Elgin Area Historical Society

The Elgin Area Historical Society is a nonprofit historical organization devoted to preserving and presenting the history of Elgin, Illinois, and the surrounding area. Its principal public base is Old Main, a Greek Revival building on the Elgin Academy campus at 360 Park Street. The building houses the Elgin History Museum, the Society’s offices, research facilities, and a gift shop, making it both a museum venue and an operating center for local historical work. The organization was established in 1961 through the efforts of local writers and historians, including LaRoy Morning, Madeline Sadler Waggoner, Karl Lehr, and E. C. Alft. During its early years, the Society did not have a permanent facility. Donated objects and archival materials were stored in members’ homes and in the basement of the Gail Borden Public Library District. This period of dispersed collecting helped establish the Society’s historical and archival base but also created a long-term need for a dedicated museum and research building. The Society’s move toward a permanent home was linked to the preservation of Old Main. The building opened on December 1, 1856, as a private school operated by Elgin Academy and became an important example of the city’s Greek Revival architecture. It was the first Elgin building placed on the National Register of Historic Places. After a lightning-related fire in 1911, its roof was replaced in a form that lacked the original gabled roof and cupola. Elgin Academy continued to use the structure until 1969, when financial pressures and new safety requirements contributed to its abandonment. The city later acquired the building through a preservation effort, and the Society became involved in its long-term reuse. Following restoration work and a lease granted by the City of Elgin in 1981, the Society moved into the first floor in 1987 and occupied all three floors by 1991. Its museum presents a broad account of Elgin’s development while giving special attention to subjects that shaped the community’s identity. Exhibits address the Elgin National Watch Company and the local watch industry, the Elgin Road Races, and the Song of Hiawatha Pageant, which entertained local audiences for more than five decades. The Society has also worked with sponsors on traveling exhibitions, including projects about city planning and the experiences of Jewish immigrants and their descendants in Elgin. Research is supported by the Reber Research Library, named for Clarence Reber, a former president and major advocate, collector, and cataloger. The library holds historical photographs, photographic negatives from the Elgin Courier News, local probate and divorce records, materials concerning Elgin homes, and production records for many Elgin National Watch Company watches made before the 1950s. It also provides research services, including assistance with identifying and documenting particular Elgin watches. The Society combines professional staff with extensive volunteer participation. Its public activities include museum tours, annual and general meetings, brown-bag history presentations, school outreach, summer history camps, history-themed scavenger hunts, and programs involving watchmaking and local architecture. It has partnered with Elgin Area School District U-46 on the American History Partnership and the U-46 Roadmap of American History Project. Since 1988, its annual Cemetery Walk at Bluff City Cemetery has used costumed interpreters and historical displays to explore the lives of cemetery residents and changing burial customs. Publications, newsletters, videos, and other media further extend its educational mission beyond the museum building.

The Elgin Area Historical Society was formed in 1961 by local authors, historians, and preservation-minded residents who sought to document the history of Elgin and make it accessible to the public. Early organizers included LaRoy Morning, Madeline Sadler Waggoner, Karl Lehr, and E. C. Alft. For much of its first several decades, the Society operated without a dedicated building. Members stored artifacts in their homes, while other materials were kept in the basement of the Gail Borden Public Library District. The organization’s institutional development became closely connected with Old Main, a historic structure originally opened by Elgin Academy on December 1, 1856. Designed in the Greek Revival style, the building was recognized as the first Elgin property listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A lightning strike caused a fire in 1911 and destroyed the roof; the replacement removed the original gabled roof and cupola. Elgin Academy used Old Main until 1969, when financial difficulties and updated safety codes contributed to its abandonment. The City of Elgin subsequently treated preservation of Old Main as a suitable bicentennial community project. A fundraising campaign proposed by merchant John Spiess, known as “Buck-a-Brick,” sold 150,000 bricks that were laid in Fountain Square Plaza Mall. The campaign helped the city assume ownership of the property. Although another fire occurred in 1978, the exterior was restored during 1979 and 1980. In 1981, the city leased Old Main to the Historical Society. Society fundraising, state and federal assistance, and volunteer labor from Society members, the Elgin Golden K Kiwanis Club, and the Gifford Park Association supported the rehabilitation of the interior for museum use. The Society occupied the first floor beginning in 1987 and expanded throughout the building by 1991. Old Main now accommodates the museum, offices, research facilities, and retail space. The museum’s exhibits provide an overview of Elgin’s history and explore subjects especially associated with the city, including watch manufacturing, the Elgin Road Races, and the long-running Song of Hiawatha Pageant. The Reber Research Library serves as the Society’s principal archival and reference facility. Its holdings include historic photographs, negatives from the Elgin Courier News, records useful for researching local properties and families, and production documentation for many Elgin National Watch Company watches produced before the 1950s. The library also offers assistance to researchers seeking information about individual watches and aspects of Elgin’s built and social history. Public education is a central part of the Society’s work. Staff and volunteers provide tours, lectures, brown-bag programs, meetings, children’s activities, a summer history camp, scavenger hunts, and hands-on experiences related to watchmaking and architecture. Partnerships with Elgin Area School District U-46 have supported teacher development and the American History Partnership and Roadmap of American History initiatives. The Society also develops exhibitions with outside sponsors and has published books, newsletters, and audiovisual material. Its bimonthly newsletter, The Crackerbarrel, has been published since 1962. Since 1988, the organization has presented an annual autumn Cemetery Walk at Bluff City Cemetery. Costumed interpreters portray selected cemetery residents, while related displays explain historic cemetery practices, design, and ceremonies. Through these combined activities, the Society functions as a museum, archive, educational organization, publisher, and steward of Elgin’s material and documentary heritage.

