Winfield Historical Society to host lantern-lit cemetery tours Oct. 10

On Saturday, Oct. 10, the Winfield Historical Society and volunteer cemetery walk interpreters will tell the stories of notable Winfield residents who lived during the 20th century during an annual evening history walk.

Starting at 4 p.m., lanterns and luminaries will be lighting the path through St. John the Baptist Cemetery, the town’s only cemetery and one of the oldest in DuPage County. Tours will run every 10 minutes from 4-5:30 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m.

On the tour, learn about Robert D. Conley (World War II Army veteran awarded the Bronze Star during the second day of the Normandy D-Day invasion); Marguerite Roth (Winfield store clerk, postal clerk and Chicago-Winfield Tuberculosis Sanitarium worker); Victor Karwoski (barber, tailor and worker at John’s Restaurant and Tavern); William “Bill” Brach (owner of Brach’s Auto Service and Grand Knight of Columbus member); and Mathias Mueller (operator of the Winfield Cooperative Creamery on Beecher Street).

The Winfield Park District van leaves for cemetery tours from the Hedges Station Museum at Oakwood Park, ON557 Winfield Road. Stop by the museum before or after a tour to learn more about the town’s history. Parking will be available at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, 0S501 Summit Drive.

The event is free; those 17 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Donations are accepted. Participants should bring their own flashlights. Volunteers are needed.

This year’s event is co-sponsored and funded by the Knights of Columbus Chapter 8001 of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in memory of past Grand Knight William “Bill” Brach. Other sponsors include the Winfield Historical Society, the Winfield Park District and the Joliet Diocese Cemeteries.

For details, see winfieldhistory.org or call the Hedges Station/Winfield Historical Society at 630-510-9053.