Madison County Historical Society

Lincoln and Koerner at the Crossroads of History
2024-04-14 14:00 - 16:00 UTC | Main Street Community Center, 1003 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, IL, 62025, United States
Jack LeShien and Mollie McKenzie, Co-chairs of the Gustave Koerner House Restoration Committee in Belleville, Illinois, will present a program for the Madison County Historical Society’s Speaker Series on April 14 at 2 p.m. The subject is “Lincoln and Koerner at the Crossroads of History.” MCHS Speaker Series events are free and open to the public. These events are held at the Main Street Community Center at 1003 N. Main Street in Edwardsville, Illinois.
Gustave Koerner may be one of Southwestern Illinois’ least known, yet most influential Illinoisians from his era. Born in Germany in 1809. He was a college educated man who in his youth was an activist. Regarded as a freedom fighter by modern historians, in Germany, in his time, he was considered a dangerous anti-government revolutionary. He fled his native country to avoid imprisonment.
In America, Koerner continued his activism, working with his friend, Abraham Lincoln, to stop the expansion of slavery in America. He helped form the Republican Party and in 1856 became chair of the Illinois Republican Party. Two years later he was president of the Convention that nominated his friend, Abraham Lincoln, to the Senate. He travelled the state, politicking for Lincoln and against the expansion of slavery, lecturing in both German and English, depending on the audience. One author called him a “confessed enemy of slavery.” That description relates to Koerner’s words when he said, “Do right and fear no one.”
When he came to America, Koerner eventually settled in Belleville, Illinois, where his accomplishments were extraordinary. He was an attorney who was better educated than most due to his university education in Germany. When his law partner, James Shields, retired as Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, Koerner was chosen to replace him. He met Abraham Lincoln through his legal career and sometimes was co-counsel in railroad cases. He was a politician who was a party loyalist, but not afraid to change parties when it failed to support issues he felt strongly about. Koerner also served as a Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, as a Colonel in the Civil War, and, as U. S. Ambassador to Spain.
Le Chien and McKenzie are responsible for the renovation of Koerner’s 1854 two-story Greek Revival home in Belleville. Both are completely immersed in the history of Gustave Koerner and they tell a good story about both the man and his influences on this area and the country. They will also discuss the restoration of Koerner’s nearly 200-year-old house. Le Chien was news director at WIBV radio, Belleville, for 17 years and in that job learned an appreciation of the history of southwest Illinois. Since 1995 he has been involved in historic preservation in Belleville and in 2001 became co-chair with Molly McKenzie of the Gustave Koerner House Committee.
In 2010, McKenzie retired from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency after a 32-year career spent in Southwestern Illinois. She has received many awards over the years for both professional and volunteer projects promoting preservation as well as projects that educate the public about the diverse historical record of this area.
The Madison County Historical Society owns and operates the MCHS History Museum and Archival Library at 801 N. Main Street in Edwardsville, Illinois. The museum is currently closed for renovation, but library Hours are Wed.-Fri. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sun. 1-4 p.m. The library is also open Mon.-Tues. by appointment only. MCHS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that receives no public funding. For more information on this program or to learn more about Madison County history, visit the Society’s website https://madcohistory.org/, or call 618-656-6579.

