Tag: Sycamore History Museum

Sycamore History Museum offers Gardening Class & Story Time

May. 06 no comments

sycmuseumflowersWant to learn more about gardening? The Sycamore History Museum is partnering with Master Gardeners to offer a series of free programs throughout the growing season. The first class is this Wednesday, May 8 at 10:00 a.m. All classes are lead by well-trained Master Gardeners. The talks include a variety of tips, suggestions, and hand-outs. Classes are on the second Wednesday of the month May through September (except in July) at 10:00 a.m.

The first class is “Sustainable Landscaping 101″ with Candice Miller. During this session, learn about various aspects of sustainable landscaping including how to achieve energy efficiency in your home through proper planting, sustainable weed control and pest control techniques, proper mulching techniques for moisture conservation, and water efficient landscaping ideas, among others.

Kick off spring with the Sycamore History Museum’s Garden Story time on Thursday, May 9 at 10:00 a.m. with “Seeds are Fun!” Join the their two wonderful storytellers for stories, crafts and songs. This program is free for 3-6 year olds (siblings are welcome). Registration is recommended (for one or all of the programs). Call 815-895-5762 or email info@sycamorehistory.org.

Other dates include: May 16, June 13, June 20, July 11, July 18, September 12, and September 19. The Sycamore History Museum is located at 1730 N. Main Street, Sycamore, IL.

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Sycamore Museum’s Winter Fundraiser with Teddy Roosevelt

Mar. 13 no comments

teddy-roosevelt-evansTeddy Roosevelt is coming to town! Plan to come to the Sycamore Museum’s Winter Fundraiser with Teddy Roosevelt this Saturday, March 16th, starting at 7pm. Impersonator Derek Evans will portray Theodore Roosevelt.

Evans has been called, “…a historic performer who is masterful at making history come alive for adults and children…” by Kathy Langley, White House Visitor Center Mgr., in Washington, D.C.

Participate in a silent auction and enjoy light refreshments during the fundraising event. Learn more about Teddy Roosevelt who has been called ‘The Most “American” American Who Ever Lived.’ Evans will share stories about Roosevelt’s amazing life and his place in history.

Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased at Sycamore History Museum or Sycamore Chamber. The event will be held at the St. Mary’s Parish Activity Center, 333 Waterman Street, in Sycamore. For more information, call 815-895-5762 or visit sycamorehistory.org.

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Acres of Change

Feb. 04 no comments

acres-of-changeThis Thursday, February 7th, 2013 at noon at the Sycamore Depot, come join the Sycamore History Museum for a sneak peak at “Acres of Change: A History of DeKalb County, Illinois 1963 – 2012.”  The monthly Brown Bag Lunch will feature Terry Marsh and Barry Schrader discussing this great new sequel to “Oxen to Jets.”

This book is being published by the DeKalb County Genealogical and Historical Society. The presentation is free but donations to the Museum are always welcome. The Sycamore Depot, home of DeKalb County Community Foundation is located at 475 DeKalb Ave. in Sycamore, Illinois.

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Rise of the Generals, 1862

Nov. 07 no comments

The Sycamore History Museum is sponsoring a discussion titled, “Rise of the Generals, 1862″ this Saturday, November 10th at 7pm. Following the “1861″ program from last year, Grant, Lee, Custer and Company will continue to discuss the experiences and challenges the Generals and Secretary of State Stanton faced during the second year of the Civil War. Grant, Lee and Company will discuss and debate the controversial issues dividing the North and South in 1862 based on letters and other primary research.

This event is from 7pm-8pm and the cost is $15 per person. Light refreshments will be served. Tickets are available at the Sycamore History Museum and Sycamore Chamber of Commerce office. The event will take place at the Federated Church, 612 W State Street, in Sycamore. For more information call 815-895-5762. For more information visit sycamorehistory.org.

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Travel Alaska

Sep. 17 no comments

Photo by Alice Bluhm, 2012

Carder Travel is planning a trip to Alaska next year and here’s your chance for a sneak preview! The Sycamore History Museum is hosting a talk by Carder Travel today, Monday September 17th, from 2-3pm. Whether you plan to join the trip or just want to learn more about Alaska, this presentation is not to be missed.

Enjoy a stunning slide show as Holland America experts share their knowledge of Denali National Park and the Yukon’s spectacular wilderness. Refreshments and door prizes too! The Museum is usually closed on Mondays and will be open just for this presentation. The Sycamore History Museum is located at 1730 N. Main Street in Sycamore. The presentation is free, please RSVP to Carder Travel: 815-756-1547.

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Community and Industrial Relations with John Castle and Dave Juday

Sep. 10 no comments

John Castle will moderate a discussion with Dave Juday, Chairman of the Board at IDEAL Industries this coming Thursday, September 13th at the Sycamore History Museum. They will explore the history of IDEAL Industries and its relationship with Sycamore community. This program is made possible in part by a grant from the Illinois Humanities Council, The National Endowment for the Humanities and the Illinois General Assembly. The discussion will run from 7-8pm Thursday at the Sycamore History Museum, 1730 N. Main St. in Sycamore.

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Weekend Event Shorts

Aug. 10 no comments

Family Fun Days
Celebrate another one of America’s Favorite Past-times eating ice cream during the Sycamore History Museum’s old fashion ice cream social this Saturday, August 11th from 1 – 4pm. Visitors can enjoy tours of the museum with our Junior Docents. The Museum is located at 1730 N. Main Street in Sycamore. Visit their website here: sycamorehistory.org.

