Chenoa Historical Society News

Kerr Building - Home of Chenoa Historical Society

The Chenoa Historical Society, Inc. at 239 Green St. will be open to the public on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

We hope that you will stop and visit with us and view some of the projects the Society has accomplished this year.

CHENOA HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECEIVES DONATION

     Peggy Scharfenberg presented to the Chenoa Historical Society, Inc. a memorial donation in honor of her mother Mrs. Ruth Beach.
     Peggy is the granddaughter of a local artist from Chenoa, W.D. Nehr, and wanted to donate a memorial and an item of her grandfather's works. The Society has several of the artist's items on display in the museum.
     President Bell accepted the donations and would like to thank everyone who donated in Mrs. Beach's memory.

CHENOA HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWS…By Evy Reis

Beginning this year, the Chenoa Historical Society has had open hours for the public on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 1 – 3 p.m. We have found this to be very successful, as we have had many callers, with quite a few from out-of-state. They look for family information as well as searching for grave sites of family members, and we are glad to help. We urge you to come visit us on those days and hours. There is always a member there to help you.

I am sure that you are aware that our 1911 school building has been sold for razing. The buyer is Sullivan Construction Company from Bloomington and they have already started destruction of the building. In their contract with the Prairie School District, it was specified that the cornerstone from the building would be given to the Chenoa Historical Society.

Now your question might be: “Where is the cornerstone now?”, and here is the answer.
The box that contains the memorabilia has been removed and is now with the Society. At the September meeting of the Society, the contents were laid out for inspection, and board members and committee chairmen were all excited as they reviewed the contents. It was astounding to realize how well the folks back then planned the articles they put in the cornerstone.

In the box containing items from 1911 were three newspapers dated November 2, 1911, namely, The Chenoa Clipper, the Chenoa Times, and the Bloomington Pantagraph. One of the articles on the front page of the Chenoa Clipper tells of plans for the laying of the cornerstone in the new schoolhouse to take place on the schoolhouse grounds at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7, 1911.

The masonic fraternity was to be in charge of the event, and the cornerstone was to be laid by D. D. Darrah of Bloomington, Most Worshipful Grand Master. Rev. J. H. Ryan of Pontiac was chosen to be grand orator for the occasion. It was reported that he is a speaker of wide reputation, and was to deliver an oration on this occasion that everyone should hear.

The Masonic Lodges of Pontiac, El Paso, Fairbury, Lexington and Bloomington were invited to be present. Members from Chicago, Peoria, and other cities of the state were also invited. The Chenoa Band was to furnish music.

Plans were made for a banquet to be served at 5 p.m. at the Masonic Hall for members of the craft. Noah H. Pike was to be toastmaster, and a number of notable men would speak.

Here is another short article found in the newspaper: “All the merchants in Chenoa are respectfully requested to close their places of business from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on that day. The committee takes this means of asking your cooperation in this matter.”

If you are interested in looking at these historical items, they will be available for you to peruse them beginning Saturday, September 22nd at the Historical Museum in the Kerr Building in downtown Chenoa. Hours are 1 – 3 p.m. on all Tuesdays and Saturdays. If you haven’t been to the Museum, we do have many other items that are of interest, and would welcome your visit.

