South Elgin trolley museum aims to bring history to life with new event
Visitors to the Fox River Trolley Museum Aug. 1 and 2 will encounter reenactors portraying everything from 18th-century French fur traders and Wild West train robbers to members of the legendary 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the Borinqueneers.
It’s all part of the South Elgin venue’s Military & American History Weekend, a new event that replaces the World War II reenactment weekend held for the last 15 summers. It fits in perfectly with the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, said Ron Ruhl, the museum volunteer coordinating the event.
“It’s going to be a cool weekend,” he said.
Reenactors from all sorts of organizations have been tapped to participate, with at least 20 committed to doing presentations or providing information about different time eras, Ruhl said.
Among them is South Elgin resident Ken Swanson and other reenactors who portray French fur traders who worked in the Midwest from about 1750 to 1850. He’s been doing such events for 30 years after getting hooked on it when he was a Scout troop leader. These days, his grandkids sometimes join him, he said.
“I go to fur trader events all over the country,” Swanson said. “I love camping, the no-frills atmosphere and how quiet it is at night.”
Denise Sherwood is part of the Central Illinois-based Old West Regulators.
“I’m going to be one of the ladies riding on a train car that’s being robbed,” Sherwood said.
The Old West Regulators have been around for more than 25 years, she said. She typically dresses as one of the daughters of her great-great-grandfather, who was a Montana homesteader.
Sherwood said the Regulators perform at several events, including Wild Bill (Hickok) Days in LaSalle County, and have staged train robberies before. Typically they’re done on stationary trains and scripted, but this time they’ll mostly be improvising when they do their performance on a moving train, she said.
Among those discussing wartime history over the weekend will be Irma Cornier, who will be joined by family members and other representatives from the Chicago Borinqueneers. Borinquen is the indigenous name for Puerto Rico.
According to the group’s website, the predominantly Puerto Rican U.S. Army 65th Infantry unit fought in three American wars.
“It took 59 years for the Borinqueneers to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their service during the world wars and Korean War, and 60 years for the Tuskegee Airmen to receive that honor for their service during World War II,” Cornier said.
The 13-year-old Borinqueneers group grew out of a veterans ministry her aunt and uncle once led at a Chicago church, she said. The organization advocates for veterans from every era and for keeping the memory of the Borinqueneers alive.
To that end, she’s planning to give presentations about the Borinqueneers during the museum’s event, with 20 or so people affiliated with the group there to share information about what it does and the 65th’s legacy.
Attendees will be encouraged to ask questions of any groups’ members and explore the displays that will be set up to bring various time periods to life, Ruhl said. Along with historical programming, food trucks will be set up on museum grounds, providing modern dining options for hungry history buffs.
“After all, we’re bringing something different to the table with our first Military History Weekend,” Ruhl said.
Weekend hours will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 1-2, at the museum, 365 S. La Fox St. Regular admission rates apply. Military veterans with ID will be admitted for free and will be served a free lunch.
For more information, go to foxtrolley.org/visit/special-events/military-history-weekend, email info@foxtrolley.org or call (847) 697-4676.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The (Elgin) Courier-News.
Military History Weekend
What: Historical reenactors from all eras, train rides, flag-raising ceremony at noon, weapons demonstration at 1 and 4 p.m., food trucks. Free rides and lunch for veterans.
When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 1-2
Where: Fox River Trolley Museum, 365 S. LaFox St., South Elgin
Admission: $10 adults; $5 children ages 3-11; $8 for seniors 65 and older, first responders, military and veterans; free for children 2 and younger.
Details: foxtrolley.org/visit/special-events/military-history-weekend; (847) 697-4676