A captivating podcast dedicated to unveiling the rich and diverse history of Elgin, Illinois. Each episode brings to life fascinating stories and lesser-known anecdotes from Elgin’s past. Whether you’re a history buff or simply curious about local heritage, this podcast offers an immersive journey into the events, people, and places that have shaped Elgin over the years.
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When Heluiz Chandler and Carelton Washburne married in 1912 the press called their union a "free love contract." How did their marriage work out? Tune in to this echo from August 21, 1983 to find out.De către Elgin History Museum
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Elgin's "Peach" was in a league of her own
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3:34
"A League of Their Own" was a popular movie in 1992 that featured nearby Rockford's baseball team, the Rockford Peaches. But the Elgin connection gets even closer when you learn the story of 1946 Elgin High School grad Charlene Ann Barnett. Tune in to this echo from April 20, 1997 to learn more.De către Elgin History Museum
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Did an past resident of Elgin bury a gold hoard here? Maybe. Will this echo from April 22, 1984 tell you where it is? Maybe.De către Elgin History Museum
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Barns were once a common sight in the city of Elgin. This echo from January 15, 2006 tells of some that remain, and others that have disappeared.De către Elgin History Museum
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An echo from January 9, 2000 will warn you about the Slop Hill gang, the Eastsiders, the Chapel Street gang, and the South End Bums and Crooks Association.De către Elgin History Museum
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Roll out the red carpet for the major crime awards!
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5:18
It's time for the Elgin Major Crime Awards! Kindly Old Mr. Alft awards four of the top prizes in this echo from February 25, 2002.De către Elgin History Museum
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Footnotes to history had a local tie
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4:29
What do you think about the Elginite who became President of the United States in 1877? You know about him, right? Maybe not; he is a footnote to history, after all. More on him and one other Elginite you may not have heard of, but should, in this echo from November 24, 1985.De către Elgin History Museum
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Hot topic in December 1885? What else, weather
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4:17
Join E.C. "Mike" Alft on December 1, 1985 as he tells us the news from Decembers gone by.De către Elgin History Museum
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The team was the cat's meow but still nine lives short
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3:44
Attention Baseball Fans! Tune in to this echo from June 14, 1982 to learn about the Elgin baseball team that won the pennant back in 1910.De către Elgin History Museum
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Join E.C. "Mike" Alft on December 7, 1986 as he tells us the happenings of Decembers past.De către Elgin History Museum
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Christmas 1910 also had Santa and Dickens
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4:45
Stressed by holiday preparations? Tune into this echo from December 22, 1985 to learn what Christmas 1910 was like in Elgin.De către Elgin History Museum
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Christmas trees lit up Elgin's past
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4:39
Join Mike Alft on December 19, 1999 to learn the history of illuminated holiday trees in Elgin.De către Elgin History Museum
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Tune in to this echo from October 12, 1997 to learn why Elgin has a Whiskey Point, a Crocker Theater, a Beacon Hill, a Parker Park and a Drake Field.De către Elgin History Museum
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Gifts may change, but not the spirit
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6:13
Not sure what to get that Special Someone on your holiday list? Tune in to this echo from December 17, 2000 to learn about the hot holiday gifts for Elginites of years past.De către Elgin History Museum
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Christmas 1903, when Santa did not upstage Turkey Day
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3:59
Christmas 1903 was as festive as any other in Elgin. Trees were decorated with newfangled electric lights, popular gifts such as dolls and wood burning sets flew off the shelves and Elginites ate impressive amounts of candy. Join E.C. "Mike" Alft and get in the holiday spirit with this echo from December 25, 2003.…
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LeeWards sews up business for over 74 years
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3:45
LeeWards craft store was an Elgin institution for many years. Their holiday craft kits, especially the beaded ornaments, still decorate many homes. Tune in to this echo from October 28, 1984 to learn a bit about the company's history in Elgin and stop in the Elgin History Museum's store to buy a modern ornament kit inspired by LeeWards.…
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"Underground Railway" has few connections in Elgin area
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4:45
The Underground Railroad was a loosely organized, yet effective, system that helped guide formerly enslaved men, women and children to the Northern states and Canada in the years before the Civil War. Tune into this echo from October 19, 1997 to learn what there is to know about Elgin's connection.De către Elgin History Museum
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Clintonville name caused mix-ups for railroad and town
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3:11
