Glencoe Historical Society
at the
Eklund History Center & Garden

Winter 2004–Spring 2004 Newsletter

‘Sports of All Sorts’ Opens Second Season

New exhibit features sporting goods, photos from our past

It’s time for sports—baseball, basketball, hockey, skiing—sports of all sorts. In the newest exhibit now showing at the Eklund History Center museum, sports equipment and photos of Glencoe residents participating in sports share the limelight as we show off the Society’s collection of sports artifacts and photos, the latter mostly from the 1970s and ‘80s. Sports have played an important role in Glencoe history almost from the town’s beginning. Races were featured at Attic Club family events as long ago as the mid-1890s. But it was the second half of the 20th century when more organized sports really took off – with the Glencoe Park District leading the way in promoting baseball, softball, tee-ball and soccer for children of all ages and both sexes.

The exhibit opened in February with a Friday evening members’ viewing and refreshments. The Glencoe Park District’s Mike Kudla spoke to visitors about how he began the Sports of All Sorts day camp that gives the exhibit its name and logo. When that after-summer-school camp was founded, there were about 30 boys enrolled. By the time it had been replaced by Adventure Camp, enrollments had doubled.

Sports of All Sorts can be seen at the Eklund History Center museum, the second and fourth Sundays of the month, from 2-4 p.m. or by appointment. Call 847.835.0040. Photos from the opening below. ⇑

Garden Fund Grows

New plans call for restoration, replanting

Following last summer’s clean-up of the Eklund History Center garden (including removal of trees and debris and the laying of the new brick path; details in the last newsletter), the Society is ready for the second phase of rejuvenation and restoration of this bucolic setting in downtown Glencoe.

At the Historical Society’s annual meeting in November 2003, the firm of Mariani Landscaping unveiled a new plan for the garden. Lake Bluff-based Mariani has an excellent reputation, having done considerable work for the Chicago Botanic Garden and winner of numerous design awards. The firm’s head, John Mariani, will be working with the garden committee, headed by Vivian Zahniser and Betsy Warren.

The space has been designed as a garden setting, rather than as a park; and it is to use plant materials already existing on the land where appropriate. It is designed to be low maintenance with no grass, contributing to the village’s downtown’s beauty. The proposed Garden will be divided into subspaces with different themes and motifs; the overall character of the Garden will overshadow these smaller areas and give unity to the site. Some of the considered theme possibilities include a medicinal garden, a bird/butterfly sanctuary, and a demonstration garden.

The maintenance of the renovated garden will not necessitate the use or installation of an irrigation system. Woody plants (shrubs) are to be allowed to form a natural shape and will need to be professionally thinned on a schedule of every three to four years during the winter months. Trees will be evaluated on a regular schedule and subject to a typical professional trimming program.

All of this will, of course, cost money. Thus far, close to $12,000 has been received toward our $150,000 Garden Renovation Project, entirely through volunteer contributions. We are very pleased that so many members have donated generously. However, there is a long way to go. You can help in a number of ways:

• Send contributions to Garden Fund, Glencoe Historical Society, 377 Park Ave.
• You can host a coffee. Garden committee chairman Vivian Zahniser will make a presentation to any group about the Garden and its future. The more people who know about the garden, the more likely we find help.
• To find out the Garden’s entire history, visit the Glencoe Historical Society’s Web site, www.GlencoeHistoricalSociety.org.
• To make a donation, or for more information, leave a message on the Society’s answering machine: 847.835.0040. A volunteer will contact you.
• Weeding is always with a garden, and so volunteers are always welcome to help us (don’t worry; we have a landscape service for the heavy work). We’re looking for those who like to work in gardens and would like to spend some time in ours. Call the Eklund Center, 847.835.0040 and leave a message.⇑

2nd Annual Strawberry Sociable June 13—Join us!

Help us honor additional named bricks, garden

In June 2003, the Historical Society dedicated the brick path leading from Park Avenue to the back patio at our first Strawberry Sociable.

Join us on June 13, 2004, for the second annual event—a lovely day to enjoy the Eklund Garden, strawberries and cream, and a description of our Garden Project with a walk-through the Garden so you can envision what the paper plan will look like.

At the same event, the Eklund Center will be open so you can view the exhibits now on display (Sports of All Sorts, Old Glencoe, the Business District and the Eklund Workshop).

We also will be honoring those who have bought bricks for the path, particularly our new donors who purchased bricks this year. The Historical Society has continued to sell bricks for the pathway—we will lay them when we have a large enough group to engage the bricklayer. It’s a wonderful way to honor or memorialize someone. Brick orders are continuously taken at the Society. Just come in and fill out a form or call the Society at 847.835.0040 and we’ll contact you. ⇑

Historical Society Web site active, offers information, pictures

Beginning earlier this year, the Historical Society finally joined the 21st century with our own Web site, www.GlencoeHistoricalSociety.org.

