Geneva History Museum

Celebrate Geneva’s Legendary Women

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 21:29:00 GMT

In honor of Women’s History Month, the museum created a t-shirt featuring nine women who made an impact on our town. There are too many legends to include on one t-shirt so we may create a new version each year. Here are the highlights of the nine women featured this year.

Bertha George – Founder and past president of both the Geneva Women’s Club and Geneva Garden Club, which are both active clubs today. She was a member of the school board for 12 years, Director of the Fox Valley Improvement Association and an active member of the League of Women Voters.

Charity Herrington – The Herrington’s are considered Geneva’s founding family because they actively formed the community. James Herrington died just four years after they came to Geneva, two days later their 13-year-old daughter died and later that same year Charity gave birth to their 10th child. Charity had to become resourceful in raising her nine children and paying her husband’s debts. She acted as a midwife for the area and offered land to the city of Geneva and Kane county, including property for the railroad and a cemetery.

Elizebeth Smith Friedman – Graduate with a major in English literature as well as other languages. She met Geneva’s Colonel Fabyan and he brought her to his Riverbank Laboratories to work with other cryptographers. She deciphered many enemy codes in both World Wars. Later she moved to Washington D.C. and worked for the War Department, the Navy, U.S. Treasury Bureau of Prohibition and the Bureau of Customs. In 1999 Elizebeth was inducted into the National Security Agency Hall of Honor. She has been called “America’s first female cryptanalyst”

Frances Baker Wheeler – Selected to serve on the first board of trustees for Geneva’s hospital. She was also elected their first Vice President. Frances was very active in the Geneva Improvement Association She was one of the early local workers for the Suffrage Movement and held mock elections to teach women how to vote. You may know the name Wheeler because of the 53 acres of land the family donated to the city in 1950 now called Wheeler Park.

Dr. Julia Cole Blackman – One of the first class of three women graduates in the school of medicine in 1871 and graduated from what is now Northwestern University. She and her husband Frank became one of the first husband and wife doctor teams in the Midwest. They lived at 220 South Third Street which eventually became Geneva’s Colonial Hospital.

Julia Plato Harvey – organized the Geneva Improvement Association and served as its first female president. Julia persuaded the president of the Chicago & North Western Railway to build an attractive brick depot here. She was a founding member of the Chicago Womens’ Club and one of its earliest presidents. Julia was involved with establishment of the Geneva Public Library and one of the first women to be elected to the Geneva School Board. Julia held classes in her home to discuss literature, architecture and politics including special lectures from Jane Addams, a close friend and notable suffrage advocate.

Kate Raftery – Had friends all over the world who sent her beautiful things. Kate would display these items on her grand piano and invite women to come over to purchase them. This was the beginning of The Little Traveler, Geneva’s most iconic shop on South Third Street. Kate encouraged others to open businesses in town such as The Mill Race Inn, Robin’s Book Store and Marian Michael’s children’s shop. The Little Traveler has grown and evolved since Kate started it in 1922, at the age of 52 with no previous business experience.

May Belle Adamson – Attended Geneva High School, then graduated from nursing school in Chicago in 1910. May Belle was one of the first American nurses during WWI to go overseas to assist the injured, her first trip was taken in June 1915. She made multiple trips to France during the war. She also recruited, organized and enlisted a contingent of thirty nurses to go to the battle front in England and later thirty-five to France. May Belle died at the age of 34 from a pulmonary embolism.

Robin Dienst – Began as manager of The Little Traveler book department in 1927. A month later she and her friend Helen North purchased the department and grew their business inside the iconic shop. When they outgrew the space they moved the business to their cozy stone cottage on South River Lane where Robin hosted educational talks for women and the Geneva Garden Club. In 1953 she joined with Marian Michael’s children’s shop and moved in to the former Colonial Hospital on South Third Street where her bookshop became famously known. Robin’s Bookshop served the Geneva community for over 70 years.

The Geneva History Museum has limited quantities of this Legendary Women of Geneva shirt for sale in the Gift Shop at $18 each. Call to purchase and have it shipped! 630-232-4951.

Donor Spotlight – Dan Maier

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 18:09:00 GMT

Why do you support the Geneva History Museum?

I have a keen interest in American history and I was raised in Geneva. My involvement with the museum started after I attended a program about the State Girls School. A friend in high school dated the assistant superintendent’s daughter. When we double-dated, I would get cleared to go inside the property. So, I was familiar with the school, but I learned so much about the history behind it.

By volunteering at the museum, I get to look at and research old photos and slides and read old newspapers, some as far back as the 1850. I learn something new about Geneva’s history each day, and that’s exciting.

What is one of your favorite Geneva stories?

Both of my favorite stories about living in Geneva are weather related. A tornado swept through the east side of Geneva destroying a few homes in the Ridgewood and Fieldbrook subdivisions where my brother and I had a paper route. In order to do the route after the tornado went through, we had to go through a police checkpoint. Being two curious 12 year-olds, we wanted to see the damage. I purposely missed a few houses so my brother could go see the damage too.

The other story is about the blizzard of 1967. No one could drive a car for quite a while because the plows were busy clearing the main streets. So my dad, brother and I took our sled and hiked to Frank’s food store at the corner of East Side Drive and State Street. When we got to the store, there was barely any food left on the shelves but, we got what we needed and took the long hike back home. We also climbed a snow drift to the roof of our house and jumped off into another drift. What fun!

Share a fun experience you have had with GHM.

One of the most fun experiences I’ve had at the museum, and one of the hardest, was when the staff and several volunteers moved the entire collection from the basement of the museum to the ground floor so we could install a new shelving system. To complicate things further, we did this during the Covid pandemic. Every time we came to the museum, we had to have our temperature taken, sign in, mask up and put on latex gloves. I worked on moving the acid-free boxes in the basement to the first-floor gallery. The main concern was keeping them in numerical order to make it easier to put them back. We moved the boxes and then the old shelves. The shelves were a little unsteady because we couldn’t bolt them to the floor. So, we figured we could just wire them together and that would be enough support. Boy were we wrong. One of the shelves started wobbling and that started the chain reaction. Suddenly, the majority of the boxes hit the floor and made quite a mess. Luckily, the boxes stayed intact when they hit the floor and we were able to quickly clean up.

2nd Tuesdays @ 2 PM

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:16:00 GMT

Starting in September 2024, the Geneva History Museum will offer monthly programs “2nd Tuesdays @ 2 PM” in place of the former Brown Bag Programs. The format of the programs will remain the same, with a 45-minute presentation on a different topic each month, just the time of day has changed to 2 PM instead of noon.

The monthly programs will be offered from September thru May, with no programs in December or January. Registration is important for the museum to set up the room and to make sure all guests have a place to sit. Admission is $5/person, and free for museum members (just one of the many benefits of membership). Check our website for upcoming programs , or call 630-232-4951.

GHM Updates Code of Ethics

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 15:13:00 GMT

Ethical codes evolve in response to changing conditions, values and ideas. A professional code of ethics must, therefore, be periodically updated. It must also rest upon widely shared values. Although the operating environment of museums grows more complex each year, the root value for museums, the tie that connects all of us together despite our diversity, is the commitment to serving people, both present and future generations.

The Geneva History Museum Board of Directors reviews policies regularly and recently revised its Institutional Code of Ethics, one of the core documents of the American Alliance of Museum’s national accreditation. It includes accountability, conflict of interest, duty to disclose, management, historical resources, access, and interpretation which apply to all staff, volunteers and anyone who works on behalf of GHM.

GHM Institutional Code of Ethics (revised and approved by the GHM Board of Directors, February 27, 2024)

The Geneva History Museum (GHM) is an independent nonprofit organization operated by the Geneva Historical Society. GHM takes seriously its responsibilities to preserve and make available to the public the documentary, artifactual, artistic, scientific and architectural resources of the city, and to promote and support the stewardship of such resources held by others. GHM is committed to making its resources widely accessible to the public, balanced with the need to preserve those resources for future generations.

GHM is headed by a Board of Directors voted into office by the general membership or the Board of Directors. Their primary responsibilities are to protect and promote GHM, as well as the human, physical and financial resources made available for that purpose. GHM has a professional, paid staff assisted by volunteers. This Code of Ethics applies to all who work for or on the behalf of GHM.

Accountability

Maintaining the public’s trust in GHM requires that its actions and activities are conducted in accordance with applicable Illinois and federal law policies and procedures.
GHM is required to meet the same standard and adopt their own code of ethics as required under federal law.
All resources will be used in an effective and efficient manner to achieve results that further GHM’s mission, and will be conducted in accordance with all applicable policies and procedures. GHM will maintain accurate and appropriate financial records in keeping with legal and tax requirements, and principles of sound fiscal management.
GHM policies and policy decisions are clearly communicated to employees and volunteers (where appropriate).
GHM Board of Directors fulfill their role by providing policy for GHM employees to carry out in a manner that promotes clear and responsible decision making.
No activities will be undertaken that violate or compromise the integrity of GHM’s mission, the ability of GHM or individuals to meet professional standards, or GHM’s not-for-profit or tax exempt status.

Individual Conflict of Interest

Board of Directors, staff and volunteers will refrain from activities which create the appearance or reality of a conflict of interest between GHM’s public trust responsibilities and their individual, political or business interests. Possible conflicts of interest will be dealt with openly and resolved in favor of the public trust responsibilities of GHM.
Board of Directors, staff and volunteers should not engage in any activity that is or appears to be in conflict with GHM’s authority to collect historical, architectural and artistic artifacts, records, papers, and historical documentation that are associated with Geneva’s history and heritage.
Board of Directors, staff and volunteers should not engage in activities that place them in competition with GHM’s mission.
Board of Directors, staff and volunteers should not use their position with GHM to influence others for private benefit, or to profit from information regarding collections or privileged access to or control of historic resources.
Board of Directors shall avoid expenditures for which they seek reimbursement on behalf of GHM. Reasonable expenses are defined as included in the GHM budget or approved by the GHM Executive Director.
Members of the Board of Directors shall not be related by blood, marriage or outside business co-ownership to any other Board Member, nor any compensated employee shall be qualified for membership on the Board of Directors. Immediate family members, grandparents, spouses, or siblings are considered related by blood. Members of the Board of Directors shall not co-own a business with another Board Member.

