'Reflections' celebrates Elgin through the 20th century

"Reflections: Elgin Flowing Through Time, The 1920s-1970s" continues through Aug. 1 at Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove; Elgin History Museum, 360 Park St.; and other locations in Elgin.

It is a communitywide celebration featuring the mid-20th century's vibrant years of art, music, dance, film, history, literature, theater, sports, architecture, and city infrastructure. Events are happening at the library, throughout the city, museums, schools, churches, art galleries, community college, home care facilities, parks and downtown street corners. If you have a collection to display, a program idea or would just like to get involved, contact Miriam Lytle at (847) 608-5027 or mlytle@gailborden.info.

• The Elgin Mayor's Awards will be Tuesday, May 5. The reception will begin at 6 p.m., with the awards at 7 p.m. in the Elgin Art Showcase, 160 Division St., 8th floor. The Elgin Heritage commission honors outstanding contributors to Elgin heritage. Honorees have demonstrated their dedication to the older architecture, neighborhoods and history. Contact City of Elgin Community Development Department at (847) 931-5920.

• The Classic Cinema Series will feature the 1954 movie "Sabrina" from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7, in the library's Meadows Community Rooms A & B. Come experience the joy of watching and discussing unique motion pictures of the 1930s-1970s. Phil Kelly will highlight the works of abundantly gifted auteur directors and acting icons. Discussion will follow the film. In "Sabrina," a playboy becomes interested in the daughter of his family's chauffeur. But it's his more serious brother who would be the better man for her. Starring Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn. No registration is required.

• On Monday, May 11, learn about "Beautiful Elgin Bungalows" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the library's Elgin Room. Elgin has more than 2,000 bungalow style homes built between 1910 and 1930. If you live in a bungalow or just love the style, come for information on architectural preservation, renovations, and local history. Registration is required at www.gailborden.info.

• Step back in time and revisit the sports scene in the city and its high schools in "Sports in Elgin: 1950s and 1960s" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, in the library's Meadows Community Room. Guest participants will include Glen Lose and Rick Sund (Elgin High), Alan Lettow and Coach Ray Haley (Larkin High), and Betty Ostdick Villella and John Paul (St. Edward High School). Moderator Steve Thoren will encourage audience participation and draw out those sports memories. Registration is required at www.gailborden.info.

• Take a look at the odd, the unusual, the unfortunate and the fantastic in "What WERE They Thinking: Aberrations in American Architecture" at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, at the Elgin History Museum. Architecture need not conform to traditional designs. Style can be a matter of personal taste and can contribute or be detrimental to existing neighborhoods and communities.

• Join local cemetery historian Steve Stroud at Channing Park School to walk the grounds of what was once Channing cemetery in "A Walk in Channing Park" at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 14. The guided walk will give the history of the Channing Cemetery, now the grounds of Channing street school and park in Elgin. Meet in the parking lot. Donations to Elgin History Museum are appreciated.

• Read and reflect upon American classics that still deliver a powerful message through the decades. Join librarian Tish Calhamer for a discussion celebrating literature's impact on history, society, and culture with "All the King's Men" by Robert Penn Warren from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14, in the Elgin Art Space gallery area, 40 DuPage St. in Elgin. The rise and fall of a powerful man has fascinated American readers throughout the decades, in fiction and in reality. Willie Stark brawls, manipulates, and charms his way to the governor's mansion in Louisiana, only to discover it's not only lonely at the top, it's dangerous.

• As part of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration, get "Your Passport to Asia" and begin the wondrous journey through Asian-Pacific culture by experiencing music, dance performances, fashion, crafts, and food through a variety of presentations from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at the library. Every completed passport holder receives a gift for their trip.

• Historian and character actress Ellie Carlson is back as Mrs. Eaton, in which she makes and tells all about eating, preparing and presenting food during the Edwardian period in "The Ups and Downs of Dining Ala Downton" at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 17, at Elgin History Museum, 360 Park St., Elgin. Her energetic personality and well researched presentation will even include samples of food that will be served by an English butler named Mr. Howe! Tickets include an afternoon tea. Seating is limited. Reservations and prepayment are required through the Elgin History Museum. Tickets are $25 per person. Visit www.elginhistory.org/events.html or call (847) 742-4248 for information.

• Join pianist David J. Nelson for a musical journey down memory lane as he performs music from the 1940s from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 18, in the library's Meadows Community Rooms A&B. Nelson has performed with the Elgin Civic Symphony, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, and Elgin Choral Union. Registration is required.

• Join in "The Mid-20th Century Reflected in Residential Architecture" from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 18, starting at River Bluff Road and Center Street. A brief walking tour through the NorthEast Neighborhood of Elgin, where five decades (and more) of architecture will be exhibited within this unique neighborhood's housing stock. Please wear comfortable shoes. No registration is required. It is sponsored by the NorthEast Neighborhood Association of Elgin and presented by Sarosh Saher. Visit NENAofElgin.org. For information, email info@NENAofElgin.org.

