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2017 EVENTS |
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ANNUAL CANDLELIGHT
CHAPEL SERVICE
Saturday
December 2, 2017
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Elkhart celebrates Route 66 over
Labor Day weekend
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Elkhart mural, Veteran's Park, Car
show - slideshow
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Slot car
racing, Sidewalk art, and more - slideshow
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Elkhart
Hill, Gillett Chapel tour - SLIDESHOW
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Friday July 28, dinner lecture
Rev. Dr. Malcolm
Shotwell will present, “Our Neighbors, the Lincolns: A
Clergyman Remember”. This captivating portrayal of
Rev. Dr. Noyes W. Miner, will be presented as a dramatic
monologue in the beautiful setting of the Gillett Chapel
on Elkhart Hill, followed by dinner in the village at
the Wild Hare Café in the Horsefeathers shop.
[Please note the 1890’s Chapel has no bathroom
facilities].
The depiction takes place in 1874 when Rev. Dr. Miner,
then living in Wisconsin had returned to Springfield for
the unveiling of Lincoln’s Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
As he was a neighbor and close friend, his insights and
knowledge of the Lincolns is fascinating. The Rev.
Dr. Miner was pastor of the First Baptist Church in
Springfield (Now Central Baptist) from 1855-1869, and
the interpretation includes his thoughts on the Lincoln
Douglas debate, a visit to the Lincolns in Washington
and more.
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Paul
Beaver will present “From Swamp to
Field”
Friday June 23, 2017 |
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The Elkhart
Historical Society is pleased to
announce the return of Paul Beaver to
its Dinner Lecture circuit. Mr.
Beaver will present “From Swamp to
Field”, on Friday June
23, 2017, a fascinating discussion
of the methods used by the Scully family
in the late 1800’s to drain the wetlands
in Logan County, which turned what was
unusable land into some of the richest
most-productive farm ground in the
world. Beaver is no stranger to
this subject, having written his
master’s thesis about the extensive
Scully land holdings, and then in 2003,
authoring a book on the topic. His love
of history lead to a career of teaching,
though officially retired he was honored
by Lincoln College as it’s very first
Professor Emeritus.
A well
respected Lincoln scholar, Paul has
participated in many events, committees,
discussions and speeches throughout the
United States. In 2002 he oversaw the
production of “Abraham Lincoln in Logan
County” a video filmed in Logan County.
Truly a Logan County man from birth
through a productive and generous life,
Paul’s ability to hold an audience is
legendary. The probability
that this lecture will sell out quickly
urges a quick response from all that are
interested. Please call 2217 947
2238 to reserve you seat, and once
confirmed, please download one of these
two forms for your dinner preferences:
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Dinner/talk:
“Lincoln and Oglesby: The Boys from
Kentucky”
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... at Wildhare Cafe - 5:30p
on Friday MAY 19, 2017
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The long-time friendship between Abraham Lincoln
and Gov. Richard Oglesby will be discussed at
the Elkhart Historical Society’s May dinner
lecture, Friday, May 19, 2017 at 5:30p, at the
Wild Hare Café in Elkhart, Illinois.
Elkhart native, historian
Chuck McCue will present, “Lincoln and Oglesby:
The Boys from Kentucky”.
Reservations can be made by calling 217 947 2238
or click on the registration forms below:
McCue’s talk will explore
the life paths of two men, born as sons to
Kentucky farmers just a few miles and a few
years apart, who each grew to have an enormous
impact on the legal system and government of
Illinois and the nation. Chuck McCue
will recount how their tragedies and successes
brought them to the highest levels of state and
federal office, both individually and when their
paths crossed.
The primary theme will be the relationship
between Abraham Lincoln and Richard J. Oglesby,
starting with a chance meeting in Decatur in
1840, and continuing through to 1865, when
then-Illinois Governor Oglesby stood at the
bedside of his friend who lay dying from an
assassin’s bullet. Even after Lincoln’s
death, the bond continued, as Oglesby oversaw
the project of building a suitable resting place
for our 16th president.
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Following a 20 year career in the Air Force,
Chuck McCue returned to the area, and re-upped
his long-time interest in history, which he
credits to his friendships with the late Rick
Gehlbach and Jim & Betty Hickey, all of Elkhart.
The exposure to a tremendous amount of
historical material as well as conversations
with visiting Lincoln experts, he developed a
deep respect for our local history that
continues to this day. Upon his
return to the area, he became a volunteer docent
at the Mt. Pulaski Courthouse State Historic
Site, and continues to provide tours one
Saturday a month and on special occasions.
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The Elkhart
Historical Society Announces ...
April Wildflower Walks on Elkhart Hill
The April
wildflower walks
will be offered twice a day, 10a or 2p and are
scheduled for every Saturday in April starting
April 1st
for the very earliest
of the spring ephemerals, such as spring beauties and Dutchmen’s breeches,
concluding with the vast sweeps of
Virginia Bluebells.
The final Saturday April 29th,
will offer two
bird walks, 6A and
4p, with a combination bird and flower walk at
10a. Private tours for groups of 10 or
more can be
requested for other days during the
spring bloom. The bird walk will once again be
led by 3 fabulous ornithologists, Rhetta
Jack, Dr. Lara Borgerson, and Joe Funk
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who all helped to identify over 60 species of
birds on last year’s walk.