Speakers Series - Larry Kinsella, Chip-A-Canoe Project
2024-02-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Main Street Community Center, 1003 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, IL, 62025, United States
On Sunday, February 11 at 2 p. m. the Madison County Historical Society will welcome Larry Kinsella as the first presenter in the 2024 MCHS Speaker Series. The event is held. at the Main Street Community Center at 1003 N. Main Street in Edwardsville, Illinois. Speaker Series events are free and open to the public.
Kinsella will discuss last summer’s “Chip-a-canoe” project, where volunteers spent 451 hours turning a felled tree into a canoe using only hand-made stone tools as the Native Americans would have done centuries ago. It had been done before by others, but it was not well documented. They set out to complete the most documented dugout canoe, experimental archaeology project and succeeded. When completed, the canoe, with passengers, floated down the Illinois River from Kampsville to Hardin.
Kinsella, who has a strong interest in experimental archaeology, said he talked about this project for 35 years. He said, “It’s inevitable that someone finally calls your bluff. That’s what happened a few years ago at the Rabbit Stick Rendezvous in Rexburg, Idaho. Myron Cretney told me I’d better start the project while I still could!”
Kinsella, an amateur archaeologist, has been a volunteer at Cahokia Mounds for 50 years and has been involved in archaeology for more than 65 years. He began to flintknap in 1980 and has authored many articles and papers on experimental archaeology. In 2010 he was awarded the prestigious Don Crabtree
Award by the Society of American Archaeology. A carpenter by trade, he combines those skills with his experience in experimental archaeology to provide programming for libraries, schools, universities, and now, the Madison County Historical Society.
The Madison County Historical Society owns and operates the MCHS Archival Library at 801 N. Main Street in Edwardsville, Illinois. Hours are Wed.-Fri. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sun. 1-4 p.m. The library is also open Mon.-Tues. by appointment only. MCHS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that receives no public funding.. For more information or to learn more about Madison County history, visit the Society’s website at https://madcohistory.org/, or call 618-656-6579.

Paranormal Investigators to Re-Explore Weir House
2024-01-20 19:00 - 2024-01-21 00:30 | Weir House Museum Building, 715 N. Main, Edwardsville, IL, 62025, United States
The Midwest Paranormal Investigators Consortium (MPIC) will be back to explore the Weir House with the intent of learning if there has been any change in paranormal activity since the building has undergone major restoration.
The evening will start in the Archival Library (801 N. Main St., Edwardsville) at 7 p.m., on Jan. 20, 2024, with a brief overview by members of MPIC on the “Dos and don’ts” of researching and investigating possible haunted sites or paranormal activity, as well as a review of equipment used in paranormal investigation. Beginning at 8 p.m., the program will shift next door to the Weir House for a nighttime investigation.
This event is limited to 20 participants, 15 years and older, on a fire-come, first-served basis. If there is a high level of interest in this program, a wait list will be created for an additional session later in the year.
Time: 7 p.m. – midnight (participants can leave before midnight), Jan. 20, 2024
Place: Madison County Archival Library, 801 N. Main St., Edwardsville
Price: $40 (Society members, $35)
For questions or to reserve a space contact Lynn Engleman, lae2017@gmail.com or call 703-995-0806 and leave your name and contact information.

Farm to Factory
2023-07-17 09:00 - 2023-07-20 15:00 | Center for Educational Opportunities, 201 Staunton Rd, Troy, IL, 62294, United States
A history-oriented summer camp for youth, ages 9-12, is being offered by the Madison County Historical Society in partnership with the Madison County Regional Office of Education #41. The camp will be held July 17 – 20, 2023, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. daily.
Campers begin each day at the Center for Educational Opportunities in Troy, Illinois, before heading out for a daily field trip exploring one of the subjects included in the 2023 itinerary. This year’s theme, “From Farm to Factory,” will explore a Centennial farm, the coal mining industry, the Mississippi River, and the N. O. Nelson Manufacturing Company. School buses with experienced drivers will transport campers to their daily destinations.
The camp is designed and staffed by professional teachers and educators, including Bob Daiber, Norma Asadorian, Cara Lane, and Carol Manning.
The registration fee of $150 includes snacks, transportation, entry fees, and educational materials.
Campers are asked to bring their own sack lunch.
Registration opens on April 17 at bit.ly/madcohistorycamp
For additional information, go to https://madcohistory.org/ or call 618-656-1294.

