Williamsfield Historical Society

05/28/2026

Dahinda School

05/03/2026

So it seems like everyone has a good Lapham School story, so let’s hear some more! And moreover, whose idea was it to put a schoolhouse up there? 🙂

04/28/2026

What can you tell us about Trenton School (District #93)?

04/28/2026

In light of our recent & well-attended discussion on the local country schools, we thought it would be appropriate to take our show (& conversation) online.
So what more can you tell us about Salem School (District #72)?

According to the retired teachers book of Knox County country schools, Salem was the first schoolhouse built in Victoria Township & was built un 1837. The original building was built of logs & was located about 1 mile northwest of the 2nd schoolhouse, which was built in 1870. Henry Shurtleff was the 1st teacher.

04/23/2026

What a great day for the young AND the old! (The collections, not the volunteers 😜)
The Historical Society played host to Mrs Fuller’s 4th grade class this afternoon. Lots of great questions & stories. It’s wonderful to see kids interested in history!

03/11/2026

Dahinda folks, what can you remember about “old Doc Bedford?” We have this article (written by Erma Nodeen in the Register Mail) from a couple decades back framed inside the building. And we intend on visiting his grave & others in Trenton Cemetery during our cemetery tour in May.

01/11/2026

https://youtu.be/QCwDDkWT6hw?si=gxQqIa-zfIxyuiy5

Williamsfield Historical Society - Mary Jane Lafollette - Country Schoolhouse Presentation 04/16/23

11/09/2025

This was worth sharing. Having worked with a terrific group of volunteers last Saturday to cleanup the abandoned Tucker Cemetery (southeast of Williamsfield on the Knox-Peoria County line), Dave Doubet shared with us some of Mildred Doubet’s (& likely Kate Spencer too) research on the Tucker Cemetery & the namesakes family. The first photo is the family of John “barefoot” Tucker, taken at the family farm just north of the cemetery. The names are written on the back (photo 2). And Mildred & Kate’s known cemetery burials are photo 3 & 4 (though there is rumored to be considerably more)

11/04/2025

EARLY BIRD COFFEE!!!
Every weekday 7am to 8:30am at the Historical Society building. $1 for unlimited coffee & often a breakfast snack donated by some of our members!
All proceeds go towards the utilities & operating expenses of the building. Everybody is welcome.
And, as always, THANK YOU for your support!!

05/17/2025

THANK YOU to all the guests & especially to the guest speakers who joined us this morning for our 3rd annual Genealogy Saturday & Cemetery Tour.

At Glendale Cemetery in Elmore IL, we remembered:
Stephen Wi******er, 1845-1940 (& son Ed Wi******er, 1880-1964), longtime owners & operator of the Rochester (Elmore) general store & post office

Maureen Tucker (1908-1993), army nurse in the European theater during WW2, longtime nurse at the Williamsfield Clinic

Dr. John Cole (1847-1927), local Civil War veteran & celebrated physician in Elmore & Williamsfield

John Ingle (1837-1915), local Civil War veteran

Clark Stanton (1800-1852), early pioneer of Millbrook Township, builder & operator of the Rochester mill along Spoon River

Walter Watkins (1904-1988), an active community member & educator in several local school districts including Elmore & Etherley

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You’re still welcome to share any additional notes & stories about these folks as we celebrate their memories.
Thank you from the Williamsfield Historical Society

05/03/2025

In response to Williamsfield Parks Association’s post about the completion of the Norman Miniature Golf expansion project & the pictures of the Little John Coal tipple replica there, Raymond Ziegler posted a neat picture of the Little John shovel with the tipple being constructed behind it. Too interesting not to share!