They were the largest, fullest, juiciest of snowflakes. Big blobs of a mashed moisture seemed to drop from the leaden sky with dollops of determination on an unsuspecting Saturday afternoon in a month known for April showers, not snowstorms. In between the whirling wind and pellets of sleet, I wondered where spring had gone to as I stopped at the grocery, the ATM, the library . . . normal Saturday errands on a not-so-normal day.
It was just a short distance from the library, stopped at a red light, that I noticed an OPEN banner in front of a small, local historical museum that I have been wanting to visit for a rather long time.
My car turned into the small parking lot, I braced myself against the ice and wind, trudged gingerly passed a patch of bluebells dusted with snow, climbed up the stairs of the historic Vial House and Museum and stepped into the warm vestibule where I was greeted by a volunteer who welcomed me in and briefly explained the current exhibition, a “Military Salute to Local War Heroes of WWI and WWII” .
What an amazing, extensive historical collection of uniforms, articles, photographs, posters, memorabilia, and more – all donations to the historical society from local La Grange and La Grange Park residents and on display for the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI.
The Vial House was built in 1874 by Samuel Vial and is now part of the LaGrange Area Historical Society.
A well catalogued guidebook in hand, with numbered items/explanations, I walked around the rooms of this small but significant exhibition, matched items with historical notes, and felt the awesome gratitude at the service and sacrifice of so many, and the appreciation, yet again, for the small but mighty historical societies that bind our histories together.
Lifeonthecutoff's Blog 
Aha, another adventure into an interesting place, and just the thing to do on an unseasonable day. I love your description of the snow. Dollops of determination – very good!
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Thank you so much, Juliet. It has been a most trying winter and spring, but, we keep on. I hope all is well with you. I’m still having trouble commenting on several blogs, including yours. Just know that I’m still around. 🙂
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what a lucky find, I’m sure this was a fascinating visit
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It was both and enjoyed immensely.
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Leave it to you to make the most of a snowy spring day Penny!
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Thanks, Janet. I think I was just determined to be out. 🙂
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Your reward for being far more adventuresome than I.
In the first place, barring an absolute ‘have to go get’ or ‘have to do’ errand, I would probably never have gone out of the house in such weather in the first place! In the second place, assuming I had no choice whether to go out, I would have been so focused on doing the necessary and getting back home, that I would have wholly missed the banner and the subsequent enjoyment. Good for you (and those of us who follow your adventures) that you didn’t!
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I think I’m just a wee bit headstrong, Karen. 🙂 The one thing that will keep me in is if I have to walk on ice. THAT is my downfall, and usually my fall down. 🙂
As you know, I am easily distracted and stop for the simplest of things (honey, turtles, and eagle soaring overhead). We’ve lived here for 13 years, and I’ve never been in this very small museum which is on my route to and from often. I couldn’t help myself. haha
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Looks like a great outing!
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It was worth it, Jill.
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What a fantastic little find, Penny! You were paying attention while on your Saturday rounds. 🙂 I feel such a sense of gratitude towards people who have revered the history of those who have served our country and here we are so many decades later, and we can still learn from them. I would enjoy this, and thoroughly! As to the house itself, I do love that staircase! I hope you called home? I would imagine this turned into one of the longest “trips to the library” you’ve had, and a search party might have been needed. 🙂
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I feel that same sense of gratitude, Debra. Seeing the personal items, ephemera, uniforms and such bring their service and stories to life and honor them. The exhibit was on the first floor, but, I snuck up the stairs when no one was looking. 🙂 It is very narrow staircase, winding, and spectacular. I am now interested in the history of the house. It was built in 1874, and close to the railroad, so, which would have been after the Great Chicago Fire when survivors moved west into what became the suburbs.
I didn’t call home. 😦 Tom is used to my “trips to the library” and wanderings, though I should have let him know I was a-okay on this particular day. 🙂
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You make the best discoveries, Penny. I’ve never been to the Vial House, though I have been to LaGrange. What a lovely find. And what a lovely exhibit. The last WWII vet in the church I used to attend passed away years ago. We’re losing such a valuable tie to history.
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Thank you, L. Marie. The Vial House is just a few blocks south of the downtown business area and well worth the visit, though they aren’t open very often. We are, indeed, losing that tie to our past as our vets are passing away.The items on display, and the extensive cataloguing of them, was as moving as it was impressive. I do love these little museums.
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This again looks like a museum where I will enjoy looking at the building as much as the exhibits. That Saturday you mentioned was awful. I had to run a couple of errands, but stayed in much of the day. Good for you for making the best of the day and finding something to enjoy.
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It was quite enjoyable to be in the house, Sue, and I think made this particular exhibit more meaningful. I pass the house often in my trips to and fro – just happened to be open on that miserable Saturday. Thanks, Sue.
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