MCHS Speakers Series: An Introduction to Armenian Culture, History, and the Armenian Genocide
2023-06-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Main Street Community Center, 1003 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, IL, 62025, United States
“An Introduction to Armenian Culture, History, and the Armenian Genocide” is the topic for the June 11 Speaker Series program from the Madison County Historical Society (MCHS).
Historian Norma Asadorian, whose Armenian grandparents immigrated to Granite City, Illinois, will introduce the to Armenian culture and the Armenian genocide. The program will begin at 2 p.m. at the Main Street Community Center at 1003 N. Main Street in Edwardsville, Illinois. The program is free and open to the public.
Armenians, and other immigrants who settled in Granite City’s Lincoln Place neighborhood, played an important role in the development of the planned community. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Granite City was established by the immigrant industrialist brothers Fredrick and William Niedringhaus across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. Granite City began as an industrial town producing graniteware household items and industrial steel. It was connected to other parts of the country by several railroad lines. The need for large amounts of cheap factory labor attracted thousands of immigrants, including Hungarians, Macedonians, Mexicans, and Armenians, among many others.
Known to historians as “The First Genocide of the Twentieth Century,” the Armenian Genocide is a significant event in modern Armenian history and continues to influence foreign relations with the Republic of Armenia and the lives and shared memories of Armenians and their descendants around the globe. This is what prompted the immigration of many early Granite City Armenians.
Norma Asadorian earned a BA degree from MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois, where she double majored in History and in Russian and East European Studies. Subsequently, she attended SIUE where she obtained a BS degree in Education with a major in History and later an MA in History. Before her retirement in 2012, Asadorian was an award-winning secondary school teacher for 37 years. She is the and President of the Lincoln Place Heritage Association, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the historical and cultural heritage of Granite City’ historic Lincoln Place neighborhood.
This program is the third of four offered annually by the Madison County Historical Society. All Speaker Series programs are free and open to the public. MCHS is a 501(c)3 charitable organization that owns and operates the Madison County History Museum and Archival Library at 801 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, Illinois. For additional information visit the MCHS website at https://madcohistory.org/ or call 618-656-1294.

An Evening with Thomas Jefferson
2023-05-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Wildey Theatre, 252 N. Main, Edwardsville, 62025, United States
The Madison County Historical Society (MCHS) and Friends of the Wildey Theat

er are hosting “Thomas Jefferson: The Man and Legacy” featuring historian Kurt Smith at the Wildey Theatre on Thursday, May 11, at 7 p.m.
Historian and researcher Kurt Smith has devoted his life and career to the study and portrayal of Thomas Jefferson. He is one of only two men who work full-time introducing the public to the story of Jefferson as a man, as well as a dynamic figure in the history of America. Smith often appears at Colonial Williamsburg where Thomas Jefferson attended college at William and Mary.
Smith’s presentation gives an honest portrayal of Jefferson in all his humanity as a hopeful, flawed, passionate human being.
The historic Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville, Illinois is located at 252 N. Main Street. Thanks to the
support of the Lewis and Clark Historical Society, this event is free and open to the public. No tickets are required. For additional information about this event, call MCHS at 618-656-1294.

Free MCHS Program: Migration and Health in National and Global History
2023-05-07 14:00 | Weir House Museum Building, 715 N. Main, Edwardsville, IL, 62025, United States
The Madison County Historical Society (MCHS) will offer two new exhibits and a companion program beginning May 7 and May 10. “Migration and Health in National and Global History,” will be presented Sunday, May 7, at 2 p.m. at the Main Street Community Center at 1003 N. Main Street in Edwardsville.
The speaker, Kathleen Vongsathorn, is an Associate Professor of History at SIUE where she teaches the history of health, disease and science. The program was created to showcase the two exhibits to follow on May 10.