All aboard for Clintonville and South Elgin! That's the same place, right? Well, it depends. Tune in to this echo from June 25, 1989 to learn why these names caused confusion a century ago.De către Elgin History Museum
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Piece of agricultural history still standing
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3:38
What's up with that silo downtown by the library? Let E.C. "Mike" Alft tell you all about it in this echo from January 29, 2006.De către Elgin History Museum
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Triple slaying by 14-year old in 1913
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3:20
An echo from November 29, 1992 tells the grim tale of Sara, Orville and Maud Sleep.De către Elgin History Museum
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November happenings from years past
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4:27
A turkey dinner for a family of five for only $5.50?! Sign me up! An echo from November 3, 1985 will tell you what you missed in Novembers past.De către Elgin History Museum
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Elgin founder James T. Gifford chose this site to start a town, knowing the Fox River would be important to its success. He also hoped, in 1835, that the railroad would soon pass through town, bringing more opportunities for growth. In 1850 his vision came true. Tune in to this echo from January 23, 2000 to learn how the railroad helped shape Elgin…
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Inventions could have made Elgin the world's "Tire Capital"
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3:19
Have you ever had a flat tire? Wheel-y annoying, even back in 1907. Two Elgin inventors sought to fix this problem but couldn't get their business rolling. I'll spare you the puns and just recommend this echo from August 13, 1995.De către Elgin History Museum
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Elgin watch ads touted durability
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4:00
Just how well-made were Elgin National Watches? Let this echo from April 13, 1997 give you several examples.De către Elgin History Museum
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A century ago, Elgin residents feared Halloween vandalism
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3:53
Elgin residents feared Halloween Night 1898 was going to be a rough one. They feared a rash of vandalism, and they were not wrong. Tune in to this echo from October 25, 1998 to learn more about that wild night.De către Elgin History Museum
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Spook priestess haunted Elgin widow a century ago
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4:17
Vera Ava was a medium who claimed she could raise the spirits of the dead. Her travels took her from New York City to an English jail cell. In between, she spent time in Elgin with a widow who sought spiritual advice and eventually took Vera Ava to court. An echo from November 23, 1997 tells the tale.…
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Catch up on the October news items from 1897, 1922, 1947, 1972 and 1987 in this echo from October 5, 1997.De către Elgin History Museum
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Middle-aged widow, good-looking, wealthy, tired of single life, would correspond with gentlemen; object, matrimony. Address Box 104, Elgin, IL. Dating was no easier back in 1907, especially when scammers were involved. Learn from someone else's mistakes in this echo from April 20, 1986.De către Elgin History Museum
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Elgin's bridge kept falling down, falling down.
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4:14
Are you planning on driving over the Chicago Street bridge today? This echo from November 27, 1988 should reassure you that today's bridge is perfectly safe. It was the 5 previous bridges you had to worry about.De către Elgin History Museum
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Do you know about the lion who used to live in Elgin? How about the other lion that used to live in Elgin? No? What about the elephant that made a memorable visit to the west side? No? Sounds like you had better listen to this echo from February 26, 1984 and get caught up.De către Elgin History Museum
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This former depot site near Randall and Big Timber Roads was known for its train wrecks rather than its founder or school. An echo from November 13, 1988 tells the details.De către Elgin History Museum
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Elgin's notorious mayor was "hot copy" for city newsmen
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6:11
Newspapers can't resist writing about colorful politicians. True today and true from 1874 to 1927 when Mayor Arwin E. Price couldn't seem to stay out of the headlines. Listen to this echo from November 15, 1998 for the details.De către Elgin History Museum
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Mark of the West on two local graves
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4:46
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4:46
Elgin's Bluff City Cemetery holds the remains of two individuals who had only a fleeting connection to Elgin, but whose stories are of interest to fans of the American West. Tune in to this echo from September 10, 1989 to learn more about Dan DeMarbelle and Annie Tallent as we complete our mini series on Elgin’s municipal cemetery and its stories.…
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Oscar Hammerstein once said "a bell's not a bell until you ring it". An echo from February 28, 1999, tells the story of Elgin's noteworthy bells.De către Elgin History Museum
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Taking a walk through Bluff City Cemetery
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4:21
Learn about some of the unique markers in Bluff City Cemetery in this echo from August 14, 2003.De către Elgin History Museum
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Whatever happened to the members of Elgin's Class of '77?
