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The Henderson County Historical Society
Tracie John How can a community save a historical bridge that has been swept away by rampant flood waters? What is it like to salvage a historical house that was once a part of the Underground Railroad that is now on the verge of decay? Can a forgotten history be revived? The Henderson County Historical Society accomplished the feat of saving the Henderson County Covered Bridge when, in June 1982, flood waters had almost completely demolished it. The bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Illinois Department of Transportation offered financial aid and rebuilding began in 1984. Many special preparations had to be made to restore the bridge's original structure and to keep it historically accurate. The state granted sixty thousand dollars for rebuilding the bridge, the Henderson County Historical Society raised additional funds, and a local contractor supervised the reconstruction. Special beams were ordered from Wyoming, and the wooden framework was precut and assembled on a local farmer's land. Most of the woodwork was salvaged from the devastating flood waters, and the reconstructed structure contained 75 percent of the bridge's original wood. The bridge was then replaced across Henderson Creek with steel beams, which were left under the bridge for additional stability. The Henderson County Historical Society also saved the Alexis Phelps House from demolition and vandalism. This house was believed to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad. In the winter of 1978 vandals damaged the house. The state recognized the Alexis Phelps House as a historic structure in 1980. In 1982 the Henderson County Historical Society purchased the house and was successful in getting it listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Work in the house, however, had to be postponed due to the unfortunate collapse of the Henderson County Covered Bridge in 1982. In 1986 the society received a ten-thousand-dollar grant from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency to restore the house. A local contractor was the carpenter in charge of the restoration, and Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) workers provided labor. The house required new shingles, siding on the west side of the house, and new windows. There were special pieces ordered so the house would be identical to the original. The siding had to be specially milled at Hawkinson's Manufacturing Company in Galesburg, Illinois, because the type of siding originally used is no longer produced. The windows, too, had to match the originals. The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency provided a grant to produce those windows. Every item not original to the house was removed. In 1991 the stairway was moved to its original location, and in 1996 the house was rewired and heating ducts were installed under the floor. All material that could be reused was put back into the house. In 1994 a pioneer cabin was added to the Alexis Phelps House site. The cabin came from a nearby farm. In 1995 a local mason and the JTPA workers laid the cabin's stone foundation. The first Christmas Open House at the Alexis Phelps House was held on December 4, 1995, and 175 people attended. It was opened to the public during the Heritage Trail celebration of 1996. The Henderson County Historical Society saved the Alexis Phelps House from demolition.
The Henderson County Historical Society opened a county museum to commemorate the history of Henderson County. A countywide meeting was held on October 2, 1975, at the Bank of Stronghurst. The meeting was led by Clarence Neff and chaired by John H. Allaman. In November a planning committee of approximately twenty people was formed. By the next summer the old grade school in Raritan had been converted to a temporary museum. On July 4, 1976, a dedication ceremony was held. Four thousand five hundred people attended the celebration. By the summer of 1977 the museum held regular hours every afternoon under the direction of Rita Souther. James Cook later took over the responsibility for the museum's exhibits and operations. The Graham School was donated to the Henderson County Historical Society. In 1997 it was moved to the county museum and restored. The schoolhouse was on display for the first time for the Heritage Trail celebration of 1997. During Heritage Trail retired teachers play host in the schoolhouse. The museum now consists of five buildings: the old Raritan grade school building, the gymnasium building, the blacksmith shop, the agricultural museum building, and the one-room Graham Schoolhouse. The Henderson County Historical Society has also educated local citizens through its programs. The Heritage Trail celebration, which originated in October 1978, has become an annual event. The sites available for touring during the historic celebration include the county museum in Raritan, a Civil War camp in Oquawka, the Weir Fruit Farm and Museum, Bailey's Cave, the Bald Bluff Climb, the Henderson County Covered Bridge, South Henderson Church and Cemetery, and the Alexis Phelps House in Oquawka. During the celebration historical society members staff the sites, ready to enlighten visitors about the rich local history. The Henderson County Historical Society has come a long way since its beginning in 1962. Through constant effort and teamwork, the history of Henderson County has been well preserved.— [From "Alexis Phelps House Restoration," pamphlet; student historian's interview with John Allaman, Oct. 19, 1998; "Henderson County Historical Society," pamphlet; Robert P. Sutton, Rivers, Railways, and Roads: A History of Henderson County.}
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