Village of Bartlett Museums

Home
United States
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.

09/14/2026

Celebrating Bartlett Hills' 100th and the History of Golf in Chicagoland
September 23, 7:00 pm

In September 1926, Bartlett Hills Golf Club took its place among the history of golf clubs in Chicagoland. The Bartlett History Museum and Bartlett Hills Golf Club & Banquets are celebrating both on Wednesday, September 23 at Bartlett Village Hall, 228 S. Main Street.

Chicagoland golf has a long and proud history beginning in 1892 with America’s first 18-hole course-the Chicago Golf Club; the first nationally televised golf tournament at Tam O’Shanter Golf Course in 1953; and the Western Golf Association. You are invited to join presenter Barbara Barrett, and explore the personalities, female and male players, organizations, courses, and events that have impacted golf in the Midwest during the past 130 years.

If you wish to come early, doors open at 6:30 PM for refreshments by Bartlett Hills Golf Club and a 6:40 PM Bartlett Hills trivia presentation by the Bartlett History Museum. Also check out the museum’s new exhibit, “Bartlett Hills Golf Club & Banquets, A Century on Par.”

Registration is required for this free program. Email Pam at [email protected] with your name, phone number and number of seats.

09/11/2026

September 11, A Day of Remembrance

This morning the Bartlett Fire Protection District held their annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony with Bartlett’s Professional Firefighters and Bartlett Police Honor Guard participating. The public is always invited to attend. The colors were posted, remarks were made and the Bell Ceremony was performed in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Today, the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, we continue to remember and honor those nearly 3,000 victims who lost their lives on that day and those in the years to follow due to related illnesses, the bravery of first responders, service members and the everyday heroes.

Images taken by museum

09/09/2026

Wrap It Up!

Today it could be a Super Target or Walmart Supercenter but back in the day it was the general store. Bartlett has had several throughout its history. August C. Schick was operating his general store by 1900.

In 1907, Schick sold his entire stock to Louis Stumpf and wished him "success in his undertaking." Stumpf added a line of hardware to his offerings which included dry goods, groceries and more. The store was once located at 121 W. Railroad Avenue.

The building was home to most notably The Eck, a tavern and restaurant and later Lucky Jacks. The building was razed in 2018.

The store was also the one-time site of Bartlett's post office with Schick and Stumpf being appointed postmasters during their ownerships. Note the phone numbers in the upper left .

1912 receipt gift of Bonnie Haseman

09/07/2026

Taking a Break from Their Labors

Happy Labor Day! Did you know this has been one of the longest summers? Why? This year Memorial Day occurred at the earliest it could and Labor Day at the latest it can. Hope you enjoyed the extra days.

In the early 1950s, 117 W. Railroad Avenue, was home to the Bartlett Grill, operated by Grace Krumfuss Porter Deverell, left, and Liz Humbracht, right. The establishment was housed in a little building tucked between the Bartlett Tavern (113 W. Railroad Ave.) and attached to the east side of The Eck, later Lucky Jack's, a tavern and restaurant (121 W. Railroad Ave.).

The Bartlett Grill served Maude Rieckhoff's homemade tasty pies for an after meal treat! The ladies, pictured here on the steps of 121 W. are dressed to keep cool in their cotton dresses and aprons to keep them clean. The 117 W. and 121 W. buildings were razed in 2018.

Gift of Kathy Porter

09/06/2026

Happy 100th, Bartlett Hills Golf Club & Banquets!
Celebrate with the museum on September 23, 2026, details below.

A century ago on September 6, 1926, then Labor Day, Bartlett Hills opened as a private club located at the western end of Oneida Avenue. The course was first named the Chicago Golf, Saddle and Gun Club with amenities that were to include a golf course, a stable for member’s horses and shooting facilities.

In 1925, the year prior, the golf course design and construction were awarded to Charles Maddox whose unique greens included the shapes of a club, heart, spade, diamond and star. Maddox’s men used mules and horses to move the earth and seeded the course by hand.

