Lucinda Corron: 100 years and going strong

It's a celebration that has been 100 years in the making.

While she may never admit her true age to your face, Lucinda Corron of Campton Township will be celebrating her 100th birthday Thursday.

But if you ask her about her age, she refuses to come completely clean.

"I'm not quite that old," Corron, known as Cindy to friends and family, says with a laugh. "I'm not 100 and I won't be 100 for a long time."

History, however, tells a different story. Born June 4, 1909, Lucinda Muirhead-Corron married her husband, Robert Corron, and moved to Corron's family farm in 1956. The farm was built around 1850 by Robert Corron's great grandfather. Mrs. Corron still lives there today with her youngest son, Dave, 47.

The historic farm, on Corron Road north of Silver Glen Road will serve as the location of her communitywide birthday party on Saturday, an event spearheaded by township officials. The township, which purchased the farm in 2002, was eager to honor a citizen who had helped it so much in efforts to preserve and record the local history.

"Mrs. Corron has been part of the community in many ways and ... we thought it would be fitting to invite people to meet her in her home," says Julia Glas, a Campton Township administrator. "This is a wonderful opportunity to meet a very interesting person."

Corron's roots run deep in the local area. Before marrying her husband, she worked as an English teacher at Plato High School from 1933 to 1947. She still attends the class reunions, the most recent of which being the class of 1944.

"I do enjoy teaching and I enjoy my kids," Mrs. Corron said. "The last ones I taught were high school kids and I especially liked them."

Corron Elementary School in South Elgin was opened in 2003 to honor the Corron family and Mrs. Corron's dedication to teaching.

Mrs. Corron has also worked as a historian of sorts for Campton by keeping her own small written account of the town's history. She also agreed to a be interviewed on video by the township a few years ago as part of its efforts to create an oral history of the area.

"It's kind of neat that she can remember getting in a horse and buggy and going to Wasco," Glas said.

In addition to her fondness for recording history, Mrs. Corron is an avid reader. According to her son, Bob, her favorites include biographies and books on past U.S. presidents.

Despite the fact that she feels she's "getting too old for things," Mrs. Corron loves to have visitors and is always eager to offer her guests treats, especially birthday cake.

The birthday party will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at last until noon. Cake and coffee will be provided. The Corron family has requested no gifts. For more information call (630) 377-5705.