Madison County Historical Society MCHS News Jan 2018 Opening Doors to Madison County History Vol. 6 No. 1 January, 2013 Vol. 1, No. 1 715 N Main Street Edward Coles MCHS CELEBRATES Edwardsville, IL Emancipation Leader 62025 ILLINOIS BICENTENNIAL Sunday, Feb. 18, 2 p.m. On Dec. 3, 1818, Illinois became the twenty-first Archival Library state in the United States of America. In celebration Hours: Madison County Archival Library of the state’s 200th anniversary, the MCHS News will Wed-Fri 9 am - 4 pm Museum Superintendent Jon Parkin place an emphasis on early Illinois and Madison Sunday 1 pm - 4 pm will present a program on Edward Coles County history for our six 2018 issues. at the Madison County Archival Library This month’s articles, by Museum Superinten- Group Tours Available on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m.. dent Jon Parkin, explore how land was distributed in Many historians believe that if not for the territory, the economic panic of 1819 and early Museum : Edward Coles, Illinois may not have stagecoach routes. Later this year the newsletter will The museum is been a free state. His contributions to explore the Illinois Centennial Celebration of 1918, currently closed for renovation Illinois history are remembered in Abraham Lincoln in Madison County, the Old Six Madison County with a memorial in- Mile House in Granite City, and other stories in stalled on Route 157 by the State of celebration of the state’s Bicentennial anniversary. Phone: Illinois in 1929 and with a Illinois State 618-656-7569 Historical Society marker on the grounds EARLY ILLINOIS SETTLEMENT of the Manny Jackson Center on North By Jon Parkin, Museum Superintendent Main Street in Edwardsville. This loca- Web Address: Throughout history, many societies have reward- tion was once the site of the Madison madcohistory.org ed military veterans for their service and sacrifice County Court House which is significant with land. Probably the best-known example of this to the Coles story. practice is that of the Roman empire; legionnaires E-mail: Parkin is a retired history teacher were granted plots of land, often near the frontiers of newly-conquered regions, as recompense for their [email protected] who specializes in early 19th century history. The program is free and open service. Numerous benefits accrued from such prac- to the public. tices: it culturally and economically knitted the new About Us: territory more firmly to the expanding state, provided MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL for a reserve of veteran soldiers near the borders The MCHS museum readily available in a time of crisis, and engendered complex, consisting of All MCHS memberships renew on in the pensioners a vested interest in protecting their a modern archival the first of the year. If you haven’t sent in new homesteads and hearths. your renewal yet, please do so as soon library, a museum in as possible. We appreciate saving the In the early days of our nascent republic, similar the 1836 Weir House expense of sending out multiple renewal methods were employed to quickly occupy and do- and the Helms notices. Every dollar saved can be used mesticate large swaths of seemingly “untamed wil- derness.” The federal government accomplished this Collection Center, is for ongoing projects. If you have al- by providing bounty land warrants to those who owned by the ready sent in your renewal (and MANY of you have!), we appreciate your timely served in the American War for Independence, the nonprofit Madison support! War of 1812, and the intervening County Historical Continued page 4 Society and operated jointly with Madison COMING SOON! REMINDER County. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18 The Historical Museum 2 P.M. Remains Closed for Renovations MADISON COUNTY ARCHIVAL LIBRARY The Madison County Historical Society is a PROGRAM: The Archival Library is 501(c)(3) charitable EDWARD COLES - EMANCIPATION LEADER open regular hours. organization. PRESENTER: JON PARKIN 1 About Us ARCHIVAL LIBRARY SPOTLIGHT MCHS Board By Mary Westerhold Gary Denue, Pres Candace Ladd, V-Pres What’s new at the Archival Library? The Scrapbooks Arnold Meyer, Treas majority of MCHS collections are acquired Scrapbooks contain a wealth of Tallin Curran, Sec. through donations. The following are information whether they focus on a family, Norma Asadorian examples of items received in 2017: an event, or a locality. Some of the Mary J. Bade Plat of lot owners of the Oaklawn scrapbooks donated this year include William Eaton Cemetery dated 1901 information on railroads in Madison County, Mae Grapperhaus Cemetery plats are always a plus for general Illinois and Madison County history, Stephen Hansen researchers and this cemetery contains and Owens Illinois, Murray Harbke many members of the Barnsback family. Photos and signs from the first Don Huber Papers from a local attorney who passed Edwardsville High School Field Hockey Tina Hubert team Jeff Pauk away several years ago Cindy