Celebrating the Mississippi River Festival
2023-04-16 14:00 - 16:00 | Main Street Community Center, 1003 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, IL, 62025, United States
Mark Pierce, author of “When the Stars Came Out: Stories of the Mississippi River Festival,” will be the presenter for the April Madison County Historical Society’s Speaker Series on Sunday, April 16 at 2.p.m.
The event will be held at the Main Street Community Center at 1003 N. Main Street in Edwardsville. Pierce has been a journalist and corporate communications leader in the St. Louis area for more than 30 years. A graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, his love of music and connections with many who played pivotal roles in the Mississippi River Festival (MRF) story served as inspiration for his book which was written with former festival director Lyle Ward, and Jack Twesten. The book became an outlet for the artists who played, the fans who cheered, and the workers behind the scenes to tell their stories.
Pierce will be sharing stories he collected when researching the book and will have the new book available for sale after the presentation.
This event is free and open to the public. For additional event information call 618-656-1294.

History Harvest: Wood River
2023-02-25 10:00 - 14:00 | Wood River Public Library, 326 E. Ferguson Ave., Wood River, 62095
Current or former residents of Madison County are invited to attend a third “History Harvest” on Saturday, February 25 from 10 A.M. – 2 P.M. at Wood River Public Library. The library is located at 326 E. Ferguson Ave, Wood River. The focus of the History Harvest is to collect information for a future exhibit about immigration and migration to Madison County.
The History Harvest is collaborative effort of MCHS staff and volunteers with students and faculty from SIUE’s IRIS Center and Department of History. It is supported by a SHARP grant from the American Historical Association and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
If area residents know the story of how or why their family moved to Madison County and have documentation, the Society asks that they bring them to this event where items will be scanned to make their family part of the recorded story of Madison County. Participants will be given a USB drive with high-quality digital images of their items.
Walk-ins are welcome but reservations are recommended. To make an appointment, go to: https://bit.ly/wood-river-harvest, email margars@siue.edu.

History Harvest: Immigration and Migration
2023-01-21 11:00 - 14:00 | Collinsville Memorial Library, 408 West Main, Collinsville, IL, 62234, United States
Current or former residents of Madison County are invited to attend a second “History Harvest” on Saturday, January 21 from 11 A.M. – 2 P.M. at Collinsville Memorial Library. The library is located at 408 West Main Street in Collinsville. The focus of the History Harvest is to collect information for a future exhibit about immigration and migration to Madison County.
The History Harvest is collaborative effort of MCHS staff and volunteers with students and faculty from SIUE’s IRIS Center and Department of History. It is supported by a SHARP grant from the American Historical Association and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
If area residents know the story of how or why their family moved to Madison County and have documentation, the Society asks that they bring them to this event where items will be scanned to make their family part of the recorded story of Madison County. Participants will be given a USB drive with high-quality digital images of their items.
Walk-ins are welcome but reservations are recommended. To make an appointment, go to: https://bit.ly/collinsville-harvest, email margars@siue.edu, or call 618-656-1294.

Dining in History -- Annual MCHS Meeting
2022-11-06 12:00 - 15:00 | Old Bakery Beer Company, 400 Landmarks Blvd, Alton, IL, 62002, United States
Dining in History is an annual MCHS event held at an historic property in Madison County where guests can enjoy a meal and learn about the venue through a program and guided tours. This year the Society is hosting the event at the Old Bakery Brew Company in Alton that is in the former Colonial Bakery building.
In earlier years participants have explored the Wildey Theatre, learned about the Alton Dam, and dined in the rotunda of the Madison County Courthouse to celebrate its Centennial. The Dining in History event also serves as the Society’s Annual Meeting for the purpose of electing Board members.