Board member Nello Lucchesi has generously volunteered his time to make the Web site a reality. The first major work is the article about our Garden Fund effort, complete with pictures taken of the first step—the clean-up of the Garden, removal of debris and the laying of the path. Garden Chairman Vivian Zahniser wrote the explanation of the garden plan and husband Bob took most of the pictures.

The Web site will offer updates on events and information. We welcome your contributions as well. For information about the Historical Society or what goes on at the Eklund Center, consult the Web—we’re a historical society that’s up-to-date. ⇑

Donations

We deeply appreciate the contributions from the many donors who generously support our efforts. Here we gratefully acknowledge donors who have made contributions since our last newsletter. Donations listed were made August 22, 2003 through February 29, 2004. An asterisk (‘*’) indicates donors of $100 or more.

Donations to the General Fund

Sustaining Members ($500 and above)

Carothers and Associates, Theodore and Elizabeth Eckert,Bev and Wade Fetzer.

Family and Individual Members

Mrs. Louis Ancel, S. Steven and Lynn Barron, Dr. Lawrence Becker, *Ralph Beebe, Steve Beitler, *Diane and Andy Berk, Joan and Julian Berman, Mr. and Mrs. Keki R. Bhote, Stephen and Susan Bisgeier, Sonia and Ted Bloch, Diane and Bruce Boucher, Dr. Sandra Box, Eleanor Coon Briggs, Peter and Joanna Bristol, Katherine Broberg, Stanton and Judy Brody, Rick and Andrea Brown, Robert and Cheryl Byron, Roland and Shirley Calhoun, Walter Calhoun, Fern and Arthur Callistein, *Patricia Cantor, Mike and Karla Cavanagh, *Jane and John Colman, Kathleen Conway, *Marianne Crosby, Clark and Peggy Dean, John and Alice Deimel, Chris and Nancy Dreher, Barry Duke, Angela D’Astici Dusa, Elaine Fiffer, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gielow, *Alice Glicksberg, Louis and Barbara Goldman, William and Joyce Gordon, *Mrs. Herbert Gross, Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Hall, Mrs. and Mrs. William Hall, Dorothy Harrison, Mr. and Mrs. John Held, Ann Hoenig, Ellen D. Hohlfelder, Joyce and Roger Isaacs, Mr. Myles A. Jarrow, *Kristen and Wesley Jasinski, Barbara and Scott Javore, Eugene Kart, *Harold and Ethel Katz, Dr. Sanford and Mrs. Susan Knight, Richard and Debora Kotz, Mr. Charles J. Kurland, Carolyn and David Langenbach, Mr. James Looman, *Nello and Ann Lucchesi, Jerome N. Michell, *Michael and Rebecca Mikolajczyk, Annie Moldafsky, Robert and Louise Morris, Harvey Mysel, Jeanne Oelerich, Karen and Stephen Parker, *Ellen and Scott Paseltiner, The Bucaro/Peloquin Family, *Christopher and Sara Pfaff, Lois W. Pierce, Donald A. Potter, Mary W. Remien, *Vera Rissolo, Thomas Roberts, Martin and Ellen Robinson, Maurice Rosenfeld, *Mrs. Donald I Roth, Dr. Laurence Rubenstein, Jon and Peggy Rubenstein, Joyce Saffir, *Marcia G. Schneider, Mitch and Jill Schoenfeld, *Diane and Bud Schwarzbach, *John and Evey Schweig, Fred and Nancy Schweiger, Jeanne and Bill Seabright, Gail and Lewis Segal, Linda and Steve and Jamey Sharp, Susan and Steve Sholl, Ellen and Richard Shubart, Robert A. Sideman, *Pam Zdunek and Cliff Sladnick, LaVerne Nelson Smelker, Mrs. and Mrs. Seth Stein, Susan and Ireland Stewart, Marilyn Strauss, Lauren Strelsin, Robert S. Sugarman, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Swett, Samuel and Ilyce Tamkin, Frank ten Brink and Jeannine Cleary, Helen and Paul Weaver, Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Weiss, Linda and Gerry Wine, Carolyn Winter, *Robert and Vivian Zahniser.

Corporate Matching Grant

Household International

Businesses and Organizations

*Glencoe Public Library, *Rotary Club of Glencoe, Savin Dental Associates.

Memorial Donations to the Garden Fund

*Elizabeth and Sheldon Boege, *Marilyn and Michael Fenollosa.

Donations to the Garden Renovation Project

Donations of $500 and above

Beal Properties, The Handelsman Family Foundation, Harris Bank Glencoe-Northbrook, Henry Pope Foundation, Marcie and Avy Stein, Elizabeth C. Warren, Robert and Vivian Zahniser.

