Archives presentation on Illinois Prairie Path collection
North Central College archivist Kim Butler will give a 45-minute talk on the Illinois Prairie Path's history at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, in Koten Chapel at Kiekhofer Hall, 329 E. School St. Free and open to the public, the event is hosted by Tim Cummings and Dawn Fiorentino and members of the Trail Riders of DuPage County (TROD), North Central College Archives and the Illinois Prairie Path. Established by a handful of Naperville volunteers in the early 1960s, the Illinois Prairie Path began with a letter written by resident May Theilgaard Watts to her local newspaper, proposing to transform an abandoned rail line into a recreational path. That led to the creation of the 60-mile greenway from Maywood to a fork near Wheaton, where it splits into branches that lead to Elgin and Aurora. Butler will show a 1964 film that was created to generate regional and statewide support for the Prairie Path. Visitors also will have a chance to view some of the path's half-century of archives, on display at Oesterle Library, 320 E. School St.
North Central College archivist Kim Butler will give a 45-minute talk on the Illinois Prairie Path's history at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, in Koten Chapel at Kiekhofer Hall, 329 E. School St. Free and open to the public, the event is hosted by Tim Cummings and Dawn Fiorentino and members of the Trail Riders of DuPage County (TROD), North Central College Archives and the Illinois Prairie Path. Established by a handful of Naperville volunteers in the early 1960s, the Illinois Prairie Path began with a letter written by resident May Theilgaard Watts to her local newspaper, proposing to transform an abandoned rail line into a recreational path. That led to the creation of the 60-mile greenway from Maywood to a fork near Wheaton, where it splits into branches that lead to Elgin and Aurora. Butler will show a 1964 film that was created to generate regional and statewide support for the Prairie Path. Visitors also will have a chance to view some of the path's half-century of archives, on display at Oesterle Library, 320 E. School St.