2008–2009 | Annual Reportoakbrookhistory.com/pdf/annual-report.pdf · Book Sales 60.50 Brick Sales 550.00 Interest on Checking Acct. 33.76 Expense reimbursement – 50th Anniversary

Oak Brook Historical Society

Oak Brook Historical Society | Rough Comps Rakozy Design

page 7



2008–2009 | Annual Report

2 Oak Brook Historical Society 2008–2009 Annual Report

The mission of the Oak Brook Historical Society is to collect, preserve, study, interpret and exhibit significant materials relating to the history and heritage of Oak Brook, Illinois, and to provide related educational and advocacy services for the purpose of increasing and enriching public knowledge.

2008-2009 Officers and Board Members

Kathy Maher President

Chrissie Howorth Vice President

Sharon Reif Secretary

Karen Bushy Treasurer

Board Of Directors

Arlene BirkhahnKaren BushyChrissie HoworthKathy MaherWanda MaxsonKathy NgSharon ReifAnne Vekich

2008–2009 Annual Report Oak Brook Historical Society 3

President’s LetterDear Friends,

As President of the Oak Brook Historical Society it is my pleasure to share with you our An-nual Report which covers our activities from the period of May 1, 2007 through April 31, 2009. As you peruse this report I know you will become as excited as we are with the great strides OBHS has made these past two years. Many of you have inquired as to our status since the announcement of the Old Butler School opening in 2004. I hope the following information answers those questions.

In mid-2007 the Historical Society was challenged by several dramatic events. Due to the Park District’s inability to levy a museum Tax for funding under the current tax cap, the Park District decided to withdraw their $500,000 commitment to fund the renovation of the Old Butler School as set out in their 2004 Intergovernmental Agreement with the Village. After a year of meetings and negotiations, the 2004 Intergovernmental Agreement was repealed and replaced by a new Intergovernmental Agreement signed in November 2008, in which the Park District agreed to make an annual contribution of $10,000.00 toward renovation of the Old Butler School for a period of five years. OBHS immediately began lease negotiations directly with the Village for the Old Butler School.

In response to the new need for renovation funding, we established the Oak Brook Historic Preservation Fund as a fundraising division of OBHS, which was done in honor of Oak Brook’s 50th Anniversary in 2008. The Preservation Fund’s mission is to preserve our heri-tage and history for current and future generations by restoring the historic landmarks of Oak Brook that serve as a public resource. We enjoyed great success our first year thanks to the generous support of residents and our business community. The Fund’s Honorary Chairs for the year were Jorie Butler Kent and Michael Butler, representing the Paul Butler family, Illinois State Representative Patti Bellock, and Mr. Daniel Goodwin, Chairman and CEO, The Inland Real Estate Group, Inc., representing the business community. In 2008, the Fund raised over $40,000.00, with the two Fund recipients Mayslake Hall at Mayslake Peabody Estate and The Old Butler School each receiving $18,500.00.

The Old Butler School and Mayslake Hall will again be Preservation Fund co-recipients in 2009. As an incentive for contributions during 2009, The Keller Family Foundation has gener-ously pledged $25,000.00 as a match for the funds allocated for the renovation of the Old Butler School. We know that there are many other Oak Brook foundations that will want to meet this match and effectively double their contributions!

The Old Butler School was in service from 1921 until 1961, not only as a “superior” school, but it was also designed and used as a gathering place for the community. Social and politi-cal gatherings of all kinds were held at the school from “pot luck” dinners to meetings of the organization which was a forerunner of the Oak Brook Civic Association. Oak Brook, once

(Continue on next page)


again, is in need of a place for small groups to gather. In that regard, the Old Butler School will be used as the future Oak Brook Heritage Center. Upon completion, the Heritage Center will be used for multi-generational programming, Oak Brook heritage and history exhibits, small group meeting space and will house a multiuse research library. This type of facility is greatly needed in Oak Brook and will benefit residents and the business community, not only as a resource center, but will encourage heritage tourism in the Village as well. One of the added benefits of this project is that there is nothing “greener” than the preservation and reuse of a historic building.

I know this report will excite you to the possibilities that lie ahead in renovating the Old Butler School as the Oak Brook Heritage Center. I also hope that your next thought is, “How can our family help in this important initiative?” You can support us through membership to OBHS, archive and artifact donations, volunteering for one of our projects, and by your generous contribution to the Oak Brook Historic Preservation Fund! Thank all of you who are long-time members for your continued support and welcome those of you who are more recent or prospective members.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathy Maher President

(Continued from previous page)

Old Butler School — 2009, OBHS Photo Archives


Financial ReportMay 1, 2008 through April 30, 2009The Oak Brook Historical Society is funded through membership fees, donations, grants, fund raising initiatives and in-kind contributions from its members and friends. In addition, the Oak Brook Park District and the Village of Oak Brook contribute financial and in-kind services for the maintenance of the Old Butler School.