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5:03
This echo from September 16, 1990 details the lives of all the Elgin High School graduates of '77. Class of 1877, that is. If you are attending the 2024 Bluff City Cemetery Walk on September 21/22 you will learn about Cecil Harvey, but what adventures did her sister Illione have after graduation?De către Elgin History Museum
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Illinois Park School has proud history
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5:10
Illinois Park is the only Elgin School that was once independent. Learn more about the Little Red Brick School in this echo from May 31, 1998. To learn more about its teacher, Abbie C. Saunders Wing, consider attending the 37th annual Bluff City Cemetery Walk on September 21/22, 2024. Tickets are available on the Elgin History Museum website.…
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City's history rests beneath Bluff City trees
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5:01
Bluff City Cemetery opened 135 years ago and its history is as interesting as the stories of those that rest there. An echo from September 3, 1989 tells the story of its founding and early years.De către Elgin History Museum
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When roosters cackled and toilets stayed indoors
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4:54
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4:54
Tune in to this echo from November 16, 2002 hear the big issues presented in the school board election of 1895.De către Elgin History Museum
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East side houses in Elgin conceal tidbits of history
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5:49
Where were Sherman and St. Joseph's hospitals located in the old days? What was Mrs. Brockhoff's wild ride? Where did a local chewing gum magnate live? Listen to this echo from September 17, 1995 to find out.De către Elgin History Museum
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Observatory still marks the passage of time
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3:35
Today's U-46 Planetarium was once yesterday's Elgin National Watch Company Observatory. Learn about this unique building in this echo from October 19, 1981.De către Elgin History Museum
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Elgin had a building boom a century ago
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4:26
Housing is hard to find, and the schools are jam-packed. Welcome to 1883. Listen to this echo from August 28, 1983 and learn about the building boom spawned by the Elgin National Watch Company's success.De către Elgin History Museum
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Elgin is a community of diverse housing
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5:15
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5:15
Fire up Google Street View and take a look at the houses mentioned in this echo from Sept 10, 1995. You may hear about a new favorite, or perhaps your own home.De către Elgin History Museum
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English watchmakers left housing legacy
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4:34
What do Coventry England and Elgin's Bent St. have in common? Tune in to this echo from July 27, 1997 to find out.De către Elgin History Museum
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Neighbors' fondness for old homes founds the GPA
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5:19
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5:19
The Gifford Park Association hosts the Historic Elgin Housewalk each September. Learn about the organization's roots in this echo from July 17, 2003 and plan to attend the 2024 walk on September 7th and 8th. Tickets can be purchased on the Elgin History Museum's website.De către Elgin History Museum
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Elgin's claim to a pollution -free car dies with a mysterious man
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5:09
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5:09
Rory C. Johnson and the Magnatron engine left Elgin with more questions than answers but this echo from October 28, 2002 will fill you in on what we know.De către Elgin History Museum
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Life and Times of Charles F. Shaw Remembered
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4:37
Charles F. Shaw (1851-1939) saw many changes in Elgin. Thankfully he shared many memories with a reporter in 1937. Listen to this echo from September 9, 2002 to hear stories of Charles' Elgin.De către Elgin History Museum
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Revisit the Unusual Happenings at Our Lords Park
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5:25
This echo from August 26, 2002 highlights interesting events at Lords Park, 1894-1941.De către Elgin History Museum
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The Case of the Missing Elgin JFK Casket
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4:10
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4:10
What became of the Elgin Britannia casket which transported the body of President John F. Kennedy? An echo from August 12, 2002 reveals the truth.De către Elgin History Museum
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Cats and Dogs Treated Differently Throughout City's History
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4:52
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4:52
An echo from November 18, 2002 of interest to dog and cat owners. Even those all the way back to 1858.De către Elgin History Museum
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