Polo Illinois Historical Society, 113 N Franklin Avenue, Polo, IL (2026)

10/17/2026

The Polo Historical Society Museum will be OPEN Saturday October 17th,
8:30a - 3:00p.

Stop in and wander about, do a little research or just say Hi!

Admission = "FREE"
Research Assistance = "FREE"
Friendly Conversation = "ALSO FREE"

(donations graciously accepted)

113 N. Franklin Ave Polo, Illinois

[email protected]

polo-historicalsociety.org

10/15/2026

Polo History
by Betty Obendorf

October 14, 2026

A Weekend with Family

I knew it was going to be a busy week because it started out with a doctor appointment early in the week in downtown Rockford. I used to drive myself all over Rockford but have not attempted that for a number of years. Bruce picked me up and when we got to the big city he drove me all over downtown Rockford to show me what was going on.
Many of the big office buildings are now being made into condos where people will live. Now many people work from home and they need a little room they call their office where they will work. I remember what Rockford was like many years ago and now it has all changed.
Then Thursday Beth and I met at the museum to see how the new child’s dressmaker form was going to work with Ruby’s wedding dress from the late 1920s. We were disappointed when it did not work. Ruby was very little. Lori is going to help us with our wedding dresses at the museum. We will wait now until we can meet at Aplington House to look the situation over and figure something out with the small forms we have there.
On Friday family started arriving with Steve and Cheri getting there first. I had made a list of what I needed help with and the first item was pictures to go with my book I am working on using Storyworth. I am almost finished but trying to decide on pictures.
Then I wanted the trunk moved back into the family room only this time in front of the window Steve had so nicely washed for me. I want it to hold plants that will come into the house from the patio. We are getting close to the first frost and plants will need the warmth of the house.
I wanted Cheri to help me take things back down to Henry School but suddenly here came Susan from Higgins Lake, MI and Clare and Winnie from WI. They were here for the weekend. Natalie and her Irish Setter, Rosco soon joined us. My cat goes into hiding with all the big dogs in the house. I was surprised that by Sunday my cat came out from behind things and stood her ground with Winnie. Winnie is a beautiful Golden Retriever and a young dog. I think my cat wanted Winnie to know that this was her house.
Susan’s family was all here for the garage sale out at O’Connors. I went out to Dorothy’s Friday evening for chili and it was nice to sit out and visit with everyone. I went back Saturday evening for pizza and by that time people were packing up the stuff that did not sell. The garage sale was over. I came home with, two strings of lights, a box of Christmas ornaments, and a dress.
Garage sales are quite a bit of work and I never had any at Eagle Point. We have had two here in town and I was glad when they were over. It was a great way to visit with family and get rid of stuff at the same time.

10/08/2026

Polo History
Betty Obendorf

October 7, 2026

Just Another Day

It was after lunch when I hurried over to the museum. The Class of 1961 was having their class reunion and they would be coming to the museum late in the afternoon. They were interested in the Peek Home and country schools. I had several things to do before they would arrive.

Soon in popped Amanda, out of the rain, from the Polo Chamber. There was no soccer and she was looking for pictures and information for a trivia. I had history books all ready for her and I had remembered a few days before that I had pictures from a display in the drawer. They were old but I never throw anything away and it turned out that it was just what she needed.

Then Kevin and I worked on some pictures I needed for my book that I am writing on my life history. We soon had that figured out when in came Nancy with a big box of farm toys that had belonged to Ron Lenhart. They were toys of the 1930s and they were something just to look at and think about. I could just imagine a little boy having a fun time. There was also a barn with little animals. We will have them out on the table for a while so stop by and look at them. Then they will go in our children’s room. Kevin and I both decided that we need to revamp our children’s room and get it in better order. That will be a project for another day. We are never bored and always have something to do.

Linda arrived and we were soon ready for the Class of 1961. Even in the rain, they were having a great time and after they looked around a bit, it was time to reflect back on Peek Home. That is a subject we never get tired of talking about. We all had Peek Home kids in our classes and the entire community helped take care of them.

I have many columns I have written on stories by the kids themselves and I have several programs I have put together. All is now in a binder for people to look at when they come looking for the history of their family member. Linda has also put together a big binder on all the children that were there but that is not on display for the public.

I remember the first program I gave at Heritage Square on Peek Home. Dr. Edwards asked me if we had put together a book on all the children. Then we had not done so but now Linda has that in order.

Linda was available that day of the reunion of the Class of 1961 for any research they might need and Kevin was there to get any information on anyone in their family with a record of military service.

