Spring 2014 Carnegie Library Named To
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Carnegie Library Named to the National Register (see p. 7) Spring 2014 Newsletter of the Waukegan Historical Society Calendar of Events History Down the Road: Why April Local Historical Societies April 6 Should Be the Next Frontier Free History Program (p.5) for Your Classroom WHS Board Josh Bill Officers May President In the few months since I wrote this article, I have Dennis Moisio May 17 realized that in addition to the Waukegan Historical Vice President Society Annual Meeting & Luncheon (p. 6) Society, I also owe much of my success in studying Doug Stiles local history to my work through Linking Learning Treasurer Communities at Lake Forest College. I know that Yvonne Sylvester June Secretary several members of this wonderful cohort are also Ellen Frew June 7 members of the society. Truly, without your help, Directors Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine Fine Arts Festival none of my success with local history (and otherwise) Betsy Alleman June 22 would be possible. Before an excerpt from this pub- Josh Bill Tour of Homes lication was put into this newsletter, I wanted to fix Gail Dever June 29 this oversight. Mary Goljenboom Waukegan’s American Independence Day Parade & My high school teaching job in Waukegan Sara Griffin Festival was supposed to be temporary: I pessimisti- Jim Maguire cally thought I couldn’t possibly be happy in an Denyse Waters economically blighted city where gang violence and drug busts dominated local newspaper headlines. Because of its location halfway between Milwaukee and Chicago, Waukegan is often either entirely overlooked or scrutinized only for its warts… The Waukegan Historical Society’s archives transformed my vision of Waukegan and my career. Additionally, it allowed my students to find an authentic voice, teaching them to think analytically about the legacy and people of their community while sharing fresh interpretations with a proud public. Not least of all, it allowed them to think of themselves as historians. Every year, I watch students who seem passion- less and disengaged spring to life as they research Waukegan’s history through their work on the Chicago Metro History Fair. After some initial hesitation in response to the enormity of the project Waukegan history students. (it begins in late fall and spans at least through the 2 Fall 2013 Newsletter of the Waukegan Historical Society 3 winter, or further if they advance in the competi- Free Historical Program tion), students are liberated by the open-ended nature of the task and become enthralled by the A History of Waukegan stories that too often have lain dormant in the society’s files. Township Once they are at the society, students will come Sunday, April 6 to life as they see pictures of or read about their 2:00 PM neighborhoods. Several students have explored Jane Addams Center, 95 Jack Benny Drive in Bowen Park civil rights issues, including an exhibit on how race riots in Waukegan demonstrated the division Al Westerman, local historian and Waukegan between violent and nonviolent approaches to Historical Society Life Member, will present a pro- America’s civil rights movement and a documentary gram that highlights his newly published book A on the legal battle to end de facto segregation in History of Waukegan Township, Lake County, Illinois Waukegan elementary schools. The stories of the (1835-1850). different immigrant groups that came to work in Waukegan factories throughout the 20th century have proven popular with Waukegan High School’s From the Research Library first-generation Latino immigrants, who empathize with the struggles for acceptance and learn from the Metro History Fair strategies earlier groups used to overcome the strife that is endemic to being new to America. In these Update stories, students discover disheartening accounts of Josh Bill inhumanity, but the stories also reveal the courage of Each year, the Chicago Metro History Fair pro- those who set out to change systems of injustice. vides an opportunity for students in the Chicago Student enthusiasm for undertaking a local area to complete a local history project. Thanks to history project does not come magically; I spend an ever-growing partnership with the Waukegan significant hours ensuring that students’ personal Historical Society, most of our students are able to journeys to becoming historians are successful. do so. Each winter, the Society’s Raymond Research Every year, in the late summer and fall, I reassume Library opens its doors to Waukegan High School the role of a scholar, burying myself in the resources students, and the results have been phenomenal. held in the Waukegan Historical Society. This es- We have had five Waukegan-based projects in sential step ensures that I stay acquainted with the the last four years advance to the National History rewards and pitfalls fundamental to primary