exhibits

The museum’s recently restored second floor north room features four 48 by 68 inch paintings created this year by Cedarville area artists Harlan Corrie, Dan Edler, Roger Goodspeed and Duane Smith. These permanent gallery additions portray Cedarville topically rather than chronologically. In addition the gallery contains 18 smaller original paintings belonging to the museum that are related to the area. A brochure of the collection is available to museum visitors for two dollars.

Rosabelle Cronau Research Center

Again this year people will have an opportunity to visit and use the Rosabelle Cronau Research Center on the museum’s second floor. Mrs. Cronau, who died on December 26, 2006, was a strong supporter of the historical society.

The research center is the home of the historical society’s collection of letters, photographs, documents, books and electronically recorded material related to the history of the Cedarville area. The material in the center will be available to local history researchers and the public. Although original material will not be permitted to leave the center, copies — either printed or recorded — will be available.

Included in the book collection are dozens of books written about or by Jane Addams, Cedarville’s most famous citizen. Many of the books by Miss Addams pre-date World War I. The center also has a collection of Stephenson County histories and original Buckeye Township records. The electronic photograph file has hundreds of pictures of Cedarville residents dating back to the Civil War.

The books and other records are stored on shelves and cabinets contributed by Winifred Macomber in memory of her late husband Vernon, a Lena teacher.

Past Exhibits
2010 Exhibits

The story celebrating the 150th birthday of Cedarville-born and Nobel peace prize winner Jane Addams, her family and her work at Chicago’s Hull- House and for world peace

The history of Cedarville’s Macomber and Folgate farms, family-owned for more than 150 years

The Folgate family and its impact on Stephenson County Photographs and student memories of

Cedarville area schools

Cedarville churches and businesses

The meticulously crafted Roger Goodspeed model of the John Addams mill

Cedarville Museum Art Gallery

This season the south room of the museum’s first floor features original art related to the Cedarville area that has been donated to the historical society. Most are finely crafted pieces. Some — although not of high artistic quality — are of value because of the story behind
them. A brochure of the collection is available to museum visitors.

Rosabelle Cronau Research Center

Again this year people will have an opportunity to visit and use the Rosabelle Cronau Research Center on the museum’s second floor. Mrs. Cronau, who died on December 26, 2006, was a strong supporter of the historical society.

The research center is the home of the historical society’s collection of letters, photographs, documents, books and electronically recorded material related to the history of the Cedarville area. The material in the center will be available to local history researchers and the public. Although original material will not be permitted to leave the center, copies — either printed or recorded — will be available.

Included in the book collection are dozens of books written about or by Jane Addams, Cedarville’s most famous citizen. Many of the books by Miss Addams pre-date World War I. The center also has a collection of Stephenson County histories and original Buckeye Township
records. The electronic photograph file has hundreds of pictures of Cedarville residents dating back to the Civil War.

The books and other records are stored on shelves and cabinets contributed by Winifred Macomber in memory of her late husband Vernon, a Lena teacher.

2009 Exhibits

Three of the new exhibits will feature the history of Scioto Mills, Red Oak and Buena Vista. These settlements near
Cedarville were important when the Illinois Central Railroad connected them in the nineteenth century with Freeport; but, they declined rapidly when the line was discontinued. The old railroad right-ofway
is now the Jane Addams Trail.

A fourth new exhibit will tell the story of the Kryders, one of the largest families in Stephenson County history.

The fifth new exhibit will explore the brief but exciting history of the Arabian horse farm that was located in Cedarville just west of Mill Street.

The south room art exhibit will feature very large photographs from the historical society’s archives.

Two permanent exhibits, one featuring Cedarville School, the other Jane Addams, will be updated with different artifacts and documents.

The museum and the research center will be open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday from May 1 through October 31. The research center is also available by appointment.

2008 Exhibits

Jane Addams, her family and her work at Hull-House

Stephenson County’s role in the Civil War. This exhibit complements the July 22 Tuesday evening program

The many art forms of the late Rosalee Rockman, Freeport art teacher and Cedarville resident

Cedarville School memories as told by old photographs and memorabilia

The life of Marcet Haldeman-Julius, niece of Jane Addams. This exhibit is related to the September 23 Tuesday evening program.

The meticulously crafted Roger Goodspeed model of the John Addams mill

Rosabelle Cronau Research Center

This year people will have their first opportunity to visit and use the Rosabelle Cronau Research Center on the museum’s second floor. Mrs. Cronau, who died on December 26, 2006, was a strong supporter of the historical society.

The books and other records are stored on shelves and cabinets contributed by Winifred Macomber in memory of her late husband Vernon, a Lena teacher.

Art Gallery

The 2008 collection in the south room on the first floor of the museum features work by the late Rosalee Rockman (1936—93). Miss Rockman, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, taught art in the Freeport schools from 1958 to 1990. Because she worked in mediums other than two dimensional paintings, the exhibit continues to an enclosed case in the same room. The museum owns several Rockman pieces, but most of the works in the exhibit are on loan from private parties. A catalog of the exhibit is available at no cost.