Thursday, April 19, 2012
The museum will open for the season on May 8, and will feature new exhibits, including one centering on the 1930 Montgomery census.
April calls for a spring cleaning in the little Settler's Cottage museum on River Street, as well as an updating of the displays. A very interesting new feature will be a display of the 1930 Montgomery census, complete with photos of the known residents. If you had family in Montgomery during that time period, be sure to check this display. The dedicated volunteers have searched for related photos and connected them to the family information. The museum depends on dedicated volunteers who work behind the scenes to keep it operating. We have been blessed to have the temporary services of Joyce Frazier working with the accessioning, as she has extensive computer experience. She is currently working with Barbara Peck, entering data and …
Thursday, April 12, 2012
The engraved pavers will allow you to leave a permanent mark on Montgomery, and all proceeds will go to the Historic Preservation Commission to restore Settler's Cottage.
If you’d like to become a permanent part of Montgomery history, and support its preservation at the same time, now’s your chance. From now until June 30, you can buy an engraved stone paver that will be placed this summer in the pathway around Settler’s Cottage on River Street. The pavers can be engraved with your name, or in memory of a loved one. There are two sizes available. A 4-inch by 7-inch brick can hold up to three lines of engraving, and costs $100. A larger 7-inch by 8-inch brick can hold up to four lines of engraving, and costs $200. All the proceeds will go to the Montgomery Historic Preservation Commission, and will be used for the restoration and maintenance of Settler’s Cottage and other projects. Settler’s Cottage was …
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Five of the actors who portrayed historical figures during last week's Cemetery Walk at Riverside Cemetery moved their act to Village Hall on Tuesday, re-creating the walk for seniors and those who missed it.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Andre Salles
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Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Those who missed last Wednesday's third annual Cemetery Walk at Riverside Cemetery had a chance to catch the performances indoors on Tuesday, as five of the seven actors reprised their roles inside Village Hall. The annual re-enactment is geared mainly at seniors, and those who have difficulty making the walk through the cemetery. Organized by the Historic Preservation Commission, the Cemetery Walk features real historical figures buried in Riverside Cemetery. Actors stand by the gravesites of the people they are portraying, and tell their life stories. This year saw seven actors at four sites: All but Buchanan and Peck, who were in school, were on hand Tuesday to reprise their roles. They received loud applause and praise from the roughly…
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Pat Torrance concludes her two-part recollection of the effort to save and restore Settler's Cottage.
Note: Read Part I here. After first agreeing to try to save Settler’s Cottage, the board began to have second thoughts. However, Jeanette Lee, Historical Preservation Commission chairman, was deeply committed to saving it. She had done her homework and studied the pros and cons. In an April 2005 article in the Chicago Tribune, she was quoted as saying, “The dwelling is no bigger than a couple of parking spaces,” in response to critics who said there was no room for it. “Once you destroy a structure, it is gone,” she emphasized. She made a plea to the trustees at the next regular board meeting. Again her logic was flawless: “The fact is that these historic homes have fallen in your laps, so to speak, and now it is necessary to consciously …
Friday, May 20, 2011
If you want to join in, you need to fill out your entry form by May 27.
How would you like to get rid of some of your old stuff, and help preserve Settlers Cottage on River Street at the same time? You’ll have that chance next month, as Montgomery kicks off its fifth annual community garage sale. On June 9, 10 and 11, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the village will turn into a massive market, and visitors will be able to get a guided tour of homes with bargains to peddle. A rain date of June 16-18 has been set as well. Last year, a total of 125 households participated in the garage sale, according to Debbie Buchanan, executive assistant to the village manager. The fee to join up this year is $10, and registration forms are available at Village Hall, 200 N. River Street, or online at the village website. But you’d …
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The village's Historic Preservation Commission preserved Montgomery's oldest structure as a museum. You can see it for yourself on Sunday.
Montgomery's Settlers Cottage museum opened for the summer season on Tuesday. Settler's Cottage is the village's oldest structure, built around 1840 by settler Daniel Gray, Montgomery's founder. In 2003, the village purchased the deteriorated home, and planned to demolish it to make way for the new Village Hall. But a dedicated group of historic preservationists suggested a different path, which the village ended up taking—Settler's Cottage was preserved, and the Historic Preservation Commission was tasked with raising the money to renovate it. No taxpayer money has been spent on the project—a combination of grants and donations helped the commission restore the exterior and interior. Now, Settler's Cottage remains in front of Village Hall…
Monday, February 14, 2011
If you have some time to volunteer, and you're interested in local history, you should read this.
Do you have a passion for local history? If so, the village of Montgomery could use your help. Debbie Buchanan, executive assistant to the village manager, is looking for a few volunteers to help with Montgomery’s historic preservation efforts. The village does not have staff members dedicated to these efforts—it falls to Buchanan, who fits them in when she can, she said. There are short-term and long-term projects in the works, all of which could use some volunteer help, Buchanan said. The most immediate concern is cataloguing the donations of historical documents and other items the village takes in several times a month. “It’s wonderful to have these things, but they need to be properly stored,” Buchanan said. “We have a computer …
John Hammond
9:08 pm on Wednesday, May 11, 2011
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