Duty to Disclose

In connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, the Board of Directors, staff and volunteers must disclose the existence of any personal interest, and disclose all relevant information. The Board of Directors will decide whether there is or appears to be a conflict of interest for individual Board Members. The Executive Director will make such a determination for employees and volunteers.

Management

GHM will foster a collegial and creative institutional culture that encourages and celebrates excellence, collaboration, productivity and public service. Working relationships will be based on equity and mutual respect for the separate responsibilities of appointees, officials, employees and volunteers.
Involvement of partner organizations and agencies in planning of projects (e.g. exhibitions, publications, or programs) is appropriate but GHM will not delegate, abrogate or influence control of a product in order to obtain financial support or personal advantage.

Historical Resources

Collections in GHM’s custody support its mission and public trust responsibilities. GHM’s Collections Management Policy defines appropriate scopes of collecting.
GHM has developed and adheres to established policies and procedures for accepting donations or transfers to the collections; acquiring items for the collection through purchase; obtaining loans for specific purposes; accessioning and cataloging collections; and documenting loans in and out. Professional agendas for storing, exhibiting, conserving and documenting the physical condition of collections should guide operations and planning.
GHM does not capitalize its collections or treat them as financial assets.
Deaccessioning of collections is accomplished in accordance with established policies. The use of any proceeds from deaccessioned collections will be restricted to new acquisitions or direct care of GHM collections.
GHM will acquire, care for and interpret historical resources with sensitivity to their cultural context and origins. Documentation of collections will be as thorough as possible regarding their historical use, context and provenance.
Personal beliefs should not impact professional judgement in evaluation, acquisition or processing of historic resources.

Access

GHM provides access to historical resources through public programs, services, exhibitions, publications, tours, email and online. Limitations on access (e.g. operating hours, fees and use) are governed by institutional policies that are applied without regard to race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability.
GHM recognizes that research is an important aspect of public access to its collections. To the greatest extent possible, GHM works to provide intellectual and physical access to its collections. Appropriate polices and procedures ensure that collections are protected and preserved, and that access is provided on an equitable basis without discrimination.
Restrictions may be placed on collections access for the purpose of preservation, safety, confidentiality, privacy, or in accord with donor-imposed restriction.

Interpretation

Interpretation and publications reflect scholarship and thorough research. Inclusion of appropriate scholars in program, exhibition and interpretive planning is actively encouraged by GHM.
GHM programs and exhibitions reflect the cultural and historical context of the subject matter and recognize the potential for multiple interpretations. Discussion and debate of historical interpretation is encouraged and supported.
Consumptive use of collections as part of programs, interpretation or exhibitions will be carefully considered and will involve only collections designated “for-use” in accordance with the GHM Collections Management Policy.

Donor Spotlight

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:02:00 GMT

Nancy Bell & Pat Kessler

“Never were there such devoted sisters…”

Sisters, Nancy Bell and Pat Kessler grew up in Geneva. They volunteer weekly at the museum and are G.E.M.s – Giving Every Month. Nancy is a former board member and helps in the archives. Pat assists with the inventory of the collection.

Why do you support the Geneva History Museum?

NANCY: I have always been interested in history, especially local history. Knowing the story of where I live or visit allows me to connect to a place in a meaningful way. We lived for several years in a small Massachusetts town. Here I realized you don’t have to grow up in a community to relate to its history. Getting involved is key to understanding and preserving the story. Having roots is a bonus, not a necessity.

Returning to Geneva in the 1980’s I was eager to reconnect with my family history through what is now the GHM. I had two terms on the Board, spanning from Wheeler Park to Third Street. My job at the Geneva Library allowed me to collaborate on youth programs with the Museum and as a retiree I volunteer in the archives.

GHM is a vibrant institution. Geneva’s story stays updated with rotating exhibits. A permanent gallery offers a glimpse into the past through audio-visual as well as historic objects. The Story booth allows all to record their memories and become part of history. I am proud to be a part of the Geneva History Museum. As a volunteer and Herrington Circle member, I am investing in preserving Geneva’s story.

PAT: Geneva History Museum is important to me because preserving history helps us remember who and how we have such a beautiful place to live. I love that we have the pieces of history that remind us of how hard some worked, or how creative some were, or how generously some gave…. And now that the museum is even more technology oriented, it opens it up to anyone who has a story to tell. (like my seven year old granddaughter!) It amazes me to see the items not only saved, but then donated to the museum to authenticate a family’s story! Geneva has such a fascinating history and when the museum highlights those bits with its displays and programs, you realize how much would have been lost if not for the hard work and dedication of today’s staff and volunteers, but also all those people who saw the need and value way back when.

What is one of your favorite Geneva stories?

NANCY: My favorite Geneva story is about our North First Street neighborhood. The 1950s and early 60s was an ideal time to be a kid. We considered our “hood” to be the area between Peyton and Ford Streets, N. First and N. Second. We claimed both sides of the streets. The anchor was made up of three main families, with a combined total of eighteen kids. We Hoelschers had seven, Epperlys seven and Haroldsons four.The majority were baby boomers. Several other families moved in and out over the years but we three remained the longest. Luckily most of the kids lived on N. First, leaving the rest of the block pretty much kid free.

North First was our realm, “The Pit” as we called Wheeler Park, was our first frontier. Just two blocks away, we could get there in minutes. A converted gravel quarry, Wheeler was still evolving into the beautiful park it is today. The perimeter remained untamed, featuring jagged edges and steep slopes on the South and West. “Our” end, the dead end at N. 2nd Street, was the most dangerous. Precarious ridges between abandoned excavated pits were worn smooth from hundreds of local kids tramping over the narrow paths on foot or bikes. Riding bicycles up and down the craters was a death-defying act. We’d all watch a brave soul with admiration as they navigated around the rock, debris-filled craters. Those too timid to ride showed their courage by grabbing hold of one of the many vines that dangled down from high branches. We’d give the Tarzan yell as we pushed ourselves off the “cliffs” and swung out over the jagged rocks, broken glass, and rusty old tin cans beneath us. Never knowing if the vine would hold. I can’t believe there weren’t casualties. At least all the “First Streeters” survived.

Today, there is no sign of the craters and vines. Flattened or filled in, tamed for less heroic generations.

PAT: I think my favorite story of Geneva for me is growing up living close to downtown Geneva, Wheeler Park and the Fox River. I didn’t appreciate it as a young person but looking back, we could go anywhere we wanted on foot or by bike. Lucky for our mom too, because we even went grocery shopping at National Tea just 3 blocks away. We’ d bring the cart home returning it when the big kids came home from school. We’d walk to the dime stores for “stuff”, the drugstores as needed and even shoe shopping at Entile’s or Gibb’s. The library of course was a regular stop as our mom was an avid reader. As the youngest of 7, I was dragged along to all these places. And in the afternoons we explored the neighborhood. But on each block around us, either a relative or a good friend of our parents’ lived so we were under a watchful eye most of the time. In the evenings during the summer, neighbor kids of all ages gathered to play Hide ‘N Seek, Gray Ghost and even Ring and Run, which was hardly anonymous! It was a fun time to be a kid, enough independence to have fun but enough supervision to feel safe in our own back yard—even if that back yard was as big as the downtown or a Park!

Share a fun experience you have had with GHM.

NANCY: It was my day to open and close the museum. I hated the touchpad lock system. It was too mushy. I could never tell if a connection was made. I had the two elderly (probably my age now) Sanders sisters waiting to begin their shift standing behind me. I pressed the code and the door unlocked. I had three minutes to disable the alarm located in the back office. I ran to the back and pressed the code. I didn’t think the last number registered, so I pressed it again. We proceeded to turn on lights throughout the building. Within several minutes I heard police sirens. Then I heard a voice through a bullhorn, “This is the Police! Come out with your hands up!” The sisters stared at me wide-eyed. I told them not to worry, I’d talk to the police. I walked out the front and they repeated, “Put your hands up!” I explained we were the only ones in the building and they insisted the two sisters come out, with hands up. When we were outside, two officers ran into the building one stayed with us. Once the two checked to make sure no one else was hiding they let us back into the museum. Apparently, the “armed robbery in progress” code was activated by pressing the last number in the code twice! The officers explained they had to get us clear of the building. They couldn’t know if someone had a gun on us, instructing us to tell them it was okay.

I don’t remember if the sisters ever volunteered with me again.

PAT: A favorite experience at the museum in Collections, is seeing the handmade items. It’s incredible to see the tiny stiches that have held a garment/item together through a person’s life and it still survives to be an example! The hours of time and skill just to put it together and then sometimes, it’s decorated creatively with fabric, embroidery, buttons, rickrack, etc. And the fabric they may have dyed themselves or salvaged from other items to repurpose into clothing or household items like rugs or towels. And what if they didn’t like sewing and handiwork? They had to do it anyway! What a different world it was and not that long ago!

The Joshel Silos

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 15:35:00 GMT

If you were in Geneva before 1995 you recognize this photograph of the former Joshel silos along North River Lane. They were built in 1917 by Mayer Joshel for his coal and feed business on Hamilton Street. The coal dropped from “Hopper Gondolas” into a pit. From there, the coal was taken by bucket conveyer to the top of the silos. Each silo was divided into four compartments and the coal was stored by grades and size. A shut-off handle could be opened to allow the coal to descend via a chute into trucks or wagons. A wooden structure sat on top of the silos – can you imagine the view from inside?

The silos sat empty for decades and many people have stories of climbing them. I often dreamt about opening a restaurant at the top. Several options were considered to include the silos in the newly developed riverfront area, but nothing worked. The silos had major structural issues and a strong wind storm blew off pieces of the wooden structure causing hazardous conditions. The silos came tumbling down by a wrecking ball in May of 1995.

The Joshel family has donated photographs and several objects to the museum so that we can share the story. Recently, they donated a small-scale model of the silos that was created by Tom’s Railroad Corner in Batavia. Museum volunteer Ann Kain offered to put the model together. The pieces were so intricate she used tweezers and toothpicks. After two weeks of painting, cutting and gluing, the model is now on display in the museum’s Main Gallery. Stop by and enjoy this memorable site and share your stories of those towering silos along the Fox River.

