Spring 2008 Volume 9, Issue 1

Steeple of Sycamore

Walk into the museum and you will probably hear volunteers talking about the move to the Engh Farm property. We are working on a “to do” list, prioritizing what needs to be done, writ-ing grants, and planning the layout of the build-ings. Meanwhile, we are collecting information for the exhibit at the new location. We are also creating a project list for volunteers. Currently choices include: painting, packing, carpentry, gardening, and office volunteers.

Steeples of Sycamore includes tours of six historic Sycamore churches with hospitality and displays at the Sycamore Historical Society. The churches include: Church of St. Mary-Catholic

Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. John

North Avenue Baptist

St. Peter's Episcopal

Sycamore Baptist

United Methodist

Check out www.sycamorehistory.org for pictures of each of the participating churches.

This event will take place April 12, 2008, 9 am-3pm. Tickets are: $20 general, $17 seniors 65+, $15 for groups of 10+.

Don’t even worry about getting hungry. Several of the churches are selling items for breakfast and/or lunch.

Engh Farm Update

Mark Your Calendar

Volunteer Training

Saturday, April 26

10:00 - 11:00

Learn more about what goes on at the Sycamore Historical Society & Museum by joining us for a volunteer training class. Like working with people? We are always looking for help for school groups, scouts, and adult tours. Prefer to work behind the scenes? We always need assistance with the collection, filing, copying, and planning for our next exhibit. Hope to see you there! Refreshments will be served.

Volume 9, Issue 1 Page 2

The Newsletter

Published quarterly by

Sycamore Historical

Society & Museum

308 W. State Street Lower Level P.O. Box 502

Sycamore, Illinois 60178 815.895.5762 sychist@tbc.net

www.sycamorehistory.org

Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Saturdays April thru October 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Or by appointment

Executive Director

Michelle Donahoe

Directors President: Tom Oestreicher Vice-President: Jim Lyon Treasurer: Linda Holderman Secretary: Deanna Carls Officers: Maxine Duquet Dave Finney Mary Floit Dan Gustafson Bill Lenschow Ann Rosenfeld Wes Wilson Past President: Denise Weinmann

Board Meetings are held on the first Mon-day of each month starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Museum. All members are welcome.

Since I last wrote, the Historical Society was hoping that our proposal along with the Sycamore Park District and Kishwaukee Family YMCA for the Engh Farm would be approved. It was on Monday, January 7. Details are still being worked out, but we are on our way to making the Engh farm our new home! Planning for our move is very exciting, but in looking forward it is easy to forget that we still have a full plate of projects and activities scheduled for this year. So, please don’t think that we don’t need your help or that we are not offering any programs while we plan to move. New volunteers are needed as we expand our hours to Saturdays 10:00 - 1:00 until October. Please join us on Saturday, April 26 at 10:00 to learn about all of the volunteer opportunities available. Speaking of programs, get your calendar out and get ready to enjoy a wide variety of programs. Along with the community, the Sycamore Historical Society & Museum is getting ready to celebrate Sycamore’s Sesqui-centennial. Highlights include: a window display, “Sycamore through the years;” a scavenger hunt, book-mark with important dates, and a fun fact sheet available at the Farmer’s Market; and programs including “Jogging Down Memory Lane” where four long time residents will be interviewed by Barry Schrader on May 18, walking tours, and Brown Bag lunches As always, check our website for additional details!

Michelle

Did you know the first early settlers of our town made the north side of the river their home? They found that the low land near the river was too wet and swampy and moved to higher ground on the south side of the river.

A sneak preview for the Steeple Walk. This is a print from a glass plate negative showing the interior Sycamore’s Congregational church, today’s Sycamore’s Bap-tist Church.

