western Illinois Museum Announces
LOOK! UP IN THE
Sky!!
Superhero films &
you
The Western Illinois Museum invites people age 13 to 18
to a special workshop with area writers followed by a free screening of the new
movie Captain America at the Rialto Cinemas on Sunday, July 24. The topic:
cinema’s superheroes.
With support from Heartland Bank and the Rialto, the workshop delves into why superheroes in general, and
comic books in particular, have been popular for decades, easily moving their characters and plots from print to film, both animated and live-action, starting in the 1940s and continuing
through this year’s Captain America, Green Lantern, Thor, and more.
The workshop will be led by filmmakers and film writers who will discuss movies’ history, and why their
messages are worth thinking about. The participants will then explore how powerful visuals make an impact, and comics’ rich narratives, providing audiences with tools to analyze characters
and storylines.
The workshop will begin at 12:00 pm at the Rialto Cinemas in Macomb located at 1401 East Jackson Street. Those attending the workshop will receive a free ticket to see Captain
America immediately following the workshop. Seats are limited and will be offered on a first come, first serve basis.
Special prizes such as movie stills, posters,
promotional merchandise, and movie passes will be awarded to participants. Prizes courtesy ofAcme Books and Comics in Peoria
and the Rialto Cinema.
The workshop is generously supported by Business Partners Heartland Bank and Macomb’s Rialto Cinemas.
The workshop will be lead by:
Mark Dial
Mark Dial received his bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois
University (WIU) and his Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts from the Vermont College of Fine Art. He is currently associate
director of WIU’s University Television (UTV) where he has worked since 2001. Prior to joining the UTV staff, Dial was an independent film
director and producer in Chicago and Charleston, South Carolina.
Tom
Fortuna
Tom Fortuna grew up in Chicago and has both a B.A. and M.A. from W.I.U. After teaching at the university for
four years, he moved to Los Angeles and spent twenty-nine years in the entertainment industry. He worked at CBS, Hearst Entertainment and Warner
Bros., and has several producer credits on movies made for Lifetime, CBS, NBC, and ABC. Several of his screenplays have been optioned but are unproduced as yet. He wrote movie and
theater reviews for the McDonough Voice and will soon have an entertainment themed radio show on WTND – 106.3 LPFM. He loves movies despite himself.
Bill Knight
Bill Knight is a journalist who teaches at WIU. He's
written about films for 20+ years, including a stint as movie reviewer at the Peoria Journal Star and is the author of the paperback
Video Almanac. He's also been a comics fan for decades.
Richard Ness
Richard Ness is an assistant professor at Western Illinois University in the broadcasting department.
Ness received a bachelor’s degree in speech communication / telecommunicative arts (1981) and a master’s degree in journalism
and mass communication from Iowa State University (1991) and completed his
doctorate in film studies at Wayne State University (2002).
Ness serves as associate director and chief film consultant of the Image of the Journalist in Popular Culture Project, at the Norman Lear Center at the University of Southern California-Annenberg. He has
served as a panelist for the Newsfront retrospective at the 57th Locarno International
Film Festival in Switzerland.
Ness curates the popular summer film series at the WIU
Sandburg Theater.
The Western Illinois Museum will raffle off a vintage 1923 Gilchrist No. 22 milkshake mixer at the upcoming Ice
Cream Tasting Festival. The machine was donated to the museum by George and Ketra Wanamaker to help raise funds for the museum’s exhibit and education programs.
The milkshake mixer being raffled was manufactured by the Gilchrist Company which was owned and operated by
Raymond B. Gilchrist from 1902 to 1926, in Newark, New Jersey. Gilchrist was born in New Jersey around 1866. The Gilchrist Company
manufactured hardware specialty items such as ice cream scoops, cork pullers, ice picks, and malt makers used in soda fountain shops. He invented and patented many ice cream scoops from 1907 to 1915, and had a very successful manufacturing business for nearly 25 years. Many
of his patented ice cream scoops are used today and are very collectible.
