CELEBRATES ITS 100th YEAR

Plans to recognize Matteson's 100th year throughout 1989 are being formulated, according to Judith Krarner, Director of Community Relations. The village was officially incorporated on May 14, 1889.

The first village board of trustees was sworn in on May 14, 1889, with R. J. Drake taking office as president. The board meetings were held at the Illinois Central freight office.

At that time, the village hall was a one-story frame structure, 14 x 24 feet in size, containing two jail cells, with a lean-to shed that housed hand-operated and manually drawn fire fighting equipment. It was located at 3612 W. 214th Place.

Two years later, the board voted to build wooden sidewalks at a cost of two cents a foot. Forty dollars was turned over to the board for this purpose, bringing the village treasury's balance up to $343.63. In November of that same year, H. Dettmering applied for a position of street commissioner at a salary of eight dollars per month. John Claussen was appointed village constable. He was also the proprietor of a coal yard in Matteson.

One of the oldest German settlements in Cook County, the village was first surveyed in June, 1855 for N. D. Ellwood of Joliet and Jacob Rich of Richton.

These were by no means the first settlers in the area, however. As early as July, 1848, Frederick Illgen bought forty acres of the first public lands sold in southern Cook County, paying $50 for the entire tract. This land contained what is now the major portion of the southern section of the village.

Nearing completion now is "Conversations That Look Back," the second oral history book published by the Historical Society in conjunction with Judith Nelson's eighth grade class at Huth Upper Grade Center. The booklet will be made available to the public at the Matteson Festival, scheduled for June 9, 10 and 11, at the Society's booth.

The Matteson Historical Society and the Community Relations Department staff are currently conducting research, using the Historical Society's museum files to determine the most appropriate ways to highlight the village's centennial. Historic photos, files and village receipts from the year of incorporation are the target of their research.

The Society was officially incorporated in 1975 to preserve and collect written and printed materials, artifacts and memorabilia, illustrative of local history and heritage, and to bring people in Matteson and the surrounding communities together who are interested in history.

Membership is open to everyone for a small fee. Four general membership meetings, open to the public, are held each year.

The office and museum are open from noon to 5 p.m. on Monday and Friday. The Society also provides speakers and a slide presentation about Matteson's heritage and progress.

For information about the Society and its programs, call (312) 748-3033. •

July 1989 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 9