108 W. Jackson St.
Pinckneyville, Illinois 62274
On behalf of myself, and the thousands of
people world wide who will benefit from reading
and learning the history of Perry County,
I would like to take this public opportunity
to say THANK YOU to all the members of the Historical Society,
for all of your hard work, and for so graciously
allowing me to use your materials.
Jean Salger
One of the first Perry County Historical Societies was organized in 1951. Raymond LEE, of Tamaroa, spearheaded a drive to record some facts about the county and compile a booklet containing such records.
The organization flourished for several years with members joining from all parts of Perry County. Besides the Lees, Idene STOCKTON and the John REIDS were members.
Pinckneyville members included Mr. & Mrs. Charles MATHEWS, Mr. & Mrs. Noel COOK, Dr. and Mrs. Gilbert EDWARDS and his mother, Ella ROOT EDWARDS, Dean HAMMOCK, Lib SPURGEON, Pona EATON, Ray BECK, Wilma BIBY, Frank KEITH, Judson HARRISS and Mr. & Mrs. George ULRICH.
Other members were Eddie KUNZ, Rex FRANKLIN and Calvin & Jean IBENDAHL. By the time the IBENDAHLS joined in 1959, the society was looking for a place to meet. They offered a meeting room in their historic home, the old B.G. ROOTS home, south of Tamaroa. The Society met there during most of the 1960's. They also met in the rural churches and compiled histories of those churches while Pona EATON was president.
After a few slow years, Clarence McCRARY became president, followed by Mike FRANCOIS, then Bill TIMPNER, and the organization has flourished ever since.
In 1993, the former Perry County jail and
sheriff's home were threatened with demolition
to make way for a
hospital parking lot. Several members
of the Historical
Society recognized the historical value of
the structure and
asked the county board for its use as a museum.
Negotiations were
made and a museum committee was formed to
take charge of
renovations, programs, and operation of the
museum. The venture
has been highly successful, thanks to many
persons who have
volunteered hours and hours of work.
The artistic cartoons on the cell walls,
drawn by a former prisoner, the agricultural
exhibit, the women's cell, and the one-room
school are permanent exhibits, while others
change to accommodate seasons, events and
historical moments.
This museum may be visited on week-ends and
on Monday when women quilters devote time
to that on-going fund raiser.
The above article is © Jean Ibendahl.
This article is reprinted by permission of PCHS to Jean Salger. No parts may be
copied or reproduced in any form or manner
for monetary or
personal gain without copyright infringement.
It is intended for
educational and personal use only.