The raffle tickets are $1.00 each or seven tickets for $5.00
and can be purchased at the Western Illinois Museum, 201 South Lafayette in Macomb. Tickets will also be available at the Ice Cream Tasting Festival which will be held at The Old Dairy on
Saturday, June 18, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Tickets for the tasting are $6.00. The Old Dairy is located across the street from the museum one block south of Macomb’s Courthouse
Square. The winning ticket will be drawn at 4:00 pm; the winner does not need to be present.
The milkshake mixer was part of Mr. Wanamaker’s collection of ice cream memorabilia. An avid collector,
George will speak at the museum as part of the popular lecture series, Who Collects What… on Thursday, June 16, at 7:00 pm. A number of
artifacts from his collection will be on display during the presentation as well as on Saturday during the Ice Cream Tasting Festival. The lecture is free and open to the
public.
For more information about the raffle or upcoming events, visit the museum’s web site at http://westernillinoismuseum.org or contact the museum at 309.837.2750.
For Immediate Release
June 7, 2011
The Western Illinois Museum announces
Summer Cinema under the
Stars
begins June 18th at 8:30 pm
For more than one hundred years audiences have been
entertained, provoked, and educated by motion pictures. This summer the Western Illinois Museum will present a series of films that carry on that tradition. The series begins
Saturday, June 18, with the showing of 1951 Civil War drama, Red Badge of Courage.
Three of the four films will be screened outdoors in the parking lot south of the museum at 8:30 pm. People are
encouraged to bring their own chairs and enjoy one of America’s favorite pastimes. Films are suitable for the entire family. It’s the closest thing to a drive-in we’ve had in a long
time!
The films in the series were selected for their distinctive contribution to storytelling while tapping historical
and cultural issues from the past. The films touch on historical topics that are still relevant and worth discussing today: issues surrounding war, race, and class.
The series will begin in June and runs through August.
Summary: An adaptation of Stephen Crane's novel about a Civil War Union soldier who struggles to find the courage to fight in the heat of battle.
Saturday, June 25 at 2:30 pm (Note: afternoon showing)
Abraham Lincoln
Location: museum conference room (indoors)
Running time: 90 minutes
Year: 1930
Director:D.W. Griffith
Summary: An episodic biography of the 16th President of the
United States.
Saturday, July 16 at 8:30 pm
A series of short animated cartoons including Cinderella
(1922, The Laugh O Gram Studios); Betty Boop (1930s, Fleischer Studios); Sinbad the Sailor (1935, An Ub Iwerks
film)
Location: museum south parking lot
Running time: each short film averages 6 to 7 minutes; program to run one hour
Saturday, August 27 at 8:30 pm
Robin Hood
Location: museum south parking lot
Running time: 127 minutes
Year: 1922
Director: Allan Dwan
Summary: Big budget (for the time) silent film, starring
Douglas Fairbanks, that tells the Robin Hood story. Black & White and
silent.
All screenings are free and open to the public. Popcorn and beverages will be available for a donation to
the museum. The films will be screened inside the museum if weather is not suitable.
The Western Illinois Museum is located at 201 South Lafayette Street one block south of Macomb’s historic Courthouse Square. For more
information contact the museum at 309.837.2750 or info@westernillinoismuseum.org.
For Immediate Release
May 25, 2011
Western Illinois Museum to hold Training Workshop for Tour
Guides
The Western Illinois Museum needs your help! Do you like guided tours? Are you interested in
Macomb History? Here is your chance to be a part of the Historic Walking Tours
Program at the Western Illinois Museum and become a Walking Tour Guide.
This summer the Western Illinois Museum will offer the popular walking tours of the Macomb Courthouse Square. The museum needs volunteers to guide the walking tours. A
workshop will be held on Thursday, June 2nd at 3:00 and 7:00 pm, to train anyone interested in how to lead the tour.
