Center for History is all about Wheaton

Replying to Bob Christensen's Aug. 18 letter, there are often misconceptions about the Center for History. Some erroneously say we don't do much with Wheaton history. I dispute that comment. For instance, with golf - Wheaton had eight golf courses, eight club and ball makers, six course designers and three national champions. The Wheaton National Hall of Fame is designed to highlight 65 individuals who made Wheaton their home.

The Eastland collection is like the Sallie Baker Costume collection, the owners lived in Wheaton, which provides the provenance to collect it. Mr. Faber, CA&E administrator, arranged for free funeral transportation for the Eastland victims and mourners. Both are similar to our World War II oral history project, where Wheatonites served in a foreign country. We have amassed a collection of approximately 45,000 historic objects.

Our education programs are filled with Wheaton history. Slavery and abolition are the most popular and appropriate in a town founded by abolitionists.  Our District 200 local history and government programs are well received by the teachers and students. Even our Civil War programs highlight Wheaton residents, Marcellus Jones and Henry W. Chester.

Researchers are constantly seeking information about Wheaton. Staff has always held Wheaton's heritage high and have proudly promoted it to the public to attract outsiders to visit and learn about Wheaton's history.

Admission, program and membership fees aren't enough to cover all of the expenses such as: insurance, utilities, rent, maintenance, supplies, salaries, etc.  

The rewards of running a museum is the success of helping a student learn, seeing reproductions of the Center's historic images hanging in restaurants and offices, and preserving the rich treasures of current and former citizens of Wheaton.

I invite you to visit the museum at 315 W. Front St, and ask to see the historic collection.

Alberta Adamson

President & CEO

Center for History

Wheaton