April Membership Meeting Held

The Williamson County Historical Society held a membership meeting on Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 at 1:30 PM. President Sam Lattuca informed the society of updates and improvements to the museum building and displays as well as to the genealogy library. Events that the society has participated in since the last meeting were also discussed in addition to future planned improvements for the century old jail building in which the museum is housed.

Two historical society members were inducted into the society’s honor roll. Ethel Ashby, operated an antique store in Marion for decades and was chiefly responsible for the acquisition of the old county jail building for use by the society as a museum from the county in 1971. She donated many of the historical items that are still used by the museum and worked diligently to establish the museum. Ashby passed away in 1992. Violet Grisham, a Marion resident, was also inducted into the honor roll. Grisham has served numerous board positions, worked diligently with children to spark an interest in history among youths and has either authored or co-authored 35 local history books.

The membership meeting was followed by a program related to auditing our county’s cemeteries given by Helen Sutt Lind, a Johnston City resident. Lind is a society member and has authored numerous books on local cemeteries.

WCHS Membership Meeting, Sunday, April 3rd

The Williamson County Historical Society will be holding a membership meeting on Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 at 1:30 PM in the museum. Additions and changes to the museum, recent accessions and future plans will be discussed. Helen Sutt Lind will present a program related to our county cemeteries and inductions to the honor roll will be made. Refreshments will be served and society members are urged to attend.

Museum Returns to Full Time March 1st

After being closed down and limited to Saturday only operation through the winter, the museum will be returning to its summer hours of operation on Tuesday, March 1st, 2016. The museum will be open from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Saturday, until Thanksgiving.

Museum volunteers have been busy through winter months painting, making repairs, changing display items and planning our next improvements. All are invited to come to the museum and tour or research your ancestors.

Heritage Expo 2016 Vendor Booth

Heritage Expo 2016

The Southern Illinois Heritage Expo and Craft Fair was held on Saturday, Feb. 13th at the Herrin Civic Center. This was the second year for Heritage Expo produced by Southern Illinois Treasure Tours composed of Amy Erickson and Jon Musgrave.

The highlight of the expo was a 1920’s Valentine’s Mystery Murder Theater held at 6 PM to a sold out crowd. Our Williamson County Historical Society was, of course, among the vendors present at the event throughout the afternoon prior to the dinner theater.

Representing the society was President Sam Lattuca and museum curator/coordinator Sharon Vansaghi manning the society booth offering information about the society and selling plat maps and books.

Court Records Now Available Online

The last of our indexed Williamson County court records that we hold at the museum have now been completely indexed and are completely available on this website now. They can be accessed by clicking on the Records tab.

In addition to the chancery, common law, criminal, divorce and partition files that buykeppraonlinenow numbered at 33, 981 entries, we now have added 61,453 more files for a total of 95,434 entries. Additional common law, divorce, criminal and partition files were added and there are also a foreclosure, indictment, coroner’s list and mental health records.

You can jump to the indexes by clicking HERE.