P.O. Box 255
 
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2018
FLOWER
& BIRD
WALKS
INFORMATON <--
CLICK HERE
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FLOWER WALKS
BIRD
WALKS
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Saturday, April 14 (circle) 10AM or2pm
¨ Saturday, April 21 (circle) 10AM or 2pm
'' Saturday, April 28
6 am
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Saturday, April 28 (circle) 10AM or 2pm
¨ Saturday, April 28 4pm
RESERVATIONS:
(Word format) <-- click here
RESERVATIONS:
(pdf format) <-- click
here
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The
Elkhart Historical Society is pleased to bring author
D.L. Dennis to the Wild Hare Café for the May 11th
dinner lecture entitled, “The
Witwer Files”. The story
takes place in a small Midwestern village in the early
1900’s that was terrorized by uncontrolled violence.
Murders and suicides remained unsolved and unstopped as
the responsible law enforcement either turned in their
badges or disappeared. Come hear first-hand how
the author’s grandfather arrived in the village and what
circumstances occurred that changed the course of town’s
future in this fascinating story inspired by actual
events. Autographed copies of Dennis’s book, “The
Witwer Files”, will be available
along with his other books. Motivational speaking,
and artwork round out the additional talents of this
fascinating man, please be sure to reserve a space
before the May 7th
cutoff. |
MORE INFORMATION
<-- CLICK HERE |
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The event
will be held at Horsefeather’s Wild Hare Café on Friday
May 11th at 5:30p. (Doors open at
5:00p) The Dinner will consist of a choice of Beef
Bourguignon or
Crusted Baked Chicken Breast, each entre served with
mashed potatoes, carrots and green beans and a freshly
baked roll…Fruit crisp or vanilla ice cream with
chocolate sauce for dessert, and beverage, at
a price of $40, which includes
the meal, tax and tip, and $10 for the Elkhart
Historical Society program. Reservations are required
and can be made at 217 947 2238. For more
information and a reservation form please click on
RESERVATIONS <--
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Lawyer Abraham
Lincoln Riding
on Elkhart Hill's Edwards Trace
...
a well-used path in early to mid 1800's Central
Illinois ...
[Young Mr. Lincoln as
portrayed by award-winning Joe Woodard of Hazel
Dell, IL.]
“Edwards Trace – The Whole Story”
Independent researcher, David Brady, presented
the program ( June, 2012) at Wild Hare Café in
downtown Elkhart. Brady is considered one
of the foremost experts on Illinois trails.
Before there were cities and towns and roads
there were the trails, the Edwards Trace being
among the most prominent. Thousands of Indians,
trappers and settlers traveled the Edwards Trace
as they moved up and down the state, starting in
Peoria. Many other trails connected to the
Edwards Trace from the north at Galena to
Kaskaskia in the south. All were vital for
transportation and commerce as the population
grew.
Elkhart Grove was a prominent timbered hill over
which the Old Trace ran
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"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
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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 |
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Past Events
2018 2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
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ohn 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.
for much more
information, go to
-->
http://www.oldgillettfarm.org/history.shtml
www.oldgillettfarm.org/ |
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P O Box 255, Elkhart, IL
62634
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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
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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
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