Just prior to the Labor Day 1926 opening, the club changed its name to Braid Hills. The Elgin Daily Courier News of August 20, 1926, reported, “When the course is completed it should offer a thrill to the most expert follower of the royal and ancient pastime.”

The Chicago Tribune reported the September 6 opening day activities included driving and pitching contests, trap shooting tournament, a flag raising ceremony with the club’s first of nine of 18 holes completed and ready for play. The Tribune article shown here.

The following month, October 1926, another new name was given to the club, Bartlett Hills, the name that continues today. In 1978, residents approved the purchase of the club which today is owned and operated by the Village of Bartlett.

This is a very brief overview of the club’s fascinating 100-year history. Want to learn more? Join the Bartlett History Museum on Wednesday, September 23, at 6:30 PM to view the new exhibit, “Bartlett Hills Golf Club & Banquets, A Century on Par.” Refreshments will be provided by Bartlett Hills. At 6:40 the museum will be having a trivia presentation about the club. Test your knowledge. iI’s all in fun!

At 7:00 PM, “The History of Golf in Chicagoland,” will be presented by Barbara Barrett.

The exhibit is, and event will be at Bartlett Village Hall, 228 S. Main Street. Registration is required for this free program. Email Pam at [email protected] with your name, phone number and number of seats.

Share your Bartlett Hills memories!

Some of the 1929 – early 1930s images from the album of Mathilda Harmening Alsworth, who was the club’s kitchen manager at the time, are featured here. These are the earliest images of Bartlett Hills in the museum’s collection and include club staff, the grounds and the original barn clubhouse. Gift of Ruth Harmening Giles

09/02/2026

Ingenuity!

No swimming pool, no creek, no pond, no problem. Young Ruth Harmening Giles (1916-2014) filled the family’s wash tub with water and awwwww, refreshing!

Find your way to cool today off with the predicted heat index to be 103 degrees this afternoon. Stay safe.

Ca. 1925 image gift of Ruth Harmening Giles

08/31/2026

Greetings from Bartlett!

Before texting, sending a penny postcard to the next village to convey your message was not uncommon. Check out this beautifully embossed postcard that was personalized to your hometown. It says, “Greetings from Bartlett [written in] Illinois.”

On the back is written, "Send me a postal to [sic]. Be sure and come Sunday because ma is going to Elgin so I won't have to be alone. Zenetta" The card was addressed to "Miss Clara Roebbeke, Ontarioville [today Hanover Park], Ill." A one cent stamp with the image of Benjamin Franklin is affixed and it was cancelled in Bartlett on May 14, 1910 in the PM.

Zenetta could be Zenetta Stumpf, a Bartlett resident who was 13 years-old in 1910. Her father owned the general store in the village. Perhaps he stocked this postcard. Clara Roebbeke was 12 years old and lived in Hanover Township in 1910.

Museum acquisition

08/27/2026

Back to School!

Today, August 26, U-46 students are returning to classes. The district started two weeks later this year because of extensive summer constructions which included renovations and additions on several of its campuses.

In 1973, 53 years ago, the Elgin Courier-News shared this photo and caption of Bartlett Elementary School students. Douglas PlesKovitch (taller boy on left wearing plaid pants) and his younger brother John (shorter boy on right wearing plaid pants) enter the building for an afternoon orientation before the first full day of classes the next day.

Bartlett School began in 1874, a year after Bartlett's 1873 establishment. It is the village's oldest school!

Newspaper clipping gift of John PleKovitch

08/26/2026

Woof Woof! BOW WOW!

It’s International Dog Day. Dogs have been a part of our village’s history, and the museum has many images that include our furry family members. Here is just one.

Bartlett native Marilyn Schult Behm (1928-2013) lovingly looks into the eyes of Blackie her family’s pooch, in this 1938 photo. The dog also appeared in the family’s 1943 Christmas card photo! How sweet.

Give a shout out to your pup in the comments. Include a picture too!

Image gift of Barbara Behm Johnson

Address

Bartlett, IL
60103

Telephone

+16308370800

Website

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

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Village of Bartlett Museums posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your organization to be the top-listed Government Service in Bartlett?