Schedule

Brewery Tours: Noon and 12:30 p.m. & social hour. (Please indicate which time slot you want under remarks when making your reservation)
Buffet Luncheon: 1 p.m. (Herbed chicken breast, roast beef, potatoes, salad, dessert, beverage and more)
Cash Bar
MCHS Annual Meeting
Program: Beer and Bread: The History of Breweries and Bakeries in Alton by Lacy McDonald and Don Huber

Tickets
$45 for MCHS members
$55 for non-members
Reservation deadline is Oct. 21.
Call 618-656-1294 for more information

Peering into the Past -- Paranormally
2022-10-29 18:30 | Madison County Archival Library, 801 North Main Street, Edwardsville, IL, 62025, United States
The Madison County Historical Society invites all history buffs, skeptics, and paranormal enthusiasts to attend a program entitled “Introduction to Paranormal Investigating,” with an opportunity to participate in a paranormal investigation of Weir House. The event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29.
Photo credit: Lynn Watkins Photography
The evening will start at the Archival Library (801 N. Main. St., Edwardsville) at 6:30 p.m. with a seminar by members of the Midwest Paranormal Investigators Consortium on the “Dos and Don’ts” of researching and investigating possible haunted sites or paranormal activity, as well as a review of equipment used in paranormal investigation. They will also cover ways to “debunk” those weird feelings and bumps in the night. Beginning at 8 p.m. the program will shift next door to the Weir House for a nighttime investigation.
This event is limited to 20 participants, 15 years and older, on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is a high level of interest in this program, a wait list will be created for an additional session later in the years.
Time: 6:30 p.m. – midnight (participants can leave before midnight)

Vintage Baseball Game
2022-10-15 12:30 - 13:30 | Winston Brown Rec Complex, 1325 Shiller Ave., Edwardsville, IL, 62025, United States
Join us at the Winston Brown Recreation Center in Edwardsville for an old-fashioned game of base ball, using the official 1860 rulebook where baseball was spelled “base ball.”
And that’s not the only difference! Come for batting practice at 12:30 (kids over 10 and adults) or for the game at 1:30 p.m. when the Belleville Stags face-off against the St. Louis Brown Stockings.
MCHS will host a concession stand with the usual modern-day and 1860 baseball favorites, hotdogs, popcorn, Crackerjacks, and, of course, beer.

Family History Walk
2022-09-24 10:00 - 16:00 | Madison County Archival Library, 801 North Main Street, Edwardsville, IL, 62025, United States
The Madison County Historical Society and City of Edwardsville will present a Family History Walk on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 1 a.m. – 4 p.m. The event will feature re-enactors who will help bring local history alive.
The self-guided tour begins at the Madison County Museum, located at 801 N. Main St., Edwardsville. Events are planned at Old Lincoln School (10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Columbus School (11 a.m. and 2 p.m.), the Weir House (noon and 3 p.m.), and the Wildey Theatre (10 a.m. & 1 p.m.).

Breakfast Fundraiser at Masonic Lodge
2022-09-17 08:00 - 11:00 | Edwardsville Masonic Lodge, 90 Kriege Farm Rd., Glen Carbon, 62034, United States
A Breakfast Fundraiser with proceeds benefiting the Madison County Historical Society will be held from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Edwardsville Masonic Lodge, located at 90 Kriege Farm Road, Glen Carbon (Behind Glen Carbon Walmart).
Biscuits & gravy, with scrambled eggs, will be served. Eat in or take out. Recommended donation: $5. For more information, visit edwardsvillemasons.org, or see Facebook.com/edwardsvillemasons

This fundraiser benefits the Madison County Historical Society, a 501(c)3 charitable organization that operates the Madison County History Museum and Library in Edwardsville. MCHS also offers programming and events throughout the year which document Madison County’s rich history.