P.S. We won’t tell!

Work at old Geneva cemetery uncovers headstones from city’s early history

Wed, 24 May 2023 14:43:00 GMT

CREDIT: By Linda Girardi, For Beacon-News

It takes some hard labor and detective work, but volunteers working at the West Side Cemetery have discovered pieces of Geneva history that have not been seen for decades.

For instance, Geneva History Museum volunteers recently uncovered an 1850s gravestone at the cemetery of a young girl named Kittie King.

The stone marker is 6 inches in width, with an epitaph reading “Our Little Kittie.”

The marker has a relief sculpture of a child sleeping. The youngster died at the age of 6 on Dec. 16, 1851. She was the daughter of Nathaniel and Jane King, according to museum officials.

“It is one of the most unusual headstones. It’s beautiful,” Geneva History Museum Executive Director Terry Emma said. “We had no idea that we would find a beautiful stone.”

Many old gravestones at the cemetery have toppled and settled over the years beneath the surface of the ground, volunteers said.

The cemetery at North Third and Stevens streets is where some of Geneva’s earliest settlers are buried.

“These are some of our founding families who have had experiences and life in Geneva,” Emma said.

The museum wants future generations to be able to see the burial sites and learn about those buried at the historic cemetery, she said.

“We research who they are and what they did during their time here. It brings respect and dignity to the families,” Emma said.

The museum began the West Side Cemetery restoration project in 2019. To date, more than 200 headstones have been cleaned and restored, officials said.

A group of volunteers worked on some 20 headstones dating to the 1850s and 1860s on a recent Saturday. Each headstone was documented for the type of stone used, its size, condition and more.

The group was instructed to work in a designated area at the cemetery by Geneva History Museum Educator Heidi Howlett.

“I do cemetery walks and noticed that so many stones were underground,” Howlett said.

Howlett received training through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources on how to clean, restore and repair headstones.

The museum relies on historical records to locate the gravesites at the cemetery. There are no permanent records of burials there before 1914, she said.

Volunteers would probe a grassy area and once they felt a tap from a stone surface they used shovels to uncover a missing headstone. Some of the grave markers weigh hundreds of pounds, officials said.

Several of the headstones discovered were reassembled because they were cracked in two pieces, while others required only some work using a water solution to wash away decades of dirt and debris.

Some of the hidden headstones are found in pristine condition, officials said.

The group uncovered a headstone of Lucy, wife of A.G. Bentley.

“It’s an expensive stone with all of the different fonts. It was found in pristine condition,” Howlett said.

Lucy Bentley died in 1859 at age 35. The couple’s infant son died a year earlier and is buried beside them.

“The cholera outbreak hit in the mid-1850s. There are a lot of burial sites from around that time,” Howlett said.

The Geneva History Museum supports the restoration project by offering its historical records and working with volunteers interested in learning more about the cemetery, Emma said.

Markus Olesen and Chuck Howlett were among the volunteers recently that located some old headstones barely visible on the ground’s surface.

“It’s a way to give back to the community,” Olesen said.

Steven Dexheimer, of Geneva, said the volunteers enjoy the historical exploration of locating the gravestones.

“It’s about as close you can get to being an archaeologist without an archaeological degree. You are probing in the ground and realize there is an entire stone there,” Dexheimer said.

———-

Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.

Introducing Freya

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 14:52:00 GMT

The Geneva History Museum is pleased to announce the name of the dragon head from the 1892 Viking Ship is Freya. Freya is a girl’s name of Scandinavian origin, derived from Freyja. It means noble lady and shares its namesake with the mythical Freya, goddess of fertility, love and beauty. The name Freya was submitted by three people, Susan Cleveland, Ken Celic, and Noreen Cecola, who are all winners of a one-year Geneva History Museum membership and a Viking’s Voyage exhibition t-shirt.

More than 180 names were submitted for the dragon head in the two months after the opening of the Geneva History Museum’s Feature Exhibition, “Viking’s Voyage,” A 19th century ship’s journey from Norway to Illinois. The Viking ship was built in 1892 in Norway as a replica of the ancient Viking ship Gokstad. In 1893 the Viking , the name given to the ship, sailed from Norway to Chicago and survived an incredibly long and dangerous nonstop crossing of the Atlantic Ocean to become one of the greatest attractions at the World’s Columbian Exposition. This exhibition will run through Saturday, December 23.

While the Viking Ship is named Viking , its beautiful dragon head and tail were nameless. Freya was chosen by the museum and the Friends of the Vikings Ship. Freya the dragon will be a feature character in the special children’s exhibition “Little Vikings” from June 17 to August 19 at the Geneva History Museum.

The Geneva History Museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays thru Saturdays at 113 South Third Street, Geneva. Admission is $5 per adult, $2 for children (3-10), seniors (65+), and students, FREE Tuesdays, for active military, veterans, and museum members and includes the Main Gallery, “Geneva’s Story.” Museum gallery visitors will receive a coupon for $2 off a tour of the Viking Ship and those who tour the ship at Good Templar Park will receive a coupon for $1 off museum admission. For more information visit GenevaHistoryMuseum.org or call 630-232-4951.

NEW! Play a video game on an Apple IIe Computer

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 17:11:00 GMT

Did you know that the first apple graphics software was created in Geneva? Penguin Software was the company started by Mark Pelczarski in his Geneva home. They were the creators of early gaming software such as Transylvania, Magic Paintbrush, Pie Man, and the Complete Graphics System.

Our main gallery exhibition, Geneva’s Story was recently updated thanks to Penguin Software co-founder, Mark Pelczarski with additional assistance provided by Javier Rivera, Chris Torrence, members of the Facebook group, Apple II Enthusiasts, and GHM volunteer, Craig Elliott. Thanks to everyone, we now have a playable Apple IIe computer in the gallery. We have a selection of games that we will be rotating through on the computer. For now, try your hand at Transylvania, created by Antonio Antiochia and released by Penguin Software in 1982.

Geneva History Museum Receives Highest National Recognition

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 18:36:00 GMT

Awarded Accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums

The Geneva History Museum has achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. The Geneva History Museum is the first in Kane County to achieve national accreditation. Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, over 1096 are currently accredited. Geneva History Museum is one of only 34 museums accredited in Illinois.

Alliance Accreditation brings national recognition to a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for 50 years, the Alliance’s museum accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation and public accountability. It strengthens the museum profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely, and remain financially and ethically accountable in order to provide the best possible service to the public.

“The Geneva History Museum has worked tirelessly to improve best practices to ensure that Geneva’s history continues to be collected, preserved and shared within the standards set by AAM,” said museum director, Terry Emma. “The accreditation process has been an eye-opening experience that has already opened doors to large grant projects. We are proud to be the first nationally accredited museum in Kane County, Illinois.”

Accreditation is a very rigorous but highly rewarding process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. To earn accreditation a museum first must conduct a year of self-study, and then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. The Alliance’s Accreditation Commission, an independent and autonomous body of museum professionals, considers the self-study and visiting committee report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation.

“Accredited museums are a community of institutions that have chosen to hold themselves publicly accountable to excellence,” said Laura L. Lott, Alliance President and CEO. “Accreditation is clearly a significant achievement, of which both the institutions and the communities they serve can be extremely proud.”

The Geneva History Museum is a nonprofit organization that has been collecting, preserving and sharing Geneva’s story since 1943. The museum offers two galleries for exhibitions, regular programming, research services and tours. Located at 113 South Third Street, gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday thru Saturday. Admission is $5/adult, $2/seniors, children & students, free on Tuesdays and for museum members. For more information contact 630-232-4951 or visit GenevaHistoryMuseum.org.

About the American Alliance of Museums

The American Alliance of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. Representing more than 35,000 individual museum professionals and volunteers, institutions, and corporate partners serving the museum field, the Alliance stands for the broad scope of the museum community. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org .

TinyToy Doll House Furniture

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 20:17:00 GMT

Visit our new display in our Cabinet of Curiosity where each shelf includes a display of TinyToy Doll House Furniture that belonged to Jean Overton Wyatt. Jean was a buyer in the China Department of The Little Traveler for many years and had a passion for miniatures that may have started by playing with this furniture.

Shelves include bedroom sets, a living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom and laundry room and include working doors, drawers and tiny details that are a joy to discover. Learn the history of the creation of this miniature furniture and find the hidden objects listed on the wall in the lobby of the museum.

The doll house furniture will be on display through December 23, 2022 and is included as part of admission to the museum.

“100 Years of The Little Traveler”

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 19:53:00 GMT

An exhibition celebrating Geneva’s most iconic destination.

Kate Howard grew up with a love of travel and adventure through her experience with her father’s Howard Shipyards. Kate and Edmond Raftery came to Geneva in 1915 and later purchased 404 South Third Street. Kate had several connections with counts and ambassadors who brought her rare and unique items from all over the world. She displayed these items on her grand piano and invited friends over to purchase them. On September 29, 1922, it was announced in The Geneva Republican newspaper that “The Raftery cottage will hereafter be the home of the Geneva Gift Shop, under the supervision of Mrs. Edmond Raftery.”

At the age of 52 and with no previous business experience, Kate Howard Raftery started Geneva’s Little Traveler. The Little Traveler was the first residence turned business on South Third Street and Kate encouraged others to start their own businesses, including the famous Mill Race Inn, Robin’s Book Shop and Marian Michael’s Children’s Clothing Shop.

Come explore the story of this 100-year-old business that put Geneva on the map as a high fashion, antique mecca and artsy town. View Kate’s going-away wedding coat, puppets used to entertain children, and hand-painted dressing room doors by world-renown artist, William Moulis.

This exhibition will be on display through December 23, 2022.

And the winner is…

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 19:47:00 GMT

The winner of the Geneva History Museum’s 2021 Geneva Giving Trees display goes to Lazarus House with a total of $1,942 votes! For the twelfth year, our Giving Tree’s were decorated by local nonprofits, and for the second year in a row, they were displayed throughout downtown Geneva. People could view the trees as they strolled through town and vote with their dollars online or at the museum. All of the proceeds from the voting supports these nonprofits, as well as GHM.

