Radios not only provided entertainment in that pre-internet era, but also were literally instant windows to the world’s news.

Betty Obendorf of the Polo Historical Society writes about an upcoming time capsule and new exhibits.

Dedicated by one of St. Charles' most famous sons and biggest philanthropists in 1926, the Baker Community Center turns 100 this year, which will be marked with a May 1 celebration.

The first fatal accident ever reported in The Telegraph appeared in its 13th issue, on Wednesday, July 23, 1851. Charles Fisk, the editor and founder of The Telegraph, penned the article, titled “Mournful Occurrence.”

The Flagg Township Museum will host Penny Day activities from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, April 12.

The Kick Family of Grayslake will be the topic of the Grayslake Historical Society’s monthly meeting at 7 p.m. April 8 in the community room of the Heritage Center, 164 Hawley St., Grayslake.

Tom Wadsworth of Dixon will premiere his new historical presentation on the rivalry between John Dixon and John Phelps. These two pioneer leaders often clashed as they battled for the prominence of Dixon and Oregon, the towns they created.

From early settlers to current football coaches, Prophetstown has launched lives that shaped the world. They're local leaders, inventors, artists and athletes who built and represented the town well, showing how hometown roots can leave a big mark.

A nearly 100-year-old coal tower just east of downtown DeKalb is nearing the end of its life.

The Polo Historical Society will present a special program on Wednesday, April 8, focusing on the history of the Waterbury family and their connection to the Polo area.

Museum coordinator Joe Noce will present a free program on “The Lost Village of Troy, and Other Hidden Towns in Kendall County and Illinois,” at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Part of downtown Sycamore’s historic district was created by a woman who broke glass ceilings in DeKalb County decades before the women’s suffrage movement. Dr. Letitia Westgate, from Hampshire, also later became Aurora's first woman chemist.

Betty Obendorf of the Polo Historical Society remembers the Polo High Class of 1950 and baseball and teaching.

The Davis Junction/Scott Township Historical Society Museum will host a program this month titled “A conversation with Mr. Bob Carter, one of the last agents to work at the Davis Decoration Railroad Depot.”

The Downers Grove Historical Society invites the community to celebrate local history, heritage and hometown pride during FoundersFest Week 2026, a week-long series of events honoring the people and stories that shaped Downers Grove

The Downers Grove Historical Society has named Richard J. Kulovany its 2026 Historian of the Year, recognizing his leadership in historic preservation and his longstanding commitment to the Downers Grove community

“The Fly Girls of World War II” is a presentation on Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs, offered by the Batavia Park District and Depot Museum.

Stillman Bank President and CEO Tom Hughes presented Ogle County Historical Society Board Member Tom Lichty with a check for $1,310 to purchase one of the stainless-steel vaults needed for the project.

The Ogle County Historical Society is partnering with Highland Community College’s Lifelong Learning program on an event led by instructor Mark Peterson about the Civilian Conservation Corps on Thursday, April 16.

Betty Obendorf of the Polo Historical Society takes another trip back to 1950 at Polo Community High School.

The Lombard Historical Society is again trying to get an abolitionist’s home, which was part of the Underground Railroad, listed on the National Register of Historic Places

The DeKalb community is remembering the life of Stephen Bigolin, a beloved historian who died Thursday, March 12. He was 76. Bigolin came to DeKalb from McHenry County to go to NIU, and left a lasting legacy behind.

The 2026 season opens on Wednesday, March 25, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 22.

Campus life reborn: A long-quiet part of Mount Carroll is filling with life again. Shimer Square blends housing, jobs and services into the town’s former campus.

Betty Obendorf of the Polo Historical Society recaps the year 1949 in Polo.

Oswego’s Little White School Museum is collecting written and taped accounts from current and former residents for its biographical collection as part of the Share Your Stories Program.

The Ogle County Historical Society is putting together a county-wide time capsule filled with everyday stories, memories and hopes for the future.

Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville hosted We, the Native People, a program exploring how Native people were viewed and affected at the time the Declaration of Independence was signed on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

The Flagg Township Museum invites the community to Chautauqua at the Museum, a series of informal evening programs held March 23-26 from 7-8 p.m.

The evening ends with a tasting featuring bean-to-bar chocolate and historic cocoa recipes.

Dean Huisingh, founder, developer and director, will present a PowerPoint slide show about the Huisingh Family Foundation, which is dedicated to saving Illinois plant and animal species through conservation, restoration and education.

The Lombard Historical Society will present “The Irish in Illinois” with Professor Sean Farrell at 7p.m. March 22 at the Carriage House, 23 W. Maple St.

On this episode of Talk Line, host Brandon Clark chats with Scott and Marilyn Spangler about the Franklin Grove Area Historical Society's upcoming World War II reenactment in May, and how listeners can get involved.

Join a naturalist to search in Will County forest preserves for early spring wildflowers like anemone, Dutchman’s breeches, trillium and hepatica, while learning about these fleeting blooms.

Born on May 1, 1851, The Telegraph is one of the oldest institutions in the city and throughout northern Illinois.

Cynthia Clampitt will present the history of pigs and pork to examine the impact these animals have had worldwide. Clampitt will focus on the Midwest, including why poet Carl Sandburg would call Chicago “Hog Butcher for the World.”

Celebrated as one of St. Charles’ most transformative figures, Edward J. Baker is receiving an honorary street sign, mirroring several famous buildings across town carrying his famous surname. Any resident can nominate an honorary street sign. Here's how.

The Little White School Museum presents a multimedia history lecture on two of the Oswegoland Park District’s premiere natural areas, Saw Wee Kee and Waa Kee Sha parks.

The Sterling Public Library, from the 1905 original Carnegie Library to the two additions in 1985 and 1995, continues to serve the changing needs and meet the reading demands of its patrons.

Record stories that captured people's attention in years passed.

The Whiteside Forum will host Bucky Halker and his presentation of “This Land is Your Land: The Folksongs of Woody Guthrie” on Sunday, March 22, in Morrison.

Historical columnist Betty Obendorf's column this week picks up on the sophomore and junior years of the Polo High School Class of 1950.

L-P and Ottawa boys basketball teams met in the Regional title on Friday, Feb. 28, 1986 at La Salle-Peru Township High School. The Cavaliers won 74-66. Including that 1986 contest, the two programs have met 25 times in the postseason. Of those meetings, seven have come in regional finals, five in sectional games and two in sectional championship contests. Friday's matchup will be the 26th postseason meeting between the two squads. Check out photos from the 1986 game found in the La Salle NewsTribune archives and procured by photo editor Scott Anderson.

Author Michael Beschloss will present “Leadership Through the Ages: America at 250,” this year’s Rudolf G. Schade Lecture on History, Ethics and Law, on March 17 at Elmhurst University

The Lombard Historical Society will hold a floral bouquet workshop with Esotarium Florals to celebrate Women’s History Month on from 7 to 9 p.m. March 12

The past isn’t locked behind glass Carroll County. It lives in stone walls, school desks, train cars and family stories saved by neighbors who refused to let them disappear. A road trip through the county’s museums reveals how ordinary lives shaped the place we know today.

In September 1946, around 70 freshmen entered PCHS with pep, enthusiasm and interest. We all flocked to high school following an ad in the Tri-County Press, which listed the reasons as to why we needed to go there and what the school had to offer.

As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, right here in Kendall County we’ll be celebrating a little quieter, but celebrating nonetheless our small corner of northern Illinois’ 185th birthday.

Local historian Tom Wadsworth will reveal the surprising connections between Charles R. Walgreen and Dixon – including how a small-town start in 1891 helped spark a national retail empire.

“Rebel Music! Women of Color Who Changed the Beat” showcases women who challenged norms and then changed culture and musical history through their artistry.