Volume 9, Issue 1 Page 3

Calendar of EventsCalendar of EventsCalendar of EventsCalendar of Events Saturday, April 12 “Steeples of Sycamore”

Historic Church Walk 9:00 - 3:00 See page one for details

Saturday, April 26 Volunteer Training 10:00

Learn about a variety of volunteer opportunities. Meet at the Museum

Thursday, May 1 Brown Bag lunch 12:00 Free

“History of the Lincoln Highway” By Dianne Rossiter, Lincoln Highway Coalition Sunday, May 18 “Jogging Down Memory Lane”

Sycamore Public Library 2:00 –4:00 Free

Barry Schrader interviews four local residents about their memories of Sycamore.

Sunday, June 1 Walking Through History 1:00 $5

Walking tour of Sycamore’s historic district Led by Stephen Bigolin Meet at Farmer’s Market Thursday, June 5 Brown Bag Lunch 12:00 Free

“Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Sycamore’s Historic District.” By Stephen Bigolin Sunday, July 6 Walking Through History 1:00 $5

Walking tour of Sycamore’s historic district Led by Stephen Bigolin Meet at Farmer’s Market

Please note - all programs are open to the public,

bring a friend!

Welcome Jim, Bill and Dave!Welcome Jim, Bill and Dave!Welcome Jim, Bill and Dave!Welcome Jim, Bill and Dave!

The Sycamore Historical Society would like to officially welcome three new board members: Dave Finney, Bill Lenschow, and Jim Lyon. Dave Finney comes to the Historical Society with a great enthu-siasm for our future plans at the Engh farm. His familiarity with electrical codes and working with older buildings will be valu-able as we go through the process of renovating the Engh farm. Bill Lenschow is a long time resident who has recently presented at two of our Brown Bag lunch programs, “History of the Farmers Club” and “Farming in Sycamore.” Bill’s extensive agricultural knowledge of this area will be very helpful as we prepare a new exhibit and programs. Jim has been involved with the Historical Society and Museum for many years. Some of his volunteer projects include the Annual Elmwood Cemetery Heritage Walk, a Kiss the Pig , researching local businesses, and generally promoting or organization.

Bill Lenschow preparing for Brown Bag lunch talk.

Jim Lyon

Dave Finney

Page 4 Volume 9, Issue 1

What have we been up to?

Annual Giving &

Endowment Update

We did it! Thank you to everyone who donated to our 2007 Annual Giving Campaign and to support the creation of an Endowment for the Sycamore Historical Society through the Sycamore Depository for Charities. The following is a list of those who helped us achieve our goal! John and Mary-Glynn Boies Brown’s County Market Joe and Evelyn Bussone Beverly and Elvin Carlson Daughters of the American Revolution Cal and Helen Doty Ann and Dr. John Engstrom Mary and Ron Floit Ken Hirshbein Enterprises Linda and Herb Holderman Jean Molinari Doreen and Donald Mullins Joyce and Bill Nicklas Jim Niewold Marilyn and Tom Oestreicher Dr. John and Jane D. Ovitz Sandy and James Quiram Ann Rosenfeld Rotary Club of Sycamore Russell Schelkopf Farms Averil Schreiber Mary Lu and Jeff Strack Veterans of Foreign Wars Sycamore Women’s Club Lois and Jeffery Wallace Bob and Norma Wildenradt Marcia and Wes Wilson Tom and Lorraine Woodstrup Every attempt has been made to include all donors. We regret any omissions or errors.

Welcome New Members

James Broody Jayne Higgins Tom and Joan Fenstermaker Barbara Hulsberg

R.M. Gass Carol Parsons William and Rosemarie Swedberg

Tom Woodstrup

Memorial

Tom Woodstrup, one of the founders of the Syca-more Historical Society and Museum passed away on Saturday, March 8. This entire newsletter could be dedicated to a list of all of the projects he was involved with at the Society. In a nutshell, he played an impor-tant role in almost every aspect of this organization. We would not be where we are today with-out him. Tom, we will miss you! Memorials in his honor can be sent to: Sycamore Historical Society P.O. Box 502 Sycamore, IL 60178

Grants and other Donations

Blain’s Farm & Fleet Chronicle News Group Illinois Humanities Council, Road Scholar Program Sycamore Chamber of Commerce Sycamore Charities

Page 5 Volume 9, Issue 1

An Evening with

the

Lincolns

As you can see in these photos, “An Evening with the Lincolns” was a very fun evening for everyone who attended. A special thank you to Tom and Marilyn Oestreicher, Linda Holderman, Maxine Duquet, Ann Rosenfeld, Jim Lyon and Sycamore High School’s Key Club for all of their help!

