How We Began - Part I, by Rita Schneider (cont.)
In her lilac colored gown…mrs. richard schneider, aka rita
Centennial meetings in 1968 were attended by representatives of the Village Board, Park District Board, the Helen Plum Library as well as many private citizens. The focal points of the Centennial celebration were to be tours of the Maple Street Chapel and historical artifacts in the historic Reade Room in the rear of the Chapel; tours of the century old home of Mr. & Mrs. Harry Graves at 241 W. Maple St.; tours of Lilacia Park; the Lilac Parade with a centennial theme focusing on Lombard’s history; and a Map celebrating some of the historic structures around Lombard.
The map, which ran in all the area and Chicago newspapers, included the Chapel, the Graves home, the Lombard Hotel at St. Charles & Park, the 119 N. Main St. home, built by Dr. Wm. LeRoy (the subsequent owner, Harold Gray, was the originator of Little Orphan Annie); the Sheldon Peck Pioneer Home at Parkside and Grace, still occupied, it was pointed out at that time, by descendants of Sheldon & Harriet Peck; and, of course, Lilacia Park.
supplement to the trib; april 14, 1969
The tours of the Maple Street Chapel and Reade Room were to take place every day during Lilac Time from 11 to 3, led by costumed docents with no admission fee. Over 4,000 people took advantage of the tour. The tours of the Graves home took place on 3 weekends in May with the admission fees for adults at 50 cents and children 10 cents; those fees being used to benefit and help to finance the Centennial celebration.
The Centennial Committee amassed over $6,000. from the sales of a Jim Beam Commemorative bottle, donations from local businesses who were members of the $250 Club and donations of local Organizations, and people attending the 1969 Lilac Time events. The Service League sold Centennial Plates which had views of the new and old Helen Plum Library. An error in the first batch of printing made the plate a real keepsake. Wooden nickels were available and many of the men grew beards to take part in a contest that took place during the 2 week festival. In early 1969, Village President, Lester J. Bergmann announced that he would appoint a nine-member Historical Commission. He invited anyone interested in serving to send a resume. An ordinance was adopted governing the Commission and its authority within the Village. It included the power to elect its own officers and draw its bylaws and to hold public hearings. However, their first job in 1969 was to help oversee the Village Centennial. Otis Butler, a long-time resident, was the first Chairman.
In January 1970, interest in forming an historical society began to develop. Organizational meetings took place to draft bylaws and to apply to the State for a charter. Patricia Wallace who had spear-headed the Centennial Committee was elected as Pro-tem Chairman, a natural choice. The nominating committee was composed of Mrs. Estelle Wasz (our Welcome Wagon Lady) and Mr. Arthur Williams. Once the incorporation papers were received from the State and recorded in the County, plans were made for an Annual Meeting at which the first board would be elected.
In February, Pro-tem meetings were held and the word went out that we would be accepting memberships in the LHS. The By-laws were established, with membership dues set at $3.00 for an Annual Membership, $5.00 for Family annual; $25.00 for a Life Membership and $35.00 for a Family Life Membership. The word also went out that we were accepting any memorabilia of Lombard families or events.
The first Annual Meeting of the newly formed Lombard Historical Society took place on April 27, 1970 in the Norton Room of the Helen Plum Library. Pat Wallace had researched throughout DuPage County and the State on the formation and practices of societies. The first Board of the Historical Society included Pat Wallace, President; Geraldine Watts 1st VP; Arthur Williams, 2nd VP; Helen Sholand, 3rd VP; Shirley Van Clay, Recording Secretary; Rita Schneider, Corresponding Secretary; Bud Schweppe, Treasurer; Marie Holle, Historian; Ruth Hammerschmidt, Curator; and Chuck Herrick, Librarian.
mrs. jack wallace (pat) and arthur h williams
mrs. william hammerschmidt (ruth) and mrs. william watts (geraldine)
pro-tem officers: Mrs. robert (sena) krieg , mrs. roy holbe, “bud” scheppe & mrs. stephen van clay (shirley)
mrs. harold p dunton, mrs harry graves & mrs william hammerschmidt
Bud Schweppe presented a check of over $6,000, the proceeds from the Centennial Committee (disbanded as of the LHS meeting), and Barbara and Harry Graves presented a check of $250, the proceeds of their historic home tour. Pat Wallace appointed additional committees: Sena Krieg, Publicity; Augustine Nauert, Elections; Estell Wasz, By-laws; Helen Riedel, Ways & Means; Patricia Poskocil, Education; and Barbara Graves, Hostess.
And so it began…Our first newsletter came in early 1971. We had begun to visit schools with a suitcase full of antique items to interest them and the story of Lombard to tell them. It was a popular program. We had our first float in the Lilac Parade sponsored and built by the Lombard Spectator. A program of past Lilac Festivals was presented. We also had acquired a number of Village records, Col. Plum’s journals, various scrapbooks, photos and personal interviews with local (in many cases elder) citizens of Lombard, and pieces of furniture and china. We conducted tours of the Maple Street chapel again during Lilac Time in 1970. Board meetings were held in board member homes on a monthly basis and it became clear that we were fast approaching a time when we needed to find a dedicated place for the collections we were acquiring and an appropriate place for displaying them.
We had, as a group, visited many area museums with the idea of determining what kind of building we would find suitable. A few places were thought possible - but troublesome: The carriage house in Lilacia Park was too small; the Mogul Home at Parkside and Park was too fragile to move, and the land was not included; and the Josiah Reade home, directly west of the Maple Street Chapel was deemed to have too much interior restoration to be feasible. But 23 W. Maple Street was for sale and was a house with great possibility. The age was determined to be acceptable, built in 1882, but representative of an earlier house design that could portray a home in the Village in 1869, the era of growth and industry after the Civil War.