Thank you to all of the organizations that decorated a tree:

Altrusa International of the Fox Valley, Anderson Animal Shelter, American Legion Post 75, Association for Individual Development, CASA Kane County, Fox Valley Hands of Hope, Friends of the Viking Ship, Geneva Academic Foundation, Geneva Community Chest, Geneva Pride, The Joshua Tree Community, Lazarus House, Marklund, Mutual Ground, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Salvation Army, Suicide Prevention Services, and Tiny N Tall Rescue Inc.

Thank you to all of the downtown businesses that participated:

25N Coworking, Nosh Restaurant, The Little Traveler, Flair on Third, Yoga Six, Graham’s Fine Chocolates & Ice Cream, Crystal Life Technologies, Always Growing Collective, Proud Fox Gallery, Atlas Chicken Shack, Deane’s Deli & Market, Geneva Wreath Company, Graham’s 318 Coffeehouse, Harvey’s Tales, Hey Sugar, Aurelio’s Pizza, State Street Jewelers, The Winding Deerpath, and Pug & Hound Apothecary

We hope to continue this new tradition throughout town in 2022. Happy New Year!

Stockholm’s Four-Course Dinner Pairing Fundraiser

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 19:06:00 GMT

Dine-In or Carry-Out and enjoy a four-course meal paired with a Stockholm’s beer. Dine-In is $75/person and Carry-Out is $52.50/person with no beer (both include tax & gratuity). Seating is limited so advanced registration and a $30 deposit per person are required by calling Stockholm’s at 630-208-7070. GHM will share stories of Geneva’s Christmas traditions and will receive 10% of the proceeds.

Celebrating 130 Years!

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 18:10:00 GMT

Homeowners, Tony and Nicki Burke invited the Geneva History Museum and previous owners to tour their home at 1101 South Batavia Avenue and share stories in celebration of the home’s 130th birthday. The story of the Davis House begins on October 3, 1891 when W.J. Davis purchased a ten-acre parcel of land from Silas W. Curtis. Willam Job and Ida Bonnell Davis began the building of a “fine house” (as described in The Geneva Republican Newspaper).

The Davis family came to Geneva from Wisconsin, where William made a career in the hardware and farming business before turning his attention to the dairy industry. He made is mark with several patents from dairy machinery.

Every family has their story and William and Ida experienced a scandalous one. William left for a rather extended business trip. Ida filed for divorce based on the fact that her husband had not been home in seven years. William showed up late to the divorce hearing and by that time the judge had awarded Ida the house. She lived there the rest of her life until 1944. Since the Davis family, six other families have called the Davis house home.

The Davis House is a rare example of American Queen Anne architecture in Geneva. The intricate wrap-around porch has been re-built to replicate the original design, including the porte-cochere, which is intended for a passenger to step onto the porch from a horse and buggy under a protective canopy. The center pieces on the ceilings of the front rooms are original and according to paperwork “cost $2 a piece.” There are seventeen original stained glass windows and only one fireplace, since the home was heated. The first floor powder room has the original sink and wainscoting.

Previous owner, Marsha Reinecke, reflected on hearing stories about what a great house this was to raise children and entertain with the 900-square foot screened back porch. “It is an epic house for parties and kids,” said Reinecke, who lived in the house for twelve years with her husband and daughter.

Chuck & Lori Hackley reminisced about their nine years of living in the house. Chuck found his son’s signature dated May 1, 1981 under the basement staircase.

The Burke’s said they gave permission to a man with a metal detector to walk the property. They have a bin full of objects that were found on the grounds including a key, an army toy, segments of a hair or garment adornment, and metal pots that the Burkes now use on their back porch.

The home received a bronze plaque award from the Geneva History Museum (Geneva Historical Society) in 2007 to honor its history. Local landmark designation was awarded in 2008 and the home is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historical Places.

The Geneva History Museum is a nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve and share Geneva’s evolving story while inspiring and engaging the community. The museum is located at 113 South Third Street and is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays offering free admission. For more information visit GenevaHistoryMuseum.org or call 630-232-4951.

Previous homeowner, Chuck Hackley, points out his son’s signature in the basement stairs, dated 1981.

Chuck Hackely, Marsha Reinecke, Lori Hackley, Nicki & Tony Burke

Voted 2021 One of the Finest Museums in Kane County

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 15:06:00 GMT

The Geneva History Museum has been nominated as One of the Finest Museums in Kane County Magazine’s Finest Reader’s Choice contest! Thousands of readers nominated their favorite businesses from a variety of categories, including pet care, dining, personal services and more.

Thank you to all who voted for the Geneva History Museum. This recognition follows two 2020 Reader’s Choice Awards in both the Daily Herald Newspaper and Glancer Magazine.

Check back in early November for a link to the Kane County Magazine featuring a Spotlight Exclusive on the Geneva History Museum.

Visit the Geneva History Museum to explore our updated Main Gallery and share your Geneva story in our new Story Booth recording studio. Our museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays with free admission at 113 South Third Street, Geneva, IL. Immerse yourself in Geneva’s rich history!

What does Geneva mean to you?

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 15:35:00 GMT

Participate in a Collaborative Public Art Project in Downtown Geneva

A large chalkboard wall has been installed on South 3rd Street, just north of the Geneva History Museum and 5,000 postcards are being scattered throughout Geneva—all with a simple prompt—write a note or draw a picture to tell the world what you love about our community.

Dear Geneva, with Love is a collaborative public art project designed by local artist, Catherine Tilly as a response to the time we’ve spent socially distanced and apart. It’s designed to be an unfolding story of community, a snapshot of history, and a love letter to place—part public art, part marketing and part history. Tilly is inviting everyone to respond— students, residents, visitors and business owners—to create a uniquely Geneva story during these historic times. The Geneva History Museum has partnered with the artist to create a space for the wall, to display postcards, t-shirts and other merchandise. The temporary wall installation, made possible by Hogan Construction, will remain through Festival of the Vine in September.

Postcards and drop boxes are at 20 locations throughout downtown (see list below). Participants are invited to write or draw messages of support and encouragement or personal stories, drop in a box, create displays and social media posts (#deargeneva #deargenevawithlove), and then add a message to the chalkboard wall outside the Geneva History Museum. Tilly is hoping businesses will create their own responses to Dear Geneva, with Love.!

Dear Geneva, With Love merchandise is available for sale in the Geneva History Museum Gift Shop including t-shirts and mugs. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays thru Saturdays.

This project is made possible with support from the Geneva History Museum, Hogan Construction, The Geneva Cultural Arts Commission, and Geneva Foundation for the Arts. Thanks to the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva for the use of the lawn.

Postcards and Drop Boxes are Available at the following locations:

The Little Traveler, 404 South Third Street

Cafe & Barr, 407 South Third Street

Moveable Feast, 321 Franklin Street

Art History Brewing, 649 West State Street

The Royal Wren, 11 South Third Street

Jade, 25 South Third Street

Odalisque Beauty Apothecary, 101 South Third Street

Country Naturals, 316 Campbell Street

The Geneva History Museum, 113 South Third Street

The Geneva Public Library, 227 South Seventh Street

Welcome Back!

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 19:29:00 GMT

The Geneva History Museum is pleased to announce that we have reopened to the public. Free admission will be offered for the remainder of 2021! (Donations are always welcome and appreciated.) Thank you for your patience these past few months. What a year this has been for all of us!

COVID closure was very emotional but it presented many opportunities for GHM to complete grant projects, update the Main Gallery and Gift Shop, and to get organized. Over the past sixteen months staff and volunteers worked on a $300,000 grant project for the installation of compact mobile shelving in the archives and collections storage rooms. The grants were awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Dunham Fund and the Kane County Riverboat Fund.

This project was planned to take place in January of 2021 and cause the museum to close for just three months. Staff and volunteers decided to take advantage of COVID pandemic closure and started to project in June of 2020, following CDC guidelines with temperature checks, masks and social distancing. It took three weeks to move all of the objects and old metal shelves out of the storage rooms and temporarily set them up in rooms on the first floor of the museum. Large objects and furniture were inventoried and photographed during the move. This was previously an impossible task to perform in the former storage conditions.

With all 50,000 objects moved to the first floor, the empty rooms were measured by the contractor and the shelves were ordered in July, 2020. While staff waited for the shelves to arrive, they identified and indexed more than 8,000 photographs, and reorganized boxes and files. Volunteers painted the walls with fresh white paint and the floors were painted teal.

The new shelving systems were installed in November, just before Thanksgiving. With increased COVID restrictions, moving the objects back to the lower level was completed by staff only. Each object was evaluated and the new location updated in the museum’s database. This final stage of the project took months, but time was all we had.

The new shelving system achieved the goals set in the grant proposals, which included increasing accessibility, as well as improving the care, storage and environmental conditions for the former cramped collections and accommodate future growth.

The museum also took advantage of the time to make updates to the 3,000 square-foot Main Gallery, “Geneva’s Story” with a grant from the Fabyan Foundation. Two additional chapters were added on community service and entertainment. More artifacts and archival images are on display, and videos and interviews are available on a fifth iPad.

After seven years of fundraising, a Story Booth was built where visitors to listen or record their Geneva stories. Stories may be included in future exhibitions or programs and added to the museum’s archives.

The museum’s Gift Shop was redesigned by volunteer, Craig Elliott, with slat wall systems and custom shelving. New inventory has been added and more is on the way.

We encourage everyone to visit the museum to enjoy these new additions. Ask the Front Desk volunteer if a staff member is available to provide a behind-the-scenes tour. Tours can also be scheduled by calling the museum at 630-232-4951.

Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays thru Saturdays. We are excited to show the community these improvements and can’t wait to say, “Welcome to the Geneva History Museum” as you walk through our doors.

GHM Plans to Reopen July 6

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 14:49:00 GMT

The Geneva History Museum has been working on several grant projects during COVID closure with a goal to reopen Tuesday, July 6, with FREE admission throughout the remainder of 2021.

Phase II of the Main Gallery, “Geneva’s Story” is almost completed with two new chapters on “Community Service” and “Entertainment,” as well as more artifacts and a new Story Booth. The Gift Shop has also been redesigned and new inventory is on its way.

