Museum displays Illinois' village's past
STE. MARIE — After more than two years of repairs, collection and ceaseless cataloging, Ste. Marie resident Mike Hartrich is proud of the museum in the Sainte Marie Foundation House.
“This is a labor of love,” he said. “Everything you see here is a labor of love. The stories that people have here are unbelievable.”
A retired history and English teacher of more than 30 years at Jasper County Schools, Hartrich became the curator of the hometown museum.
Although the museum only occupies one room of the Sainte Marie Foundation House, the room is filled to the rafters with military uniforms, dating from World War I to the present. Along with uniforms, the museum has other items that represent the community's ties to the military over the years, with items from the home front, including Rosie the Riveter pictures, old rations and photos from throughout the last century.
Before the museum could be assembled, work had to be done on the house itself. The Foundation House, which had been donated to the Sainte Marie Foundation, was in dire need of repair. A burst pipe had left incalculable damage to walls, causing community members to worry about the future of the project. “People thought we were crazy to take it, even though it was free,” Hartrich said with a laugh. “A lot of work needed to be done.” It took several years and mostly volunteer work to repair the dilapidated home, with only the worst damage repaired by professionals. It wasn't until the renovation was completed that collection efforts for the museum began.
Members of the foundation put messages in church bulletins and spread the word about the attempts to gather items, photographs and stories with a connection to the community. Responses poured in, with more items than the foundation could display. Two years later, items were still coming in as the museum prepared to open.
“We've made a couple of exceptions for people,” Hartrich said. “We haven't learned to say no to anyone yet.”
Museum items range from World War I helmets, to the original desk of Sainte Marie's first doctor, to portraits of every resident who has served in the armed forces. Hartrich said the Foundation did its best to house all of those artifacts and preserve the 200-year old historical landmark.
“You've got to pre serve,” he said. “You can't throw away.”
The museum has not only brought artifacts and family mementos into the forefront, it has also brought out the stories that go with them.
Hartrich said he heard more stories of veterans and World War II while putting together the museum than he heard after his father had returned from the war.
“Those guys just didn't talk about it at the time,” he said. “When we opened, we had guys coming through here pointing at things and remembering and telling stories. It was amazing.”
Hartrich said putting together the museum has given him a chance to see the reach of Ste. Marie residents, while at the same time the connection to the community that they once called home.
“You can't believe how far Ste. Marie spreads,” he said.