No prior experience is necessary to become a Walking Tour Guide. The workshop will provide the historical
background about the featured buildings as well as tips on how to present their unique stories. Learning how to give the walking tour is a great way to know more about our community and
help others to appreciate our eclectic history.
The workshop will be held at the Western Illinois Museum located at 201 South Lafayette Street, one block south
of Macomb’s Historic Courthouse Square. Please RSVP for the workshop at 309.837.2750
or by email at info@westernillinoismuseum.org. Tours are schedules through out the summer on Saturday afternoons.
reprinted by permission of Sally Adams - from the McDonough County Voice, May 19, 2011 - front page
reprinted by permission of Sally Adams - from the McDonough County Voice, May 19, 2011 - page A2
Bushnell Students Visit theBushnell Township Cemetery
On
May 17, 73 fifth grade pupils from the Bushnell-Prairie City Elementary School walked to the Bushnell Township Cemetery for a history lesson. Conducted by Keith "Marty" Ham, a local historian,
the students learnt about local historical figures buried in the cemetery. Ham pointed out the monument Bushnell erected to honor all of the Unknown Bushnell Civil
War veterans, some graves of veterans who became prominent citizens, and the grave of
a freed slave who became Bushnell's third wealthiest citizen.
This
special field trip for the children ties in with the McDonough County Historical Society’s continuing mission to recognize the historical significance of the over 100 local cemeteries located
throughout the county and to educate the public regarding the importance of our historic cemeteries.
Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference Comes to Springfield in September
FGS and local host, Illinois State Genealogical Society, are proud to announce
the FGS 2011 Conference "Pathways to the Heartland"
will be held on September 7-10, in Springfield, Illinois.
This year's conference offers an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in researching their family
history. Over 165 educational sessions are designed to balance the needs of genealogists at all levels, exploring a wide of variety topics including Midwestern research, migration and
immigration, military, strategies and techniques, technology, and writing.
The early registration deadline is July 1,
which offers a savings of $50 for a full conference registration.
Emmet Township - Marge Harris, descendant of relatives in, and trustee of, the Walker Cemetery, recently accepted a new sign to
mark the site donated by the McDonough County
Historical Society.
This family cemetery is located in the west central quarter of section
eight of Emmet Township in McDonough County. There are approximately 160 markers for the people buried between 1851 and 1969.
The first burial was Jane McGraw in 1851 even though the Walker Cemetery was not officially established until March 1853 on land deeded as
“west half for a school, east half for a cemetery” by James and Julia Walker.
There are two veterans of the War of
1812, William Shryack (d. 1860) and William Wood, who died five days after his
wife Mary. The Woods are memorialized on a common headstone from 1854.
Six veterans of the Civil War rest in the Walker Cemetery, three of whom died in uniform: Benjamin Bugg (d. 1863), Flavius J. Sypherd (d. 1864), and Thomas F. McGraw (d. 1865).
Cemetery historian Marge Harris recalls that in 1974, the Walker Cemetery, seven miles northwest of Macomb, was completely fenced (1200 feet of new materials) as the
first county project of the American Bicentennial Administration.
The current maintenance of this inactive but attractive cemetery is supported by voluntary donations to a small trust fund. Six deer were
voluntarily trimming the grass on the day the sign was installed.
The cemetery sign project is supported by Clugston Tibbitts Funeral Home (Macomb and Blandinsville) and the McDonough County Historical
Society.
ColchesterArea Historical Society
Presents at the
Colchester City Hall Community Room
Friendway Park
Monday, March 28, 7 pm
Gerald White speaking on
From Corn and Beans to Cone Flowers and Blue Stem
Little Story of a Prairie – Part 2
Slide presentation on the introduction of eight acres of prairie in Southwest McDonough County. Views of six years of transition from preparation of the land for seeding through all seasons
of the developing young prairie.
