Glencoe Historical Society
at the
Eklund History Center & Garden

Front page of Chicago Daily Tribune from Monday, December 8, 1941

The exciting 1940s: A Time of Transition exhibit comes alive with music, fashion, and two room-scenes reminiscent of that by-gone era at the Glencoe Historical Societys Eklund Center, 377 Park Ave., from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004. Whether you lived through the era—or just remember Grandmothers stories about it—now is the time to recall the years that changed America and Glencoe, politically, socially and culturally.

Roll-top desk from Glencoe train station

The 1940s brings up many images: the Homefront during the Second World War, when Glencoe residents did their part by saving fats, scrap and paper, the children “cleaned” their plates to save food supplies, ration stamps was used to buy essentials and Spam was the dinner of choice. But the 1940s also meant good times: Glen Miller music, Victory gardens, Ravinia concerts, and knitting and sewing new clothes. The 1940s exhibit gives you a taste of both ends of the decade that introduced long-playing records, radio as a evenings entertainment, and doctors still made housecalls.

Books, toys, and food from the 1940s

The exhibit features two “rooms” from a typical Glencoe house in the 1940s— a kitchen with table set with Fiestaware (the antique variety) and a living room with Dad’s favorite lounge chair and desk with typewriter and carbon paper nearby. Display cases are filled with items from Glencoe residents who lived through the era, including Lionel trains, children’s books, and sheet music of the most popular tunes. Handmade children’s quilts hang on the wall.

Hats, pictures, and sheet music from the 1940s

The Eklund Center has reopened following a summer’s worth of construction work to finish out the hallway and kitchen walls, painting and cleaning. Much of the work was made possible by a grant from the Village of Glencoe for capital improvements. One new display room has been created and will be filled with a special textile exhibit in the coming months.

Also on display are:

• What’s in Our Name?, the story of Glencoe, Scotland and its relation to the Village and the first Glencoe seal; and
• Political paraphernalia through the years—buttons, voting machine tutor and Glencoe voting cards, the latter a new addition to the museum that will only be on view through November.

They join the three permanent exhibitions:

• Old Glencoe (1830-1890s),
• Glencoe’s Business District, and
• The Eklund Furniture Workshop.

The Eklund Garden also was improved over the summer, with a massive effort to bring in rejuvenated soil, new plantings and a new, winding garden path. The work was funded through private contributions. Open to the public at all times, we welcome those who would like to walk through and enjoy the beauty and quiet of this oasis in downtown Glencoe.

The Society invites everyone to join us opening night, September 17, or any of the second and fourth Sundays of the months from now until June, 2005 from 2–4 p.m., when the history center is open. For further information or to make a special appointment to see the collections or do research call 847.835.0040 and leave a message on the machine.

Comments

1.  

2. On September 21, 2004 2:13 PM, Nello Lucchesi said:

   The exhibit on "political paraphernalia" is discussed in this article.

3. On September 21, 2004 2:19 PM, Nello Lucchesi said:

   The garden improvements are discussed in this article.

4. On September 22, 2004 2:42 PM, Nello Lucchesi said:

   The rennovations to the Eklund History Center, which houses the Glencoe Historical Society Museum, were made possible in part by a $10,000 grant from the Village of Glencoe according to this article titled, “Groups to split $88,500 from village grant fund” published in the April 15, 2004 issue of the Glencoe News.