Will County Heritage Alliance

Will County Heritage Alliance Initiated by the Will County Historical Society, the Forest Preserve District of Will County, and the Will County Historic Preservation Commission, this group is a networking resource among heritage preservation groups throughout Will County. The Alliance provides the opportunity for people meet each other, to share ideas, resources and support, to discuss issues and challenges, and to collaborate on county-wide programs and initiatives. Click here to join the Will County Heritage Alliance List Serv
Next Meeting - February 2011! Details forthcoming. Questions? Please contact Amy Munro at the Will County Land Use Department at 815-774-7902. If your organization is interested in hosting a future meeting, please contact WCHA meeting coordinators: Dee DeGroh, dee@degroh.com and/or Bill Molony, bbmolony@juno.com. Download List of WCHA Partners (PDF File) For other heritage events around Will County, please scroll down and click on the link of the listed WCHA partnering agency.
Will County Heritage Alliance Coordinating Council for 2009 Meeting Coordinators: Dee DeGroh, dee@degroh.com and Bill Molony, bbmolony@juno.com Program Coordinators: Gretchen Sullivan and Sandy Vasko, hpc@willcountylanduse.com Publicity Coordinator: Amy Munro, amunro@willcountylanduse.com View *Will County Heritage Alliance Guiding Principles*
WILL COUNTY HERITAGE ALLIANCE PARTNERS
Associations	Historical Societies	Museums	Convention and Visitors Bureau	Public Agencies in Will County
Canal Corridor Association Mission: The Canal Corridor Association preserves history, protects nature and open space, and creates destinations where people can learn and have fun in the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor, from Lake Michigan in Chicago to the Illinois River in LaSalle/Peru. Specialty area: Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor Contact: Mark Harmon, Director Address: Gaylord Building Historic Site 200 W. 8^th Street Lockport, IL 60441 Phone: 815.588.1100 Fax: 815.588.1101 E-mail: mharmon@gaylordbuilding.org Midewin Heritage Association Mission: To promote the history of the land which today is known at the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Specialty Area: Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, former site of the Joliet Arsenal Contact: Gemma Guenther, Assistant Volunteer Coordinator Address: P. O. Box 513 Wilmington, IL 60481 Email: midewinheritage@gmail.com Route 66 in Illinois Mission: To preserve, educate, promote, and enjoy Historic Route 66. Contact: John Weiss Phone: 815- 458-6616 Fax: 815-458-6626 E-mail: weissinfo@il66authority.com	Blackhawk Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society Mission: The NRHS is devoted to the ongoing research and preservation of American railroad history. The Blackhawk Chapter focuses on documenting the history of the railroads of Will County, southern Cook County and adjacent areas. Specialty area: Providing data and photographs to authors and researchers; presenting programs both for our own monthly membership meetings and for other interested groups. Contact: Bill Molony, Blackhawk Chapter President Address: 2009 Boehme Street Lockport, IL 60441-4611 Phone: 815-834-0835 E-mail: bbmolony@juno.com Braidwood Area Historical Society Mission: To record, preserve, display and to educate our citizens regarding local history. Specialty Area: Local history Contact: Dee deGroh, President Address: 116 N. Lincoln St. Braidwood, IL 60408 Phone: 815-458-6891 E-mail: dee@degroh.com Frankfort Area Historical Society Mission: The Society's major function will be to discover and collect any material which may help to establish or illustrate the history of the area. It will collect and preserve printed material, manuscript material, and other museum material. The Society will disseminate historical information to the public. Specialty Area: Local history Contact: Judy Herder, President Address: FAHS P.O. Box 546 Frankfort, IL 60423 Phone: 815-469-6541 Lockport Area Genealogical & Historical Society (LAGHS) Mission: Our mission is to bring the people of the Lockport area together to preserve and share our family histories and our local heritage . Specialty Area: To collect, preserve and promote an interest in the genealogy and history of the Lockport Area. Contact: Ron Lif, President (815) 838-3206 or Candy Hrpcha, Correspondence Secretary (815) 838-6236 Address: Lockport Area Genealogical & Historical Society (LAGHS) c/o Des Plaines Valley Public Library 121 E. Eighth Street Lockport, IL 60441 E-mail: info@lockporthistory.org The Peotone