Village of Bartlett Museums

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Bartlett, IL
Village of Bartlett Museums

Welcome to the Village of Bartlett Museums; the Bartlett History Museum and the Bartlett Depot Museum Bartlett History Museum
228 S.

Main Street, location in Bartlett Village Hall
Bartlett, IL 60103

Bartlett Depot Museum
100 W. Railroad Avenue
Bartlett, IL 60103
(Mailing address- 228 S. Main Street, Bartlett, IL 60103)

Due to COVID-19, both museums are temporarily closed.

06/16/2026

NOTE- JULY 8, 1927 NEWSPAPER STORY

Today, June 16, is a special brush pickup in response to the EF1 tornado damage done in Bartlett on Thursday, June 11. To learn more visit- https://www.bartlettil.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2968/16

The museum has been asked if this is the first tornado Bartlett has experienced. In July, 1927, 99 years ago, Bartlett was struck by a tornado. Refer to newspaper clipping shared here. This was prior to the current EF tornado scale which became operational in 2007, so the exact force of the “small” twister is not known. However, it seems to have “wrecked havoc” by “knocking over silos and trees throughout the area.” Thankfully, just like last Thursday’s tornado, it appears there were no injuries reported.

The museum is seeking digital images and/or videos to record the June 11 tornado in our history. If you would like to donate, please contact Pam at [email protected]. Thank you.

06/14/2026

A Star-Spangled Day!

On June 14, 1777, America’s flag was adopted by the Second Continental Congress. One way to observe this day is to proudly fly the flag.

Patriotic Bartlett pals and “flag bearers”, left to right, Grace Leiseberg, Esther ? (possibly Esther Bull), Estella Schnadt, and Clara ? (possibly Clara Wendler), garbed in white with red, white and blue sashes and hat trim, stand ready to unfurl their stars and stripes to celebrate the dedication of a flag in Bartlett.

Undated image from the album of Estella Schnadt (1904-2002), gift of Jeff and Barbara Humbracht

06/11/2026

Making Some History!

Meet Ziva, one of our young Bartlett residents who is making some history! She was awarded first place, in her age group, in the state, for her entry in the Smokey Bear & Woodsy the Owl Youth Poster Contest. She was sponsored by the Tri-Village Garden Club which serves Bartlett, Streamwood and Hanover Park who recognized her for her achievement at a recent meeting.

The contest began in 1959 as an initiative of the New Mexico State Garden Club. The following year, the contest was replicated when sponsored by the National Council of State Garden Clubs. In 1994, the contest became a national art competition in which children hand drew their interpretation of wildfire prevention and Smokey or a conservation message featuring Woodsey. Ziva chose Woodsey. Her poster offers helpful hints on how to conserve our Earth’s natural resources with the message, “Lend a Hand- Care for the Land.”

Ziva’s poster is moving onto the national level of competition. We wish you much luck! Keep us posted!

Images courtesy of Ziva’s family

06/10/2026

Refreshing Iced Tea

If you live in the Bartlett area, you know the past few days have been hot and humid. Doesn’t a tall glass of iced tea sound great, especially today June 10, National Iced Tea Day!

At Village Pizza, once located at 330 S. Main Street, you could quench your thirst with an XL glass for only $1.45 (boxed area on menu).

This menu is undated but here is a very brief pizza history of 330 S. Main St. By 1978 Village Pizza was in business. The early 1980s owners were Ross and Mary Rinchiuso. In 2004 the business was known as Uncle John’s Village Pizza. Masi’s Pizza and Catering occupied the site beginning in 2007. Other types of restaurants have been located within the site since.

Share your Village Pizza memories!

Menu gift of John and Shirley Whitmer and another copy gift of Laura Kubaszko

06/09/2026

Chilllaxing!

Summer is the perfect time to relax and enjoy the great outdoors. Robert “Bob” Van Alstine (1929-1978) left, and Allen “Al” Fraas (1934-2013), right, are taking a break in this 1961 image. The guys had several things in common.

