Warrenville Historical Society

01/20/2025

It's Monday and that means it's time for another edition of Hiram Leonard's journal as we look back in history 150 years ago.

Poor Hiram's week was pretty routine and sad, with winter weather and him dealing with illness. It was a quiet week in contrast to the start of our week, Martin Luther King Jr. Day would not become a National Holiday until 1983 and in 1870s presidents were not inaugurated until March.

We hope you all stay warm this cold winter week!

“ 20th Wednesday   A fine winter day & verry dry  I did my choars was at the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 nearly sick with a cold & the rheumatism. “ 21 Thursday   fine winter weather but verry dry  I did my choars was

01/19/2025

During our winter closed period we are sharing the stories told during our 2024 Warrenville Cemetery Walk. We hope you enjoy reading about the people who helped shape Warrenville history. At our fifth stop, Cemetery Walk attendees got to learn a little bit about a group of Warrenvillians who used the old Methodist Church after the church was closed, despite some Methodists not being very happy about it.

During our winter closed period we are sharing the stories told during our 2024 Warrenville Cemetery Walk. We hope you enjoy reading about the people who helped shape Warrenville history. At our fifth stop, Cemetery Walk attendees got to learn a little bit about a group of Warrenvillians who used th

01/17/2025

Winter sports are in full swing and our is to some great shots from the season in 1975!

Do you see some familiar faces in here? 😁 We love to see not much has changed in Warrenville’s competitive spirit over the past 50 years!

01/13/2025

Happy Monday! It's a cold one out there today so stay inside and read all about life in Warrenville 150 years ago:)

Hiram noted in his journal for this week in history that they had been going through a dry spell and farmers were bringing their cattle to the river to drink. Read all about it here!

“ 13th Wednesday   fine cold winter weather  I did my choars was at the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 nearly sick with the rheumatism. “ 14th Thursday   A cold winter day  I did my choars was at the office all day closed up at 8 &am

01/12/2025

During our winter closed period we are sharing the stories told during our 2024 Warrenville Cemetery Walk. We hope you enjoy reading about the people who helped shape Warrenville history. At our fourth stop, Cemetery Walk attendees got to learn a little bit about another Warrenville artist who helped to save the Albright Building.

During our winter closed period we are sharing the stories told during our 2024 Warrenville Cemetery Walk. We hope you enjoy reading about the people who helped shape Warrenville history. At our fourth stop, Cemetery Walk attendees got to learn a little bit about another Warrenville artist who helpe

01/06/2025

Happy 1st Monday of 2025! It was a busy week in Warrenville history with a big party on Friday, January 8, 1875. Read all about it here!

“ 6th Wednesday   A cold winter day  I did my choars was round the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 nearly sick with a cold. “ 7th Thursday   fine cool winter weather  I did my choars was round the office all day closed up at 8 & w

01/05/2025

Happy First Sunday of 2025! During our winter closed period we are sharing the stories told during our 2024 Warrenville Cemetery Walk. We hope you enjoy reading about the people who helped shape Warrenville history. At our third stop, Cemetery Walk attendees got to learn a little bit about the Albright family of artists as told by the family’s mother Clara Wilson Albright.

During our winter closed period we are sharing the stories told during our 2024 Warrenville Cemetery Walk. We hope you enjoy reading about the people who helped shape Warrenville history. At our third stop, Cemetery Walk attendees got to learn a little bit about the Albright family of artists as tol

12/31/2024

A very Happy New Year from all of us at the Warrenville Historical Society and these Warrenville businesses that sent the community well wishes in 1970!

May you have a healthy, happy, and joyous New Year! We look forward to celebrating local history with you in 2025! 🎉

12/30/2024

Happy Monday! It’s the last couple of days of 2024 and as we look back 150 years to 1874 poor Hiram spent the last days of the year rather routinely, and of course sick😬

There were lots of comings and goings on in town, including the tea peddler heading south to sell his tea in St. Louis. Read all about it here and we hope you enjoy the last days of the year more than Hiram!

“ 30th Wednesday   fine cool winter weather & dry  I did my choars was round the office all day closed up at 8 and went to bed at 9 nearly sick with the rheumatism & a cold  Mary Connell came home from Chicago. “ 31st Thursday   fine winter weathe

12/25/2024

A very Merry Christmas from all of us at the Warrenville Historical Society and the businesses of Warrenville past.

