Historical Society’s Eklund Center Great Place for Sunday Afternoon Viewing

Posted on Jan 18, 2005 in categories Exhibits, Press Releases

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Victorian Bride and Our Family Exhibits Open February 13 (Jan 26, 2005)
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Eklund Center to Host Open House (Jan 4, 2005)

The Glencoe Historical Society will be open Sunday, Jan. 23, from 2-4 p.m., providing a warm respite on a wintry afternoon. Come and visit our series of exhibits:

  • The year-long 1940s: Years of Transition;
  • Old Glencoe;
  • Glencoe’s Business District;
  • Eklund Family Workshop; and
  • The newest exhibit titled, Our Family.

Families with stories to tell will be featured, highlighting where the family lived, where they went to school and how they worked. The first family history shown in words and pictures is that of the Kurschners, who lived here from the 1880s until the 1960s.

The Kurschners came to Glencoe from Germany via Chicago. The children attended Glencoe Grammar School—the only school in Glencoe at the time. After a devastating fire that destroyed their home, a gracious neighbor gave them a new place to live—a home that had formerly been a Glencoe school! Read in their own words the story of this valiant brood and how they lived through tragedy, making their way from an orphanage back to Glencoe. Pictures of school classes, the original settlers and the Blue Line Taxi, founded by Emil Kurschner, explain the story.

Over the following months, we will be collecting and displaying photos and oral histories from other families. If you would like to contribute, bring your pictures in and tells us your story. Your family may be featured next! Photos can be duplicated and originals returned to the owners.

The museum will unveil our Victorian Valentine Bride from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005, with a special event opening. Highlighting a dress donated to the society by the late Marian Newhall—designed of champagne embroidered silk—a Victorian room has been designed with items from three people who played major roles in Glencoe and donated furniture, home accessories and personal items: Sally Eklund, Ethel Hein and the Marian Newhall. Calling cards on a sliver salver, hand-written wedding invitation, and the history of bridal traditions will be on view. Refreshments will be served on this special day.

The Glencoe Historical Society’s Eklund Center is open every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month and by appointment. Call 847.835.0040 and leave a message on the machine if you would like to schedule an appointment. Information can be found at www.glencoehistoricalsociety.org