Donations to $500

*Tom and Jane Arthur, *The Art Store Gallery, Susan and Wayne Benjamen, *Ted and Sonia Bloch, The Bourkes, *Eleanor Coon Briggs, *Stan and Judy Brody, *Rick and Andee Brown, *Mark and Jean Burnstine , *Shirley and Roland Calhoun, *Mike and Karla Cavanagh, *Camille DeFrank and Edward Chez , Mr. and Mrs. Donald Chudacoff, *Nancy and Chris Dreher, *The Epstein and Clement Family, *Bev and Wade Fetzer, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Footlik, *Alice Glicksberg, *Arthur and Susie Goldner, *Jack and Lois Graller, *Joyce and Avrum Gray, *Yvonne and John Held, *Ellen Hohlfelder, *Mrs. H. Earl Hoover, *Ms. Barbara Kettler-Mills, *Kyle and Jim Kiefer, Paula and Mark Lawson, *Eva and Arnold Levy, *Maynard and Judy Louis, Edward Mark III, John Madden, jr. , *Frank and Linda Mayer, *Dr. and Mrs. David McCandless, *Mr. and Mrs. Richard Melcher, *Robert and Louise Morris, *James and Susan Myrick, *Brian P. Norton and Kathryn Grace, *John and Pat O’Brien, *Dr. and Mrs. Edward Olinger, *Roberta and Mel Olshansky, *Dennis and Mary Osimitz, *The Paseltiner Family, *The Bucaro/Peloquin Family, Maxine Philipsborn, *Greta Rance, *Annette and Robert Rasmus, *John and Anne Reilly, *Steven and Onnie Scheyer, *Donald and Susan Schwartz, *Fred and Nancy Schweiger, *Frank and Wendy Serrino, *Howard D. Trienens, *Helen Turley, *Mr. and Mrs. Robert Weiss, *Robert White.⇑

In Our Rotogravure…

As we explained in our last issue, the Rotogravure section of the newspaper was the picture section where you could find photos of celebrities, politicians and cute kids. With today’s press capacities, pictures are sprinkled throughout a newspaper, but through the 1940s, pictures were found in this special section. Here is a smattering of photos from our recent events.

Opening Night at Sports of All Sorts

Lisa Goodale

Vivian Zahniser and Alice Glicksberg

Crowning Glory Hats Exhibit

Beverly Kravitt and Ellen Paseltiner

Katie Sakol, Joan Rohrs, Betsy Johnston, and Marianne Croby

⇑

Artifact Donations Enrich Society’s Collection

One Sunday afternoon last fall, Marilyn Strauss and her brothers Gilbert Winner Kurschner and Jack R. Kurschner walked into the Eklund Center with a collection of photos dating back to the turn of the 20th century. The trio spent the afternoon recalling their lives in Glencoe and those of their parents, grandparents, friends and relatives. It was an oral history of a family that lived in Glencoe at for two generations. We were delighted to receive their treasure trove and look forward to having more families come in with their histories as well. You don’t have to have had a long history—even if you moved here in the 21st century, begin a folder with your family name on it and donate pictures and items that tell us about you.

Artifacts, photos and papers of all sorts enriched the Historical Society’s collection of information over the past six months. Some items come from cleaned attics; others are left by those who themselves are leaving Glencoe, retiring or moving elsewhere; still others are brought by when an exhibit or collection that’s on display jogs someone’s mind about a related item they had at home.

Regular donors Betsy Johnston, Marianne Crosby and Alice Glicksberg (and her children) enriched our Sports of All Sorts exhibit, Marianne brought seven hats that formally belonged to her mother and new donor Alice Gross donated three 1960s pill box hats in relation to our Crowing Glory hat exhibit.

Bob and Louise Morris are leaving Glencoe, retiring to Evanston. We will miss them. While he was cleaning up for the move, Bob came upon another treasure trove: artifacts and reminiscences not only from his years as Village Manger, but the official badge/star from Arthur H. Pantle, director of Public Safety and Chief of Police 1954-1977 and a billy club, official stars, name stamp and name tags for professional conferences that belonged to Herbert H. Shere, Village Manager from 1914-1927. The items are on exhibit in our New Acquisitions book shelf. We thank Bob.

