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This Richardsonian
Romanesque structure was designed in 1891 by noted architect Charles
Sumner Frost to house Wheaton’s first public library. It is located
across the street from a city park named in honor of the library’s
founder, John Quincy Adams (a cousin of his presidential namesake.) The
second-floor auditorium was the original children’s reading room and
features a barrel-vaulted ceiling and stained glass windows. The
building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is
one of AIA-Illinois’ Top 150 Great Places.
When a new city
library was constructed in 1965, the DuPage County Historical Society
purchased the building for use as a museum. At the time, the county
agreed to hire a curator and pay operational expenses. However, in the
past two years the museum’s budget has been cut by 50 percent and county
officials are contemplating their options, which include liquidating the
collections and closing the facility. If the building is closed, its
future could be in jeopardy since it is not a locally protected
landmark.
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HOW CAN I HELP?
To help replenish funding sources for the museum, donations can be made to
the DuPage County Historical Museum Association. If you are interested in
volunteering for fundraising and special events please contact the
association’s president, Veronica Porter, at
veronica.porter@sbcglobal.net or call the museum directly at 630-682-7343. |
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