By the time everyone had left the museum, I was really tired and ready to head for home. Some of Kenneth’s family members had stopped by earlier and I enjoyed seeing them. It had been just another day at the museum and they are always interesting.

[email protected]

polo-historicalsociety.org

10/02/2026

Polo History
Betty Obendorf

September 30, 2026

Paul In Polo

The day Paul arrived in Polo from the Catskill Mountains in New York was a bit hectic. He had emailed me that he would be arriving between 4:00 and 5:00 and this also was the day I had PEO at my house. But I was ready and I had just put the finishing touches on the house. I like to have those little lights on around the house especially if it is a cloudy day and those were all turned on when the doorbell rang. It was Paul.

We chatted for a while after he unloaded his things into the guest room. Then he freshened up a bit since Linda and Charlie were picking him up for a lovely dinner at the Pines. He had not been gone very long when my PEO Sisters started to arrive and my busy evening had started.

It was the same evening as the visitation for Rick Knudsen which was such a tragic thing for our community. He will be missed by all. By the time the evening was over, Paul and I were very tired.

The next day I drove Paul out to where Buffalo Grove had been to show him where John Burroughs had taught school in this area. We visited Henry School which had been called Allaben School for a time. The Allaben family had given the property for the school when they came to this area from New York.

When the Henry family moved in next door to the school, Mrs. Henry would show the kids how to churn butter and she would give them a slice of her homemade bread with her freshly churned butter. It did not take long for the school to be Henry School.

Meanwhile while we were running around Polo my calico beans were cooking slowly in my big cooker. Paul at some point went over to the museum to work with Kevin on the tech part of his presentation that evening.

I want to thank Bruce, my son, for helping me get all the stuff to the museum for the supper. I simply cannot manage all that anymore.

The food at the picnic was fantastic along with all the fantastic people who came. Paul’s presentation on John Burroughs was super and it helps to have great pictures on the big screen. John Burroughs was known worldwide as a naturalist and people do not realize how Polo was so lucky to have someone like that teach here for a while. I remember going to the Thomas Edison museum and there was a big picture of Henry Ford, John Burroughs, and Thomas Edison all together since they were great friends.

The next day Paul headed back to New York and he emailed us that he arrived safely back to the Catskill Mountains. This is where he has a friendly big, black bear stopping by to say hello.

Right now I only have humming birds that are at my feeder getting ready to head south for the winter. I will miss them when they leave

09/28/2026

The Polo Historical Society Museum Hours of Operation for the first 2 Saturdays in October:

October 3rd ~ CLOSED
October 10th ~ OPEN

09/26/2026

***** IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!! *****

The Polo Historical Society has finally launched its new website. After much prodding, slacking, nagging and procrastinating our website has been launched into the worldwide web.
Please understand that this website will always be a work in progress and that these things take time (sooooo much time).

A couple things in the MENU we would like to point out are:
RESEARCH ~ Research Request Form
This form allows you to request research about your ancestors from the Polo area.

JOIN/SUPPORT ~ Membership Form
You can now fill out a Yearly Membership Form, and it will be emailed to us, but you must mail in your membership fee.
(***at this time, we are unable to process credit/bank cards online or at the museum. Sorry for the inconvience***)

JOIN/SUPPORT ~ Donations Form
You can now fill out a Donation Form, and it will be emailed to us, but you must mail in your donation check or money order.
(***at this time, we are unable to process credit/bank cards online or at the museum. Sorry for the inconvience***)

BOOKS ~ Books For Sale
You can now fill out a Book Order Form, and it will be emailed to us, but you must mail in your payment check or money order.
(***at this time, we are unable to process credit/bank cards online or at the museum.Sorry for the inconvience ***)

So please check out our website and check back often. There is more Polo History to be added as we build the site.

https://polo-historicalsociety.org/

[email protected]

09/24/2026

The Polo Historical Society Museum will be OPEN Saturday September 26th,
8:30a - 3:00p.

Stop in and wander about, do a little research or just say Hi!

Admission = "FREE"
Research Assistance = "FREE"
Friendly Conversation = "ALSO FREE"

(donations graciously accepted)

113 N. Franklin Ave Polo, Illinois

[email protected]

polo-historicalsociety.org

09/24/2026

Polo History
Betty Obendorf

September 23, 2026

Making Lemonade out of Lemons

Saturday morning I headed over to the museum full of questions and I did not even take time to stop at the Farmer’s Market. Who was going to get the Henry School ready for the picnic? Was the weather going to be too hot? Would the generator work? Kevin and I started to discuss how we were going to work things out when in came Mike looking very tired. He had been hiking in the west with his brothers and he was done in.