source Day competition in Washington, D.C. This year, analysis— from the exhilaration of hunting for details Waukegan High School is proud to announce that about an intriguing subject to the confusion and six Waukegan projects are moving on from the bewilderment of hitting a wall. It’s vital that teachers Chicago-area to the state-wide competition. experience these moments so they can teach prob- In addition, each year projects are judged locally lem solving and coping strategies. In order to teach by a panel selected by the Society and a $500 prize our students to be historians, we must stay engaged is awarded to the most outstanding project. The with the art of historical detection ourselves. winner will be announced at our May meeting. 4 Fall 2013 Newsletter of the Waukegan Historical Society 5 Annual Meeting and Luncheon Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine Fine Arts Festival. Please keep the Museum in mind as you do your Annual Meeting and “spring cleaning.” If you have a question about some- thing that you would like to possibly donate, please Luncheon do not hesitate to give us a call. Saturday, May 17 To learn more about what is happening at the 1:00 PM Waukegan History Museum, like us on Facebook. If Bonnie Brook Club House you are interested in history related events occurring 2800 N. Lewis Avenue throughout Lake County like “Northeast Historical Waukegan Happenings” on Facebook. Mark your calendar for the Waukegan Historical Society’s Annual Meeting. This year the Society will be hosting its members with a light luncheon to be Preservation Corner followed by the President’s Annual Report, Board The iconic Waukegan Carnegie Library was re- Elections, presentations by the Waukegan High cently placed on the prestigious National Register School Metro Fair winner and a look to the future. of Historic Places. Waukegan native, Hector Bryan Details to follow in April. Escobar, chose the structure to fulfill a classroom requirement while studying as a graduate student at Loyola University. Bryan went above and beyond his Museum Supervisor’s assignment and he submitted the application for of- ficial review. Bryan first made a case for the Carnegie Report with the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council and Ty Rohrer with their approval, paperwork was forwarded on to the National Park Service. The Carnegie Library The next few months will be busy as we finish out was officially named to the National Register on the school year working with teachers and students December, 31, 2013. while at the same time gearing up for our sum- mer events and activities. We are looking forward to wrapping up our education outreach programs and hosting the students at the Waukegan History Congratulations Beverly! Museum during end of the year field trips as well as Our research librarian, Beverly Millard was honored talking the kids around Waukegan on guided bus/ recently by Beta Sigma Phi, a member organization of walking history tours. the Lake County Women’s Coalition at the coalition’s There will be new exhibits opening at the Museum annual brunch celebrating Women’s History month. in the following months. Opening in April is the Each year at the brunch, nominees from the member exhibit History of the Lake County Courthouse. organizations are honored. Beverly was recognized Opening summer 2014 is a photography exhibit for her faithful and continuing commitment to our titled Waukegan: Then & Now. The last showing of research efforts for the past 25 years. This year’s theme the exhibit Back to School will be Saturday, June was “Women of Character, Courage & Commitment.” 7, 2014 during the Waukegan Park District’s Ray Beverly is a prime example of that theme. 6 Fall 2013 Newsletter of the Waukegan Historical Society 7 Historically Speaking stars of the silent movie era, including, for a time, Charlie Chaplin. Anderson set up a studio in Niles, George Kirke Spoor California and made numerous Bronco Billy west- Ed Link erns, starring himself. The partnership ended in 1916 when Anderson Born in Highland Park December18, 1871 George pulled out and Spoor remained as the sole owner. moved with his family to Waukegan within two Soon, however, the lure of Hollywood and Chicago years. One of 11 children he was the son of Marvin weather ended Essanay Studios as a movie producer. Spoor, a Civil War veteran. George attended Central In January, 1915 George bought the property School. at the northwest corner of Genesee and Clayton As a young adult George worked for the Chicago Streets and began building the Academy Theater. & Northwestern Railroad in Chicago and was a co- The name was carried over from the Waukegan manager of the Phoenix Opera House in Waukegan. Academy which operated at the site the He became acquainted with Edward Amet and previous century. The theater, the first the magniscope, a movie projector. Here the story built in Waukegan for the showing of gets a bit murky.