The Kane Legacy
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Madison County Historical Society MCHS News March 2014 Opening Doors to Madison County History Vol. 2 No. 2 January, 2013 Vol. 1, No. 1 715 N Main Street THE KANE LEGACY: THREE GENERATIONS OF DESIGN Edwardsville, IL 62025 Opening Reception For nearly a century, three generations of the Kane family occupied a suite of rooms over- looking the intersection of Main and Vandalia Hours: KANE FAMILY OF ARCHITECTS Streets in Edwardsville, Illinois. They were Wed-Fri 9 am - 4 pm March 16, 2014 architects, and their skill and artistic sensibility Sunday 1 pm - 4 pm The first MCHS exhibit featuring the Kane can be seen throughout Madison County and Group Tours Available Collection will open with a reception on March beyond, in the cornice of a school, the steeple 16 in both the MCHS Museum and the of a church or the beauty of a mosaic design. Archival Library. The exhibit will continue Free Admission through August. Edward Kane, Sr. was an early supporter Museum Phone: of MCHS and a strong preservationist. In his 618-656-7562 will he expressed a desire to donate docu- ments from the firm to MCHS after the Kane architectural offices closed. The Kane family Library Phone: honored that request and in 2011 allowed the 618-656-7569 Society to collect items of importance to Madison County history, which included plans Web Address: for schools, churches, businesses and homes. madcohistory.org A portion of this important collection will be on display, highlighting the contribution of Bohm Building at corner of Main and Vandalia in Kane architects to our communities, as well as Edwardsville. Circa 1912 postcard. E-mail: demonstrating their artistry. The exhibit also in- [email protected] cludes beautiful interior photographs of the The company was founded by Michael offices by photographer Scott Kane. Bernard Kane in 1912. Michael was born to Irish emigrant parents in 1874. His father, About Us: Thomas Kane, was a talented landscape archi- The MCHS museum MARCH - APRIL CALENDAR tect. According to oral tradition, Thomas worked on some of the grand estates in complex consisting of a New Exhibit modern archival England before coming to the United States Creatures of Cahokia where he settled on a farm near Liberty Prairie library, the 1836 Weir MCHS Museum in Fort Russell Township. In the early 1890s, he House Museum and moved to Edwardsville where he was awarded the Helms Collection landscaping contracts for the new Madison Center, is owned by Opening Reception County Courthouse (1912) and Federal Building the non-profit Madison Sunday, March 16 1-4 pm (1915). He was often hired to design gardens County Historical Kane Family of Architects and grounds for some Society and operated MCHS Museum & Archival Library of Edwardsville’s wealthiest residents. jointly with Madison Continuing through February 28 One of note was the County. Griffin House on St. “Tools of the Trade: Louis Street where the Surveyors and Topographers” landscaping was specif- MCHS Museum ically designed to com- The Madison County plement the Prairie- Historical Society is a Coming in June 2014 Style architecture of the 501(c)(3) charitable Exhibit: Wedding Traditions 1909 house. organization. Program: Route 66 in Illinois Continued on page 4 Thomas Kane circa 1892. 1 MCHS BOARD Gary Denue, Pres ARCHIVAL LIBRARY SPOTLIGHT Russell Marti, Vice-Pres By Mary Westerhold, Archival Research Manager Arnold Meyer, Treas Donna Bardon, Sec We receive several newsletters at the PastPerfect. The books were the first items Miriam Burns Archival Library from various organiza- we decided to catalog in PastPerfect. I Norma Glazebrook tions ranging from local county historical helped to enter and/or check the entry on Mae Grapperhaus and genealogical societies to professional most of the books and I knew we had an organizations. A interesting collection Murray Harbke front-page article of older volumes Candace Ladd from a recent issue about St. Louis. A Jean Miller of the Carondelet quick check of the Jeff Pauk Historical Society PastPerfect database Cindy Reinhardt Newsletter was proved my suspicion Marilyn Sulc about a rare book was correct. Sue Wolf that had been The book has donated to the over 140 sketches si- STAFF library. The book A milar to the one Tour of St. Louis; or, shown here (St. Suzanne Dietrich The Inside Life of a Louis Courthouse), Director Great City, was a 564 along with profiles Mary Westerhold page volume pub- of businesses, residences, schools, and Archival Research Mgr. lished in 1878. As soon as I read the title churches. While it may be skewed a tad to of the book, I had a feeling that the book show only the positive aspects of the city, LaVerne Bloemker was in our collection. Archival Research Asst. it is a rare snapshot of the city during a Our collection of over 3,000 books has long-forgotten time period. A true hidden Carol Frisse been entered into our