Historical society visionary to leave Mt. Propsect

He helped save the 112-year-old Central School in Mount Prospect.

He raised the Mount Prospect Historical Society profile throughout the region.

And he developed Web sites to showcase the society.

Now, he's leaving.

Gavin Kleespies, the society's executive director for nine years, has resigned to accept the same position at the Cambridge Historical Society in Massachusetts.

He will be vacating his post in June.

Kleespies said he wasn't looking for a job but was approached by the Cambridge society to consider the position. Born and raised in Cambridge and with his parents still living in the area, he decided to make the move, he said.

With his departure imminent, he said he hopes the next director will continue his efforts to build the society's reputation as a major historical resource.

"I worked hard to increase the public profile of the society, and I'd like it to continue to have a broad public presence," Kleespies said.

Kleespies will be difficult to replace, since he's become a major player in building the village's historical reputation, said Marilyn Genther, president of the historical society.

"Everyone knows him in Mount Prospect," she said. "I'm happy for him, but I'm disappointed that we are losing him."

The society will be pursuing a new director, hoping to have a replacement before Kleespies leaves, she said.

Kleespies came to the society as a part-time executive director straight out of his master's program in art and social science at the University of Chicago.

As the society grew, the position was made full time.

He has written three books about the history of Mount Prospect, including, "Lost Mount Prospect," "Images of America: Mount Prospect" with Jean Murphy and "Mount Prospect: The Story of Your Community," with Deb Riddle and Gunia Henderson.

Also, he helped raise about $120,000 that will go toward moving Central School, which faced demolition, about a mile to 101 S. Maple St. The building housed over time the town's first school, its library, the fire department, three churches and even the first movie screen.

"I think he just kept us focused on the fundraising for the school house," Genther said. "He truly kept at it. He had the vision to keep at it."