NOTE:
Reservations for dining in Elkhart are
recommended. Call The Wild Hare Café in
Horsefeathers (217) 947-2100, or Talk of the
Town Restaurant (217) 947-2770. If lunch option
is picked, reservations will be made for you
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Friday April 21, 2017
Dinner/talk: “30 years of Restoring Natural Communities
in Central Illinois, while walking in the footsteps of
the Captain" ... at Wildhare Cafe - 5:30p
on Friday April 21, 2017 ...
by Vernon LaGesse, Ex. Dir. of the Friends of the
Sangamon Valley, a charitable membership organization
dedicated to the preservation of our natural heritage by
acquiring, restoring and protecting ecological
significant lands within the Lower Sangamon River
Watershed.
The talk will encompass the fascinating challenges of
restoring prairie, timbers and wetlands across Central
Illinois for 30 years for various Conservation Groups.
A long time devotee of Captain A.H. Bogardus, he has
not only collected items and stories related to Bogardus,
but also has restored many of the endangered or
threatened natural areas described by Bogardus’s
book, “Field, Cover and Trap Shooting” written in 1878.
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A special Photo Workshop is
scheduled for Friday April 7, from
9:30a-11:30a, with Gracie Tierney a commercial
photographer in Logan County for over 5 years, who is
currntly earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. With this
workshop, both beginner to intermediate level
photographers will learn to compose beautiful
photographs of the wildflowers flowers on Elkhart Hill,
and enhance technical skills along the way.
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March 24 Dinner Lecture:
“Legacy: Inspiration from the Seven Daughters
of John Dean Gillett” . . .
which will highlight the lives of these interesting and
influential women who were born at a pivotal time in our
nation’s history. Theirs was a life that included
both work and play, and exposed them to Springfield
society during the beginnings of the Abraham Lincoln
era, he being a good friend of their father as well as
his legal counsel. Gillett, known in many circles as
the Cattle King of Illinois, raised his family in the
Elkhart area, educating all of his children in the
finest schools of the day, thus preparing them for the
future.
Our presenter is Marcy Brooks, who studied at LCU many
years ago, and who now lives in Greeneville TN, where
she has established “Destiny Life Skills Institute”.
She is a skilled musician and speaker, and is remembered
for playing the organ at our Christmas Candlelight
Service in years past, as well as leading various
motivational talks in the area. She
has been intrigued by the history of Elkhart for
numerous years, and promises to bring an exciting and
revealing inside look at the lives of the Gillett women.
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Saturday- - March
18, 2017
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“Welcome to
Hollywood” with Karl Luthin, DVM at
Wildhare Cafe
Friday February 24, 2017
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Karl Luthin has been involved in over 60 movies,
either in the capacity of on-site veterinarian,
as a re-enactor, or as prop supply
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this category includes both live and plastic
horses, uniforms and horse equipment from wars
dating back to the French and Indian War thru
WWI.
It will cover many of his experiences while
working on the movie sets in over 60 productions
and mini-series. Multi-faceted Luthin
is often the on-site veterinarian, or
re-enactor, frequently providing props, set
dressings, and horses, or as an advisor helping
to insure the historic accuracy of the equipment
or costumes being used.
Some of the productions he has been involved in
are, “Gods and Generals”, “Glory”, The “John
Adams” mini-series, “Into the West”,
“Gettysburg”, “Cold Mountain”, and most recently
providing a massive amount of props as well as
the horse Daniel Day Lewis rode in the
movie “Lincoln”. Karl will be bringing
film clips and slides from many of these movies,
as well as movie posters, and the
behind-the-scenes stories.
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Safari of African Animals with
Peter Niehaus
Join us January 27, 2017 at the
Wild Hare Café in Elkhart, Illinois, for our dinner
lecture entitled,
"On Safari With Peter Niehaus:
South Africa and its Animals."
Peter
Niehaus will share his knowledge of the animals of South
Africa. Enjoy a choice of a hearty Tuscan vegetable soup
and salad dinner or a traditional dinner with
two all-time South African favorites. The full dinner
includes a portion of mild Malay Chicken Curry
and Beef Bobotie accompanied by rice and the traditional
relishes and salads typically served with these dishes.
A warm lemon pudding follows, or as an alternative,
vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate sauce.
Iced teas and coffee are included.
Reservations are required and can be made by calling 217
947 2238, and the deadline for reservations is January
22, 2017. The price of $40 per person for the dinner or
$27.50 for the soup and salad includes
the meal, tax and tip and $10 to
the Elkhart Historical Society.
For more about Peter, go to --> SPEAKER
9 Jan., 2017 LDN:
Elkhart Dinner Lecture to feature Peter Niehaus
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2016
GRAND FINALE
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Virginia Blue Belles Rare White Blue Belles
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The Elkhart Historical Society is “Going Wild”
in April ... Each Saturday in April
& early May - by
reservation - guided wild flower nature walks
will be offered that share the beauty and
variety of the ephemeral spring wild flowers on
Elkhart Hill. The guides for the flower walks
are Gillette Ransom and Susan Jeffers,
a team that has done a lot of research
not only on the flowers but much of the folklore
and medicinal uses in the past. The
finale includes an 6:00 am or 4:00 pm
bird walk, with Ornithologist Rhetta Jack, Lara
Borgerson, and Joe Funk all superior birders
with fascinating knowledge of the birds not only
of Elkhart Hill but in many places around the
world. Come sharpen your
skills or learn for the first time.
A walk will be given at 10 am which will
combine birds, wildflowers
and lunch, at the Wildhare Cafe. |
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2 Aug., 2015 SJ-R: 66 Things on Route
66: Statues in Benld,
Elkhart, Gillespie, Sherman, Staunton
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Annual Report Of the Elkhart Historical Society
<-- click here |
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PAST EVENTS
ARCHIVES <-- click
here |
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