After two years, Mundelein Heritage Museum to reopen Saturday
Fans of local history will have a "new" place to visit and learn, with the reopening of the Mundelein Heritage Museum after a two-year hiatus.
The former 1920s-era Soo Line railroad depot at 601 Noel Drive, just east of Route 45 near downtown, has been closed for renovations and updates, but it will reopen from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Hours will be the same every Saturday, and 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through December, with group tours available by appointment.
During the coronavirus pandemic, face masks are required, and no more than 10 people will be allowed in at a time.
The facility, owned by the Mundelein Park & Recreation District, opened in 1983 as Fort Hill Museum. It has languished since the death two years ago of Dorothy "Dottie" Watson, the longtime museum curator and president of the Historical Society of the Fort Hill Country.
After Watson died, remaining members didn't have the numbers or means to continue and the organization disbanded. The Mundelein Historical Commission was formed by the village to run the museum and serve as its board of directors.
Commission members have reorganized and updated displays as needed, refocused on the history of Mundelein and added a display room for rotating exhibits, said Ron Salski, park district executive director.
"We are very pleased with all of the changes, and we are excited about reopening the museum to the public," Salski said.
Last fall, commissioners and volunteers began cleaning, reorganizing the archives, taking inventory and cataloging thousands of items - among other details - to refresh the building and displays.
"In November, we were busy organizing. We pretty much got things to where we knew what we wanted to do," said Mike Flynn, historical commission chairman.
Activities were rolling along, but the coronavirus kept them out of the building from March until late June, and a big grand reopening event was delayed until sometime next year.
Meanwhile, displays have been redone while the holdings have been thinned and displays streamlined in advance of a soft opening Saturday.
"We moved a lot of stuff off site, which gave us a lot more room," Flynn said. "We moved around and played off our strengths."
That includes information about people and activities from about 1900 to the 1970s. There will be new exhibits on pioneers, one-room schools of Fremont Township, memorabilia from iconic local businesses, military displays from World War I and II, and displays dedicated to the five names of the village (Mechanics Grove, Holcomb, Rockefeller, Area and Mundelein).
"There's a lot to see and read," Flynn said.
Residents interested in owning a piece of Mundelein history can buy a brick from the former Hawley Street village hall for $5.
The commission always is looking for volunteers to do research, be docents or help archive material, Flynn said. Visit the historical commission section at www.mundelein.org.