In the year 2003, we received more than 150 items of various sizes and ages, ranging from baseball cards to a 1914 catcher’s mitt to a 2003 menu from Vernon’s on Vernon restaurant. We thank everyone who has donated items, photos and papers in the past six months:

• Two baseball cards: Mike Torrey, Montreal Expos, 1972; Steve Carlton, Phillies, 1972 Victory Leaders, Wilbur Wood and Gaylord Perry: Lois and Jack Graller
• Photo of the Central School graduation class (1939), photos of Old Settlers of Glencoe Annual picnic, Sunday, Aug. 14, 1910 at Beinlich’s Grove; Independence Day programs, July 4, 1918 and July 5, 1915, program for “Plays presented by Eighth Grade” at the Glencoe Public School, Jan. 19, 1917; Postcard of Public School Glencoe, Ill. (Old Central School), 1914 Camp Fire Girl’s costume: Marilyn Kurschner Strauss (Highland Park)
• Illinois license plates 1979, 1984-5; 1963 Skateboard made in shop class at Central School; 1930s four wooden arrows and bow for archery, 1950s fiberglass casting rod: wooden tennis racquet, badminton set, enamel tub for use in the garden: Betsy Johnston ,
• For the Sports of All Sorts exhibit: Wooden goalie stick, downhill ski poles, pogo stick, downhill fiberglass skis: Alice Glicksberg
• 1914 Leather Spaulding catcher’s mitt, pair of 1940s ski poles and wooden skis: Marianne Crosby
• Posters, from the appearance of the Kelly Miller Circus, Sept. 17, 2003: Scott Javore
• Copy of Social Security card issued to Howard Morris Lehman for his job at the Jewel Tea Co, 317 Park Ave.: Howard Lehman
• Waffle iron and supporting ring: Bill Steward
• Wienecke Hardware Store artifacts: hopping bag and dish towel: Ludmilla and Harry Coven (Highland Park)
• 1940s egg beater, meat grinder, 1950s Presto Meatmaster Cooker (pressure cooker): Florence Wallace (Chicago) Acquisitions, contd. from p. 6
• Seven greeting cards, “Squeezsem” brand from Hallmark, drawn by and copyrighted to Milton Youngren, who lived in Glencoe 1930s-1969: Alice Glicksberg, Youngren’s niece
• Four 1970s, 1980s tennis racquets: Jeffrey Shubart (New York)
• Red “union suit,” green canvas backpack, 1980s fishing tackle box, 1978 ski goggles, 1984 Hackey Sack footbag, 2 hockey pucks, baseball autographed by Boys Baseball coaches, 1988: Jonathon Glicksberg (Austria)
• 1984 soccer shin guards, 2001 Reebock athletic shoes, soccer ball: Andrew Glicksberg (Chicago)
• 2003 Jackson Ave. News and Jackson Ave. Annual Block Party newsletter and invitation: M. Clement and H. Kiesler
• Nordic Ski Boots, bicycle flag, playground ball: Katie Glicksberg (California)
• Photo of the Glencoe Railroad Depot – 1920s (?): Winnetka Historical Society
• Glencoe News articles, Glencoe Lights 100 Candles, 75th Anniversary Glencoe Union Church (1872-1947), Seventy Five Years of Glencoe History, Report of the Massacre of Glencoe (Scotland) 1692, Glencoe Memos, artifacts from Arthur H. Pantle and H. H. Shere: Bob Morris
• Black fox hat: Janice Gemp
• Boy Scout plaque “In grateful recognition of services rendered to Boy Scouting,” Asst. dates Boy Scouts of American Charters to St. Elisabeth’s Church Pack 28, South School PTA; Blue and Gold dinner Pack 28 1986-1994 and 2003: Alice Glicksberg

The Historical Society also accessions books, both for our collections of reference materials and works by Glencoe authors. We have added the following in the past six months:

Reference Books

• Fashions of the Thirties, Everyday Fashions of the Thirties as Picture in Sears Catalogs, Shoes, Hats and Fashion Accessories: Janice Gemp
• “Little Rabbit Finds His Way, A Story of Historic Skokie – Early 1800s,” by Susan Van Deusen: Mayor George Van Deusen, Skokie
• Lake Effect by Rich Cohen, God, Caesar and the Freedom of Religion by Elizabeth Warren, George Washington Maher in Kenilworth, Joseph Sears and His Kenilworth: Ellen Shubart ⇑

Glencoe Then and Now

2nd grade theme is also new exhibit

In February 2004, the Chicago Tribune printed a special advertising section on North Shore communities Glencoe, Winnetka and Wilmette, “Then and Now.” Amazingly, that’s the same topic for the Glencoe 2nd grade curriculum done in conjunction with the Historical Society. Board members Scott Javore and Ellen Paseltiner have created a wonderful slide show illustrating what was where “then,” or in Glencoe’s past, and what is there “now.” Second graders watch the show, then take a walking tour of Glencoe’s business district to learn about the history of then and now. History is easier to understand when you see the pictures of the grocery stores of “then” and look at the women’s store Shirise of today.

This year, the Society will again host the second graders for their day of history. We have also added a Saturday morning event for second graders’ parents so they can see what their children experience. Those events will kick off the first week of June. For everyone else, the Society will be mounting a mini-exhibit, featuring the Tribune’s articles on Glencoe Then and Now, augmented with photos from our collection. Join us on the second and fourth Sundays of the month to see this newest addition to our exhibitions. ⇑