Historical Society Mission: Preserving and/or restoring H. A. Rathje's Peotone Mill Specialty area: The Peotone Mill Contact: Tim Thompson, President Peotone Historical Society Address: PO Box 87 Peotone, IL 60468 Will County Historical Society Mission: The Will County Historical Society is the storyteller of the history of the Illinois County of Will. We have been entrusted by our constituents - people and organizations who are interested in the history of Will County - to be good stewards of the County's history. Specialty area: Will County Contact: Sandy Vasko, President Address: 803 South State Street Lockport, IL 60441 Phone: 815-838-5080 (museum/office) Fax: 815-838-4547 E-mail: info@WillCountyHistory.org	Isle a la Cache Museum Specialty area: 18th Century Fur Trade Contact: Harry Klinkhamer, Museum Coordinator Address: 501 E. 135^th Street Romeoville, IL 60446 Phone: 815-886-1467 Fax: 815-886-6803 E-mail: hklinkhamer@fpdwc.org Joliet Area Historical Museum Mission: Preserve and interpret the rich and culturally diverse history of the Joliet area. Contact: Tony Contos, Executive Director, Interim Address: 204 N. Ottawa Street Joliet, IL 60432 Phone: 815-723-5201 Fax: 815-723-9039 E-mail: info@jolietmuseum.org Naper Settlement Mission: Naper Settlement’s mission is to instill an appreciation of the past through the portrayal of community life based on the history of Naperville, Illinois. Through preservation and education in a museum village setting, we seek to enrich the lives of a diverse audience of adults, families and children. Specialty area: Naper Settlement is a 13-acre outdoor history museum with 30 historic and ancillary site features. The town's rich history is preserved through the collection of artifact and archival materials that date from the 19th century through today. Tours, educational programs, changing and permanent exhibits, special events, and other outreach efforts help visitors connect with the past for a better today and tomorrow. Please visit our website for further information on our many offerings. Contact: Debbie Grinnell, Director of Preservation Services Address: 523 S. Webster Street Naperville, IL 60540 Phone: 630.420.6010 Fax: 630.305.4044 E-mail: grinnelld@naperville.il.us	Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Mission: To promote economic development through tourism within the communities and counties along the National Heritage Corridor Region. Specialty area: Promotion of Events, lodging, attractions, shopping, etc. Contact: Mary Beth DeGrush, Vice President Address: 81 N. Chicago St. Joliet, IL 60432 Phone: 800-926-2262 Fax: 815-727-2324 E-mail: marketing@hccvbil.com	Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Address: 201 W. Jefferson at Bluffs St. Joliet, IL 60435 Phone: 815-724-3760 Fax: 815-740-2399 E-mail: bipark@jolietcity.org Forest Preserve District of Will County www.fpdwc.org Joliet Historic Preservation Commission Mission: To identify and oversee Joliet historic landmarks, districts and sites Specialty area: Local community television series on landmarks, specific workshops on preservation-related topics, design assistance in historic renovation of structures and assistance in research and landmark nomination process. Contact: Barb Newberg, Planner/Commission Secretary Address: City of Joliet Planning Dept. 150 W. Jefferson Street Joliet, Illinois 60432 Phone: 815/724-4052 Fax: 815/724-4056 E-mail: bnewberg@jolietcity.org Pilcher Park Nature Center Mission: To educate children and adults abut the wonders of nature through exploration, discovery, and fun. Specialty area: Nature Education Address: 2501 Highland Park Drive Joliet, IL 60435 Phone: 815-741-7277 Fax: 815-722-5317 E-mail: pilcherpark@jolietpark.org Will County Historic Preservation Commission Mission: The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) promotes and assists in the preservation of Will County's rural heritage through the identification, evaluation, and documentation of Will County's historic landmarks, and thereby increases and encourages public awareness of and appreciation for Will County's history and historic landscape. Contact: Virginia Ferry, Chairwoman Address: 58 E. Clinton St., Suite 500 Joliet, IL 60432 Phone: 815-774-7902 E-mail: hpc@willcountylanduse.com Will County Land Use Department Mission: To protect and enhance the public health, safety and welfare by effective land use planning, regulation, and enforcement. Contact: Amy Munro, Historic Preservation Manager Address: 58 E. Clinton St., Suite 500 Joliet, IL 60432 Phone: 815.727.8430 Fax: 815.774.3386 E-mail: amunro@willcountylanduse.com