Revenue Membership Dues $ 4,140.00Donations 1,475.00Book Sales 60.50Brick Sales 550.00Interest on Checking Acct. 33.76Expense reimbursement – 50th Anniversary 558.00Deposit reimbursement – Garden Walk 2,000.00Proceeds – CD #17781 40,446.12Total $49,267.38

Expenses Association Dues $ 400.00Government fees 185.00Insurance – D & O Ins. 604.00Legal: Sletten Lawsuit 22,637.99Legal: General 150.00Exhibits/Displays 38.14 Archival 257.77Postage: Membership mailing 505.60Postage: General 300.92Printing 371.89Office Supplies 303.27Web Site 300.00Bank charges 29.25Brick printing 126.00Total $26,209.83

Checking Account Balance – 4/30/2009 $33,748.73Certificate of Deposit #17787 22,327.88TOTAL ALL FUNDS: $56,076.61


Artifact DonationsMr. & Mrs. Ronald Jung Display of stone arrowheads from the Jung and Kischer farms

originally located at 31st Street and Midwest Roads

Anne Vekich Butterfield Country Club 1995 Directory; Stouffer’s Oakbrook Inn Ticket order form from UA Cinema “Gone with the Wind”, June 19, 1968; 1968 Cinema 150 Book; 1974 Paul Butler Community Christmas Card; and copy of 1990 “Oak Brook” book, and three Paul Butler Christmas cards.

Oak Brook Fire Chief James Bodony Midwest Country Club advertising brochure

Ms Lillemor Wennes Oak Brook 25th Anniversary Tee-Shirt

Frederick Dose 579 8”x10” black and white polo-related photographs

Karen Bushy “Andy’s Steak and Seafood House, Oak Brook, Illinois” decora-tive desk set with replica of 1927 Ford delivery truck and book entitled “Joey’s Horse”, a children’s book featuring photographs of the estate of Paul Butler and The Oak Brook Polo Club.

Barbara Howell Oak Brook Winter Carnival photograph, 11˝x14˝, and Western Open Golf Association wall plaque, dated June 27, 1975.

Margaret A. Nessel Collection of various Fire Department, Civic Association, Horse Show and other Oak Brook historical maps, documents and artifacts, 83 total pieces.

La Grange Area Historical Society Oak Brook Multiple Listing sheets with photographs from the

mid-1950’s and various maps and brochures from the Oak Brook Development Company, circa 1960.

Karen Martino 1983 Jaipur Polo Trophy awarded to Thomas B. Harris. The 1983 Jaipur Cup was won by the Oak Brook Polo Team.

Ann and Boz Bulovic Two Oak Brook brochures relating to the developments of the Oak Brook Development Company, circa 1966.

Patrick Held Large collection of photographs, newspaper articles and other memorabilia from the Jerry Fordon family of Oak Brook

Ralph & Wanda Maxson Large collection of Oak Brook memorabilia regarding the President’s Club, Horse Show and other community events and associations.

Barbara Kennedy One CD copy of the oral history of Dick and Midge Larson

Fullersburg Historic Foundation Rabbit Hill School Bell


In-Kind DonationsFred Cappetta, Cappetta and Associates Pro bono legal assistance with Oak Brook Historic Preservation

Fund

Donald Figura, CPA, Wolf and Company Pro bono accounting services

Equipment DonationsSally Jensen Office equipment—Conference Table with six upholstered

chairs, two steel storage cabinets and two lateral filing cabinets.

