Village of Bartlett Museums

Village of Bartlett Museums Welcome to the Village of Bartlett Museums; the Bartlett History Museum and the Bartlett Depot Museum Bartlett History Museum
228 S.

Main Street, location in Bartlett Village Hall
Bartlett, IL 60103

Bartlett Depot Museum
100 W. Railroad Avenue
Bartlett, IL 60103
(Mailing address- 228 S. Main Street, Bartlett, IL 60103)

Due to COVID-19, both museums are temporarily closed.

Picnic Week, Bartlett Friends, Food and Fun in the Outdoors!This week the museum is sharing images in the collection fea...
08/12/2026

Picnic Week, Bartlett Friends, Food and Fun in the Outdoors!

This week the museum is sharing images in the collection featuring picnics of the past.

In June of 1940, the Bartlett Woman’s Club, Bartlett’s oldest service organization, hosted a picnic for the village’s senior women residents. The ladies sat outside on long benches with a cloth covered table and ate off china dishes (image 1).

Afterwords the gals gathered for a group photo (image 2). Note they are all wearing summer frocks. No t-shirts and shorts in this group!

Club members then presented a style show of fashions through the ages (image 3). Don’t you agree it sounded like a lovely afternoon for all who attended.

Images from the album of Mathilda Harmening Alsworth, no one was identified by name in these photos

Gift of Ruth Harmening Giles

Picnic Week, Bartlett Friends, Food and Fun in the Outdoors!This week the museum is sharing images in the collection fea...
08/11/2026

Picnic Week, Bartlett Friends, Food and Fun in the Outdoors!

This week the museum is sharing images in the collection featuring picnics of the past.

Does the company you work for, or have worked for, have/had an employee picnic? For staff, it’s great to enjoy time away from occupational duties and have a hot dog or two with your coworkers. Check out these images from a company picnic at Senior Flexonics held on the grounds of their 300 E. Devon facility. It was a beautiful day, and the DJ kept the employees and their children entertained with games and more. We even see a snow cone machine in the background!

Then known as Flexonics Corp., the facility opened in Bartlett in 1961 and was the village’s first major business reportedly employing up to 900 people at that time. The company was actively involved with NASA in the space program designing and producing components for the Mercury Redstone and Saturn V rockets which put man on the moon!

Image with three ladies, left to right- Julie Long, Lorraine Ritter, Pat Neal
Image with four ladies, left to right- Rita Cox, Molly Jirka, Polly Franco, Alberta Wodarski

Circa 2001 images gift of Jean Ping, retired longtime employee

Picnic Week, Bartlett Friends, Food and Fun in the Outdoors!This week the museum is sharing images in the collection fea...
08/10/2026

Picnic Week, Bartlett Friends, Food and Fun in the Outdoors!

This week the museum is sharing images in the collection featuring picnics of the past.

The Bartlett Lions Club, the village’s second oldest service organization chartered in 1939, celebrated their 1969-1970 season ending year with a picnic. Pictured here are just some of the members enjoying comradery and a beverage! That season, John Bedoe, back row, second from right, was the club’s president.

Through its decades of service, our local chapter is especially known for annually bringing Santa Claus to Bartlett and the Egg Hunt. The club though also strongly supports the mission of this international organization, whose mission is “We Serve,” through its many fundraisers such as the pancake breakfasts, car show, golf outing and more, which helps support humanitarian causes worldwide.

1970 newspaper clipping gift of Bill Fak

A Carpet Rag Bee!This portrait is of Augusta Meyer Schick (1861-1940) and was taken in 1877. She was born in Ontariovill...
08/07/2026

A Carpet Rag Bee!

This portrait is of Augusta Meyer Schick (1861-1940) and was taken in 1877. She was born in Ontarioville, today, Hanover Park, and was the daughter of Ernest, a farmer, and Minnie Meyer. In 1883, she married onetime Bartlett general store owner August C. Schick (1858-1939). The couple had four children, Alma, Lucinda, George and Ada.

Augusta appears to have enjoyed celebrating her March birthday. Here are two accounts of her parties.

The Cook County Herald of March 24, 1911, reported, “Mrs. A. C. Schick entertained a party of friends Sunday in honor of her birthday. About 75 relatives and friends spent the afternoon and evening at their home. She was the recipient of many pretty gifts; among which was a handsome bedroom set from her husband…”

The DuPage County Register reported on March 28, 1913, “About 50 friends of Mrs. A. C. Schick gave her a pleasant surprise at her home Wednesday evening in honor of her birthday. Games of all kinds were furnished amusement, after which a supper was served and all had a merry time.”