• The Elgin Area Historical Society and Grindstone Productions, in conjunction with Ernie Broadnax, will show the documentary "Project 2-3-1" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, in the library's Meadows Community Rooms A&B. It is sponsored in collaboration with Elgin Alive, Elgin Community Network and ECCO. "2 box cars, 3 blocks, 1 city: A Story of Elgin's African-American Heritage," the film documents life in Elgin for the African-American community from the 1860s with the arrival of the contraband during the Civil War to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. What was it like to live in the pre-Civil Rights era? Have things changed? There will be discussion and commentary after the film.

• Learn about the "History of Elgin Mental Health Center" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, in the library's Elgin Room. For 143 years, Elgin Mental Health Center has been part of our community. While still a psychiatric hospital, its mission has changed several times since opening. Bill Briska, historian and president of the Elgin Area Historical Society, will tell the story of the facility's history, along with the larger societal forces and changes in treatment that have shaped EMHC's mission. Registration is required.

• The first Brown Bag Lunch of the year will feature Linda Rock, who will introduce guests to the Elgin Women's Club, at noon Thursday, May 21, at the Elgin History Museum, 360 Park St. She will give an in-depth talk about the 127-year-old organization, its founding and fundraising to make the Elgin community a better place. Drinks and dessert will be provided. It is free for members, $3 for nonmembers.

• "The Ranch Home Comes of Age: Mid-Century Modern Architecture in Elgin, Illinois" will be presented from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 21, in the Elgin Room. In the 1940s and 1950s, a number of new architectural styles took wing in the U.S. The Ranch style was especially popular, and changed the face of suburban America. With most families owning an automobile, families could move out to the suburbs. The suburbs offered large lots suitable for the construction of the sprawling midcentury house designs. We will study the new styles, and see some of Elgin's architect-designed and prefabricated homes built from 1950-1970. Registration is required.

• Take those old records off the shelf but don't listen to them by yourself! 2015 will mark the 38th year of the Elgin Valley Fox Trot and this year's event has a rock-n-roll theme. It will start at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, May 23, at Kimball and Douglas. All are invited to put on their running shoes and rock out to the New Invaders, bringing back memories of 1960s-70s. Historically, the event draws over 2,000 people, is endorsed by the Chicago Area Runners Association, and is embraced by many residents who volunteer and line the neighborhood streets to cheer on the runners. Visit www.cityofelgin.org to learn more. For registration, visit www.cityofelgin.org/foxtrot.

• Take a "Walking Tour: Elgin Mental Health Center Cemetery" from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, May 23. Meet at the Grumpy Goat Tavern, formerly Hickory Stick Restaurant, east parking lot, Elgin Sports Complex, 875 Sports Way, Elgin. The cemetery is more than a burial ground. It is an artifact of a bygone era's social safety net and health care policy. Tour this little-known location with Elgin Mental Health Center historian Bill Briska. For more information, call Bill Briska at (847) 421-4022.

• Enjoy a "Roaring '20s Excursion" from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 24. The Great Gatsby afternoon includes checkers and music on the veranda of an 1898 landmark, lively pics in a Model T or vintage car, photo ops near once-upon-a-time speak-easies, historical and architectural stops, live jazz, Charleston dancers and more. Tickets are $50. Call (847) 888-1860 for site details.

• Join in the Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Bluff City Cemetery, 945 Bluff City Blvd., Elgin. An Elgin tradition since 1868, this year's program will pay tribute to those women who served as nurses in the military and include a keynote address by Lorraine Darr, former United States Air Force nurse in Vietnam. Also featured will be the Elgin Master Chorale and the Larkin High School Band. Sponsored by the Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association. For information, visit www.elginmemorialday.org.

•The Elgin Planetarium will offer public shows and an observatory tour on Tuesday, May 26. Shows begin at 5 and 7 p.m. at the planetarium, Watch and Raymond streets. The one-hour presentations will include a sky show and in depth history of the Observatory once operated by the Elgin National Watch Company. Self-guided tours will be available before and after each show. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and close at 8 p.m. Cost is $3 per person; credit cards are not accepted. For information, call Peggy Hernandez at (847) 888-5324.

• Learn about the "History of the Elgin National Watch Company" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28, in the library's Meadows Community Rooms. Jerry Turnquist of the Elgin Historical Society will use numerous photos to illustrate the story of the Elgin National Watch Company that was founded during the Civil War and went on to produce over 60 million "Elgin" watches before closing in the 1960s. Registration is required.

