Lombard Historical Society

Lombard Historical Society As the stewards of Lombard’s heritage, we will continue to make history meaningful for the community.

✨Join us tonight for History After Hours at the Sheldon Peck Homestead!Explore one of Lombard's most historic landmarks ...
06/02/2026

✨Join us tonight for History After Hours at the Sheldon Peck Homestead!

Explore one of Lombard's most historic landmarks and discover why the Peck Homestead is significant not only to local history, but also to regional and national history. Learn about Sheldon Peck's role in the American Folk Art movement and the Homestead's connection to the Underground Railroad.

🕰 Today
⏰ 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Sheldon Peck Homestead, 355 W. Parkside Avenue

Stop by, ask questions, and enjoy a special evening opportunity to experience this remarkable piece of Lombard history!

Butterflies do so much more than add beauty to our gardens! They are attracted to bright flowers and feed on nectar. As ...
06/02/2026

Butterflies do so much more than add beauty to our gardens! They are attracted to bright flowers and feed on nectar. As they do this, their bodies collect pollen and carry it to other plants. This helps fruits, vegetables, and flowers produce new seeds and thrive.

You can create your own butterfly scene today at the Peck Homestead! We're open until 4:00 PM, so stop by and get creative while celebrating these amazing pollinators. 🦋🌼

Today’s Museum Week theme is Museums × AI: Futures ( ), inviting museums to imagine what could be possible in the years ...
06/02/2026

Today’s Museum Week theme is Museums × AI: Futures ( ), inviting museums to imagine what could be possible in the years ahead.

What might a visit to the Lombard Historical Society look like in 2046?

Perhaps visitors could explore the Sheldon Peck Homestead with digital tools that help bring historical stories to life. Perhaps artificial intelligence could assist with identifying people in historic photographs, transcribing handwritten documents, translating materials, or connecting related stories across our collections. Perhaps researchers could discover information in seconds that once took days or weeks to uncover.

Maybe the biggest changes won't be technological at all. Future museums may become even more collaborative, with community members helping preserve family photographs, sharing personal stories, and contributing new perspectives that enrich our understanding of local history.

The people of the future will look back on our era just as we look back on those who came before us! The photographs we take and the records we preserve today will help future generations understand what life was like in Lombard in the twenty-first century.

While technology will continue to evolve, some things will remain the same. Museums will still care for historic places and artifacts. We will still ask questions about the past. And we will still work to preserve and share the stories that connect our community across generations.

The images below show the Sheldon Peck Homestead at different points in its history. Just as its role has evolved over time, museums continue to adapt to new technologies, new audiences, and new ways of sharing stories.

Today marks the start of Museum Week, a global celebration of museums and the many ways they connect people with history...
06/01/2026

Today marks the start of Museum Week, a global celebration of museums and the many ways they connect people with history, culture, and knowledge.

The theme for June 1 is Museums × AI: State of Play ( ), highlighting how museums are exploring artificial intelligence in their everyday work.

One way we're experimenting with AI at our museum is through the enhancement of historic photographs. This image shows Sanford Peck during the Civil War, when he served as a drummer boy.

Over time, historic photographs can become faded or blurry. We are testing AI-assisted tools that help improve image clarity, making it easier to study and share these important pieces of history. The original photograph remains our primary historical record, while enhanced versions can help reveal details that might otherwise be difficult to see.

As Museum Week begins, we're excited to share some of the work that happens behind the scenes as we preserve and interpret our community's history!

This picture is undated.

🗓️🎖 This Day in Lombard HistoryNearly a century ago, in 1926, Lombard dedicated one of its most recognizable memorials, ...
05/31/2026

🗓️🎖 This Day in Lombard History

Nearly a century ago, in 1926, Lombard dedicated one of its most recognizable memorials, a 24-ton granite boulder that stands today in the Lombard Commons Park.

Originally installed on the grounds of Lombard Public School (later Lincoln School), the massive boulder was transported by rail from the glacial moraine region near Baraboo, Wisconsin. Selected for its strength and permanence, it was dedicated as a memorial to Lombard residents who served their country.

The project was truly a community effort. A total of 281 donors, including local families, organizations, businesses, and schoolchildren, contributed $2,600 to fund the memorial, flagpole, and accompanying flag.

The bronze plaque honors 123 Lombard men who served in the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and World War I. Seven names are marked with gold stars, commemorating those who made the ultimate sacrifice:

Otto Finke
Clinton D. Kendall
James H. Kendall
William J. Koch
Fred Mech
John A. Peterson
Emil F. Zabel

Today, the memorial remains a lasting tribute to the service and sacrifice of Lombard's veterans and a reminder of a community that came together to honor them.

