5 minute read
Betty’s Column
LOCAL HISTORY
Barber Park was the place for special Polo events
Linda and I met at the museum to go through a big box of Barber Family history. She had already been working on Barber Park history and we decided to tackle a big box relating to the Barber family.
Would there be anything in it about Barber Park?
When we had met some weeks before with Michal of Ogle County Historical Society, Michal was interested in Barber Park. I had already pulled out a folder I had in the museum files on the subject and Linda had started to do a search on the Internet through the old newspapers.
It is wonderful to have all the old newspapers on microfilm and someone talented like Linda on the computer can find just what we are looking for at the moment. Then I added what I had found in J. W. Clinton’s scrapbook and we soon had a very good idea of how the people of Polo celebrated.
Chanceford Barber and his sons Henry and Bryant owned Barber Park on Eagle Point Road where the old Edgewood Golf Course eventually was built.
Chanceford had started out in Buffalo Grove in 1843 as a merchant. In 1855 he moved to Polo and in 1856 built his home on the corner where Ed Raley’s home now stands. Mr. Barber owned all the land in that area and Barber’s Park was along Eagle Point Road with Buffalo Creek used as the “old swimming hole”.
J. W. Clinton wrote about the first celebration at Barber’s Park with over a thousand old settlers. I do not know the date but Sterling Gazette wrote about the fourth annual meeting held August 31, 1861.
Many events went on at the park including band concerts, boxing, baseball games, parachute jumps, camp fires, a target shoot for turkeys, and races on the race track for horses. The big barn that had been moved to Barber’s Park later burned. It had been quite a barn at a cost of $4,000.
They had an excursion train from Chicago which cost $2 round trip. They would arrive at Polo at noon and depart at 7:30 in the evening. 200 to 400 would arrive from Chicago to take in the festivities. There would be other out of town guests also.
Sometimes the Odd Fellows Hall would entertain a large group of visitors and food was usually free with Polo women fixing large baskets of food to be taken to Barber’s Park.
There would be parades, bands, and children’s parades with the little ones dressed in white pushing decorated doll buggies. Bicycles and tri-cycles would also be involved so it seemed no one was left out. Eventually they would be called Homecomings rather than reunions.
We now have a notebook full of celebrations and we did not find anything in the Barber family box on Barber Park.
It just seemed to be full of Barber family genealogy. I assume someday somebody from the Barber family will come looking for all of their history and the box will be waiting for them.
I need to mark it in large black letters. Linda had fun reading through all of their history before they came to Polo.
POLO HISTORY Betty Obendorf
Photo supplied by Betty Obendorf The back of the picture had this written on the back: Old Settlers Barber’s Park, August 25, 1898, J. W. Clinton Polo.
• Betty Obendorf is a volunteer for the Polo Historical Society.
NEWS BRIEFS
Leaf River Lions to offer Halloween costume contest and Trunk N’ Treat
The Leaf River Lion’s Club is offering a Halloween Costume Contest and Trunk N’ Treat in Leaf River on Sunday, Oct. 31 from 4-7 p.m.
The afternoon will begin with the Leaf River Lion’s sponsored Costume Contest at 3:30 p.m., which will be held at the Bertolet Memorial Building. Weather permitting the contest will be outside.
Classes for judging are: 0-2 years, 3-4 years, 5 years and Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades; Middle School, High School and Adult.
First place in each division will receive $5, second place will receive $3, and runner up will receive $1 (everyone will receive a prize).
Everyone in costume will receive a free hot dog sandwich, chips, and lemonade. Hot dogs will also be available at 4 p.m. to purchase.
“Come and enjoy seeing the many costumes and the fun everyone is having. You can also enjoy a bite to eat!,” said Lion Elizabeth McKinstry.
Trunk N’ Treat
The Lions are also offering a “Trunk N’ Treat” event. Cars will park along the west side of Bertolet Park, on both sides of the street, with their trunks open.
Those in costume will proceed along the rows of cars and receive their treats in that manner. The Village has agreed to block off Blaine St. for this to happen.
Trunk N’ Treat will begin at 4 p.m. and run until there are no more Trick or Treaters.
Encore! hosts bus trip to ‘Illumination’ light display
Encore! Mt. Morris is sponsoring a Dec. 1 chartered bus trip to Naperville to see “Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum”.
Illumination is in its ninth year and features a one-mile paved walking path surrounded by hundreds of trees lit for the holidays. The lights are interactive and have ever-changing designs. Participants will enjoy seasonal music, marvel at the lights and warm up by a crackling fire with a cozy drink or snack from concession stands on the grounds.
An art-oriented excursion of Naperville murals and dinner will take place prior to the Illumination event.
The cost is $55 for adults and $49 for accompanied children ages 2 to 17, plus dinner. The approximate schedule is noon to 10:30 p.m.
Participation is limited to 30 people so there is room on the 56-seat bus to social distance. Vaccination of all participants is encouraged so everyone will be comfortable.
Registration can be completed at www. EncoreMtMorris.com or at Mt. Morris Village Hall. More details will be provided upon sign-up. The deadline to register is Saturday, Oct. 23. For more information, contact Molly Baker at mollyb@encoremtmorris.com.
Encore! Mt. Morris is composed of volunteers committed to developing Mt. Morris into a unique, thriving rural and cultural arts destination in northwest Illinois. Learn more at www.EncoreMtMorris.com.