Coming mid-June, “Dear Geneva, With Love,” a public art engagement will be hosted at the Geneva History Museum in conjunction with Geneva artist, Catherine Tilly. “Dear Geneva” is a conversation between community members, businesses, and visitors — on a temporary art wall at the north end of the museum as well as on postcards scattered throughout the city.

This project allows each of us to tell a small part of the larger Geneva story by sharing what we’ve learned and what we love about this town. As the postcards are shared, curated, collected and displayed, our “love letter” to Geneva will unfold and emerge, giving us the opportunity to rediscover what shapes and defines us in these historic times.

“Dear Geneva, With Love” merchandise will also be available for sale in the Museum’s Gift Shop. Special thanks to the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva for the use of their lot and to Hogan Design and Construction for agreeing to build the wall.

And the Winner is…

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 21:43:00 GMT

Each year GHM hosts May is Membership Month to ask people to join or renew their membership at the Geneva History Museum, and to encourage increasing memberships to become donors. Anyone who joined, renewed or made a donation during May is included in a random drawing to win a $100 gift card to be used for any Museum event, program, research or in the Gift Shop.

Thanks to generous support from 170 individuals, 2021 May is Membership Month exceeded our expectations and raised over $27,000! Executive Director, Terry Emma, gave a virtual wheel a spin to determine the winner. Congratulations to David & Kristin Shorr as the winners of the $100 GHM gift card.

Another part of May is Membership is honoring an anniversary for an event or building in Geneva. This year marks the 185th anniversary of the forming of Kane County, Illinois and Geneva as the county seat. A virtual program was presented with highlights of the history of Kane County, the courthouse buildings, and a special behind-the-scenes tour of the 1892 courthouse. In honor of Geneva as the county SEAT, GHM staff share stories about their favorite chairs in the GHM collection. Watch the recorded version HERE.

Thank you all

GHM Core Documents Verified by the American Alliance of Museums

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 18:20:00 GMT

The Geneva History Museum has been working on pre-accreditation for several years. This required revising and creating documents that have been designated as core by the American Alliance of Museums “because they are fundamental for professional museum operations and embody core museum values and practices. They codify and guide decisions and actions that promote institutional stability and viability, which in turn allows a museum to fulfill its educational role, preserve collections and stories for future generations, and be an enduring part of its community.”

The five documents include: Mission Statement, Institutional Code of Ethics, Strategic Institutional Plan, Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Plan, and a Collections Management Policy. Verification is a required prerequisite for accreditation.

For more than 45 years, the Accreditation Program has been recognized as the gold standard of museum excellence. With its mix of self-assessment, peer review, and public recognition, AAM Accreditation helps to ensure the integrity and accessibility of museum collections, reinforce the education and public service roles of museums and promote good governance practices and ethical behavior.

Accreditation offers high profile, peer-based validation of our museum’s operations and impact. Accreditation increases our museum’s credibility and value to funders, policy makers, insurers, community and peers. Accreditation is a powerful tool to leverage change and helps facilitate loans between institutions. Only 22% of history museums in the country are nationally accredited. Currently, there are none in Kane County, Illinois.

The next step is a Peer Review visit by museum professionals that will take place virtually in July of 2021. The fee required to apply for accreditation was donated by a very supportive couple in our community.

Annual Geneva Giving Trees Display

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 16:04:00 GMT

For many years, the Geneva History Museum (GHM) Geneva Giving Trees display has offered the opportunity for local non-profit organizations to decorate a Christmas tree in our Feature Gallery. The display has become a Geneva holiday tradition and was designed to call attention to some of the nonprofit organizations that benefit local citizens and remind us that in Geneva community comes first!

This year, everything is different. While GHM remains temporarily closed, downtown businesses have kindly offered space, inside and outside of their buildings, to host the Giving Trees. This is a wonderful opportunity for these nonprofit organizations to raise some much-needed funds.

Trees will be on display from November 23 to January 2. You can cast votes for your favorite Geneva Giving Trees online. Each vote costs $1, with a minimum bid of $5 (or 5 votes). The winning organization will keep 100% of the funds raised in support of their tree. The remaining organizations will split their winnings 50/50 with the Museum.

View the trees online and vote for your favorites with your donations HERE .

Museum Temporarily Closed for Grant Projects

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 13:38:00 GMT

The Geneva History Museum (GHM) will remain closed through the summer to complete several projects. GHM was awarded a $162,628 Museums for America grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to redesign the archives and collections storage rooms. This project was originally planned for the winter months of 2021, however with summer events cancelled due to COVID-19, GHM has decided to complete the project now. High-density mobile shelving storage systems will be installed to improve the care, storage and environmental conditions for the collections and provide 46% more storage space.

During closure, GHM will also install a Story Booth thanks to a Kane County Riverboat Grant that provided improved technology. The booth will be available in the Main Gallery to video record visitors who want to share their Geneva stories. The recordings will be saved on a hard drive, stored in the archives, and some may be used in exhibitions or programs.

Other projects that will continue during closure is the painting of a mural that will be the backdrop of our 18th century Crèche by Geneva artist, Dennis Gramlich. The mural depicts Naples, Italy, where the Crèche was made, with buildings, street vendors, and mountains along the Bay of Naples. The community can watch Dennis paint the mural through our windows on South Third Street from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., each Wednesday and Saturday.

Several Crèche figures have had their clothing repaired or replaced, thanks to our Museum Educator, Heidi Howlett, for providing her seamstress skills and to Paula Jaeger Pikowitz for her donation of silk from Cowtan & Tout. Original trim was used along with the new fabric to keep the clothing as authentic as possible.

GHM has a goal to reopen with a celebration including behind-the-scenes tours of the new storage areas, opening the Story Booth, unveiling the Crèche mural and new clothing.

GHM received additional funding for the storage redesign project with $22,500 from The Dunham Fund, $20,542 from the Kane County Riverboat Fund, and donated supplies from Uline. The Story Booth was funded by individual donors and fundraisers over the past five years.

UPDATE: the lower level Collections and Archives storage rooms have been emptied. The installer came to check final measurements and we await the final design layout from Artistic Storage. During this time, GHM staff and volunteers will continue to work on the collection to identify unknown objects, index archival boxes and prepare for the new shelving.

The Geneva History Museum is a non-profit organization with a mission to preserve and share Geneva’s story while inspiring and educating the community. For more information or to receive updates about this project or other museum activities, please visit GenevaHistoryMuseum.org or email Info@GenevaHistoryMuseum.org.

Watch the artist!

Thu, 07 May 2020 12:20:00 GMT

During the spring and summer of 2020, Geneva artist Dennis Gramlich will be creating a background painting for the Geneva History Museum’s 18th century crèche (nativity scene) that is displayed each year at Christmas time inside the 17th century French Provincial corner bed. The crèche was purchased by Kate Raftery, originator of The Little Traveler in the 1930s and she displayed it this same way in the antique room of her shop.

Watch through the window of the museum at 113 South Third Street as this large panorama of 18th century Naples, Italy (where and when the crèche was created) slowly comes to life.

Painting Schedule: 2:30-4:30 p.m., Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Dennis’ journey to complete the painting will be chronicled and presented at a Brown Bag Program at noon on November 10, 2020, at which there will also be the “big reveal” of the completed piece in its setting.

History of Quarantine in Geneva

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 17:33:00 GMT

The past few weeks of social distancing and quarantine is not the first time for Geneva. The Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918 killed somewhere between 20 and 40 million people. It has been cited as the most devastating epidemic in recorded world history. Here is what it did to Geneva, Illinois.

As reported in the Geneva Republican on October 25, 1918, a troop train on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad east bound from Camp Fremont, California left the track three miles west of Geneva. The train was estimated to be traveling at a rate of 60 miles per hour at the time of the wreck. Thirty-four soldiers were injured, several with broken legs or arms but most received only cuts or bruises. The injured men were rushed to Geneva’s Colonial Hospital on Third Street in motor cars owned by local residents who came to the scene of the accident.

“Physicians from Aurora, Elgin, St. Charles and Batavia assisted Geneva doctors to care for the men. A number of women from the Red Cross arrived and made sure the men were treated to hot coffee and sandwiches. Smokes were provided by Geneva men and everything possible was done to make the men comfortable.”

One car on the train held 60 men who were ill and under quarantine with the Spanish flu

Several Geneva soldiers died overseas from the flu. However, just one month after the troop train wreck, in November 1918, there are several deaths in the area all with short illness of influenza which quickly developed into pneumonia.

One of the dead was St. Charles Health Officer, Dr. William Calhoun who was the leader in trying to stamp out the disease and flu epidemic. Maybe Dr. Calhoun was there to assist with the quarantined troops?

Noted as “Popular Geneva Boy,” Charles Lencioni died at the age of 20 following a brief eight day illness with influenza and pneumonia. Lencioni contracted a severe cold the night of the troop train wreck. He had worked at his father’s fruit store and was the chauffeur at Riverbank estate of Col. George Fabyan.

In December, Margaret Hanna, wife of head farmer at the Riverbank Estate died at the age of 44 after a short illness with pneumonia.

Josephine Works of Aurora died after a four day illness in December. She had many friends in Geneva and was a collector on one of the Chicago & Northwestern local trains.

Quarantine restrictions were made in Geneva regarding public places, social gatherings and exclusion from activities of those who show evidence of a cold. Schools and businesses remained open, however, as written in the Geneva Republican on November 8, 1918, “provided that all such premises shall be thoroughly cleaned, kept clean and well ventilated at all times. Conditions of crowding shall be strictly avoided. Extraordinary diligence shall be exercised to exclude from the audience possible infection bearers. Social gatherings may be held under the same restrictions as are herein provided for places of public amusements. Public sales and special bargain sales may be held provided conditions of crowding are avoided and other necessary sanitary precautions are taken. Public funeral of those dead of non-contagious diseases shall be held but all funerals of those dead from the commutable diseases shall be held only in conformity with the rules and regulations of the State Department of Public Health. Churches will continue to operate under the restrictions previously provided. Schools may operate under the following conditions: Each and every citizen is asked to cooperate and be governed by the above rules. If you have a cold or reside in premises where a case of influenza or pneumonia exists do not go into places of amusement or churches where you may come in direct contact with others.”

