Glencoe Historical Society
at the
Eklund History Center & Garden

On November 15 a swamp white oak was planted in the garden in memory of Sara Eklund—long-time benefactor to the Glencoe Historical Society—and her brother, Carl.

The planting and its significance was described in the following notice that appeared in the January/February 2005 issue of the Glencoe Memo published by the Village of Glencoe:

Mariani Landscaping crew plants tree by hand.

A Swamp White Oak tree memorializing Sara (Sally) C. Eklund and her brother, Carl H. Eklund, was planted in the Garden of the Glencoe Historical Society November 15. The tree was donated by Carl W. Eklund, son of Carl H. Eklund, and his wife Lois of St. Louis. The Swamp White Oak was chosen because it is a tree native to the Glencoe area and for its significance to the Eklund name. Loosely translated, Eklund means “Land of the Oaks.”

Wrapping trunk to protect it from a potentially cold winter.

The Board of the Glencoe Historical Society has invested considerable “sweat equity” in the wonderful asset donated by Sally in 2000, as well as made major efforts to raise funds for the purpose of creating a functional historical museum and research center from what had been the family’s workshop. Equal amounts of time and energy have been spent on renovating the sizable downtown property surrounding the museum to reflect a “turn-of-the-century garden.” Boy Scouts, the Glencoe Park District, the Village Board of Trustees, the Chicago Botanic Garden, foundation grants, Glencoe Rotary Club, Glencoe businesses, community garden clubs, Glencoe Chamber of Commerce, Mariani Landscape, and many community donors and volunteers have all played a very important role in this ongoing project. For the Society to grow in a relatively short time from essentially a “file cabinet” to a notable and growing institution serving the Village of Glencoe, is quite remarkable and a tribute to all those who have valued Sally’s generosity by making a determined effort to see that her dream of her property being used for the benefit of the community is realized!

The Eklund History Center and Garden is the home of the Glencoe Historical Society and is open to the public on the second and fourth Sundays from September through June, during the hours of 2:00 to 4:00 PM. It is also open by appointment and for special events. Additional information is available at www.GlencoeHistoricalSociety.org. Telephone: 847.835.0040

Memorial donations may be made in Sally Eklund’s name to the Eklund Garden Fund: Glencoe Historical Society, 377 Park Ave., Glencoe, IL 60022.

View of Tree in front of Eklund History Center.

The Mariani Landscape crew spent 5 hours at the Eklund History Center and Garden on November 15. They hand dug the hole for the planting of the 2 and 1/2" Swamp White Oak so as not to disturb the rest of the newly restored Garden; they encountered significant root systems from the old diseased elm which had to be removed before the new tree could be planted. Everything was completed in a meticulous manner.

Stop by and visit the garden—even in the winter—to enjoy the results of all the hard work that has been done by the Historical Society with community support.

The tree was wrapped to protect it from a potentially cold winter, encased in new soil and deep watered.

The crew also took additional time—at no additional charge—to prune existing shrubs and water the other newly planted trees and shrubs for the winter months.

The tree is sited as a centerpiece in the Garden and to fit into the overall Garden design. Once established, the it should grow at the rate of a foot or more per year and it will soon appear as though it has been there all along.

The Society is delighted with this donation from Carl W. Eklund. It is a fitting tribute to Sally and her brother.