Candlelight tour welcomes Glen Ellyn society's 40th anniversary

Candles will light up Stacy's Tavern Museum Friday during the annual holiday tour, a tradition for the past two decades.

From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 28 Glen Ellyn Historical Society members will greet residents with the feel of a Pioneer Christmas.

This year's event, which has been an annual tradition for the past two decades, is special because it will serve as a gateway into the society's 40th anniversary. The celebrations will continue throughout 2009.

"That time period is going to be on everybody's mind," the historical society's spokeswoman and member Jean Jeske said, "and this holiday season will be kind of like the introduction."

Jeske also will be one of many telling historic stories about eight different rooms in Stacy's Tavern. Her tale will be about how the tavern functioned during winter months, between 1846 and 1860.

"The tap room was a place to hear the news of the day," she said. "Sometimes very exciting because it was before the Civil War," she said.

The tour will take about a half-hour and organizers are expecting about 200 visitors.

Refreshments, including apple cider and cookies, will be available and the Museum Store will be open.