Heritage Center selling 175 years of information

The city of St. Charles will celebrate its 175th anniversary in 2009 with a variety of special programs. The St. Charles Heritage Center and Museum announces its own spin on this momentous event with a "175 for $175 a Year" sale.

Purchase a memorable year or two or three for $175 each from 1834 - the founding of St. Charles - to the anniversary year of 2009. Purchase multiple years, and discounts apply. The center's staff will research that year and provide the buyer with a full sheet of notable events, both local and national, along with a framed certificate commemorating the year with the name of the purchaser.

"This is a fun way to celebrate St. Charles, support the non-profit Heritage Center and preserve all 175 notable years for businesses, families, individuals and organization," noted Brian Henry, fund-raising chair for the center.

For example, since Colonial Ice Cream & Cafe was founded in 1901 and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2001, these years are significant achievement in the company's history. Purchasing these years would help commemorate and preserve these milestones events in a long-time St. Charles family business. Any other company, family or organization can still purchase these or any other year. There is no limit to how many times a specific year is sold.

Families may want to purchase the year they moved to St. Charles, children's birth years or any special accomplishment. Organizations can mark the anniversary of their founding and other noteworthy years throughout their existence.

The Heritage Center and Museum houses the largest amount of records on St. Charles history anywhere, including birth, death, marriage, probate, newspapers, photographs, maps, letters and more.

All proceeds from this program will go toward the center's mission to collect, preserve and present the history of St. Charles and St. Charles Township.

Additional information is available at (630) 584-6967 or stop into the main museum, 215 E. Main in downtown St. Charles. The center and museum are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Visit stcmuseum.org.