The prairie was seeded in June of 2004 in an eight acre former crop field using cost sharing available through Federal Conservation Reserve
Program
funds. Grasses seeded were Little Blue Stem, Side-Oats Gamma and Canadian Wild Rye. Western Prairie Audubon Society was the source of seed
for 22
species of prairie wildflowers.
The focus for Part 2 will be individual plant species and the appearances of wildlife.
Film and Feast: Two short
films by Mark Dial and Potluck Dinner with FIG
Saturday, April 2, 2011
5:30 – 9:00 pm
The Western Illinois Museum, the West Central Illinois Arts Center and the Food Initiative
Group (FIG), all of Macomb, are pleased to present a screening of two short films by Mark Dial. The evening event will take place Saturday, April 2 from 5:30 to 9:00 pm with screenings at
both the museum and art center.
The evening will begin at the Western Illinois Museum with the screening of the 2009 film,
McDonough County. After the film, there will be a brief discussion lead by Dr. Janice Welsch, with the filmmaker available for
comments and questions.
Following the screening of the first film, the Food Initiative Group will host a potluck
dinner. They invite people to celebrate local food with the tradition of bringing a dish to share. Beverages and place settings will be provided. Dinner will be served from 6:30
to 7:30 pm. Following the potluck dinner, the second film,
Plain Folk will be screened at 7:30 pm at the West Central Illinois Arts Center. Following the screening the filmmaker will be available
for comments and discussion of the film. Dessert, provide by Café Aroma, will be served at 8:30 pm.
Participation in the potluck is recommended. The evening is free and open to the
public; although a monetary contribution of $10 is suggested.
Like Barns?
Care about our local Barn Heritage?
Come to the next meeting of the
Illinois Barn Alliance
Board of Directors Meeting
Open to the Public
9:00am Monday, April 11, 2011
At
Inselhaus – Bed & Breakfast
538 North Randolph St., Macomb IL
11:00am Driving Tour of 4 Local Barns to follow meeting
Leaving Inselhaus at11:00am
Must have own vehicle
“About Huntin’ Fishin’ and Braggin’”
Steve Gruel will be speaking at the Colchester Area Historical Society
Monday, February 28th at 7 PM
at Colchester City Building in Friendway Park
Mr. Gruel has been a local fur buyer for over 50 years.
He has a wealth of knowledge about furs and all that relates to that topic.
His wife, Linda, has compiled a book relating to their years of fur buying, etc.
He will also bring items for viewing related to his business of fur buying.
Classes of historical interest - LIFE (Learning is Forever) Program at WIU
Is There Anybody Home? A Look at Post-World War II American
Domestic Architecture
This class will look at the U.S. post-war housing shortage and discuss what caused it and what Americans did about it. When soldiers returned home from World War II, many had trouble
finding a place to live. See www.postworldwar2housing.jimdo.com
This year, 2011, marks the 150th anniversary of the start of our Civil War. The occasion provides a fine
opportunity to study, consider, and discuss what is perhaps the most important era in our nation’s history.
Tour of the Restored One-Room Thompson School
The school, which opened in 1847 and closed in 1947, is located west of Jacksonville, Illinois.
Walking Tour of Historic Sites in Bushnell
Bushnell was platted in 1854 as the Northern Star Railroad crept across west-central Illinois. In its 156-year history, this small rural community has had varied and interesting stories to tell.
West-Central Illinois Civil War Round Table presents
“The Murder of William Randolph”
A Talk by Victoria Stewart
This slaying of a prominent local occurred
in Blandinsville during the Civil War
Why and What Happened?
Come and hear this fascinating story from our past!
March 8, 2011 at 7pm
New Copperfield’s Book Service
North Side of Historic Macomb Courthouse Square
The West-Central Illinois Civil War Round Table has a Facebook page!
Check it out for lots of information!
