Author: Sam

The Williamson County Historical Society held a membership meeting on Sunday, April 3^rd, 2016 at 1:30 PM. President Sam Lattuca informed the society of updates and improvements to the museum building and displays as well as to the genealogy library. Events that the society has participated in since the last meeting were also discussed in addition to future planned improvements for the century old jail building in which the museum is housed.

Two historical society members were inducted into the society’s honor roll. Ethel Ashby, operated an antique store in Marion for decades and was chiefly responsible for the acquisition of the old county jail building for use by the society as a museum from the county in 1971. She donated many of the historical items that are still used by the museum and worked diligently to establish the museum. Ashby passed away in 1992. Violet Grisham, a Marion resident, was also inducted into the honor roll. Grisham has served numerous board positions, worked diligently with children to spark an interest in history among youths and has either authored or co-authored 35 local history books.

The membership meeting was followed by a program related to auditing our county’s cemeteries given by Helen Sutt Lind, a Johnston City resident. Lind is a society member and has authored numerous books on local cemeteries.

The Williamson County Historical Society will be holding a membership meeting on Sunday, April 3^rd, 2016 at 1:30 PM in the museum. Additions and changes to the museum, recent accessions and future plans will be discussed. Helen Sutt Lind will present a program related to our county cemeteries and inductions to the honor roll will be made. Refreshments will be served and society members are urged to attend.

After being closed down and limited to Saturday only operation through the winter, the museum will be returning to its summer hours of operation on Tuesday, March 1^st, 2016. The museum will be open from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Saturday, until Thanksgiving.

Museum volunteers have been busy through winter months painting, making repairs, changing display items and planning our next improvements. All are invited to come to the museum and tour or research your ancestors.

The Southern Illinois Heritage Expo and Craft Fair was held on Saturday, Feb. 13^th at the Herrin Civic Center. This was the second year for Heritage Expo produced by Southern Illinois Treasure Tours composed of Amy Erickson and Jon Musgrave.

The highlight of the expo was a 1920’s Valentine’s Mystery Murder Theater held at 6 PM to a sold out crowd. Our Williamson County Historical Society was, of course, among the vendors present at the event throughout the afternoon prior to the dinner theater.

Representing the society was President Sam Lattuca and museum curator/coordinator Sharon Vansaghi manning the society booth offering information about the society and selling plat maps and books.

The last of our indexed Williamson County court records that we hold at the museum have now been completely indexed and are completely available on this website now. They can be accessed by clicking on the Records tab.

In addition to the chancery, common law, criminal, divorce and partition files that buykeppraonlinenow numbered at 33, 981 entries, we now have added 61,453 more files for a total of 95,434 entries. Additional common law, divorce, criminal and partition files were added and there are also a foreclosure, indictment, coroner’s list and mental health records.

You can jump to the indexes by clicking HERE.

When Sheriff Russell Oxford last occupied the old county jail in 1971, his wife Jackie used to operate a washer and dryer in the basement of the old jail. At some point after the building was evacuated by the Sheriff’s Department and occupied by the Historical Society, all of the drain connections, supply lines and hot water heater went away.

This has made maintenance difficult at best, only having one operational sink in the entire building on the second floor in the only existing bathroom.

Plans were made at the last board meeting in early January to correct some issues with the building. It was approved to install hot water and plumbing to make the downstairs sink functional again as well as begin work on converting our old book store to a first floor restroom and utility closet with sink.

The necessary pipes have been installed and an on-demand hot water heater was installed in the basement which provides hot water to the upstairs bathroom, the downstairs sink and provisions were made to stub off plumbing in anticipation of connecting to the future bathroom project.

The old book store was moved into the foyer last month which clears the way for the bathroom project which will likely begin when the weather begins to warm up in spring. Elderly individuals and those with handicaps currently are unable to ford the steps to the second floor to use the restroom, so this project is long overdue.

Jonathan Sandys, speaker, author and great grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, dropped by the Williamson County Museum Wednesday afternoon, January 27th 2016, for a visit at the invitation of society member Bob Jackson and his family. Sandys was scheduled to speak at JA Logan College at 6 PM to promote his recently released book “God and Churchill” but managed to spend 1 and a half hours at the museum beforehand looking at Ordill ordnance plant building drawings from WWII, the military room and the old county jail cells.

Local Cub Scout Bear Den 21 sponsored by the Marion Zion Church visited the Williamson County Historical Society Museum Tuesday evening, January 26th, 2016 for a tour and a glimpse into the past. The trip was arranged by Den Leader Marc Henshaw.

Those scouts and parents attending were Marc and Kyler Henshaw, Kevin and Evan Dailey, Sami and Daniel Brame, Linda Cantrell, Bill and Corbin Jeffords, Jim Roberts and Kainen Hazel.

Anyone wanting to schedule tours of the museum during the day or after hours can call 997-1155 or leave a message at the museum at 997-5863.

Jonathon Sandys, great grandson of Sir Winston Churchhill and author of “God and Churchhill” will be speaking and signing books at J.A. Logan College on Wednesday, January 27^th, 2016 at 6 PM in the Batteau Room, F-103.

This event was scheduled at the request of Williamson County educators, Bob, Phyllis and Dawn Jackson and should prove to be a memorable event for an evening of Churchhill history.

RSVP at Eventbrite.com or call 618-985-6418

Questions? Email scott@egradiomarketing.com

A display of historic photos and maps was installed in the lobby of the Marion Civic Center for the month of January by our society today. The display will be on exhibit for the full month and represents a cross section of Marion and county history.