Galena's Living History Alliance updated their cover photo.

9 hours ago

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Galena's Living History Alliance

10 hours ago

Another wonderful addition to our little team, and another reason we're breathing a little easier these days!

Today, we'd like to introduce one of Galena's Living History Alliance's newest members, Viccy Kemp!

Viccy's love affair with Galena began long before she ever became a member of our organization. Her grandparents lived in Elizabeth, her aunt and uncle farmed in Jo Daviess County, and she spent her childhood summers visiting the family farm and traveling back and forth through Galena. When her brother and his wife moved here in the 1990s, she had even more reason to visit. Today, she calls Galena her favorite little town in the world!

And wait until you hear about her background!

Viccy graduated from Austin College and went on to earn a master's degree in International Relations in Washington, D.C. After returning to Texas and working in a public library, she discovered another passion and went back to school for a master's degree in Library Science.

She spent the next 25 years as a public librarian, selecting books for four different library systems! Although she's now retired, she continues to share her knowledge by teaching graduate students at Texas Woman's University.

And now she's sharing some of that wonderful experience with US!

As many of you know, our historic plaque program has grown tremendously, and with each new plaque comes the opportunity to uncover an entire family's story.

Here's a little something you might not know about how our research binder program works.

We're making our way through our list of plaqued homes, beginning with the very first one. When it's a homeowner's turn, we contact them to see if they'd like to order a personalized historical research binder for their home.

And that's when the real detective work begins!

Our researchers spend countless hours searching old newspapers, census records, obituaries, family histories, and other historical documents. Sometimes a single binder takes months to complete, especially when an unexpected discovery sends us searching in an entirely new direction.

For quite some time, Eva Ott-Kromphardt and Mike Jones have carried much of this enormous workload. As our list of homes has grown, so has the amount of research waiting to be done.

Thankfully, we've recently welcomed both Mike Fertig and Viccy Kemp to our research team, and we couldn't be happier!

With Viccy's years of library experience, her research skills, and her lifelong affection for Galena, she's a wonderful addition to our organization.

Viccy, thank you for so generously sharing your time and talents with us. We know how much Galena means to you, and we're delighted to have someone who shares our enthusiasm for uncovering the stories of the people who came before us.

And to Eva, Mike Jones, Mike Fertig, and Viccy Kemp, thank you for all the hours you devote to preserving our history. We truly couldn't do this without you.

Because somewhere in an old newspaper, a forgotten photograph, or a family record is another wonderful Galena story just waiting for someone like Viccy to discover it! … See MoreSee Less

Galena's Living History Alliance

10 hours ago

In just 11 days, Galena’s past will come to life, and we hope you’ll be there to share it with us. Save a little time for “A Stroll Through Time” by adding it to your Google Calendar here: bit.ly/4y3DUzw … See MoreSee Less

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Galena's Living History Alliance

1 day ago

Two men, two very different lives, and one beautiful home. But behind their names are stories of love, heartbreak, ambition, and a few things the newspapers never told!

Our eighth stop on A Stroll Through Time brings us to the Telford-Karmann House at 305 Park Avenue, where we'll meet two gentlemen whose lives left their mark on Galena.

Our story begins with Adam Telford, a Scottish-born carpenter who arrived in Galena in the early 1840s. With skilled hands and dreams of a better life, Adam built this lovely home around 1856. But behind his success was a family story touched by a heartbreaking loss, one that would forever tie him to Galena, even after he moved away.

Then came George Karmann, a successful merchant with an eye for the finer things. In 1863, he made a substantial addition to the FRONT of the house, forever changing its appearance. His contribution was so significant that both gentlemen are honored on its historic plaque.

But here's where George's story takes an interesting turn. Despite his success in Galena, his life eventually took him far from Park Avenue, and when he died, his passing went entirely unmentioned in the newspapers. How does a prominent businessman simply disappear from the pages of history?

You'll have to come hear what these two gentlemen have to say!

We're delighted that Galena's own Jay Dickerson will portray Adam Telford, while fellow Galena resident Larry Lapp will bring George Karmann to life. A special thank you to both for helping us give these gentlemen a voice once again!

Join Galena's Living History Alliance for A Stroll Through Time on Saturday, October 17th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Groups will depart approximately every 10 minutes from the pavilion at Grant Park, located at Park Avenue and Jackson Street. Along the way, you'll meet some of Galena's former residents as their stories come to life on the sidewalks in front of ten historic homes.

Admission is a $10 donation, and children under 18 are free. Tickets will be available at the pavilion on the day of the event.

Some stories deserve to be told, even if it takes more than a century for someone to tell them! … See MoreSee Less