MCHS To Host Trivia Night
2022-08-27 19:00 - 21:00 | American Legion, 190 S. Main St., Glen Carbon, 62034
Madison County Historical Society will be hosting a Trivia Night on Saturday, Aug. 27, beginning at 7 p.m. It will be held at the Glen Carbon American Legion, 190 S. Main St., Glen Carbon. People are invited to help support the MCHS and reserve a table, sponsor a round, or make a donation. Call the Trivia Night Committee at 618-451-2611 or send an email to hyaghchig@charter.net. Walk-in teams are welcome!
Doors open at 6 p.m. and the game starts at 7 p.m. There is a maximum of 8 players per table, with a cost of $25/person. Mulligans are available on site at 3/$5 with a maximum of 12/$20 per team.
Cash prizes will be $400 for First Place and $300 for Second Place. There will be a Silent Auction, 50/50 Raffle, a Dead or Alive Game, Booze Basket Raffle, Pastry Auction, and Attendance Prizes. There is a cash bar for soda, water, beer and other alcohol (no outside drinks or alcohol permitted). Bring your own snacks!
This fundraiser benefits the Madison County Historical Society, a 501(c)3 charitable organization that operates the Madison County History Museum and Library in Edwardsville. MCHS also offers programming and events throughout the year which document Madison County’s rich history.

Genetic Genealogy and Your Family Tree
2022-08-02 09:00 | Immanuel United Methodist Church, 800 N. Main, Edwardsville, IL, 62062, United States
“Researching Your Family Tree Using DNA” is the topic for the Madison County Historical Society’s August Speaker Series program. The presenter, Debi Burgess, working through the DNA Detectives Facebook page, has assisted hundreds of families with finding their birth relatives. The program will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 7 in the lower level of Immanuel United Methodist Church at 800 N. Main St., Edwardsville, directly across the street from the MCHS Library.
DNA Detectives was founded and is administered by one of the country’s foremost genetic genealogist, Cece Moore. It is a resource where persons with questions about their birth family can reach out for assistance. Some are individuals who took a DNA test to learn their ethnicity, only to find they are not related to the people they thought were their birth family. Others have been on a life-long search to connect with birth families.
Burgess is one of many “search angels” connected to the page. These are people who have developed a high level of expertise and agree to help families in their search. They are not permitteurgd to accept payment for their work. For the Speaker program, Burgess will discuss how you can use DNA to discover your ancestors, the websites to help in your search, and methods available. The information will be useful for beginners, as well as interesting for people with a curiosity about how DNA is being used in these searches. She will also discuss some of the recent cold cases which have been solved using genetic genealogy techniques.
MCHS Speaker Series programs are free and open to the public. Regular hours at the Madison County History Museum and Library are Wed – Fri, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sun, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Although the museum building is closed for renovations, museum exhibits can be found at the library and online at madcohistory.org. For additional information, call 618-656-7569.

History Camp for Kids -- A Week of Adventures
2022-07-18 09:00 - 2022-07-21 15:00 | Center for Educational Opportunities, 201 Staunton Rd, Troy, IL, 62294, United States
A four-day History Camp for Kids will be held July 18-21 at the Center for Educational Opportunities, 201 Staunton Road, Troy, Illinois. Geared for Madison County students aged 9-11, each day begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m., and will include a field trip to an historic site in Madison County and history-based learning activities.
The cost per child is $100 which includes transportation to the sites, entry fees, educational materials, and snacks. Participants must bring a sack lunch each day. Online registration is at bit.ly/madcohistorycamp.
Campers will visit the Lewis and Clark Museum, the National Great Rivers Lock and Dam, the Confluence Tower, the Phillips 66 Museum of the Petroleum Industry, the Phillips 66 Refinery, a Lincoln-Douglas debate site, an Underground Railroad tunnel, and other historic sites related to the Abolitionist Movement. Participants should expect to do outdoor walking, often on uneven terrain.
The camp is a first-time collaborative effort between the Madison County Historical Society and the Madison County Regional Office of Education 41. All the camp coordinators have a background in historical studies and will provide instruction and guidance for the camp. The coordinators include Norma Asadorian, an educator and historian, Carol Manning, former education coordinator for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and Dr. Robert Daiber, former Madison County Regional Superintendent of Schools. Additional historians, re-enactors, and staff also will provide learning experiences, supervision and support.
Registration is limited to the first thirty participants. For additional information, call 618-830-1647.