digital database, treasure! Archival Research Asst. Karen Stoeber USEUM POTLIGHT Archival Research Asst. M S Jenn Walta By Jenn Walta, Curator Curator specifically the plaster of Paris, were reminiscent of the semi-permanent buildings VOLUNTEERS constructed for the World's Fair in St. Louis in There are abundant and varied opportunities for 1904. Two plaques adorned the interior sides volunteers at either the of the arch during its display. One side museum or the archival featured the Territorial Governor of Illinois, library. Please call if Ninian Edwards, while the other displayed a interested. relief of Charles S. Deneen, Governor of Illinois in 1912 who was born in Edwardsville. MEMBERSHIPS Several membership levels are available to those interested in supporting the work of Madison County Centennial Arch with plaque visi- preserving Madison ble inside the right leg. County history through an Two years ago, Madison County cele- MCHS membership. brated its 200th anniversary. In 1912, the Memberships run on the county held a centennial celebration which in- calendar year, Jan 1-Dec 31. Applications are cluded parades, historical displays, and nu- available on our website, merous other events and activities. Two com- at the MCHS Museum or memorative structures were created for the at the Archival Library. centennial, one permanent and one temporary. The recently restored Centennial Monument in Edwardsville’s City Park is still enjoyed by PUBLICATIONS residents today. The second sculpture was the Memorial Arch (above) designed by Bronze silhouette depicting Ninian Edwards Michael B. Kane that greeted visitors in front of The arch was dismantled after the MCHS NEWS the 1857 courthouse. 6 issues annually centennial celebration and the plaques given Cindy Reinhardt, Editor According to a May 2006 article in the to Kane who stored them in his new office in Belleville News-Democrat, Kane fashioned the the Bohm Building where they remained for 99 WEB SITE 30-foot tall structure after the Arc de Triomphe years. In 2011 they were donated to the madcohistory.org located in Paris. The building materials, Madison County Historical Society. 2 RECENT MCHS NEWS A new exhibit in the Artifact Room on the second and parking lot will be completed as weather permits. floor of the Museum has just been completed by Ryan Thanks to Board Member Russell Marti for coordinating Anderson, an SIUE intern who worked with Curator this work and to Director Suzanne Dietrich for obtaining Jenn Walta during fall semester. grants to make this work possible. The exhibit explores the importance of animals to Native Americans in the county during the Reminder: If you have not renewed your MCHS Mississippian period. The local Native American popu- membership for 2014, this will be your last newsletter. lation hunted some animals, like deer, using arrowheads Please consider renewing as your membership dollars carved from pieces of stone. While the Cahokians hunted allow us to continue preservation, research and most animals for commodities such as food, hide, or programming activities. MCHS members are eligible for sinew, some animals served more spiritual pur- a 10% discount at the MCHS gift shop which stocks a poses. Creatures of Cahokia explores the relationship selection of area history books as well as other items. between local animals and the Native Americans in Madison County using artifacts from the collection. Sneak Preview: In June (back by popular demand) a new exhibit will feature some of our wedding dress During fall and winter there have been many collection along with information on wedding traditions. improvements to the MCHS complex, not all of them On Sunday, June 8, MCHS will host the inaugural readily visible. The electrical service for all four book signing for “Route 66 in Illinois” with authors buildings is now underground and has been upgraded. Cheryl Jett and Joe Sonderman, both recognized experts Landscaping around the library has been completed and on America’s Mother Road. Their program will feature Victorian-style light posts to match the city’s new street rare Route 66 images not included in the book due to lights have been installed. Additional work on the plaza space restrictions and a wealth of 66 trivia! MEMBERSHIP NEWS New and Renewing Memberships Mid-December 2013 through January 2014 Thank You for Your Support! Alton, IL Robert & Mary Lou Hamel, IL St. Louis, MO Beverly Stutz Madoux Diann Noll Janet Faires Hall Robert L. Malench Rosalynn Kessler Aviston, IL Karen Mateyka LaGrange, IL D. Joann Reitz Shirley Daiber Linda A. Mizell Lesa Rosenthal Collinsville, IL David Novak Troy, IL Maryville, IL Collinsville Historical Scott Oliva Marilyn Sulc Dorothy Zwettler Museum Rebecca Pinkas Warrenville, IL Edwardsville, IL Katharine Rapp Northfield, IL Joyce Giaquinta Emogene Beck Kathryn Scheibal Ann Wagner Betty Braundmeier Virginia Schhlueter Wheaton, IL Plano, TX Bill & Miriam Burns Stella M.