5 minute read
Betty’s Column
BY BETTY OBENDORF Curator, Polo Historical Society
Anna Parmelee led an interesting life as a teacher in Polo, Sterling and as a member of the first faculty of Northern Illinois University at DeKalb.
Those were the days when it was called Northern Illinois State Normal School. If one goes back to the founding of this college, it almost could have been in Polo and we could have been a bustling college town. But that is another story for another time.
By the time Miss Parmelee had gotten to Sterling, she had become well known to educators in the state and when they needed an assistant math teacher in this new Normal School, she was suggested. The year was 1898-1899 and about 100 students were enrolled that first year.
While I did not know of Miss Parmelee, she only lived a block form me in my growing up years and had returned from her teaching days in DeKalb. I was interested more in her house as I walked each day to and from school. I loved her little house and her flower garden. I wished later that I could have met her.
I loved her picket fence, unique porch with ginger bready trim, white teeny, tiny house with black shutters, and of course her flowers. The house always reminded me of a fairy princess cottage but I was never inside. I should have stopped by to say hello.
Anna was born January 30, 1857 in Milledgeville to Henry and Mary Parmelee. They moved to Polo in 1858 and Anna’s father built the house in 1859. Anna lived in the same house until her death in Oct. 10, 1954. She only left the house during her years
of teaching in DeKalb 1899 to 1927 when she retired.
The children of Henry and Mary were: Fredrick William, Feb. 3, 1855 – Nov. 8, 1895, Anna, Jan. 30, 1857 – 1954, Walter Brace, Jan. 12, 1860 – Dec. 24, 1860, and Arthur Rollin, Dec. 7, 1862 – Oct. 4, 1872.
When Anna came back to Polo from teaching in DeKalb, a good friend and a primary school teacher at the college, Lida McMurry, came back to Polo with her.
Lida spent her remaining years in Polo with Anna and Lida is buried also at Fairmount Cemetery in Polo. Lida was an author of children’s books. They became companions to
LEFT: Anna Parmele was 94 when this photo was taken. ABOVE:
Parmelee’s home was built in 1859. This photo was taken between 1888 and 1901. Notice the boardwalk. Hattie Burns is standing. Seated on the porch are Anna’s Aunt Tienie, Mrs. Cowden, and Pastor Cowden’s wife. Standing is Harriet King, head of High School History Dept, Oak Park, Illinois. Anna Pamelee, is seated in the chair. Mrs. Burbank was a neighbor for years and years.
each other in later years.
As they came back to Polo and enjoyed the little house together, the house changed in many ways. The picket fence eventually was gone along with the unique trim on the porch roof. A porch railing with spindles was placed around the porch and very noticeable in a photo in 1954.
In August of 1954 Anna held her last gathering in her home of the Class of 1914 from DeKalb. They enjoyed seeing her in her neat little colonial home in Polo. They loved her sunny smile and talked about memories of when she was a good math teacher at the college.
At that time she was the only living person of the original faculty of Northern and she was approaching 98. The group gathered on the front porch of the little home for a picture that would later appear in the newspaper for Northern Illinois College.
I did find out the connection between Anna and Dorothy Read Graebel. Dorothy had lost her mother, Mary Read, when Mary died at the age of 54. Dorothy became Anna’s “adopted daughter” and they had a relationship that was very close.
This is why Dorothy had so much information and pictures about the interesting life of Anna Parmelee.
POLO LIBRARY
Library Hours
Polo Public Library is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and closed Sunday.
The library building will be open for patrons to come in, browse, and check out items. We will continue to have curbside delivery available if you prefer to not enter the building or are unable to wear a mask. You can place an order by calling 815-946-2713 or email library@ pololibrary.org.
Masks are required for patrons to come into the library. We have disposable masks available to purchase for $1 if you don’t have a mask or if you forgot yours at home.
Public Computer Use
We have two computers available for patron use that are over 6 feet away from each other and cleaned between uses. There is a one hour time limit for the use of either computer. If you’d like to make sure there is a computer available, please call 815-946-2713 to reserve a computer. You can also fax, copy and print as needed.
Returned Books
We ask that you continue to return items, as you are done with them, through the book drop that will continue to be open 24-7.
After items are returned, they will still appear on your account while they are quarantined, then they will be checked back in and backdated to when they were returned.
Library Closed on Monday, Oct. 12
Polo Library will be closed on Monday, October 12th. We will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 and re-open Tuesday, Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Coffee with a Cop - 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14 weather permitting, Library Pavilion; Join us for an outdoor, socially distant Coffee with a Cop.
If the weather is questionable, please call 815-946-2713 before leaving home to check on the status of this program.
Outdoor Yoga with ADM Studios - 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, weather permitting: We have plenty of space in our yard for social distancing.
Bring your yoga mat and come ready to enjoy some fall air. Call 815-946-2713 to register.
