Newsroom

The Monee Historical Society is pleased to welcome Mark Zumhagen, a part of the Monee community since 2005, to the stage to present readings of some of Abraham Lincoln’s most famous speeches and witty remarks. Mark is a family physician in Orland Park, whose interest in Abraham Lincoln began ten years ago when he gave the Gettysburg Address at his children’s school. Mark bears an uncanny resemblance to Illinois’ favorite son and has portrayed Lincoln for many audiences.

Join us on May 19 as we welcome guest speaker Cheri Hunter, president and librarian for the Decatur Genealogical Society, who will present her program "Genealogy 101: Where to Do It and Where to Look." Having started doing her genealogy in 1974, she has been helping people at the Decatur Genealogical Society Library for most of the time since then. Research has certainly changed in that time span and in some ways is much easier and in some ways more difficult.

Join us on April 21 as we welcome guest speaker Bob Sampson who will present his program "Base Ball Comes to Decatur." Imagine a baseball field with a stream running through the outfield, a literal water hazard for ballplayers or a large crowd watching a game near the junction of Decatur’s two busiest railroads. If you can’t, Millikin University’s Dr. Bob Sampson of the Department of History and Political Science will explain this and more, including why the game was spelled as two words.

Join us on April 14 as we welcome guest speaker Tom Emery who will present his program "The History of Illinois." The state of Illinois has a rich and varied history that is understood by few today. From its acceptance to the Union in 1818, Illinois history spans the days of Native American habitat and European settlement, to its political giants such as Lincoln and Douglas and its economic impact on the nation.

Join us on March 10 as we welcome guest speaker Don Chamberlain who will present his program "The Illinois Central Railroad the the Civil War." The building of the Illinois Central Railroad changed the population and culture of Illinois citizens as it was built. After establishing rail connections from Cairo, Illinois south to Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana, the IC expected even more profits. Then the Civil War began and the southern routes were compromised. The IC continued to be very important for the Union cause during the Civil War in several unexpected ways. This program explains why.