✨Step back in time at the Sheldon Peck Homestead!✨Join us on Saturday, June 6, from 12:00–4:00 PM for Civil War Days: Li...
05/30/2026

✨Step back in time at the Sheldon Peck Homestead!✨

Join us on Saturday, June 6, from 12:00–4:00 PM for Civil War Days: Living History at the Homestead. Experience history firsthand as living history interpreters bring the 1860s to life through military and civilian demonstrations.

Learn about Sanford Peck, son of Sheldon Peck, and discover how his Civil War experiences connect our local history to one of the most pivotal periods in American history!

Whether you're a history enthusiast or simply looking for a unique family-friendly activity, this immersive afternoon offers something for all ages.

📅 Saturday, June 6, 2026
🕛 12:00–4:00 PM
📍 Sheldon Peck Homestead (355 E. Parkside Ave.)
🎟️ Free and open to the public

Drop in anytime between 12:00 and 4:00 PM! We hope to see you there!

✨🍃Did you know that May 9 was National Windmill Day?🍃✨Built in 1850 by German craftsman Louis Blackhaus in the York Cent...
05/30/2026

✨🍃Did you know that May 9 was National Windmill Day?🍃✨

Built in 1850 by German craftsman Louis Blackhaus in the York Center settlement near present-day Meyers Road and Sixteenth Street, the windmill served local farmers by grinding grain and stood as a striking feature of the landscape. Blackhaus even brought the wooden bolts used in its construction from Holland.

The windmill changed hands several times before being purchased in 1914 by Colonel George Fabyan. With the help of Dutch craftsmen, the structure was carefully dismantled, repaired, and rebuilt on Fabyan's estate along the Fox River between Geneva and Batavia.

Today, the Fabyan Windmill still stands in the Fabyan Forest Preserve, where visitors can admire this remarkable piece of local history. If you look closely, you can still spot the Roman numeral markings carved into the beams during its reconstruction!

📸 Pictured here is an undated photograph of the Fabyan Windmill. While we unfortunately do not know the identities of the two women shown, we love the smiles on their faces as they pose in front of this historic landmark!

✨🖼 Join us on June 2 for History After Hours at the Sheldon Peck Homestead from 5–7 PM!Learn what makes the Peck Homeste...
05/29/2026

✨🖼 Join us on June 2 for History After Hours at the Sheldon Peck Homestead from 5–7 PM!

Learn what makes the Peck Homestead such a special place in not only Lombard history, but also regional and national history, through its connections to the American Folk Art movement and the Underground Railroad.

Stop by, explore local history, and enjoy an evening at the Homestead.

This is a free event, and we hope to see you there!

✨⛪On This Day in Lombard History⛪✨Today in 1870, the beloved First Church of Lombard, also known as the Maple Street Cha...
05/29/2026

✨⛪On This Day in Lombard History⛪✨

Today in 1870, the beloved First Church of Lombard, also known as the Maple Street Chapel, was officially dedicated!

This beautiful Gothic Revival church remains one of Lombard’s most treasured landmarks. For many years, its bell served an important role in the community, ringing out to alert residents in the event of fires or other emergencies.

Take a stroll to the corner of Maple Street and Main Street to admire this historic building for yourself! While you're there, stop by Dairy Queen for a sweet treat or visit the museum and say hello!

Pictured here is the Maple Street Chapel in 1948.

Celebrating 100 Years of the Lombard Garden Club! 🌸🌿This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Lombard Garden Club, wh...
05/28/2026

Celebrating 100 Years of the Lombard Garden Club! 🌸🌿

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Lombard Garden Club, which began today in 1926 when fifty-four residents organized the Lombard Flower and Garden Club. Mrs. Nora Wegner was chosen as the club’s first president, and by 1927 the organization had affiliated with both the Garden Club of Illinois and the National Council of State Garden Clubs.

Dedicated to beautifying the community, members planted and maintained gardens at the railroad stations, Village Hall, and other public spaces throughout Lombard. Their efforts helped shape the village’s tradition of civic pride and natural beauty that continues today.

The club adopted this inspiring motto during its very first year:

“Make thy garden as fair as thou canst,
Thou workest never alone,
For he whose plat is next to thine
May see — and mend his own.”

Today we’re sharing a 1935 photograph of Lombard Garden Club members, along with the handwritten names preserved on the back of the photo. This is a wonderful reminder of the people whose hard work and passion helped the club flourish for generations.

Happy 100th Anniversary to the Lombard Garden Club, and thank you for a century of making Lombard bloom! 🌷

Address

23 W Maple Street
Lombard, IL
60148

Telephone

+16306291885

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