PRESS RELEASE
February 5, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Linda Cox
For West-Central Illinois Civil War Round Table
New Copperfield's Book Service
(309) 837-3052
Impact of the Civil War on Midwestern
Agriculture
An "1861 + 150" Presentation
at New Copperfield's Book Service
MACOMB, IL- FEBRUARY 5, 2011 - The West-Central Illinois Civil War Round Table kicks off a series of presentations called "1861 +
150", Tuesday, February 8, 7:00 PM at New Copperfield's Book Service, 120 North Side Square, Macomb, Illinois. Bob Welch, agriculture history
scholar, will present the program, "The Impact of the Civil War on Midwestern Agriculture". Light refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to
the public.
The 1861 + 150 programs will be held on the second Tuesday of each month at New Copperfield's Book Service with a new topic and guest presenter each
month. The public is invited to attend.
For Immediate Release
January 4, 2011
Western Illinois Museum announces
Volunteer walk through and recognition
event
Thursday, January 13th at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The Western Illinois Museum invites current and prospective volunteers to a walk through of the new exhibit,
Fishin’, Huntin’ & Braggin’ on Thursday, January 13th. Two sessions will be offered: 3:00 pm or 7:00 pm. Besides learning about
the current exhibit, the event provides a great opportunity to learn about how to get involved in helping the museum with upcoming programs and exhibits.
These two sessions will start with a brief meeting and recognition of volunteers who in the last year have
supported the museum in numerous ways. Museum Board Chair, Peggy Ma commented, “The museum relies on volunteers to handle many aspects of running the museum. The community is
fortunate to have so many people willing to lend their time and talents.”
The brief meeting will provide an overview of upcoming exhibits, programs and events, and outline ways volunteers
can get involved. “The museum is expanding its educational programming, and will need volunteers to help plan as well as run programs
for all ages, both in and outside the museum,” commented Lottie Phillips, the museum’s Education and Programming Coordinator.
Volunteers will be given a special guided tour of the new exhibit by curator Sue Scott who will explain the main
ideas and themes of the exhibit. “Docents have a positive impact on visitors to the museum. They make people feel welcome and provide insights to what is on display,” Scott explained.
Docents can sign up to help with the new exhibit at the meeting or by contacting the museum.
The meeting will be held at the Western Illinois Museum located at 201 South Lafayette Street in Macomb.
The meeting is open to the public and light refreshments will be served.
Contact the museum at 309.837.2750 with questions or for more information.
Plan to attend the 13th Annual Conference on Illinois History
September 29-30, 2011 Springfield, Illinois
The annual Conference on Illinois History is scheduled for September 29-30, 2011, at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in downtown Springfield and is the state's largest
meeting devoted to the history of the Prairie State. This is the thirteenth year of the conference, which is sponsored by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
The conference will feature topics that include politics, architecture, community studies, Abraham Lincoln, African American
history, and the Civil War. Teachers will benefit from workshops on a variety of topics. All teacher workshop sessions are approved for Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDUs).
CALL FOR PAPERS
AND TEACHER WORKSHOP PROPOSALS
DUE: March 10, 2011
Proposals for individual papers or panels on any aspect of Illinois' history, culture, politics, geography, literature, and archaeology are requested for the Conference on Illinois History.
The Conference welcomes submissions from professional and avocational historians, graduate students, and those engaged in the study of Illinois history at libraries, historic sites, museums, and historical societies.
Proposals for teacher workshops. Are you a teacher who has created an innovative, comprehensive, or timely curriculum on some aspect of Illinois’ history, culture, politics, geography,
literature, or archaeology? Share your expertise with other teachers at the Conference on Illinois History. The conference is accredited by the ISBE for CPDUs.
To submit your proposal for a paper, panel, or teacher workshop, send:
1. A summary of the topic
2. A one-page resume of participant(s)
3. Paper summaries should include a description of major primary and secondary sources used.
The deadline for proposals is March 10, 2011.
Send proposals to:
Thomas F. Schwartz, State Historian Abraham Lincoln Presidential
Library Illinois Historic Preservation
Agency 112 North Sixth Street
Springfield, IL 62701
