Wayne County Historical Society

09/08/2026

Step back in time at Hanna House Museum!

Join us Saturday, Sept. 19 from 10 a.m.–Noon for museum tours, pumpkin painting and a little local history fun for all ages.

📍 South First & E. Center streets
Sponsored by the Wayne County Historical Society

Don’t let local history be a mystery!

09/08/2026

Get your tickets for the Cemetery Tour. Uniquely Rustique and Fairfield Public Library have tickets.
Tour is THIS Friday, and Saturday Sept. 11 and 12, afternoons - first wagon-load at 3:30pm, wagons every 15 minutes until 6:30pm. Don't miss it.

09/08/2026

09/03/2026

Reminder. Actors run-through Thursday evening 6pm.

09/03/2026

Take a ride through history. Get your tickets for the Maple Hill Cemetery Tour. September 11 and 12, Friday and Saturday. First tour leaves at 3:30, last tour 6:30. Tickets at the Library and at Uniquely Rustique.

08/26/2026

ALL actors and volunteers are reminded of the meeting Thursday evening, 8/27 at 6pm at the library.

08/19/2026

This week's post highlights Wayne County's first oil well, the George Bradley No. 1. Brought in by Pure Oil Co. in the spring of 1937, this discovery set off a drilling frenzy in which 75 percent of the county's 450,450 square acres was under lease a short time later. The Autumn 1984 issue of the Illinois Historical Journal reported that, "During the next few weeks watching oil wells became a pastime that created a traffic problem between Geff and Cisne. Many hundreds came and went all day long. The crowd became so great and the traffic so heavy in the afternoon that state policemen had to go on duty to direct traffic. Find out more about the 1937 Illinois oil boom here 🎥: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIYkB8qgmNg

08/18/2026

Tickets on sale now at the Fairfield Public Library and at Uniquely Rustique. $5 donation.

08/18/2026

The Historical Society August meeting will be the annual Picnic. August 20th, Thursday at 6pm at the Leo French Park. The location will be at the Turkey Run shelter, just off Enterprise Road. You may drive up under the trees and park close to the shelter. Meat, drinks, and paper products will be provided. Guests may bring a covered dish to share.