Mundelein turns to Web to celebrate its history

Mundelein officials will celebrate the town's centennial in 2009 - and they're turning to a relatively modern invention, the Internet, to help promote the fun.

The village has set aside space on its Web site for information about the centennial. That page is at mundelein.org/centennial/index.html.

Features include: a full event calendar; a page with information and photographs of Mundelein's history and historic places, such as the former Dietz's Stables and the 1926 International Eucharistic Congress; and photographs of Mundelein through the decades.

There's also an interactive page that allows virtual visitors to share their memories of Mundelein. Assistant Village Administrator Michael Flynn and longtime resident and historian Dottie Watson are among the people who've written reports so far.

"This gives people a chance to compose something at home and send it to us, and for us to easily post it," Flynn said. "It becomes an easy tool to expound on life as it was and to reminisce."

People can also volunteer to help plan centennial activities and ask questions at another page on the Web site.

The first settlers came to the area now known as Mundelein in the 1830s, but it wasn't incorporated as a village until Feb. 1, 1909. The town was called Rockefeller then; before its incorporation, the community was known as Mechanics Grove and then Holcomb. Rockefeller was renamed Area later in 1909, and became Mundelein in 1924.

Centennial celebrations will start in January when banners bearing the official centennial logo will be hung throughout town.

They continue Feb. 7 with open houses at the Fort Hill Heritage Museum, village hall and other municipal centers.

On Feb. 25, the Lake County Discovery Museum's Diana Dretske will talk about Mundelein's history at the Fremont Public Library.

And on May 30, five organists will stage a public concert at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, using the 1932 Wurlitzer organ in the school auditorium.

Other traditional community events, such as Mundelein Community Days and outdoor summer concerts, are scheduled for following months.

Finally, in October, the town will cap the centennial year with a banquet and tours at the University of St. Mary of the Lake seminary.

Mayor Kenneth H. Kessler said it's exciting to preside over a community during its centennial.

"It's only once that the town is 100 years old," Kessler said. "And what's equally exciting is the vast and rich history that Mundelein has."