Cash DonationsMr. and Mrs. James Skinner $350

Ms. Monica Torres $300

Lieselotte & Duane Gengler Foundation $300

Huizenga Foundation $100

Ms. Jean White $100

Dr. and Mrs. Sam Girgis $100

Mr. and Mrs. Ray Paice $100

Mr. and Mrs. Ken Beard $70

Mr. Merl Douglas $55

Paul Butler & Cecil Smith, Photo donated by Frederick Dose


OBHS Annual MembersSally Allen

George Apostolou

Stelios Aptikis

Bess Askounis

Mr. and Mrs. John Baar

Gilbert and Margaret Balin

Lucette and Thomas Bamford

Doris and Rudy Bartolomei

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth H. Beard

Mr. and Mrs. James T. Brophy

Ginger Bruebach

Boz and Ann Bulovic

Ms. Suzanne C. Burgess

Nancy and Robert Calabrese

Wence F. Cerne

Kamal and Urmilla Chawla

Merry and Richard Cheng

Dr. and Mrs. Lester Chernick

Anita Cosenza

Joseph and Judith Cosenza

Colin and Lou Couper

John and Connie Craig

Dorothy Daly

Anthony and Donna Danhelka

Philip and Anne DeGeratto

Tony and Michelle DiCanio

Merl Douglas

Ms. Arlene Drabek

Louise Nessel Dumm

Mr. and Mrs. Carl E. Eybel

Alice Gallios

Thomas J. Gatziolis

Gearen Family

Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. Gianatasio

Drs. K.B. and N.K. Giri

Ellen and Glen Glista

Ms. Patricia A. Gondek

Mr. and Mrs. L. Gonnella

Sara Gordon

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Greuling

Donald Haglund

Chrissie Howorth

George and Kathy Iaccino

Virginia M. Innocenti

Fred Iozzo

Paresh Joshi

Mr. Kenneth Julian

Linda Lojewski

Warren H. and Gail Long

Jim and Annette Lovelace

Michael and Patrice Macken

Susan and Mark Madorin

Len and Geri Maniscalco

Stephen and Kathleen McShane

Frank Mugnolo Family

Joan Mullins

Kathy Ng

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Ognibene

Ray and Esther Paice

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pearson

Earl and Roberta Petz

Gregory and Judy J. Pizza

Dr. R. Elliot Politser

Kent and Patti Ramm

Jesse and Sharon Reif

Miles and Carol Remes

Dorothy Retzel

Elias and Hope Sabbagha & Family

Dr. and Mrs. Barry Sadegi

Minnie Sandstedt

Tom and Susan Santefort

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Savino

Mr. David M. Saxman

Hank and Anne Scheier

Michael Shannon, M.D.

Mrs. Randice Simon

James J. Smith

Ralph and Cathy Sorice

Erina Spyropoulos

Robert and Judith Stein

Michael Stevens

Eva Tameling

John B. Templeton

Dr. and Mrs. Marvin Tiesenga

Ray and Lee Truedson

Mr. and Mrs. Tom Truedson

Nugent Vitallo

John Vlahos

Gerald and Carol Wolin

Thomas and Terryl Woltjen

Mickey K. Woo

Bert and Su Yen

Dr. Javier and Virginia Zavaleta

Neil & Jeanne Zundel


OBHS Life MembersDonna Armstrong

Dr. Robert & Mrs. Francis Beatty

Mr. & Mrs. Calvin Beisswanger

Mrs. Arlene Birkhahn

Nancy A. Bode

Margaret Bredy

Mr. & Mrs. H.D. Bronson

Karen Bushy

Adam Butler

Michael Butler

Sandra Calvanese

Ann Cantrell

Frederick & Donna Cappetta

Mrs. Estelle Capps

Ruth Carroll

Darlene Casey

Chua Family Foundation

Edward Cladek

Margaret O. Coffin

Nathalee Cogswell

James L. Coogan

Estella Cronk

Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Cullum

Patrick deButler

Sheila Dunteman

Joyci C. Feldman

Mr. David Fichter

Paul Francis

Lisa & Duane Gengler

Mr. Henry Gentile

Dr & Mrs Samuel Girgis

Mr. & Mrs. Frank Giudice

Mrs. Jean Gorecki

Mrs. Alfred Granum

Nettie Guinta

Deborah Maher Harold

Gail Hascek

Mr. & Mrs. William Hendrickson

Greg Herlin

Lawrence Herman

Mr. Jerome F. Hjerpe

Peter & Heidi Huizenga

Shirley A. Hutter

Elaine Iozzo

Robert & Marian Jones

Loretta Julian

Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Keller

Jorie Butler Kent

Patte Knuth

Gerald A. & Karen A. Kolschowsky

Israel & Ligaya Marasgan Labad

Mr. Richard E. Larson

John & Reva Lizzadro

Dr Marcos & Mrs A. Lopez & Family

Ronald & Kathleen Maher

Kathryn Manofsky

Thomas & Alice Marks

Mary Ellen Mauro

Wanda Maxon

Adeline Miceli

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Montalbano

Mr. & Mrs. Lee Munder

Audrey Muschler

Janice Naborowski

Barbara Nasharr

Carl J. Nemec

Mrs. Margaret A. Nessel

Paula A. Nessel

Joseph C. Nessel, III

Dr. Carlito Orig

Dr. Young Sop Pae

Mr. & Mrs Robert D. Parks

Doloris Pircon

Dr. Paul P. & Karen T. Pocus, Jr.