The most interesting fact museum discovered was this March 31, 1905, Cook County Herald article which stated, “Mrs. A. C. Schick entertained a party of 21 ladies at a carpet rag bee, Thursday afternoon.” According to AI, “A carpet rag bee was a traditional 19th- and early 20th-century social gathering where neighbors met to tear and sew fabric scraps into long strips. These strips were then rolled into large balls and woven into durable rag rugs.”

At one time the family lived on Oneida Avenue. By 1927, the couple moved to Elgin where they lived until their passings. She and her husband are buried in Elgin’s Lakewood Memorial Park.

Image gift of Rita Shaw

National Night Out Photo Album, August 4, 2026Yesterday was a perfect summer evening to celebrate National Night Out in ...
08/05/2026

National Night Out Photo Album, August 4, 2026

Yesterday was a perfect summer evening to celebrate National Night Out in Bartlett Park! Everyone enjoyed the food, music, performances and activities. Civic organizations, religious facilities and businesses manned their tables with fun games and informational handouts.

Tag yourself or someone you know!

Images taken by museum to preserve this yearly event in our history

It’s National Night Out!Join in the fun TONIGHT, Tuesday, August 4, at Bartlett Park with the Bartlett Police Department...
08/04/2026

It’s National Night Out!

Join in the fun TONIGHT, Tuesday, August 4, at Bartlett Park with the Bartlett Police Department. To learn more visit- https://www.bartlettil.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/12811/228

Through its 33-year history, Bartlett’s celebration has greatly grown to include performances, events, free food and treats and so much more for the entire family!

Here is how the village celebrated in 1993, 33 years ago. Residents were asked to turn on their outside lights, lock their doors and spend the evening with neighbors and the police. This writeup appeared in the August 1993 Bartletter.

See you tonight at Bartlett Park from 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.!

The Bartlett Depot Museum, located at 100 W. Railroad Ave., will have shortened hours on Tuesday, August 11 and Thursday...
08/03/2026

The Bartlett Depot Museum, located at 100 W. Railroad Ave., will have shortened hours on Tuesday, August 11 and Thursday, August 13.

For those two days, the museum will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

It’s National Watermelon Day!Wedges, slices or cubes, this summertime staple is a refreshing treat by itself or in a rec...
08/03/2026

It’s National Watermelon Day!

Wedges, slices or cubes, this summertime staple is a refreshing treat by itself or in a recipe.

This photo is from an album that once belonged to Mathilda "Tee" Harmening Alsworth (1896-1962). She grew up in Bartlett at 236 S. Hickory Avenue and was one of three children of Henry and Caroline Harmening, who owned the Bartlett Tavern at one time.

Tee worked at Bartlett Hills Golf Club and was the kitchen manager when the club first opened in 1926. She took the earliest images of the club house and course in the museums' collection.

She also was active in the Bartlett Woman's Club and again took the earliest images of the club in the collection. This image is most likely of club members who are enjoying juicy slices of watermelon

The museum is grateful for people like Tee who took pictures of everyday Bartlett life!

Gift of Ruth Harmening Giles

“Our Service Hits the Spot!”Summertime bugs didn't have a chance with this free promotional fly swatter, imprinted with ...
07/31/2026

“Our Service Hits the Spot!”

Summertime bugs didn't have a chance with this free promotional fly swatter, imprinted with the catchy phrase in title above, from Schnadt's Service Station. Harvey Schnadt (1907-1991) opened his gas station at 151 S. Oak Avenue in 1932. During WW II, residents could obtain gas rationing blanks there and dropoff items for scrap metal and rubber drives. In 1961, Schnadt began leasing the business to Bob Van Alstine, an employee of his.

Harvey was one of seven children born to Herman and Caroline Schnadt. A lifelong Bartlett resident, “Harv” attended Bartlett School and Elgin High School (Class of 1924) where he was a member of track team and the interclass basketball team. He also played on the Bartlett Cubs men’s baseball team. In a reminisce Harvey wrote about Bartlett Hills Golf Club, he mentioned he was a summertime employee in 1926 and 1927. He enjoyed golfing there with his siblings.

Swatter gift of George and Sue Brennan
Image of Harvey and his service station gifts of Jeff and Barbara Humbracht

07/31/2026

Saturday Morning Fun and It’s Free!

Bring the kiddos into the heart of Bartlett tomorrow morning, Saturday, August 1, and take part in a fun and free activity.

Stop at the Bartlett Depot Museum, located at 100 W. Railroad Ave. We are hosting our monthly First Saturday Free Family Craft from 9:00 AM to noon. Drop in any time. Kiddos will make a kaleidoscope that when rotated will produce ever-changing colorful patterns! Always free admission and parking.

JUST BEEN INFORMED- THE BARTLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT'S TOUCH A TRUCK EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO PREDICTED WEATHER

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Bartlett, IL
60103

Telephone

+16308370800

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