Holiday wishes from the 1981 Warrenville Digest 🎄

12/23/2024

Happy Monday before the holidays!

Unfortunately it was a sad week in Warrenville history 150 years ago. On Christmas Eve in 1874, Henry and Nancy Rogers lost their third child, Hattie, who was just three years old; she was buried in the Warrenville Cemetery on Christmas Day. Sadly the loss of young children was not an uncommon tragedy in the days before antibiotics and vaccines.

Read all about the week that was in Warrenville history here and we hope your holiday week is a much much happier one!

“ 23rd Wednesday   fine weather for the season but verry dry  I did my choars was at the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 nearly sick with the rheumatism etc. “ 24th Thursday   fine winter weather but dry  I did my choars was at the office

12/22/2024

During our closed winter period we will be sharing the stories highlighted during our 2024 Cemetery Walk.

Today we are sharing the story of the Stanford family who lived next to the Albright Studio and were featured in paintings by Ivan Albright. Thank you to Sarah Stokoe who read this script during our walk.

Good evening, My name is Elizabeth Stanford but everyone called me Betty. I was born to my parents, Art and Arline Stanford. They lived a happy life in Warrenville, right on Second Street, just next to the old Methodist Church. My dad, Art, was born on February 22, 1885, in Wheaton. He was the onl

12/16/2024

Happy Monday! It was a busy pre-holiday week in Warrenville 150 years ago. Read all about it here!

“ 16th Wednesday   fine winter weather verry dry  I did my choars was at the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 nearly sick with a cold & the rheumatism. “ 17th Thursday   fine weather for the season but dry  I did my choars was at t

12/15/2024

Although the Museum is now closed for the winter season, we will still be sharing Warrenville history! Today we start a new series during our closed weeks where we will be retelling the stories we shared during our 2024 Cemetery Walk.

The Museum will reopen on Sunday, February 16th. During our closed period you can email us at [email protected] and if you are looking to buy any of our ornaments before Christmas, the Towne Tap will have them available (big thanks to them for once again hosting our pop-up ornament store!).

Please enjoying learning a little history about the Warrenville Cemetery!

On Sunday, October 20, 2024, the Warrenville Historical Society held our annual Cemetery Walk. During our closed winter season, we will be sharing the scripts read during our event. We hope you enjoy learning about the stories we told in October.

12/09/2024

Happy Monday! Read all about the week that was in 1874! It was a busy week with lots of comings and goings.

“ 9th Wednesday   fine weather for the season  I did my choars was round the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed about 9 nearly sick with the rheumatism & a cold  I brought my cows down today & T. W. Watson bought my speckled heifer &

12/07/2024

We had such a great night last night at the Merry Market at Holly Days!

Tomorrow is our last Sunday open of the season from 1-3pm! If you missed us at Holly Days be sure to stop in tomorrow and pick up a local history gift! 🎄

12/02/2024

Happy Monday! It was a baby boom this week in Warrenville history 150 years ago with two new babies welcomed in 1874. Read all about it here. We hope you have a great week!

“ 2nd Wednesday   fine weather for the season  I did my choars was at the office all day closed up at 8 & went to bed at 9 sick with the rheumatism & a cold  John Wallace wife had a child born some time this week. “ 3rd Thursday   fine mild weathe

11/30/2024

It’s Small Business Saturday and who wouldn’t love to support these local businesses of Warrenville history! These images are from the 1978 Warrenville Digest.

While you are shopping this holiday season be sure to buy local as much as you can and support our business members that support our work all year long!
Al’s Pizza
The Accounting Place
J. H. Bollweg & Sons
Braune’s Cabins
Chase Upholstering
Conley Steel, Inc.
D. E. Mathieu Plumbing
Exploring Flooring, Inc.
Noodles Tattoo Studio
Pace Fitness
Rymar Kitchen, Inc.
Thomas Kibler Lathing & Plastering
Towne Tap
Twin Star Ranch
Voegtle’s Auto Service, Inc.
Warrenville Grove Animal Hospital
Warrenville Lions Club
Warrenville Park District
Warrenville Public Library
Weekdays @ Mundays