|
Elkhart Historical Society
Presents: History of the Underground Railroad in Illinois - John
Ackerman & Susan Helm
[August 14, 2025]
The Elkhart Historical Society
proudly introduces two guest speakers for our Friday, September 26,
2025, Dinner Lecture program.
Susan Helm is past president of the Sangamon County Historical
Society. Currently, she is the co-chair of the Annual Cemetery Walk
sponsored by the Sangamon County Historical Society. Over the past
two years, she has overseen three programs on the underground
railroad activities in Sangamon County. The programs highlighted the
dangerous work that was performed by the brave black and white women
and men. Susan has been an active community volunteer in Springfield
for over 40 years.
John C. Ackerman, County Clerk & Recorder of Deeds of Tazewell
County will be our guest speaker as well. John brings with him
nearly a decade of elected service on the Tazewell County Board and
three and a half years on the Washington City Council. In 2021,
along with the Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society
as well as the Peoria Branch of the NAACP, he organized six public
forums to mark the gravesites of the 26 known conductors of the
Underground Railroad through Tazewell County. John will discuss the
history of the Underground Railroad in Illinois. This will include
sharing stories of Central Illinois conductors and the enslaved
individuals that looked to them for assistance on their pathway to
freedom.
[to top of second column] |
Cost includes dinner/dessert and
lecture. For cost information, a complete menu and reservation form
click here.
Reservations are required and must be made by calling 217-947-2238.
The deadline for reservations is September 15, 2025.
Upon calling, please leave a message and you will be called back to
confirm your reservation. Once confirmed, please mail your check,
within 5 business days, to:
The Elkhart Historical Society, PO Box 255, Elkhart, IL 62634.
You may drop your check off at The
Country Bumpkin at 103 Gov. Oglesby Street, Elkhart, IL. Hours open:
Wed-Sat 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Sun 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
[Elkhart Historical Society] |