He was not the bearer of good news. He could not get the generator to work which meant no electricity at the school. When the transformer at the school was struck by lightening, we decided to do away with electricity. It was costing over $40 a month and all we used it for at night, was the picnic. Mike had said, “I will just bring a generator for that.

We also did not know how hot it would be so Henry School was eliminated. It was also a holiday weekend and we could not find out about the Polo Senior Center until Tuesday so we checked that off our list.

Sunday morning Mike and friends put up all the tables at the Polo History Museum so that was done. Steve and Cheri were visiting me on Sunday so that afternoon Cheri and I worked with the decorating. They are always used to giving me hand with something at the museum.

Would our color scheme be fall or red, white, and blue? The Dollar Store had orange tablecloths so it would be fall. We went down to the school after fall arrangements I made years ago. I am amazed they still hold together. I always open the little cupboard carefully since one time there was a lovely white mound of fluff when I opened the door. When I touched it a little mouse popped out and looked at me as if to say, “Do you need something?” I had left a roll of paper towels out and it became her new home.

This time she was nowhere in sight so we loaded up all the fall arrangements. On to the museum where we put all together and it looked lovely. Thank you Cheri!

The next day I got an email from Paul Misko. He was coming from New York to give us a program on John Burroughs who became internationally famous as a naturalist. John taught school in Polo. Paul was on his way to see Polo.

I will enjoy meeting Paul who has emailed us for the last several years. He is an authority on John Burroughs and lectures in the New York area about Burroughs. Paul wanted to see Polo where John Burroughs taught school for a brief time.

John Burroughs came to Polo to ask for the hand in marriage of Sara Catherine Allaben. But John was too late since she had promised herself to a cousin. The Allabens had given land for the Henry School and for a while it was the Allaben School. When the Henry family settled next to the school, it became Henry School. But no picnic at Henry School this year.

09/17/2026

Polo History
Betty Obendorf

September 16, 2026

Heat Wave

If we would have had our Henry School Picnic on the usual first Wednesday, it could never have been at the school due to the heat wave that suddenly appeared. I did hear those locusts sing many weeks ago and so that last week in August should have been jacket weather. Instead I was busy watering those flowers that I put in the wrong spot. Those shady plants did not like the hot sun and we seem to have plenty of it. Next year I promised to have them in the shady part of the flower beds.

But that sun brought out those ornamental gourds that Krista planted many weeks ago. They were supposed to be blankets of wild flowers but three big squash plants began to take over. I watched as they climbed the wall into the parking lot of the grocery store and that is when I realized they were ornamental gourds.

With the heat wave they have developed into lovely colorful gourds and today Bruce harvested some. I dug out a basket Mary Jo of the Philippines brought me many years ago when she stayed several weeks in our home. This was when Susan was in high school. My how the years have gone by since she was here. She came over to this country through a Polo Rotary program and her father also came and stayed with us a short time.

Her basket looks lovely with the gourds in different colors and Bruce took a picture and sent it to Krista. Other flowers have managed to come through the bushy squash plants in all this heat and some day when it is cooler I will go out and spend more time looking at them.

I have also cut off one of my lavender plant to get it ready for fall. Another one is still blooming and a third one is about ready to bloom.

With this hotter weather I have had to refill the humming bird feeder with new water since the heat spoils the water quickly. The humming birds are busy at the feeders getting their fill of food before they head south. I love to sit at my computer and watch them at the feeder.

At the museum we are getting ready for a class reunion of the Class of 1961 later on in September. I have dug back out the story of the Peek Home for this group and some country school stories.

Beth had ordered some smaller dress maker forms for those last two wedding dresses that came in to the museum. It will be interesting to see how they work. People were really little years ago so Beth ordered a child’s form to see how that would work.

My weather report states that the weather is to start to drop in three days. We shall see if that is true.

09/16/2026

The Polo Historical Society Museum will be OPEN Saturday September 19th,
8:30a - 3:00p.

Stop in and wander about, do a little research or just say Hi!

Admission = "FREE"
Research Assistance = "FREE"
Friendly Conversation = "ALSO FREE"

(donations graciously accepted)

113 N. Franklin Ave Polo, Illinois

[email protected]

Polo Illinois Historical Society

10/17/2026

10/15/2026

10/08/2026

10/02/2026

09/28/2026

09/26/2026

09/24/2026

09/24/2026

09/17/2026

09/16/2026

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