Welcome to The Ogle County Historical

Society and Museum Site

111 North Sixth Street

P.O. Box 183

Oregon, Illinois 61061

(815) 732-7545

e-mail oglecohistory@gmail.com

The Ogle County Historical Society began in 1954 as a project of the

Ogle County Federation of Women's Clubs.

The Constitution states, "The object of this Society shall be to discover,

preserve and disseminate the History of Ogle County and the State of Illinois."

Over the years, the Society has been involved in various projects--the last one

being the preservation of Brick Road and the purchase of a sign placed at the west

end of the road near the section that was relaid. Brick Road is east of Oregon on

Illinois Rt. 64 to German Church Road; then one mile north to Brick Road;

turn right 1/4 mile to sign.

The Nash Home and Museum opened in 1962. It was the home of the Chester Nash

family and was built in 1878 of Midwestern prairie-type architecture;

square, with long porches and high ceilings.

Chester Nash invented the cultivator and was a contemporary of John Deere. His

daughter, Miss Ruby Nash, taught school for 50 years from 1891 to 1941.

Nash School, now Nash Recreation Center, was named after her.

Come; step back in time and see the way people lived in the late 1800's.

The house is furnished in the style of the 1880's and is also a

showcase of antiques and artifacts from all over the county.

Our parlor is called the Ella Chaney Room and contains antique furniture,

including a pianoforte from the Barrick family of Rockford, Illinois,

which was played at Illinois Governor Ford's inauguration in 1842.

Ella Chaney was a Rockford College graduate and contemporary of

Jane Adams of Hull House fame. Miss Chaney's financial

bequest enabled us to purchase the Nash home.

Our office boasts a secretary desk from Miss Chaney and the courtroom

chair used by Judge Cartwright. It also contains reference books on the history of Ogle

County and a large 1864 map of the county.

In our front hall an old 30-day clock from the Burchell family shares a corner

with the "Pink Lady", a bust of a young woman attributed to the sculptor, Lorado Taft.

Other Items of Interest:

Clothing of the 1880's, including several wedding dresses.
Pictures from the Governor Lowden and Mrs. Lowden's train case and fan.
Old kerosene lamps.
Picture's of the "Owls" Club (be sure to ask about this story).
Kitchen exactly as it was built, with old cast iron range.
Patriotic Room containing memorabilia from all the wars, including a branch of a tree with shrapnel and small cannon balls imbedded in it brought back to Ogle County by local soldiers.
Annex is full of interesting artifacts.
Nash school bell, the Ferry bell from Grand Detour, Illinois, side saddle, treadmill, spinning wheel, and broom maker, to name a few. It also contains a model of Chester Nash's cultivator.
View a large display case containing flags carried during the Civil War, with a list of battles in which county natives fought.

May through October

 Thursday: 9:00 am -12:00 pm 
 Sunday: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

November through April

  Thursday: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Admission is free. Donations gratefully accepted

and will be used for upkeep of the

Ogle County Historical Society Museum.

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