Putnam County Historical Society hosts open house

HENNEPIN - The Putnam County Historical Society will celebrate the reopening of all its facilities after losing a year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pulsifer House, the Meeting House, and the Agricultural Museum will all be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 8 on Old Highway 26 in Hennepin.

Pulsifer House, the historic house museum, was built in 1844. It has been restored and furnished with period furniture and is once again open Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for tours and genealogical research.

The Agricultural Museum is in the former Star Union Brewery building purchased in 1999. Current exhibit spaces include: farm implements and tools; Native American artifacts; artifacts relating to corn and the history of corn hybrid development in Putnam County; artifacts related to coal mining in Putnam County; artifacts relating to wildlife, hunting, and fishing in the Illinois River Valley; an early 20th century sitting room, bedroom, and farm kitchen; a one room school; an office; and a general store and post office displaying items that would be found in general stores in rural towns during the period from the turn of the century to the 1950′s. A lean-to was added on the east side of the building in 2018 for tractors and larger implements that can be viewed at any time. Also viewable at any time is a monument to the Hennepin Steel Mill and the men who worked there.

The Meeting House is in the former S.A.M.M.S. Restaurant building which was renovated in 2017. Additional displays are viewable there, particularly Civil war artifacts and other military memorabilia.

The Ag Museum is open the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both the Ag Museum and Pulsifer House are also open by appointment by calling 815-303-5107.

Everyone is invited to the Open House. Admission is free. The Ag Museum and the Meeting House are handicapped accessible; Pulsifer House is not handicapped accessible. There is no food service this year, but free water will be available.