Betty’s Column

LOCAL HISTORY More history about the Presbyterian Church in Polo

Before the box of the history is taken to the museum, there are a few more interesting stories. (I had the whole history of the Presbyterian Church strung out in my living room a few weeks ago and I had to condense it to fit in our files.)

I had liked the story of the bells placed in the churches in Buffalo Grove and the bell placed in the church in Polo.

If you remember the ladies of the new Independent Presbyterian Church held a very successful money maker in Buffalo Grove and decided to buy a bell for the church.

The problem was that they did not own a church to put it in. They used the Methodist church building and they really wanted to hear a bell ring in Buffalo Grove.

So they decided to put the bell in the building they were using and it would be the property of the town. The bell could ring for any occasion in the town. It evidently had a beautiful sound and impressed V. B. Webster who wrote this history in 1888. I was glad he placed his name on this history and dated it.

So the bell was in the Methodist Church in Buffalo Grove. The day came when the new Methodist Church was built in Polo and of course they wanted to take the church bell with them. People left in Buffalo Grove said, “No!”

When the bell was removed, ready to go to Polo, someone removed the clapper which resulted in COMMENTARY Betty Obendorf Polo Historical Society

much discussion. As a result the bell remained in Buffalo Grove or Old Town so the beautiful tones could go out over the little community that remained in the settlement.

It was a struggle while the church was being built and they met in Williams Hall on the part of Mason Street called Becker Block. They also met in Mosher Hall on Division Street. Finally the basement was finished and the ladies again held a festival for a bell. It was July 4, 1856.

They raised $153.00 but no bell was purchased. It had to go for the finishing of the church.

On August 7, 1857 the church building of the Independent Presbyterian church was completed and dedicated. The first pew rental receipts were dated January of 1857 for $65 for the right of occupancy.

Five men who were trustees signed the receipts. Zenas Aplington had a very clear signature as trustee.

See OBENDORF, Page 9 The picturesque First Presbyterian Church is located on Division Street (Illinois 26) in Polo. File photo

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