History is back on display in Western Springs.
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After being closed for six months for building renovations, the Western Springs Historical Society has reopened its exhibit space in the village’s historic water tower.
Visitors can see items such as the pulpit used by evangelist Billy Graham during his time in Western Springs and an exhibit on E.C. Patterson, a professional baseball player who set the land speed record by car from Chicago to New York while a resident of Western Springs.
The revamped exhibit space opened Feb. 21.
Renovations on the interior of the water tower began about a year ago, but when the village opted to replace the large windows of the facility, it was deemed best to temporarily close the exhibit space, according to historical society President Vicky Lezon.
A permanent exhibit, Who’s Who — Important People in Western Springs’ History, anchors the first floor of the tower, showing 25 people influential in the village’s past.
“We picked people who really made a different in the village,” Lezon said. “Some lived in town a long time. Some lived here a short time, but had a major impact on Western Springs history.”
A short biography accompanies each person’s photo and there is an artifact linked to the person placed in front of the photo. For John Atwater, creator of Vive Camera, there is one of his actual slides in front of his information.
A second permanent exhibit, Talented Twins, leading up to the museum’s second floor, displays the talents and history of brother and sister artists Charles Vickery and Florence Vickery Guise.
The museum’s temporary exhibit on Graham features his pulpit, but also a songbook for “Songs in the Night,” the national radio program that Graham took over while at Village Church of Western Springs; and a Songs in the Night album.
Lezon said residents who have not been to the museum for awhile, or who have never been to the historical showcase, should stop by on a Saturday morning.
“Longtime residents who haven’t been here in 20 years should come in and see how things have changed. They will reconnect with childhood memories,” Lezon said. “And people who are new to the village can come and learn more about the community they live in.
“This is not just a bedroom community. There is a lot of history here. There is a lot of community information and interesting facts here.”
The facility at 914 Hillgrove Ave., is open to the public from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Admission is free.
Lezon said 20-year-old wallpaper was stripped on the first floor of the tower and the walls were repaired and painted. Wall murals were created for some exhibits, a trend that Lezon hopes will continue with future renovations. A lot of cleaning and restoration efforts went into museum artifacts during the six-month closure, Lezon noted.
She said the historical society is always looking for volunteers.
“I see historical society board members as those people in the community interested in the town’s history,” Lezon said. “We would like everybody in the community to be involved.”
Kevin Beese is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.