Georgia Regas

Mrs. Donna Ring

Rhoda Ronnenberg

Dr. & Mrs. A.J. Salerno & Family

Patricia W. Schmidt

Catherine Shriver

Mr. & Mrs. John Shutak

Mary Alice Sisson

James & Kathleen Skinner

Nancy Smerz

Mrs. Carol C. Smith

Smrcina Family

Ms. Judy Gay Stevenson

Warren Stewart

Dr. Carlos & Monica Torres

Mrs. Gloria Trager

Joyce Trier

Linda Van Der Aa

Anne M. Vekich

Mrs. Charles T. Wegner

John & Betty Whalen

Dorothy A. White

Jean Ann White

Mrs. Thomas Woodstrup

Susan L. Yochim

Elaine Zannis


· With new and additional Board members, the dedicated Society volunteers logged over 3,000 hours on the projects listed below.

· Photographic and indexing of the graves in Bronswood Cemetery, with over 10,300 graves photographed. Indexing work expected to be completed by the end of 2009 and the information placed as a database on various websites.

· Creation of the OBHS Corporate Book, including annual minutes and financial reports

· Archival storage of artifacts in the OBHS collection

· Inventory and photographs of the artifacts in the OBHS collection

· Reorganization of filing system, including minutes of meetings, donations, memorials, fundraising, correspondence, society newsletters, etc.

· Continued and new partnerships with the Village of Oak Brook, Oak Brook Park District, DuPage Historical Society, DuPage Genealogical Society, Chicago Genealogical Society and YES (Youth Enrichment Services) of Hinsdale area.

· Acquired professional photographs of Village aerials for archival use.

· Provided research information to various individuals, organizations and media outlets regarding Oak Brook and its history.

· Obtained original stained glass fleur-de-lis window from St. Joseph Seminary Chapel

· Established Oak Brook Historic Preservation Fund in honor of 50th Anniversary of Village of Oak Brook to preserve Oak Brook Landmarks.

· Established Oak Brook Historical Society website, www.oakbrookhistory.com

· Obtained Quick Books accounting program for OBHS and OBHPF accounts.

· Secured the pro-bono services of Wolf and Company for accounting services and Cappetta and Associates as legal counsel.

· Contributed article on Old Butler School, Then and Now, for DuPage Genealogical Society publication.

· Contributed article for Greater Oak Brook Magazine regarding Oak Brook History and 50th Anniversary Celebration

· Provided historic Oak Brook photographs for the new Barnes & Noble Store in Oak Brook Center which were used as a large mural on the first floor

· Provided various displays for Oak Brook Park District display case highlighting the 50th Anniversary of the Village and other displays of Oak Brook history and artifacts.

· Created and manned exhibit of early Oak Brook Polo memorabilia for the Oak Brook Polo Club.

· Created and manned exhibit of Mrs. F. O. Butler’s 1920’s beaded dresses for the Oak Brook Women’s Club annual fashion show.

2008-2009 Accomplishments


Oak Brook Hounds, OBHS Photo Archives

The Inland Real Estate Group, Inc

The Leaders Bank

DuPage National Bank

Van Kampen Funds, Inc.

Maher Lumber Company

The PrivateBank

Fullersburg Woods Area Association

Hinsdale Bank and Trust

First DuPage Bank

Hunter Trails Homeowners Association

In Kind DonationCapetta & Associates

Wolf & Company, LLP

Collin Samatas

FedEx/Kinko

Sir Speedy

Anita James Printing

Tiffany & Co.

C. D. Peacock

Origins

Iridesse

The Body Shop

Sterling Works

Zazu Salon

The Walking Company

Papyrus

Oakbrook Center

IndividualsDennis & Connie Keller

Harvey & Suzanne Gorden

Jesse & Sharon Reif

Mr. & Mrs. Harry Peters

Mr. Don Geralds

Ron & Kathy Maher

Hank & Chrissie Howorth

Mr. & Mrs. Guiseppi Miceli

Ms. Deborah Maher Harold

Robert & Rosemary Goldstine

Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Beard

Robert & Patricia Robertson

Anthony & Ann Ingrisano

Ed & Marilyn Wisnewski

Kathy Ng

The Oak Brook Historic Preservation Fund Gratefully Thanks Our Generous 2008-2009 Donors

Thank You

Pen and ink drawing by Joan Carlson, 1979

2008–2009 | Annual Reportoakbrookhistory.com/pdf/annual-report.pdf · Book Sales 60.50 Brick Sales 550.00 Interest on Checking Acct. 33.76 Expense reimbursement – 50th Anniversary

Documents