Local historian Dan Anderson named 2025 Senior Citizen Award winner

Dan Anderson will be honored as the 2025 Senior Citizen Award winner during the 62nd annual Glen Ellyn Community Awards dinner on Tuesday, March 10, at Abbington Distinctive Banquets in Glen Ellyn.

Dan Anderson and his wife Midge moved to Glen Ellyn in 1969. Midge was born and raised in Glen Ellyn and was very pleased to settle here.

Upon his retirement in 1999, Dan joined the Glen Ellyn Historical Society at the encouragement of his wife, a longtime member. The experience proved to be both fun and rewarding. He discovered that he enjoyed writing about the town’s history and illustrating books that he wrote with photographs from the files of the Glen Ellyn Historical Society.

The first batch of articles was published in the Glen Ellyn Sun newspaper. His two books were based on these articles. The first was titled “24 Tales of Murder, Mayhem, Infidelity and Other Intriguing Tidbits of Glen Ellyn History.” The second, much longer book, was titled “A Romp Through Glen Ellyn History.”

The next project Dan became interested in was the remodeling of the building at 800 N. Main St. Plans were made for a gift shop, nice lobby and bathrooms. With the help of Glen Ellyn resident and volunteer Mike Bradley, Dan worked on the remodel and this is how the History Center came to be. A large portion of the building in the rear was remodeled to provide a big meeting room and smaller rooms to house the archives, library and storage. That large room is known as the Dan and Midge Anderson Meeting Room.

Dan enjoys history in general and especially local history. He says, “It’s easier to relate to local history. And, with my background in the publishing business, I’ve always enjoyed writing and editing. The historical society has given me an outlet for both of these interests. And the time commitment has done a good job of keeping me off the streets and out of trouble.”

Another project that Dan spear-headed was the construction of the Ice Wagon the Glen Ellyn Historical Society uses in parades and displays. Folks in Glen Ellyn enjoy seeing it clopping down the street, sometimes even pulled by horses!