And they called THAT a quarantine?

Geneva’s Covid-19 Journal Project & Coloring Pages

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 20:10:00 GMT

You are part of this history! Share your stories of Covid-19 in Geneva with the Geneva History Museum to document this historic crisis. The GHM Archives contains many journals, letters and documents from previous historic events and this experience is important to share with future generations.

NEW – Coloring pages of historic buildings in Geneva: While we are all spending more time at home, have some fun coloring and drop it off in the Covid-Journal Project mail box to the left of the museum’s front door. These coloring pages will be put on display in the museum’s front windows for all to see as they are walking by. Choose from the following (more to come)

Kane County Court House on South Third Street.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Fourth Street.

Windmill in Fabyan Forest Preserve.

There are several ways you can participate in Geneva’s Covid-19 Journal Project :

1. Write your daily thoughts and send them to GHM along with your name, address, phone and e-mail address.

By mail GHM, 113 South Third Street, Geneva, IL 60134

Drop-Off at GHM in our Covid-Journal Project mail box to the left of our front door

Or by e-mail to director@GenevaHistoryMuseum.org

2. Video record your daily thoughts or share photos and post on social media, tag the Geneva History Museum and use #GenevaCovidJournalProject

Here are some tips to get your journaling started:

Working from home
Schooling from home
Parenting while also teaching at home
Changes to your normal routine, such as grocery shopping
Caring for a family member
New or old hobbies to pass the time
How you stay fit while quarantined
How are you dealing with quarantine
If you are in the healthcare field, what is it like?
Acts of kindness and support in the community

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to reading and sharing your stories.

Please note: This is not intended to become a platform for politics, but rather human experiences. Any inappropriate material will be edited or discarded.

GHM Recognized for Excellence

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 17:05:00 GMT

Geneva History Museum has passed the American Alliance of Museums’ Core Documents Verification, an important milestone in its ongoing efforts to demonstrate excellence, meet standards and best practices, and ultimately achieve national accreditation.

Earning Core Documents Verificationmeans the national professional organization for the museum industry has verified, through a thorough expert review, that the museum has an educational mission; and ethics, planning, emergency, and collections stewardship policies in place that reflect standard practices of professional museums. These elements were evaluated because they are deemed essential for every institution that identifies itself as a professional member of the museum field.

“One reason we submitted our core documents to AAM was to demonstrate to the community that the museum follows the policies and plans that are essential to good museum management,” said Terry Emma, Geneva History Museum Executive Director. “These core documents provide our staff and governing authority the structure, ethical grounding, and accountability needed to make informed and consistent decisions in support of our mission and sustainability.”

A few more steps are required to achieve national accreditation including an application to complete a self-study, a peer review visit and a final decision from the AAM team. It is estimated that these last steps take about 18 months to complete. Out of all the history museums in America, only 22% are nationally accredited and currently there are none in Kane County, Illinois. Only 8% of museums with similar annual operating budgets have achieved national accreditation.

The Geneva History Museum is an independent non-profit organization started in 1943 with a mission to preserve and share Geneva’s evolving story while inspiring and engaging the community. Their vision is to be an accredited, sustainable museum, connecting globally as the premier source of Geneva’s history.

The American Alliance of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. With more than 15,000 individual, 3,000 institutional, and 300 corporate members, the Alliance is dedicated to ensuring that museums remain a vital part of the American landscape, connecting people with the greatest achievements of the human experience, past, present and future. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org .

Watch Recorded Brown Bag Programs

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 22:28:00 GMT

Have you missed a Brown Bag Program that you wanted to attend? Now you can view recorded Brown Bag Programs here on the GHM website if you are an annual Pioneer Donor ($100/year or more) in support of GHM operations.

Donors will need to be current for the calendar year and create a “Member Login” at the top right of the website. Please allow 24-48 hours for access after creating a login.

Recorded Brown Bag Programs include :

A Life In Code, March 2020

Geneva’s East Side History, February, 2020

History of the Fabyan Forest Preserve, November 2019

Radical Decorative: Geneva’s Howell Company, October 2019

Peck Farm Park: A Family Legacy, September 2019

Mapping Geneva, March 2019

St. Mark’s Mural Mystery, February 2019

Burning & Rebuilding Geneva with Sue Lencioni, November 2018

Textile Restoration with Geneva Cleaners, October 2018

Geneva Garden Club 90th Anniversary, September 2018

Accreditation Update

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 21:56:00 GMT

Geneva History Museum (GHM) has a goal of becoming the first nationally accredited museum in Kane County, Illinois. GHM has officially submitted all five of the pre-accreditation documents required of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM).

GHM’s Disaster Preparedness/Emergency Response Plan and the 2019-2025 Strategic Plan were recently written and/or revised and approved by the Board of Directors at the February 25 board meeting and submitted to AAM. AAM will notify the museum in one to two months regarding any edits or revisions needed.

The other core documents already approved by AAM are the Mission Statement, Institutional Code of Ethics and Collections Policy.

According to the AAM website, “As the museum field’s mark of distinction since 1971, accreditation offers high profile, peer-based validation of your museum’s operations and impact. Accreditation increases credibility and value to funders, policy makers, insurers, community and peers. Accreditation is a powerful tool to leverage change and helps facilitate loans between institutions.”

Museum Celebrates Artist’s 103rd Birthday with Mural Dedication

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 20:28:00 GMT

The Geneva History Museum will celebrate the 103rd birthday of artist Manuel Bromberg at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 6 by videotaping everyone singing “Happy Birthday to Manny” in front of his mural at the Geneva Post Office. Immediately following there will be a birthday card signing at the museum, 113 South Third Street, Geneva.

Bromberg is known locally for his 1940 mural Fish Fry in the Park , inside the Geneva Post Office, commissioned by the Section of Fine Arts and Bromberg’s third Post Office mural. The Section of Fine Arts’ main function was to select high quality art to decorate public buildings in the form of murals; it was not a relief program, but awarded commissions competitively, based on artistic talent.

The Geneva History Museum reached out to Bromberg for his personal story. Bromberg writes, “When I received the Geneva mural contract, I was 23 years old and had just completed studies at Broadmoor Academy (now Colorado Springs Fine Arts) where I had been both art student and teaching assistant for the famous artist, Boardman Robinson. From there I headed out to Ottumwa, Iowa to visit my sister. I ended up renting a small empty dress shop; the store served as my studio with living space upstairs.

I traveled from Ottumwa to Geneva to see the actual post office site. And while I was there I really tried to find something of historical interest or a great event in Geneva to use as a subject for the mural. But as far as I could find, there was no such event to use. And then I happened to be walking through a park (don’t know which one or its name) and found the infinite variety of life and the subject of people picnicking together to be both appealing and interesting. That’s how I decide to use it as the subject of the mural and soon spent my time sketching people and fun activities in a Geneva park.

When I returned to Ottumwa, I started to assemble the Geneva sketches made up of a panorama of figures and activity and began to pull together ideas for the composition of the mural. Adding to the Geneva studies, I started sketching friends, strangers, babies being held, ad even a “mutt” that were all Ottumwans. They too ended up in the mural.

Once I decided the mural was going to be a picnic scene, it became like a stage set and proved somewhat challenging since there was so much content to the mural: different body types to represent the people, children, different activities, the passing out of food, child and dog, boy blowing up balloon, adult preparing food for the picnic, people playing together, waiting, etc.

I painted the mural using an old formula for egg tempera as taught tome by Boardman Robinson. Made my own body of liquid, like Old Master stuff. Egg whites were mixed with colors for permanence. It took me eight months and 200 eggs to complete the mural.

When the mural was complete, I drove out with my sister and nephew from Ottawa to Geneva with the large rolled up canvas. There was no ceremony. Nobody greeted us. My nephew and I came in, stood on tall ladders, hung the mural and left town. It was a really hard job with just the two of us. Had to first put a gook on the wall, which was made up of white lead and a varnish. Canvas was then rolled from both ends, inward, until it met in the middle. Then, each person with his half rolled outward from the middle and patted the canvas against the wall making it forever permanent. It was a difficult job.

Each mural project that I received was a juried competition, like a contractor placing a bid for a job, estimating how much it would cost, what you proposed, etc. I won the contract for the Geneva mural based on the strength of my previous murals. Basically, with the Section of Fine Arts, it was a business contract between you and the United States. I have great fondness for the piece and am most appreciative to hear it is still on the wall and being seen.”

Manuel Bromberg’s other post office murals include a Federal Arts Project WPA commission for Tahlequah, Oklahoma (1938-1939), and a 48-State Juried Mural Competition for Greybull, Wyoming (1939). Bromberg was invited to exhibit at “Art in America,” part of the 1939 World’s Fair. Other selected exhibits of Bromberg’s work that year included San Francisco, New York, Denver, Cleveland, Chicago, and Ottawa, as well as a traveling show, “Artists West of the Mississippi.”

On March 6, 2019, in honor of Manny’s 102nd birthday, the Geneva History Museum held a formal dedication of the Geneva Post Office mural, Fish Fry In The Park . A plaque that tells the mural’s story was added to the mural wall and attendees wrote notes to Bromberg wishing him happy birthday and about their favorite scene in the mural. The notes were sent to Bromberg after the party and they will be filed with Bromberg’s art in the Smithsonian Museum.

GHM Chosen as StEPs Spotlight by American Association for State and Local History

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 23:55:00 GMT

The Geneva History Museum is proud to have completed all six sections of the AASLH StEPs – Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations – and was chosen as their StEPs Spotlight for a second time.

The Spotlight states, “Sometimes the “big picture” of why we do the work we do can be lost to the daily demands of running an institution. The Geneva History Museum in Geneva, Illinois , started the StEPs program in 2014 and since then has worked through each of the six sections, keeping the “big picture” in mind.”

Geneva History Museum Executive Director, Terry Emma wrote, “We set a schedule of regular weekly meetings on Monday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon since the Museum is closed to the public on Mondays. The committee consisted of all staff members and the President of the Board of Directors. All Board members were invited to participate at any time if they wanted to join in the discussion. We used a laptop, projector, and screen to display the pages of the workbook for all to read together. The Executive Director acted as moderator, kept notes from each meeting, and checked off the level of each standard in the workbook. At the end of each section the committee went back through the standards to see where we ranked. Notes were gathered on what needs to be completed to increase the level of standard and who would be responsible for that area.”