• 1991

  Full use of Old Main established

  [1]Elgin Area Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society expanded its operations to all three floors of Old Main.

• 1988

  Cemetery Walk launched

  [1]Elgin Area Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society began its annual autumn Cemetery Walk at Elgin’s Bluff City Cemetery.

• 1987

  Museum moves into Old Main

  [1]Elgin Area Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society moved into the first floor of Old Main, creating a permanent home for its museum and operations.

• 1981

  Old Main leased to the Society

  [1]Elgin Area Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The City of Elgin leased the historic Old Main building to the Society after preservation and restoration efforts.

• 1962

  The Crackerbarrel begins publication

  [1]Elgin Area Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The Society began publishing its bimonthly local-history newsletter, The Crackerbarrel.

• 1961

  Society established

  [1]Elgin Area Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Local authors and historians organized the Elgin Area Historical Society to preserve and interpret the history of Elgin and the surrounding area.

A community-centered historical institution combining museum interpretation, archival research, preservation advocacy, volunteer programming, and education focused on Elgin’s local heritage.

• Museum · 1987

  Elgin History Museum

  The Society’s museum occupies Old Main and presents a general history of Elgin alongside focused displays on the city’s watch industry, the Elgin Road Races, the Song of Hiawatha Pageant, and other important local experiences. Exhibitions are supported by artifacts, photographs, archival research, and interpretive programming.

• Archive and research library

  Reber Research Library

  Named for former president Clarence Reber, the library provides access to photographs, newspaper negatives, local records, architectural research, and Elgin National Watch Company production records. It also offers research assistance concerning local history and individual Elgin watches.

• Public history event · 1988

  Cemetery Walk

  An annual autumn program at Bluff City Cemetery uses costumed actors to portray cemetery residents and supplements the performances with displays about historic cemetery customs, ceremonies, and styles.

• Publication · 1962

  The Crackerbarrel

  A bimonthly newsletter covering Elgin history, Society activities, and local historical subjects. The publication has served as a continuing communication channel since 1962.

• Education

  Educational programs

  The Society offers tours, lectures, school partnerships, a summer history camp, scavenger hunts, and hands-on activities connected with Elgin’s watchmaking and architectural heritage.

• 1976Buck-a-Brick preservation campaign

  Elgin, Illinois, United States

  A community fundraising effort proposed by merchant John Spiess sold 150,000 bricks to support the City of Elgin’s acquisition and preservation of Old Main.

  Outcome. The campaign helped the city take ownership of Old Main and contributed to restoration work that prepared the building for later use by the Historical Society.

  Source
• American History Partnership

  Elgin Area School District U-46, Illinois, United States

  A partnership with Elgin Area School District U-46 designed to strengthen teachers’ knowledge and classroom treatment of American history and social studies.

  Outcome. The program expanded the Society’s educational outreach to teachers and students.

  Source
• Roadmap of American History Project

  Elgin Area School District U-46, Illinois, United States

  An education initiative undertaken with U-46 to support historical learning through local and national history resources.

  Outcome. The project contributed to school-focused interpretation and teacher education.

  Source

1. 1Elgin Area Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Elgin Area Historical Society official websiteelginhistory.org