A thank you to all of those who sup-ported the program: Cady Heating and Cooling Chronicle New Group DeKalb County Veterans Assistance Commission Egg Haven Lovell’s Discount Tire Main Street Car Wash Marks Machine Shop, Inc Marlyn Majors Drum Corp Milner & Associates, Denise Weinmann Sweet Dreams Desserts & Catering Page Street Diner Nancy Watson

A full room enjoying dinner!

Lincoln making rounds and visiting with the guests.

(left) The Lincolns eating dinner with the Sons of Union Veterans.

Other Recent Programs . . . . (right) “POW Camp in Sycamore” packed in full house as Martha Wetzel and Connie Wallin shared their memories. (left) Ray Elliot discusses his thoughts about writing your memories during our Annual Meeting in January.

POW Camp in Sycamore remembered Annual Meeting

Page 6 Volume 9, Issue 1

Looking for a gift for the person who has every-thing? Stop by our Gift Shop for some unique items Images of America: Sycamore $20

by Phyllis Kelley and the Joiner History Room Staff

Sycamore Historical

Society T-shirt $10

Rural School Journeys: A

Legacy of Learning $32

Edited by Marcia Wilson

Veterans Memorial Bricks

$100 for an 8 x 4

brick

$150 for an 8 x 8 brick

Sycamore: Walk Through History $5

Edited by Stephen J. Bigolin and Nancy M. Beasley

Gift ShopGift ShopGift ShopGift Shop

Bricks at the Veterans Memorial at Elmwood Cemetery

It Happened In SycamoreIt Happened In SycamoreIt Happened In SycamoreIt Happened In Sycamore

By Dan Gustafson

My great uncle Fred Gustafson was born on a Sycamore area farm in 1866. In his biography he mentions the following incident that occurred in

1877.

“This winter Father picked up a boy fourteen years old there in Sycamore. He felt sorry for him as he didn't have any home. Later one day this boy went to town with father and when it was time to go home father went to get his team of horses. The boy had been loafing around by himself. Boy, horses and all were gone. Father got hold of the sheriff and started out to find them. Late in the night they ran into them miles away. The stable man told Father he would have to prove those were his horses. "All right ", Father told him, “you go in and let that grey mare loose. He did and father called "Carrie" to her. She came right away and put her nose on his shoulder. "All right", the man said,

that was proof enough.”

Did you know one of the early businesses in Sycamore was a grist mill on the north side of the Kishwaukee River? It used a water wheel to power its machinery.

Membership Form ___ Annual Individual ($15) ___ Annual Family ($25) __ Student ($5) 18 and under __ Life Member ($150)

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________________________________ Email: ____________________________________ Phone: _______________________________ _________ date

Thank you for your support

Volunteer Opportunities

__ Annual Events Walk Through History Tour Northern Illinois Steam Show Block Party Cemetery Walk February Fundraiser Steeple Walk __ Museum Volunteer Tuesdays Thursdays Saturdays __ Engh Farm

__ Program Volunteer

School groups (during the day) Scout groups (after school) Adult groups Plan Brown Bag lunch programs

__ Publicity

Press Releases Flyers Newsletter __ Exhibits Engh Farm State Street Window

308 W. State Street

Lower Level

P. O. Box 502

Sycamore, Illinois 60178

Phone: 815.895.5762

E-mail: sychist@tbcnet.com

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