• Yvonne Mayes will be interviewed by friend Rise Jones in "Each One, Reach One: Fireside Interviews About the 1960s and 1970s Civil Rights Movement in Elgin" at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 30, in the library's River Room. In the midst of national efforts to seek racial and economic justice, leaders were creating change right here in Elgin. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, prominent Elgin leaders and role models will be interviewed by their children, grandchildren, or friends. Share in this personal view of the Civil Rights movement. Other interviewees may also be included.

• The 10th annual Fireside Chat about Elgin's Past will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 31, in the library's River Room. Share your memories or just sit and listen during an informal discussion about various aspects of Elgin's past led by historians E.C. "Mike" Alft and Jerry Turnquist. Attendees are encouraged to bring memorabilia to share with the audience. No registration is required.

• "Old Time Radio and the Great American Songbook" will be presented from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 4, in the library's Elgin Room. Join Steve Darnell, host of "Those Were the Days" on WDCB-FM, to explore how radio helped to give birth to the Great American Songbook by offering songs and singers a unique opportunity to present their songs to a national audience. Featuring some of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century, including Johnny Mercer, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, and a rare 1934 performance from George Gershwin. Registration is required.

• Read and reflect upon American classics that still deliver a powerful message through the decades. Join librarian Tish Calhamer for a discussion celebrating literature's impact on history, society, and culture with "The Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 11, in the library's South Elgin Room. "The Invisible Man" is a young, black man who must grapple with his sense of identity in a racist world that renders him invisible, without influence. At the onset of Ellison's searing 1952 novel, the young man is filled with hope for the future, but after being expelled from college, he is drawn into a Harlem communist group called the Brotherhood. The Invisible Man must learn to stand as a man in a world that doesn't want him to be free.

• Enjoy "Music of the 1950s" from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, June 14, in the library's Meadows Community Rooms A&B. Join pianist David J. Nelson for a musical journey down memory lane as he performs music from the 1950s. David has performed with the Elgin Civic Symphony, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, and Elgin Choral Union. Registration is required.

• Listen to Maurice Dyer spin the story of road racing in Elgin in a "Road Race Roundtable" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, June 15, in the library's Elgin Room. From the Elgin Road Races of the 1910s to the Piston Pin Special, you will be riveted by the road racing history that happened right here in Elgin, and the many personalities that contributed to the experience. From Maserati to Shelby, racing history happened here in Elgin. Registration is required.

• "Tupperware: The Burp Heard 'Round the World" will be presented from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, in the library's Elgin Room. Who hasn't heard of Tupperware? You may not have heard the fascinating story behind the plastic: how it was invented, the rise of the company in the 1950s, and the demise of its major marketing genius, Brownie Wise. It's a story of ambition, jealousy, and betrayal, one you won't want to miss. Educator and researcher Linda Rock will tell the story dressed in period clothing and will share her collection of early Tupperware pieces. Registration is required.

• The Classic Cinema Series will feature the 1960 movie, "La Dolce Vita," from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, June 17, in the library's Meadows Community Rooms A&B. Experience the joy of watching and discussing unique motion pictures of the 1930s-1970s. Phil Kelly will highlight the works of abundantly gifted auteur directors and acting icons. Discussion will follow the film. "La Dolce Vita" is a series of stories following a week in the life of a philandering paparazzo journalist living in Rome. No registration is required.

• On Thursday, June 18, the Brown Bag Lunch series continues at noon with "The Underground Railroad" with Marge Edwards.

• From the swinging 1940s to the 21st century, that music and feeling called swing is made even more appealing by Bopology from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, in the Wing Park Pavilion at Wing Park in Elgin. This Chicago band provides a show suitable for all ages.

• Learn about "A History of the Bicycle in Elgin: Bicycle Builders, Fashionistas, Racers, and More" at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, in the Rakow Branch Library, 2751 W. Bowes Road in Elgin. With at least four different bicycle companies in Elgin's past, a legacy of bicycle racing, and a growing bikeway network, retired city planner and bicycle advocate Tom Armstrong has a lot to talk about when he discusses the history of bicycle use and manufacturing in the Elgin area. Join us to trace the history of the bicycle in Elgin from the "Golden Age of Cycling" to today. Registration is required.

• "Each One, Reach One: Fireside Interviews About the 1960s and 1970s Civil Rights Movement in Elgin" will be presented at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 27, in the library's River Room. Journalist and image consultant Betty Brown interviewed by grandson Marcus Brown. Elgin Historian Ernie Broadnax will be interviewed by grandson Evan Broadnax. In the midst of national efforts to seek racial and economic justice, leaders were creating change right here in Elgin. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, prominent Elgin leaders and role models will be interviewed by their children, grandchildren, or friends. Share in this personal view of the Civil Rights Movement. Other interviewees may also be included.