50 Men Who Cook
50 Men Who Cook is an annual fundraiser presented by KishHealth System to benefit the children of DeKalb County (thru the Family Service Agency and CASA DeKalb County). It will be held this Saturday, August 11th, beginning at 6pm. Prominent men from DeKalb County will once again be cooking their favorite dishes for you to enjoy including appetizers, salads, side dishes, entrees and desserts. The evening will include dinner (sampling of all dishes), cash bar, entertainment and a silent auction. Tickets are $40 each. 50 Men Who Cook will be held at the NIU Barsema Alumni & Visitors Center, 231 N. Annie Glidden Rd., DeKalb. Visit their website to learn more

Blacksmith Demonstration at Glidden Homestead
Tour the site where Joseph Glidden invented and first manufactured the most widely used type of barbed wire, “The Winner” in 1874. View demonstrations of the blacksmith craft in the Phineas Vaughan Blacksmith Shop. Both the 1861 home and brick barn are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Sunday, Aug 12, 2012, from noon – 4pm. Admission: adults $4; children under 14, free. The Glidden Homestead is located at 921 West Lincoln Hwy, in DeKalb. More information here.

NIU STEM Cafe: Star Gazing

Join NIU STEM Outreach and astronomy experts, who will discuss telescopes and the annual Perseid meteor shower, which peaks August 12. These fast, bright meteors radiate from the Perseus constellation and appear throughout the night sky. They will be meeting at the Acquaviva Winery at 47W614 Route 38, in Maple Park at 7:30pm Sunday, August 12th. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. At 8:00pm speakers will discuss astronomy and the Perseids; 9:15pm guests can view the meteor shower and use NIU’s telescopes to view the night sky. Free to attend. www.niu.edu/stem
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Brown Bag Lunch: Social Life of Factories

Jul. 30 no comments

Picture is from the Sycamore True Republican, Oct 17, 1961.

This week’s Brown Bag Lunch, sponsored by the Sycamore History Museum is titled: Social Life of Factories. The presentation will be this Thursday, Aug 2nd, from 12pm-1pm at the Sycamore History Museum, 1730 North Main Street, in Sycamore.

Dr. Taylor Atkins will moderate a discussion about activities that employees participated in outside of the local factories. Stories will include company picnics, holiday parties, and event the organization of alumni groups once the factories closed. Audience participation is encouraged. This event is free to attend. Visit the museum’s website here: www.sycamorehistory.org.

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Family Fun Days at the Sycamore History Museum

Jul. 12 no comments

Like digging in the dirt? Come to Family Fun Days at the Sycamore History Museum is this coming Saturday, July 14th from 1-4pm. Learn about  Illinois history from the ground with two special guests, local author Robert Dancey and illustrator Mark Olson.

Dancey will talk about the process of writing a book, and share information about fossils including Illinois’s state fossils that are focus of his book, “I Found a Monster Today.” Olson will share his thoughts on what makes a great illustration.

Dancey and Olson have worked on two other books, “When the Wild West Came to Town” and “Young James Hickok and A Girl Named Hannah: A Story of the Illinois Underground Railroad.” They will be at the museum around 2 p.m.

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The Meaning of Work

Jul. 08 no comments

The Sycamore History Museum will hold a program entitled “The Meaning of Work” this Wednesday, July 11th at 7pm. Dr. Monica Bielski-Boris from the University of Illinois School of Labor and Employment Relations will speak about the changes confronting workers since the industrial revolution that lead to the growth of manufacturing in places like Sycamore. The meaning of work will be discussed as it relates to how workers now deal with the move away from manufacturing to service sector work; a global economy with international competition; and an increasingly diversifying workplace in terms of race, gender, age, etc..

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Women and the Factory

Jul. 03 no comments

7/3/12 3:09pm from the Sycamore History Museum
Due to the expected high temperatures and heat idex on Thursday, we have cancelled the Brown Bag Lunch program, “Women and the Factory.” Our program space is not air conditioned. We will let you know when it is rescheduled.
This Thursday, July 5th, join in the Sycamore History Museums Brown Bag Lunch titled, “Women and the Factory”. Dr. Kate Cady from NIU will talk about roles women played in the factory, while former employees from local companies will share their experiences from World War II through the 1980s. Audience participation is encouraged at this free discussion.

This program is made possible in part by a grant from the Illinois Humanities Council, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Illinois General Assembly. The Brown Bag Lunch takes place Thursday at 12pm noon at the Sycamore History Museum, 1730 N. Main Street in Sycamore.

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Learn about Sycamore’s POW Camp

Jun. 25 no comments

To the surprise of many, Sycamore was a host to a POW Camp during World War II. This camp was located along Park Avenue, the current location of Upstaging. The German prisoners worked at the Sycamore Preserve Works and local farms. Derrick Burres will share his research on this topic, including a recent addition to the museum collection – a photo of the camp.  This talk will be part of the series connected to the  Sycamore History Museum’s current exhibit, “Why Sycamore Works.” Sponsored by the Mary E. Stevens Concert and Lecture Fund. This program accompanies the exhibit “Why Sycamore Works,” which continues to September 30.

Come learn at Sycamore 101, “Sycamore’s POW Camp”, this Wednesday, June 27, at 7pm the Sycamore History Museum. The cost is $5 per person. The Sycamore History Museum is located at 1730 N. Main Street in Sycamore.

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