The Chester Public Library gave an official welcome Sept. 12 to the Smithsonian Main Street exhibit -- "Crossroads: Change In Rural America. which runs through Oct. 20 and is free to the public.
Administrative Librarian Tammy Grah expressed appreciation to the Chester Public Library board of trustees, the Friends of the Library, the City of Chester and her entire staff and volunteers for making the entire event a possibility.
"I truly hope all who visit the exhibits remember with pride their rural heritage, appreciate small communities and farm families and leave with a determination to positively impact the future," Grah said.
Betty Welge, president of the library's board of directors, and Grah were on hand to welcome a large crowd of area residents and visitors. Also speaking was Chester native Matt Meacham, program director of the Illinois Humanities, who was instrumental in lobbying for the Smithsonian exhibit to come to Chester.
Rounding out the "welcomes" were Gwendy Garner, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and Brenda Owen, president of the Tourism and Beautification Commission.
The featured speaker was Rockwood native Dr. Debra Reid, who is co-curator of the Smithsonian exhibit. Reid spoke on "Crossroads: Changes in Rural America and In Illinois" through her own eyes. She stated that 16 to 18 percent of the nation's population live in rural America, with rural America meaning areas of less than 2,500 people.
She stressed that Illinois is not a rural state, with only about 9 percent of the state's population living rurally.
In addition to the Museum on Main Street exhibit, a local focus is featured through the "Change Through A Local Lens" exhibit. The exhibit features exhibits on Kaskaskia; Frontier; First Capital; Flooding and Fertile Fields; the Mississippi River; Transportation Evolves on the Waterway; The Cole Family; Innovators; Public Servants and Philanthropists; Gilster Mary Lee Corporation; Changing To Meet The Future; Focus On The Farm: Then & Now with a family farms video featuring the Mike and Janet Vasquez family, Steve and Jane Stallman family and Lloyd Schoenbeck/Amy Stellhorn family; and Looking To The Future, You Can Make A Difference, Chester Walmart #352.
The local exhibit committee consists of Tammy Grah, Brenda Owen, Melissa Gross and Carolyn Schwent. Local exhibit benefactors are Gilster Mary Lee Corp., Buena Vista National Bank, Walmart #352, Chester and Knight Hawk Coal. A long list of local sponsors round out the list of contributors.
Reid's talk was the first of four free public programs that will be given during the exhibit's duration Dr. David Joens, director of the Illinois Archives, will be the featured speaker at the library at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23. The title of his program will be "Kaskaskia and the Road to Statehood".
On Tuesday, Oct. 2, beginning at 7 p.m., singer/songwriter and folk musician Chris Vallillo will speak on "The Farmer Is The Man." The program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
The final public program will be Thursday, Oct. 16, beginning at 7 p.m. and will feature local historian Shane Wagner. His title will be "History and Mystery -- Randolph County Folklore."