Chenoa High School - 1911 Chenoa Grade School - 2007

The Chenoa Historical Society, Inc. at 239 Green St. will be open to the public on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. We hope that you will stop and visit with us and view some of the projects the Society has accomplished this year. CHENOA HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECEIVES DONATION Peggy Scharfenberg presented to the Chenoa Historical Society, Inc. a memorial donation in honor of her mother Mrs. Ruth Beach. Peggy is the granddaughter of a local artist from Chenoa, W.D. Nehr, and wanted to donate a memorial and an item of her grandfather's works. The Society has several of the artist's items on display in the museum. President Bell accepted the donations and would like to thank everyone who donated in Mrs. Beach's memory. CHENOA HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWS…By Evy Reis Beginning this year, the Chenoa Historical Society has had open hours for the public on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 1 – 3 p.m. We have found this to be very successful, as we have had many callers, with quite a few from out-of-state. They look for family information as well as searching for grave sites of family members, and we are glad to help. We urge you to come visit us on those days and hours. There is always a member there to help you. I am sure that you are aware that our 1911 school building has been sold for razing. The buyer is Sullivan Construction Company from Bloomington and they have already started destruction of the building. In their contract with the Prairie School District, it was specified that the cornerstone from the building would be given to the Chenoa Historical Society. Now your question might be: “Where is the cornerstone now?”, and here is the answer. The box that contains the memorabilia has been removed and is now with the Society. At the September meeting of the Society, the contents were laid out for inspection, and board members and committee chairmen were all excited as they reviewed the contents. It was astounding to realize how well the folks back then planned the articles they put in the cornerstone. In the box containing items from 1911 were three newspapers dated November 2, 1911, namely, The Chenoa Clipper, the Chenoa Times, and the Bloomington Pantagraph. One of the articles on the front page of the Chenoa Clipper tells of plans for the laying of the cornerstone in the new schoolhouse to take place on the schoolhouse grounds at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7, 1911. The masonic fraternity was to be in charge of the event, and the cornerstone was to be laid by D. D. Darrah of Bloomington, Most Worshipful Grand Master. Rev. J. H. Ryan of Pontiac was chosen to be grand orator for the occasion. It was reported that he is a speaker of wide reputation, and was to deliver an oration on this occasion that everyone should hear. The Masonic Lodges of Pontiac, El Paso, Fairbury, Lexington and Bloomington were invited to be present. Members from Chicago, Peoria, and other cities of the state were also invited. The Chenoa Band was to furnish music. Plans were made for a banquet to be served at 5 p.m. at the Masonic Hall for members of the craft. Noah H. Pike was to be toastmaster, and a number of notable men would speak. Here is another short article found in the newspaper: “All the merchants in Chenoa are respectfully requested to close their places of business from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on that day. The committee takes this means of asking your cooperation in this matter.” If you are interested in looking at these historical items, they will be available for you to peruse them beginning Saturday, September 22nd at the Historical Museum in the Kerr Building in downtown Chenoa. Hours are 1 – 3 p.m. on all Tuesdays and Saturdays. If you haven’t been to the Museum, we do have many other items that are of interest, and would welcome your visit. Chenoa High School - 1911 Chenoa Grade School - 2007

This is a collection of a few pictures of the Chenoa Historical Society events...by Joyce Nagel
D. A. Schickedanz is one of the friendly board members who is always willing to help you when you visit the society.	Betty Morris's program "My Mothers Apron" was a hit with all the ladies, and some of the men even learned a little about sewing to.

This advertisement was found by Bill Barrett of Chenoa, while remodeling an old house.	This advertisement was also found by Bill Barrett of Chenoa, while remodeling an old house.

Richard Whitver's program "War Time Music", was a hit with all the veterans and their wives. The audience was singing along with him on many of the tunes.	Merle Parry has loaned the society some of his railroad collection to display at the museum. The kids and some of the fellows who use to work for the railroad, find it very interesting.

Corner stone found at the old Chenoa Grade School during demolition.	Time capsule found at the old Chenoa Grade School during demolition.

Donovan Gardner of Pontiac, gave us lots of information about the soon to be established, bicycle route for Chenoa. Jayne Zeller, former councilman, was the main person in establishing the route.


Preservation of the Chenoa High School graduation pictures from 1920 to 2004.	The preservation of Chenoa High School annuals, with a few extras for sale.
The society has bound copies of Chenoa Newspapers starting with the year 1927.	The Society also has files on many families that do and did reside in the Chenoa Area. If we can help you with your family genealogy, we would be happy to sit and talk with you. The Society also has many old pictures of Chenoa and information on our history, such as the story of the many fires in Chenoa, the coal mines, the Chenoa Centennial and much more. We will be updating our site with new information in the months of November, March, June and September to give you more information about our society. If we can be of any help to you, feel free to contact us.

We also have opened the Chenoa Trophy Room at the Chenoa Heartland Bank. This room contains many of the trophies and awards that were obtained when the Chenoa High School merged with Prairie Central. We would invite you to tour this and if any clubs or organizations would like a tour, please contact Joyce Nagel - 815-945-5163.