MCHS Speaker Series
2022-06-05 14:00 | Immanuel United Methodist Church, 800 N. Main, Edwardsville, IL, 62062, United States
MCHS Speaker Series: Immanuel United Methodist Church (lower level), 800 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, IL Topic: Madison County’s Indian Captivity Story with presenter Mary Z. Rose, MCHS Archival Library Research Manager. Free and open to the public.

Cemetery Restoration Workshops
2022-05-20 10:00 | Immanuel United Methodist Church, 800 N. Main, Edwardsville, IL, 62062, United States
Two cemetery restoration workshops, May 20-21, 10 A.M. – 4 P.M., St. John’s Lutheran Church, 7201 West Main Street, Maryville, Illinois. Professional instructors. Last day to register, Friday, May 13. $75 registration fee includes lunch. Call 217-525-2781 to register.

Speaker Series - Peter StehmanApr 19, 2020 Postponed
2020-04-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Immanuel Methodist Church – Lower Level, 800 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, IL, 62025, United States
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS
The Lynching of Robert Praeger: A World War I Hate Crime for Uncle Sam

Peter Stehman will discuss his book, “Patriotic Murder,” a fascinating look at the anti-German frenzy, fueled by government propaganda, that led to the lynching of Robert Praeger at Collinsville, Illinois on April 5, 1918. Stehman discusses how civil liberties were hijacked in the name of patriotism during World War I. There are lessons for today in this story of a crime where intolerance and hate against immigrants led to a suspension of civility. There were two crimes against Robert Praeger. Not only was he an innocent man murdered for his nationality, but the leaders of the mob who committed the crime were exonerated.

Speaker Series - Stephen HansenFeb 9, 2020
2020-02-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Immanuel Methodist Church – Lower Level, 800 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, IL, 62025, United States
Elijah Lovejoy: Freedom’s Champion or Religious Fanatic?

Stephen Hansen, Emeritus Dean and Professor of Historical Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will explore the character and personality of Elijah Lovejoy. What kind of person was he? Why did he persist in attacking slavery even after prominent citizens warned him to stop? Was Lovejoy an uncompromising defender of freedom, a religious fanatic, a revolutionary, or a madman? This program will explore the events leading up to the fateful day in November 1837 when Lovejoy was killed by a mob in Alton.

Closed for New Years
2020-01-01

Closed for Christmas
2019-12-24 - 2019-12-25

Closed for Thanksgiving
2019-11-27 - 2019-11-30

Closed
2019-11-11

Dining in History
2019-11-03 17:00 - 20:30 | John Wildi Masonic Temple, 721 9th St, Highland, 62249, United States
Dining in History (DIH) is an annual MCHS event held at a historic property in Madison County where guests can enjoy a catered dinner and learn about the venue through a program and self-guided tours. The 2019 event was held at the John Wildi Masonic Temple in Highland, Illinois, where visitors explored the history of freemasons. In earlier years attendees have explored the Wildi Theater, learned about the Alton Dam, and dined in the rotunda of the Madison County Courthouse to celebrate its Centennial. The Dining in History event also serves as the Society’s Annual Meeting. Following is a sample program. It is our hope that this annual event an be resumed soon.

Check here to see when tickets
are available in the future

Start Silent Auction & Tours
5:00pm – 6:00 pm
Dinner & End Silent Auction
6:00pm – 7:30 pm
Program
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Pre-Dinner Activities:
Silent Auction to benefit Madison County Historical Museum and Archival Library. Explore the John Wildi Masonic Temple. Lodge members and local historians will be available to provide insights and information on the former Wildi family home that was donated to the Lodge in 1920.
Meal Catered by:
Urban Farmhouse Eatery and Pie Company
(Vegetarian Option is available)
Program:
History of the Freemasons in IL and Highland
Speaker:
David Hickey, Past Master of HML 583.