Bob operated Van’s 66 and the former Standard gas stations, both once located on S. Oak Ave., across the street from each other at Oneida Ave. Bob married Fern Harrison in 1951 and the couple had three children, Patty, Bobbi and Tom.

Al was a Bartlett businessman too. He and his wife Betty were married in 1956, and the couple also had three children, Michael, Greg and Kathryn. They were one-time owners of Schultz Hardware, once located on Bartlett Ave. Later Al worked for his son Greg who owned Fraas Carpentry. He finished his career as a building inspector for the village.

Both men, who along with their families lived on Eastern Ave., were longtime members of the Bartlett Volunteer Fire Department. Bob for 25 years and Al for 33 years!

Gift of Bill Tikins

06/08/2026

Shhhhh…Don’t Tell Pop!

On Saturday, June 6, the Depot Museum’s First Saturday Free Family Craft, the kiddos got to color a cap for dad for Father’s Day. Each cap was as unique as the child that colored it! Here are just a few.

Images taken by museum

06/06/2026

Remembering D-Day and Bartlett’s Alfred Regenburg

Today, June 6, we pause to remember the servicemembers of United States and Allied Forces who valiantly fought on the beaches at Normandy and especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Bartlett sent her sons to fight in WW II which included Alfred “Al” Regenburg (1915-2001), pictured here.

Regenburg began his service on February 2, 1942. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Knox College, he was a member of the R.O.T.C. and entered the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant. From August 1942 to April 1945, Regenburg was assigned to the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, where he participated in the D-Day Invasion.

According to the 327th Infantry Regiment, “In June 1944, the decision to drop 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions simultaneously into Normandy reduced the number of available aircraft to tow gliders for a glider assault. As a result, the 327th Glider Infantry was ordered to land at Utah Beach with the 4th Infantry Division on 6 June 1944. The regiment moved to Carentan [France] and, despite heavy casualties, cutting off retreating German units. The next combat operation for the regiment was Operation Market Garden, the Airborne invasion of Holland.”

Then a 1st Lieutenant, Regenburg was hit by shrapnel in Holland and was sent back to England to recover. He was released just in time for the Battle of Bastogne which took place in December 1944. Now a Captain, Regenburg was discharged on June 2, 1946, returning to Bartlett and his wife Ruth and daughter Lynn.

Regenburg became active in local affairs, including heading the Bartlett Plan Commission. He was also president of the Bartlett Lions Club from 1949 to 1950. The Regenburgs moved to California in 1963 where Al resided until his passing in 2001.
Amongst his citations and decorations, Regenburg was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, French Croix de Guerre and Netherlands Orange Lanyard. In 2000, Regenburg had the great honor to be selected as a Distinguished Member of the 327th Infantry Regiment.

Images of Regenburg, gifts of Elaine Atchison
Newspaper clipping dated October 13, 1944
Regenburg’s WW II leather flight jacket, gift of James Thompson

06/04/2026

Pride Month

LGBTQ+ Pride Month is celebrated yearly in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan considered to be the tipping point for the United States’ Gay Liberation Movement.

Share your story with the Bartlett History Museum so all voices are heard, and the museums’ collection is inclusive and equitable to all who call or have called Bartlett home. Email Pam at [email protected]. Thank you.

06/03/2026

Biking Buddies! It’s World Bicycle Day!

This international celebration on June 3, applauds the joy and benefits of bike riding.

This undated image, taken by Don Honick, captures a group of youth in Bartlett Park on their bicycles. Some of the bikes are decorated, some have an American flag attached to the handlebars. One girl, center right, is pulling a small cannon. It appears they are part of a celebration, maybe 4th of July? Do you see yourself or someone you know? Help finish writing the story of this picture. Thanks!

Ca. 1965 image, Gift of Linda Rossi

Address

Bartlett, IL
60103

Telephone

+16308370800

Website

https://www.bartlettil.gov/about-bartlett/village-of-bartlett-museums

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