ELKHART  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY

P.O. Box 255       


"From Holland to Elkhart by way of Capetown”
Friday March 8th

     The Elkhart Historical Society announces its March dinner lecture entitled, "From Holland to Elkhart by way of Capetown,” with Peter Niehaus, which will be presented Friday March 8th at the Wild Hare Café in Elkhart, Illinois. Peter’s multi-faceted life began in Holland, one of eight children in the family who lived in a farming community occupied by the Nazis during the war. 

     He will recall events of his life there prior to the family immigrating to South Africa.  Once in South Africa, he completed his education receiving a degree in mechanical engineering, joined the SA navy and was assigned to submarine duty running various missions during the cold war, for a time being stationed in Toulon. As a civilian Peter worked for a Cape Town firm using his engineering skills, later starting his own building and restoration business.

 

     Dinner will be a sampling of two traditional South African dishes.  Each guest with have a portion of Bobotie and Malay Chicken Curry served with rice and a variety of Sambals which are sauces and relishes that accompany these dishes. Dessert will be trifle served with a splash of sherry or vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. Iced teas and coffee are included.

     Reservations <-- click here

 

      Reservations are required as space is limited and can only be made by calling 217-947-2238 no later than March 1st - - Once you are confirmed, print this form, fill it out and mail it with your check payable to: The Elkhart Historical Society, P.O. 255, Elkhart, IL 62634  The price is $40 per person which includes the meal, tax and tip and $10 to the Elkhart Historical Society.

                                                                                                                                                  

Press Release <-- click here

....

 

                    

"Thanks to a geographic anomaly created during the Ice Age, Elkhart Hill becomes a stunning sea
 of bluebells every spring that visitors can tour on just two or three Saturdays in April."

AND - dine at WildhareCafe  by Karen Sorensen    
      Renovation of Veteran Park

Donations to the “Veterans’ Park Fund”
are tax deductible & can be sent to
PO Box 20, Elkhart, IL 62634.

Elkhart Photos

The Elkhart Historical Society’s
                         2018 Calendar               featuring “ The Old Gillett Farm” 

 is available at the Country Bumpkin or at Horsefeathers, in Elkhart, Illinois.  If you have already renewed your membership, you may stop by and pick up your copy, and if you haven’t renewed, or were considering becoming a member, you may also do that at either of the above, for $20 for families, or $15 for Senior Citizen families.  With your membership you receive a free calendar.  Or for just a calendar $17 which includes a free membership,  postage and handling  check made payable to the Elkhart Historical Society  PO Box 255 Elkhart IL   62634
Now on facebook  -->  ElkhartIllinois

 

 

Current  &  Past  Events

.....

2019         2018        2017        2016         2015           2014           2013         2012
John D. Gillett, whom the London Gazette dubbed “The Cattle King of the World”. Gillett and his grandson Hiram Keays won numerous awards at the Chicago livestock show. For many years in the late 1800's the town of Elkhart was one of the largest shipping points on the C&A (Chicago & Alton) Railroad, due to the large stock raising farms of John Dean Gillett. Noted for importing Durham cattle from Scotland and developing the Shorthorn cattle breed, Gillett shipped over 2,000 head of cattle and 1,000 head of hogs to Europe annually.

P O Box 255, Elkhart, IL  62634

Elkhart Historical Society 2017

 

Dear EHS Members and Friends

  

As we once again prepare for the holidays, it is important to note how commitment can center our lives. Each family, clan, tribe, or even neighborhoods exhibit some form of this in their annual traditions, be it caroling, decorating the house, or some holiday fare. Ours is in the creation of our annual Christmas Candlelight Services, which have continued faithfully and have become a tradition for many of you. Our musicians and vocalists’ skills have become an integral part of the services, not to mention the narrators and behind the scenes writers, all of whom devote hours to the program that for so many “begins the Christmas season.”

 

This year’s Christmas Candlelight Services, “Keeping Christmas”, will be held Saturday, December 2, 2017 at 2:00, 4:00, 5:30, and 8:00 pm. As the number of seats are very limited, please call 217-947-2238 and make your reservation as soon as possible starting November 4. You may pair your reservation with a dining package which appears on the downloadable reservation form available at elkharthistoricalsociety.org. We hope to see you there!

 

During the past year, our flower and bird walks were somewhat interrupted by wet weather, but we made up for it with fabulous weather for our Fall Festival over Labor Day weekend. Many wagonloads of visitors took the tour up Elkhart Hill, as well as through the village. The festival involved numerous activities such as a Biscuit and Gravy Breakfast, a Swap Shop, a Bar-B-Q Contest, a Pie Baking Contest, and most exciting, the introduction of the new mural outside Horsefeathers, painted by Andrea Niehaus, Renee Sisk, and Peter Niehaus, and jointly sponsored by the Historical Society. There was music on the street all day by live musicians. The day was topped off by a complimentary wagon ride around the village for Elkhart’s senior citizens followed by dinner at the Wild Hare Cafe.

 

The Historical Society continues to provide the dinner lecture series throughout the year, which began in 2010. It continues to be well received, with some presenters being so popular that additional nights have been required to accommodate all the bookings!

 

Other praiseworthy items to mention would be YOU, our friends and members, without whom our efforts would be pointless. Thank you for your encouragement, participation and support throughout the year.

 

The coming of the New Year brings with it the 2018 calendar which celebrates the Old Gillett Farm, a historical landmark, and one which was occupied by descendants of John Dean Gillett for eight generations, starting in 1868.  The property is being sold in the near future, and marks the end of an era.. We hope you enjoy the photographs.

 

The Elkhart Historical Society Board:

 

Ann Anderson, President          Bob Albert, Vice President               Anne Morris, secretary

Gillette Ransom, treasurer

Trustees           Bev Albert                 Michael Morris                Bill Evans             Joyce Evans

      

To reserve space for a dinner lecture or walk for a group of six or more you may call 217.947.2238 prior to the reservation date noted on the web site.

 Payment will be accepted early for groups of 6+.  Upon confirmation of the reservation, payment must be received by EHS

within SEVEN DAYS or the reservation confirmation date or the tickets will be released.

 

    Web Site:             http://www.elkharthistoricalsociety.org

Email:    Rob Wilson:     jrwsound@gmail.com
          

Village of Elkhart:   www.elkhartillinois.us

NEW Exploring Tourism in Logan County Web site: www.explorelogancounty.com


  [note:  the Jan 20-21 2019 Luna Eclipse photo at top was submitted by Elkhart photographer, Joshua Rhoades - he also submitted the autumn photo of the Elkhart Gillett-Cemetery Bridge]