Reinhardt The attorney handled many estate Included among the items was a “Field Sue Wolf settlements and this collection contained Hockey” which was autographed by several several flyers relating to various estate members of the first EHS Field Hockey team auctions. While not as detailed as auction from the 1974-75 school year. (Among the Staff signatures is that of Archival Library information from a probate file, it is still Jon Parkin interesting for family historians to see the Research Manager Mary Luchtefeld Museum Superintendent Westerhold.) items from an ancestors sale. Mary Westerhold Archival Research Mgr. LaVerne Bloemker MUSEUM SPOTLIGHT Archival Research Asst. By Jenn VanBibber Carol Frisse Although the museum is closed for reno- Sept 30, 1897. The visitors examined the Archival Research Asst. vation, the curatorial staff is still able to work white dress, bows, silk hose, and kid gloves Jenn VanBibber with students. for information to use in their projects. While Curator wedding dresses were not an everyday Dr. Laura Hanson recently brought her Mary Z. Rose SIUE costuming class to the museum. The dress, the style, materials, and construction Asst. Curator class came to study vintage clothing for techniques were all available and employed during the same period as Wilde’s work. Oscar Wilde’s play, “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Museum staff pulled appro- Volunteers priate gowns and men’s attire from the There are abundant and 1880s to 1910s from the MCHS collections varied opportunities for and placed them on display in the library volunteers at either the museum or the archival meeting room. Dr. Hanson and her students library. Please call if discussed materials, techniques, and trends interested. during their afternoon working with the col- lection. A few wedding dresses were used be- Memberships cause of the concrete dates associated with Several membership the items. Anna Margaret Dake wore the levels are available to dress shown below when she married Cyrus those interested in Love at her home in Hamel Township on supporting the work of preserving Madison Students studying attire from the MCHS Collection, County history through an Oct 2017. (Van Bibber) MCHS membership. Memberships run on the A suitcoat and a waist coat worn by calendar year, Jan 1-Dec former Madison County residents provided 31. Applications are information about menswear style and available on our web site, structure. Finely-tailored suits were not at the MCHS Museum or limited to the men of the upper class in the at the Archival Library. latter part of the nineteenth century; a two- piece brown and black striped suffragette Publications suit from 1912 provided a bit of contrast to the fancy gowns and bow-filled dresses. MCHS News The curatorial staff enjoyed the visit by 6 issues annually Dr. Hanson and her class and look forward Cindy Reinhardt, Editor Wedding attire of Anna Dake Love. Gift of Beatrice to learning something new every time. Monaphan in 1973 (Van Bibber) 2 MCHS NEWS RENOVATION PROGRESS MEMORIAL WINDOWS The Society Board as well as the staff at the Archival The Madison County Historical Soci- Library are often asked questions about the progress of ety (MCHS) is appealing to area resi- the museum renovation. Particularly, there have been dents for assistance in restoring the win- questions about why we are currently raising funds for the dows of the 1836 Weir House which windows instead of some other aspect of construction. serves as the county museum. Donors are asked to consider adopting one or The answer is easy. It wouldn’t be safe to remove more windows of the Weir House in windows for renovation after the museum has re-opened, memory of their Madison County family. so the windows are next on the construction list. Also, the Some Madison County families are new, new HVAC system currently being installed will not work within a generation, and others have been here for dec- efficiently until the drafty windows are repaired. ades. All have contributed or are continuing to be a part of A separate schedule showing the various phases of the history and heritage of Madison County. construction is included in this newsletter. As can be seen, The average cost per window is $2,400 for a complete the Society is in need of additional funds to complete the restoration and construction of a protective storm window renovation. Unfortunately, the needs became immediate appropriate for the historic building. The building has 31 before fundraising could begin, but so far, the Society has windows. A list of honored families will be listed on a plaque been able to cover expenses from special funds set aside in the museum when it reopens following restoration. for that purpose. Those funds have now been depleted. The 1836 Weir House is listed on the National Register Information about adopting a window for restoration in of Historic Places and has been the home of the Madison memory of your Madison County family is at right.