Northbrook Historical Society celebrates 50 years
An organization known for commemorating local historic milestones is getting ready to celebrate a special occasion of its own.
On May 16, 1974, the Northbrook Historical Society hosted its first meeting. This year's annual meeting, scheduled for May 20, is the organization's 50th.
All are invited to attend the May 20 luncheon at Allgauer's on the Riverfront in Northbrook. The event will serve as a sort of kickoff for the historical society's 50th year.
It was in October 1973 that the first organizational meeting for the proposed Northbrook Historical Society took place. Those first society "pioneers" at the meeting included Morris and Rose Anderson, John S. Clark, Horace E. Durrenberger, Marci Johnson, Lowell Mueller, Barbara Nolan, Helen Nordland, Larry Sommers, Dr. Norman E. Watson, and Louis Werhane.
The Northbrook Historical Society was incorporated on March 18, 1974, and the first order of business was finding a way to save Bartelme's Northfield Inn at the northeast corner of Waukegan and Shermer roads. The historical society purchased the building for $1 knowing the structure would have to be moved.
A "Save the Inn" campaign netted contributions from many different sources, and on Jan. 17, 1975, the inn carefully made its way down Shermer Road to its present location in Village Green Park.
Dedicated volunteers then set about to restore the building and, on July 4, 1976 - the nation's bicentennial - it opened as the Northbrook History Museum and home of the Northbrook Historical Society.
As the historical society approaches five decades, its accomplishments and contributions to the village have been many - and they will serve as further topics during the 50-year commemoration. Some of the highlights include the acquisition (through donation) of another historical society building - the Hope Union Heritage Center, which once was Hope Union Church; the annual Shermerfest festival in Village Green Park; and the restoration of another Northbrook treasure, the 1926 Reiland & Bree truck manufactured in the village about a century ago.
The Northbrook Historical Society has weathered many changes during its nearly 50 years, but there also have been many constants. Those are highlighted by the amazing and dedicated volunteers through the years who have worked to continue the society's stated purpose to discover, collect, preserve, and share information about the history of the Village of Northbrook ... and more simply to serve as Northbrook's "Keeper of the Stories."
The May 20 luncheon will begin at noon and will feature a program about the historical society. Cost is $25 per person, and responses should be returned by May 10.
For more information, visit northbrookhistory.org or call (847) 498-3404.