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PRESIDENT'S CORNER

STATE of the LAGRANGE AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

SPRING TO IT... HELP US GROW!

LYONS TOWNSHIP FOOTBALL

WLTL TURNS 50

INTERNS NEEDED AT THE VIAL HOUSE MUSEUM

NEW EXHIBIT: VINTAGE WEDDING VOWS

HATS OFF TO HISTORY: OUR FIRST ANNUAL KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY

WHAT'S WRIGHT IN LAGRANGE TOUR

HEART OF LAGRANGE: NOW AND THEN TOUR

EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH

INSIDE This Issue

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VIAL HOUSE MUSEUM AND ARCHIVE444 S. LAGRANGE ROAD708-482-4248www. lagrangehistory.orginfo@lagrangehistory.org

2016-2017 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEMark Truax, President Sarah Parkes, Executive DirectorTina Stelmack, Vice PresidentKaren Lynch, TreasurerKate Rymsza, Secretary

BOARD MEMBERSEllie CarrollLorenza DiNataleMarilyn FaberPat KozlowskiMary NelsonMary Ann SwardEd ThoeleCynthia UrbainMary NovakBecca RymszaKirstin DunlopJudy Burns

MUSEUM HOURSWednesday: 9:30 am - 12:00 pm

Last Sunday of Each Month1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

By Appointment Outside these Hours

PRESIDENT'S CORNER, Mark Truax

Now and Then

Spring To It

And

Help Us

Grow!

This March will mark the end of my first term as President of the Historical Society. This has made me look back and reflect on my ex-perience in this position. When I became president two years ago, I had a lot of dreams and ideas for the Historical Society. I was excited to lead the board and take the Historical Society in new directions. But I have noticed that it is the Historical Society that has taken me in a new direction.

Initially I wanted to make big changes to the Historical Society and make it more entertaining for the community. Now I see the need to protect the history of this community and serve the residents. I did not get here by myself. Luckily for me, I have a great group of people at the museum that gave me a lot of direction. With their support, I was able to really understand the importance of the Historical Society and what I needed to do to serve and protect it.

I still have a lot of ideas running through my head, but now I know what is needed to fulfill the purpose of the Historical Society. It has been a privilege to serve these last two years and I hope to improve my service in the years going forward.

Vintage

Vows

Exhibit

Hats Off

To History!

Kentucky

Derby Party

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LaGrange AreaHistorical Society

WHAT WE'RE

WORKING ON.........

STATE of the LAGRANGE AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

2018Annual Meeting

Join us for our annual meeting to look back on what we have accomplished last year and where we are heading. All members of the Historical Society are welcome to attend and give us feedback and sug-gestions on how we are doing.

Date: March 18th at 2:00. Where: Vial House Museum 444 LaGrange RoadLight refreshments will be served.

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It has been a proud year for Lyons Township Football. LTHS Alumni, Jake Elliot, of 2013 played in the Super Bowl this year and helped to bring The Philadelphia Eagles a victory. Congratulations Jake Elliot for your his-toric victory in the Super Bowl! The picture to the left shows Jake at the Super Bowl in 2018 . Here are some interesting facts about LT Football:

In 1903, football was abandoned at LT as a sport due to lack of eligible boys. Their mothers would not allow them to play because of the risk of injury. The photo to the left shows the LTHS football team of 1903. Lewis Upton holds the ball, F.D. Cossitt is 3rd left in front row.

In 1914 Football returned to LT. Coach Fletcher called for candidates soon after school began. Over 40 boys showed up, however most of them had no experience. They were able to form a varsity and second team. On Oct. 17, 1914, they played Riverside for their first game and lost 0-7. LTHS football team of 1914 to right. As the sport developed at LT, so did the players. In 1966, LT Varsity won first place in the Western Sub-urban Conference for the fourth consecutive year.

tt

WLTL TURNS 50!

In January of 1968, Lyons Township High School began broadcasting FM radio station WLTL from the top of the Vaughn Building. Under the direction of Mr. David Fisher, the station presented music and special programs in the afternoon and evenings. January 2018 will mark the 50th Anniversary of the radio station.

This student-run radio station continues to be honored with Awards of Excellence at the Communication Awards competition.

SPRING TO IT AND HELP US GROW!

We’re all moving so fast these days that it behooves us to stop a moment and treasure the place we call home. In LaGrange and LaGrange Park we see the daily affirmation of true community. It is indeed this strong backdrop of family, friends, faith, educa-tion, culture and Midwestern values that enriches our life here. It was and still is the bedrock upon which Franklin D. Cossitt founded the village. It’s also a feeling of continuity and grounding that not everyone elsewhere can claim. And it deserves to be preserved. Every day that we host a school group, welcome a visitor, research a home, or rediscover a treasure among our collec-tion, we’re reminded of how our members have helped keep our community legacy alive.

LYONS TOWNSHIP FOOTBALL

Membership Drive March 15 - May 15th 2018

GIFT OF MEMBERSHIP ... How about considering the Gift of Membership for a fam-ily member or a friend, so they too can help preserve our history? New memberships be-tween March 15th and May 15th , 2018 will receive a $10 gift certificate good at most of La Grange area businesses.

PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP ... Upgrade yourself to a Premium Member! Increasing your $40 Basic Member commitment by just $35 covers your whole household, plus a home history portfolio, and advance notification of events.

REFER A FRIEND....As a current member, if you Refer a Friend who joins between March 15th and May 15th, 2018, you and your friend will be invited to an exclusive shop-ping event with discount, raffle and refreshments at one of the La Grange area’s newest retail destinations, Whisper Me Home.

So this Spring as we launch our New Membership Drive, here are a few suggestions:

It takes just a moment to Help Us Grow and ensure all the benefits of membership! Go to our Facebook page to access the link to the membership tab. Or visit our website at www.lagrangehistory.org to join online. Out and about? You can drop the form and payment in our lock box at the 47 th Street entry to our parking lot. Forms are available there too. And you can always mail the form and payment to Vial House Museum & Archive, 444 S. La GrangeRoad, La Grange, IL 60525, Attn: Membership.

Then get ready to fill your 2018 calendar with our exciting line up of new and beloved programs! Such as the eagerly awaited new exhibit Vintage Vows, Dresses, Accessories and Wedding Traditions; Hats Off to History Kentucky Derby Party (a guaranteed sell out); plus our traditional teas, tours and talks. So SPRING TO IT!

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LAGRANGE

AT THE VIAL HOUSE MUSEUM

Do you know a college student looking for a summer internship? The LaGrange Area Historical Society is looking for interns to assist with projects at the museum and help staff our extended Saturday hours for the weekends. This is a great opportunity to build experience for your resume. Projects may include: scanning historical documents, creating Home Portfolio books, inter-viewing local residents to capture local history. Contact Sarah at: sarah.parkes@lagrangehistory.org.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR SUMMER VOLUNTEER INTERNS

NEW EXHIBIT: VINTAGE VOWS

Wedding Gowns of the LaGrange AreaThis summer we will be exhibiting wedding dresses from the late 1800s to present from local LaGrange and LaGrange Park residents. Come in and see the gowns, accessories and traditions past residents used at their weddings.

Exhibit Grand Opening will be April 14th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Light refreshments will be served.

Mrs. Fred Battey (Jane Vial Battey) on her wedding day on the staircase of the Vial House museum (Nov. 29th, 1935)

The tour begins and ends at The Vial House Mu-seum, 444 S. LaGrange Road. Meet inside for a short introduction fol-lowed by the 75 minute

walking tour where you'll discover what Frank Lloyd Wright designed in LaGrange in the 1890s and early 1900s, what his designs had to do with bootlegging as well as the architectural character-istics of four Wright homes as you walk through a picturesque LaGrange neighborhood in the Historic District.

WHAT'S WRIGHT IN LAGRANGE?Sunday MAY 20th, 1:30-3:00 pm

HATS OFF TO HISTORYOur First Annual Kentucky Derby Party

JOHN BURNS WALKING TOURS

Space will be limited for both of these tours. Please RSVP for ticket reservations at www.lagrangehistory.org.

HEART OF LAGRANGE: NOW AND THENSunday JUNE 10th, 1:30-3:00 pm

Historic Fifth Avenue/ LaGrange Road Walking Tour.

The tour starts inside the LaGrange Road train station and ends at the Lagrange Public Library.

Horses, Hats And Southern Snacks!

We are excited to invite you to our inaugural benefit event this spring! On May 5th from 1 - 4 pm join us for a Derby Day cel-ebration in the garden at the Vial House. Guests will enjoy live music, Southern snacks, and an exclusive exhibit of our vintage hat collection.

Ticket price includes bourbon tastings from a variety of distill-eries with signature mixers provided by Barrel House Social.

Register on our website at www.lagrangehistory.org. You can also stop by or call the museum to secure your tickets.Look forward to seeing you there!

Derby Attire is Encouraged, So Break out That Snappy BowTie and Festive Hat!!

Once again, we are pleased to announce the Vial House Museum will have extended hours during the summer. From June 5th to August 25th, the Vial House will be open on Saturdays from 9:00 am to Noon. Please come in and view the exhibits or re-view your house file. Summer interns will assist with your home's research.

SUMMER HOURS

EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH

On January 5th, Emmanuel Episcopal Church was named to the National Register of Historic Places! This culminates over two years of research by church members and a very arduous application process. Congratulations to Emmanuel Episco-pal on this honored distinction of its Late Gothic Revival style church. Did you know the current 1925 church was designed by the son of the 1893 church's architect? John N. Tilton Sr. and John N. Tilton Jr., of LaGrange were the architects.

Spring is in the Air

at the Historical SocietyLA GRANGE AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY VIAL HOUSE MUSEUM AND ARCHIVE444 S. LAGRANGE ROADLAGRANGE, ILLINOIS 60525

DATES AND EVENTSMarch 8th • Annual State of LaGrange Area Historical atSunday The Vial House Museum

March 15th-May 15th • Spring To It! New Member Drive

April 14th • Vintage Vows ExhibitSunday Grand Opening at The Vial House Museum May 5th • Hats Off To HistorySaturday Kentucky Derby Party May 20th • What's Wright In LaGrangeSunday A John Burns Walking Tour June 10th • Heart of LaGrange: Now and ThenSunday A John Burns Walking Tour

SaturdaysJune 2nd through • Summer Hours August 25th.

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