“Having the entire staff act as part of the committee raised awareness at all levels of best practices. We were very proud to earn a gold certificate for our level of Interpretation and all involved now have a sense of wanting to make the necessary improvements to resubmit for a higher level in all of the other areas. Our participation in StEPs made us set aside a time to look at the “big picture” of the Geneva History Museum. With a small staff and limited budget, it is easy to get stuck in day-to-day activities and not take the time to plan and set policies and procedures. StEPs gave us a guide to start this process and with our notes from each section, we now have goals for improvement. The StEPs certificates have been framed on a wall in our lobby as a visual for all to know what the museum is doing to better serve the community.”

“Displaying the StEPs certificates and sending press releases out has been a great way to share with the community how our museum ranks from the standards set by a national organization. Sharing our story of meeting each level of performance demonstrates that the Geneva History Museum is dedicated to a continuum of excellence. We have also participated in two Museum Assessment Programs with the American Alliance for Museums. It has been helpful to see similar information develop from both MAP and StEPs to confirm what needs to be done and assist with setting goals.”

“Set regular meeting times so that the workbook doesn’t just sit on your desk collecting dust. Keep notes on why your committee ranked each standard as basic, good or better so you can then make a list of what is needed to be done. When items on your list have been accomplished, go back and review your notes and check the performance indicators to see if you have reached a higher level.” Read the entire article at https://aaslh.org/steps-spotlight-geneva-history-museum /

GHM Receives $162,628 IMLS Grant

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 19:45:00 GMT

The Geneva History Museum has been awarded a $162,628 Museums for America grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to redesign the archives and collections storage rooms.

Striving to improve best practices, the museum has participated in several museum assessment programs with the American Alliance of Museums, the American Association of State and Local History, and The Institute of Museum and Library Services/The Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. The final reports from these assessments reaffirmed the need for a long-term goal of redesigning the storage areas to addresses overcrowding, to increase accessibility, provide for best practices in caring for the current objects and accommodate continued growth. This goal was made a high-priority in the Geneva History Museum’s 2019-2023 Strategic Plan. The museum plans to install high-density mobile shelving storage systems that will improve the care, storage and environmental conditions for the collections and provide 46% more storage space.

“We received a very rich slate of applications this year making the award process extremely competitive,” said Paula Gangopadhyay, Deputy Director of the IMLS Office of Museum Services. “IMLS is pleased to fund projects in museums across America that are making impact on their local communities, helping preserve and make collections more accessible and enriching life-long learning experiences.”

The Museums for America grant supports projects that strengthen the ability of an individual museum to serve its public by providing high-quality, inclusive learning experiences by serving as community anchors and essential partners in addressing community needs, and by preserving and providing access to the collections entrusted to its care.

Through the agency’s largest competitive grant program, Museums for America, and a special initiative, Museums Empowered, a total of 130 projects were selected from 511 applications.

“This is the first government grant I have secured for the museum,” added Geneva History Museum Executive Director, Terry Emma. “We are ecstatic to have earned the support of the IMLS to be able to take on a project of this magnitude. Congresswomen Lauren Underwood called me to let us know that she was proud that a museum in her district won this prestigious award. Now, we start planning for this project that will take place in January of 2021.”

The Geneva History Museum is a non-profit organization with a mission to preserve and share Geneva’s story while inspiring and educating the community. For more information or to assist with the museum’s $50,000 financial commitment to this project, please contact Executive Director, Terry Emma at 630-232-4951

Swedish Days at the Museum

Wed, 15 May 2019 19:12:00 GMT

Don’t miss these special events at the Geneva History Museum in honor of the 70th anniversary of Geneva’s Swedish Days festival.

Trolley Tours

Enjoy a 45-minute guided tour of Geneva including stories about the Peck Farm sheep barn, memorial swimming pool, the Golf Club, Western Avenue School and fun facts about 70 years of Swedish Days! Tours start each hour on the hour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18, Wednesday, June 19 and Thursday, June 20 at the corner of James and Third Streets next to the Post Office. Admission is $10/person and includes a free Museum pass to visit the galleries and a goodie bag full of offers from Geneva shops and restaurants. Trolley is air-conditioned and accessible for all. Tickets are limited and can be purchased ahead of time by calling 630-232-4951 or each day at the trolley stop.

Special Swedish Days 70th Anniversary Display

Learn fun facts about the 70 years of Geneva’s Swedish Days during this fun-filled week. Special Swedish Days Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Kane County Juried Art Exhibition

Explore this thematically diverse feature exhibition of more than 30 juried art submissions celebrating Kane County cultural heritage. Discover art from the Museum’s collection on display in the lobby hall featuring scenes of Geneva along the Fox River. Both displays will be open through November 2. Admission is for the entire day and includes all galleries listed below: free for Trolley Tour riders and Museum members, $3/person, and $2/children ages 3 to 10.

Children’s Gallery Exhibition

Little engineers can enjoy a pretend ride in “Let’s Play Railway!” a traveling exhibit with a life-size engine, cattle wagon and caboose. The hands-on activities in “Let’s Play Railway!” promote early math and literacy. They encourage children to solve problems and interact with others as they communicate, share and take turns. This exhibit features buttons, sound effects, puzzles, play tables and much more!

Geneva’s Story

Engage with Geneva’s story told chapter by chapter in this 3,000 square-foot gallery with rare artifacts, large graphics, models of lost buildings, iPad activities, a movie theatre replica, and stories from the early days to today.

A Century of Service

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 19:32:00 GMT

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the American Legion Fox River-Geneva Post 75, chartered in August 1919. The Legion’s history can be found all around Geneva including the West Side Cemetery.

The large slabs at West Side Cemetery’s driveway circle were installed and dedicated by the Legion on May 30, 1928. These two stones, weighing approximately five tons, were quarried in Batavia in the 1850s and brought to Geneva’s fair grounds at the corner of West State and Kaneville Road. They were often used to test the strength of farm horses and used as a speakers platform. In 1861, Company H, 15th Calvary and 52nd Infantry Illinois Volunteers used the stones as an enlistment location.

As the fair ground property was being developed, the Legion rescued the stones and adopted them as memorial monuments due to their civil war history. The Legion purchased a cemetery plot near where Memorial Day services are usually held and placed the stones there along with a commemorative bronze plaque.

To learn more about the Legion’s history, join us at noon on Tuesday, May 14 at the American Legion Post 75, 22 South Second Street for the Geneva History Museum’s Brown Bag Program “A Century of Service.” Register here.

May is Membership Month

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 15:07:00 GMT

Help preserve Geneva’s best cultural institution. Renew or become a Geneva History Museum member during the month of May for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to the Museum. Certificate can be used for programs, research, events or in the Gift Shop. Annual Membership benefits include:

Membership support is important, however, it covers a very small portion of operating expenses. That’s why your unrestricted donation is vital to preserve Geneva’s history with engaging exhibitions, programs, and events. Donors of $100 or more now get access to recorded programs on the Museum’s website. Did you miss a Brown Bag Program this year? Now you can watch them at your convenience on our website. Annual Donors receive the following benefits:

Memberships can be made here on our website, in person at the Museum, over the phone at 630-232-4951, or by mail to 113 South Third Street, Geneva, IL 60134. Please indicate how you would like to be listed in our donor database and in all recognitions.

Free Admission to Exhibitions
Invitation to Annual Members Celebration
Invitations to VIP/Members Only Exhibition Preview Parties
Invitations and discounts for Special Events & Programs
Annual Calendar of Exhibitions, Programs and Events
Email Updates
Reduced Research Fees
10% off Gift Shop Purchases (20% at the Annual Members Celebration)
Reciprocal Benefits to more than 200 Museums in over 40 states

Give More & Get More

Pioneer / $100 – $249

Name on annual donor wall
Recognition in annual mailing
Online access to recorded Museum programs
Complimentary one-year membership

Settler / $250 – $499

All Pioneer benefits plus:
Free admission to all Brown Bag Programs

Historian / $500 – $999

All Settler benefits plus:
Free admission to all Exhibition Programs

Herrington Circle / $1,000+

All Historian benefits plus:
Invitations to special Herrington Circle events & parties
Gift of one-year membership for a friend
50% off Museum Room Rental fees

The Story of State Street Jewelers

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 15:52:00 GMT

The jewelry business in Geneva has had a long and fashionable history. In the 1880s and 90s, Genevans could mosey down West State Street and choose to patronize jewelers such as Joseph Bell, A.R. Dow, Charles J. Peterson or W. R. Smith. Many would be surprised to know that today’s State Street Jewelers is a descendent of one of these early businesses.

The succession legacy of Geneva’s State Street Jewelers goes back to 1891 when W. R. Smith, a traveling jewelry salesman from Harvard, Illinois moved here to open a jewelry store on the south side of State Street between Second and Third Streets. Smith sold more than jewelry including silverware, stationary, sporting goods, candy, tobacco and cigars, as well as repairing watches, clocks and other novelties.

After 18 years in business, the 77 year-old Smith retired and sold his shop to John C. Ranbow of Decatur, Illinois. Ranbow modernizes the building with a plate glass store front as well as adding a new stock of jewelry, showcases and fixtures. In 1920, Ranbow decided to take a job in Chicago and sell his business. The new proprietors were S. R. Knox of Janesville, Wisconsin and G. S. Bauder and Howard Bauder of Geneva. They incorporated the business under the name of Knox-Bauder Company. These experienced jewelers and repairmen carried a complete line of carefully selected stock.

By 1926, Knox and Bauder were both in failing health and decided to reduce their stock by auction and sell the business. Former milk retailer W. A. Britton of Elgin bought the company and hired an expert jewelryman, watchmaker and engraver to work in his new Geneva business. Perhaps due to inexperience in the field, Britton sold the business within a year to F. J. Kohloff, who had ten years experience in jewelry sales and repairing in Deerfield, Wisconsin. After several years, Mrs. Kohloff managed the store while her husband opened another store in the Baker Hotel, St. Charles.