28th Annual Leclaire ParkfestOct 20, 2019
2019-10-20 12:00 - 17:00 | Leclaire Park, 900 Hale Avenue, Edwardsville, IL, 62025, United States
Join the Madison County Historical Society as they participate in the 28th Annual Leclaire Parkfest on Sunday, October 20, from Noon to 5 p.m. at Leclaire Park on Hale Avenue in Edwardsville, IL. The festival features three bands: Dixieland Jazz by the Riverside Jazz Trio (Noon – 2:30 pm), followed by Bluegrass and other old-time folk music from the Lodge Brothers (2:30 pm-5 pm) at the bandstand. On the east side of the park, Greg Silsby & Friends will play Americana music (1 pm-3:30 pm). A Wine and Beer Garden is complimented by a wide variety of delicious festival food provided by local non-profit organizations and food vendors. Local artisans and crafters will have their work on display and available for purchase. Games, pet adoptions, vintage cars and tractors and other family activities provide something for every age. The St. Andrew’s Relay for Life Team will host the annual Leclaire Parkfest book sale with thousands of books available at bargain prices, all to benefit the American Cancer Society

Leclaire Parkfest celebrates the history and heritage of the Leclaire National Historic District, a neighborhood in Edwardsville that from 1890-1934 for a separate village founded by a St. Louis manufacturer who wanted to create a better work/home environment for his employees. It was an experiment in cooperative living that succeeded until the Great Depression made it necessary for the village to be annexed to the City of Edwardsville.

The village’s former N. O. Nelson Manufacturing Company buildings are now the Historic N. O. Nelson Campus of Lewis and Clark Community College. The Leclaire Schoolhouse is a children’s museum and baseball has been played at Leclaire Field since 1890. Leclaire Park, where thousands came by train from St. Louis on hot summer days a century ago to spend a day in the country, still welcomes visitors for a quiet respite, although swimming and boating are no longer permitted on the lake. The historic neighborhood has over 400 homes and an incredible story. Exhibits of historic photos and narrated trolley tours tell the unique story of Leclaire at the festival.

At the Society’s booth you’ll find exhibits on Madison County history, a few sale items, a Madison County Trivia game and much more. Stop by to renew your membership for 2020, to play the game, or just to say “Hi!”

No admission is charged for the festival which, in the tradition of the former Village of Leclaire, is free and open to all. For additional information, call 618-656-1294, visit the Friends of Leclaire web site at http://www.historic-leclaire.org/ or visit the festival’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LeclaireParkfest/ 2019 festival sponsors include Busey Bank, Attorney Keith Short, Cassens (Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram), Creative Options Graphic Design, Taqueria Z, and Krause Properties.

MCHS Speaker Series: The Underground Railroad: Two Case Studies - Oct 13, 2019
2019-10-13 14:00 - 16:00 | Immanuel Methodist Church – Lower Level, 800 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, IL, 62025, United States
MCHS Speaker Series: The Underground Railroad in Madison County: Two Case Studies
Historian J. Eric Robinson will be the speaker for the final 2019 MCHS Speaker Series program on Sunday, October 13 at 2 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Immanuel United Methodist Church, 800 N. Main Street in Edwardsville, Illinois. His program, “Gertrude Barlabie, Amanda Kitchell and Those Who Helped Them,” tells the story of two St. Louis slaves who in 1853 escaped to freedom to Canada via the Underground Railroad of northwestern Madison County.

Lewis & Clark In Illinois
2018-08-19 14:00 - 16:00 | Immanuel Methodist Church – Lower Level, 800 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, IL, 62025, United States
Illinois was the “Point of Departure” on May 14, 1804, for the Lewis and Clark Expedition that left from the eastern banks of the Mississippi River at the Wood River confluence and began their two and one half year journey to explore the Louisiana Territory and search for a passage to the Pacific Ocean. Illinois is often not considered part of the expedition, but in fact the men spent more time in Illinois than any other state except North Dakota. Site Superintendent, Brad Winn of the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site, will present a program retelling this often overlooked Illinois Story.
