Historic Commission

Tuesday, January 21, 2020 I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:06 pm. Present: Nancy Flannery (Chair), Barbara Dutton (Vice Chair), Steph McGrath (Secretary), Linda Moran, Bob Purdy Absent: Emelie Engling, Andrew Welker Public Comments: none II. Approval of Minutes Minutes of the December 17, 2019 meeting were approved as amended on a motion by Bob, seconded by Linda and passed unanimously. III. Old Business A. Wheaton’s History Bike tour: Nancy will be attending the bike commission’s January meeting and will have a report next month. B. Down at the Depot marker: Nancy reported that we are awaiting the invoice estimate, particularly for the installation. C. CA&E site marker: Bob reviewed his efforts trying to determine the provenance of the photo. He contacted the Julie Johnson Historical Collection, the Illinois Railway Museum and collector Steve Hyett, but none were able to identify a source or photographer. Steph said the photo dates to 1953-54 based on hairstyles, clothes and the phone booth, so the applicable copyright law is the life of the photographer plus 70 years. Bob said the photo will have a credit line to the Illinois Railway Museum added at the bottom of the sign with the other credits. D. 2020 Preservation Month: Nancy reviewed the scheduled events and activities. Pride in Preservation signs from May 9 to 17; Home History Research on May 2 and 4; Lectures about The Theosophical Society in Wheaton on May 7 and The Great Fires of Wheaton on May 13. Regarding the need to keep better track of the length of Home History research appointments, Nancy said she would buy a timer. Linda said her phone has a timer app we could use. E. This Place Matters, Warren L. Wheaton home: Barb is coordinating with Bauer Dental and waiting to see if they had taken their photo. She also dropped off replacement Rethink Rezoning yard signs for them, since the ones that had been on the property have been removed. She even offered to put them out for them. F. Commission membership: Barb contacted a prospect, but they were not interested. Attendance requirements were discussed again and Nancy said she would check with the City to see if there are any requirements, or if any other board or commission has stated attendance rules. G. Social media update: Linda reported that she had tried compiling a list of events for the History Tidbits project, but discovered that the local history books she reviewed noted only the years things happened, not a month and day. Steph said she had found the same. Newspapers were discussed as a better source for events with specific dates. Otherwise it  may be things like people’s birth and death dates. Only one per month is needed. Nancy passed out a list of Wheaton presidents and mayors, noting some discrepancies between the city website and the portraits in council chambers. H. Annual Report: Nancy sent out the updated report, based on last month’s discussion. I. Landmarks Illinois Most Endangered List: Nancy has been working on an application, but said it needed further editing. Because the deadline will come before our next meeting, she will submit it in her name, not on the behalf of the commission. IV. New Business A. Red Grange site markers: George M. Wilcox of Darien addressed a letter to Mayor Suess and Zach Brown, staff at the DuPage County Historical Museum, suggesting a series of site markers commemorating Red Grange’s childhood home, as well as other sites like the school he attended and places he played football. Wilcox noted the location of the home was unclear to him, and commission members discussed some other sites in town thought to be places he had lived. Members agreed he was a notable person to come from Wheaton and would further consider a marker. B. CLIO, Your Guide to the History Around You: Steph read about this free mobile app and website using GPS to share info about local historic and cultural sites and thought it might be something the commission could use for Wheaton sites and the history tidbits. C. Barb has a new email address. Nancy will also email an updated contact list to the members of the commission. V. Commissioner Comments Linda will not be able to attend next month’s meeting, but would be available if we shifted it to Tuesday a week earlier. VI. Adjournment Bob moved to adjourn, Linda seconded, the motion passed unanimously; the meeting concluded at 8:23 pm. 2