In 1938, the Kohloffs decided to focus their attention on the St. Charles store and sold the Geneva business to L. D. Linneman, a watchmaker and jeweler from Elburn. Just three years later, Linneman’s ill health forces him to sell the jewelry store to C. M. Thorp of West Chicago. Thorp was a watchmaker of over twenty years experience, once working for the Bradley Horological School in Peoria and later specializing as a railroad watch inspector. For the next fourteen years, Thorp Jewelry became a fixture on West State Street.

Then, in 1955, after a long and established career, Thorp retired and sold his business to lifelong residents Robert and John Anderson. The Andersons had been operating a jewelry and repair shop on Third Street since 1952 and took advantage of this opportunity to showcase their business on Geneva’s high traffic thoroughfare. By 1985, the brothers semi-retired and sold Anderson’s State Street Jewelers to local jewelry retailers Donna Zollner and Jeffrey Hampton.

State Street Jewelers remained at 216 West State Street until 2000 when they moved into more spacious quarters next door. In 2013, State Street Jewelers moved to 230 West State Street after Merra-Lee Shops closed its doors. This longtime business is connected with the community and generously partners with non-profit organizations such as Geneva History Museum, Mutual Ground and the Paul Ruby Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

To highlight this iconic business, Geneva History Museum invites guests to the Brown Bag Program “Bring Your Bling” where State Street Jewelers gemologists offer their expertise. Join us at noon on Tuesday, April 9 at 113 South Third Street, Geneva, where guests can have one piece of jewelry evaluated. A limited number of items will be seen during the program. Admission is $5 per person or $3 for GHM members

April 9 Brown Bag Program Presenters

And the Winner is…

Sat, 29 Dec 2018 14:28:00 GMT

Thanks to the community for supporting the 2018 Geneva Giving Trees. We are pleased to announce that Lazarus House received the most votes, raising $2,468. Special thanks to all sixteen nonprofits for participating and continuing this wonderful holiday tradition.

Altrusa International of the Fox Valley
Always Room 4 More Paws
American Legion Post 75
CASA Kane County
Fox Valley Hands of Hope
Geneva Chamber of Commerce
Geneva Community Chest
Geneva Garden Club
Geneva Library Foundation
Geneva Rotary Club
Lazarus House
Marklund
NAMI KDK
The Salvation Army Tri-City Corps
Suicide Prevention Services of America
TriCity Family Services

Not a Teenager’s Typical Sunday Morning

Mon, 20 Aug 2018 19:05:00 GMT

In honor of Memorial Day, this article from the Museum’s archives was written by Charles T. Sehe, who grew up in Geneva, enlisted in the US Navy and survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.

I do not need Memorial Day or Veteran’s Day observances to remind me of how war changes Veteran’s lives forever in painful ways – a spiritual voice within my mind keeps whispering a disturbing thought – why me?

Why didn’t I die? Why did I survive the war when so many others didn’t? I do not know the answer to my questions. I may never know in my lifetime.

Listed are the traumatic events in the order in which they occurred on December 7, 1941 with time slots obtained from the USS Nevada’s log…

05.30 hrs. Reveille

06.00-07.00 hrs. Breakfast; Condition 3-gun watch

07:56 hrs. USS Nevada’s Marine Color Guard and the band musicians assembling on main deck to await the 8 o’clock signal to hoist colors as the National Anthem is played. With sudden fury, the first wave of attacking Japanese planes without any warning swept over the U.S. military air fields.

07:58 hrs. Nevada’s gun crews now were racing to their battle stations, but the Color Guard and the band musicians held fast until the last note of the Anthem was played, then, scurried to their designated battle stations.

08:05 hrs. Low-level torpedo planes coming in from the southwest crossed overhead with another flight of the high level and dive bombers. One torpedo exploded on the port side hull between turrets one and two. The explosion caused a violent lurching upwards of our ship with vibrant shuddering before slamming back on the water.

08.09 hrs. Violent explosions shattered the forecastle of the Arizona, leaving its foremast, navigation and signal bridges a twisted smoldering hulk. A huge column of blast furnace red heat shot upwards several hundreds of feet. The shockwaves generated by the explosions reached Nevada’s open decks and those of us on the topside felt the heat generated by the blast.

08.10 hrs. Harbor authorities gives order for the battleships to get underway. In spite of her gaping torpedo wound, the Nevada was the only major warship to respond to the order. Other battleships lay still moored, stricken and burning.

08.30 hrs. The Nevada slowly moved away from its mooring and passed the twisted burning hulk of the Arizona and the overturned Oklahoma, which entombed many of its crew.

08.30 – 09.00 hrs. An uneasy lull for about twenty minutes followed that strafing and bombing attacks on our ship. An urgent call came throughout the ship “All Hands, not engaged in air defense or handling of ammunition, leave your station, and turn to fighting the uncontrolled blazes.” I don’t remember how I had descended from the searchlight platform, but my arms and legs had bruises and deep scratches when I reached the main deck.

09.00 hrs. High level bombers appeared again and concentrated on the slow moving Nevada, determined to sink her in the channel, thereby blocking the exits for ships. More fires erupt throughout the boat deck and the ships gallery.

09.25 hrs. Nevada’s fire and boiler rooms were beginning to flood, with noxious fumes forming. Soon, all electrical power was lost, plunging the ship into total darkness. The AA guns on the boat deck became silent. Our fire hoses went limp.

10.00 hrs. As preparations were made to secure anchor, at least seven enemy planes swarmed overhead. We were bombed, strafed, again adding new fires to the already stricken Nevada.

10.30 hrs. As we were passing by a dry dock, the destroyer Shaw exploded violently showering the Nevada with a blanket of burning debris and twisted metal. By 10.32 hours it was all over. The Nevada was deliberately rammed into the muddied bank ashore from Hospital Point.

10.35 hrs. Air attacks have ceased. Enemy planes withdrew to the northwest.

10.45 hrs. All available personnel from each of the deck divisions commenced searching in their compartments and gun casements for wounded and dead shipmates. All of the casualties were identified (best as possible) and tagged for injuries, and later transferred by launches to military hospitals or to the navy hospital ship, the Solace.

13.30 hrs. Remainder of the day: foraging teams continue to search throughout the twisted masses of metal fragments and shredded bulkheads splattered with blood to leave no space unturned, as body fragments are carefully extracted from smoldering debris. I found fragmented portions of arms, leg and knee joints all unidentifiable because of their blackened burned conditions. We were given unused steel buckets to collect the fragmented body parts.

07.00 hrs. Monday morning, December 8, Yard personnel accompanied by naval officers boarded the Nevada to assess its extensive damage and its salvage possibility. Meanwhile, many of Nevada’s more experienced officers had volunteered or were transferred to other ships. I, being a Seaman 2/c, was among the 340 crew that remained on the Nevada till war’s end.

This eighteen year old youth, passing from an Age of Innocence to an Age of Complexity and Experience, had been a stunned witness to America’s last moment of Peace and its first moment of War. The memories yet remain after all of these years.

Charles T. Sehe

Geneva Received National Publicity for RAMS – Geneva 1943

Mon, 20 Aug 2018 19:04:00 GMT

(Headline from The Geneva Republican Newspaper, May 7, 1943)

Geneva is getting national publicity due to an organization which was formulated by Mrs. Edmond Raftery of The Little Traveler. The groups is known as the RAMS and means “Relieve A Man,” for war work or service is their aim. At the present time there are thirteen girls in the organization, five of whom are pictured above. They are from left to right: Ann Carpenter, Charlotte Cummings, Mary Ann Hellstrom, Margaret Wilcox and Norma Obrink.

Organized directly under the supervision of Mrs. Mary Noelting who represents the Man Power Commission, United States Employment Service operations department of this area are a group of Geneva girls known as the RAMS. Translated this means “Relieve A Man” for war work or service is their aim.

Mrs. Edmond Raftery of The Little Traveler is sponsor of the group and it was through her efforts that the girls were organized for the purpose of mowing and raking yards, trimming bushes and shrubs, taking care of flowers and gardens, wash windows, put up screens, painting and other odd jobs which were formerly done by men who are now engaged in the war effort. Mrs. Raftery presented each of the girls with their insignia which is the letters RAM inscribed in red on white felt.

Each girl in the organization is registered with the United States Employment Service and had to have a permit from her parents and school in order to do the work. They each were presented with an identification card from the government.

New members are being accepted but those who are now registered are Mary Ann Hellstrom, Ann Carpenter, Dorothy Ross, June Freeburg, Elizabeth Richards, Sheila Duffy, Nancy Ashby, Charlotte Cummings, Caroline Haskell, Margaret Little, Avia Turnquist, Norma Obrink, and Margaret Wilcox.

Anyone desiring to have any work done may call The Little Traveler, Geneva 3200, and they can be assured that the girls will respond promptly and do the work efficiently.

This is a post in celebration of the Geneva History Museum’s 75th anniversary, 1943 – 2018.

Morell's Cleaners Opens – Geneva 1943

Sat, 03 Mar 2018 16:06:00 GMT

(Headline from The Geneva Republican Newspaper, May 7, 1943)

Morrell’s Finer Cleaners today open a branch store in Geneva at 128 West State Street. Extensive remodeling transformed this location in the First National Bank building into a first class “cash and carry” office. Specially designed cases with fluorescent lighting have been installed throughout. The color scheme is tan with walnut trim. All construction work was done locally.

This organization offers a complete cleaning service for all garments and rugs beside excellent facilities for fur storage. Morrell’s fur storage vault, located at their main plant, is completely insulated with cork. Only refrigerated freezing temperatures are used as moth protection.

Morrell’s is widely known in the state of Illinois. Other location consist of plants at Bloomington and Elgin with branches offices in Clinton, Elmhurst, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Naperville and now Geneva/ All of these are “cash and carry” offering the advantages of easy accessibility and moderate prices.

The Geneva branch is in the capable hands of Mrs. Marie Gibson, Mrs. Gibson previously operated Gibson’s Cleaners with her son Arnold before he enlisted in the navy. He is now stationed at Great Lakes. Mrs. Gibson has had years of experience in the dry cleaning field, having had a substantial Geneva business before her affiliation with Morrell’s.

This is a post in celebration of the Geneva History Museum’s 75th anniversary, 1943 – 2018.