On July 4, 1976 the first rendition of the goal of a Historical Commission created three years prior came to fruition in Addison with the first opening of the Historical Museum of Addison.
Following the commission's formation of the Historical Society in March 1974, both groups, which shared overlapping members, actively sought to establish a museum—a goal realized when the former police department space on the second floor of the Municipal Building became available. It began as only a few rooms in this space, running solely because of the dedication and talents of the volunteers behind it.
In fact, the museum remained an entirely volunteer-driven effort until 1979. The commission had been created with the intention of keeping a running history of the village, providing for the renovation of historical items, and soliciting and accepting memorials. With these few rooms they began this project, but after years of hard work they had long since outgrown their minimal space.
The museum's physical transformation truly accelerated in 1993 when the village acquired the Century House at 129 W. Army Trail Blvd., a historic structure that once housed German school teachers and their families. The Commission tasked the Addison Historical Society, which had been incorporated in 1974 to support the Commission's endeavors, with raising the funds to restore the home.
Then, in 1998, when Mayor Tom Hundley was beginning his career in the Village of Addison as the Chairman of the Historical Commission, the village established the historical district as we see it now. Because the newly planned Village Hall had no space allocated for a museum, the village sought funding to acquire and relocate the historic Balzer residence and Coach House from Lake Street.
Thanks to a land donation from the Krentz family, the structures were moved by truck down Lake Street in March 1999 to an empty lot adjacent to the Century House.
Hundley helped spearhead the fundraising efforts for these three buildings, which underwent extensive renovations totaling upwards of $450,000 funded by donations, grants and village funds. With the help of dedicated volunteers and staff, the Historical Museum of Addison reopened at its new campus in 2000, followed by the formal dedication of the Coach House in 2003. Together, these buildings feature the comprehensive displays recognizing the village’s history today in the Addison Historical District.
The Village of Addison formally recognized the Addison Historical Museum's 50th anniversary at the June 15 Village Board of Trustees meeting with an official proclamation from Hundley. The milestone marks half a century of preservation that evolved significantly over the decades.
From a few rooms to three buildings, the Addison Historical Society volunteers and the staff of the Addison Historical Museum have helped to preserve the village’s history with a collective dedication and respect that has spanned decades of tireless work.
As the museum prepares to enter its next half-century, the Village of Addison would like to congratulate the many volunteers who have worked to realize the Museum's goals and secure its vital place in the Addison community, and thank them for their years of hard work and continued efforts.
