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Celebrate the 85th birthday of Dickinson House on Sept. 9 · Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

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  Speaker 1: Celebrate the 85th birthday of Dickinson House on September 9th.
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  Speaker 1: Written by Tom Collins. This article is being read by
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  Speaker 1: an automated voice brought to you by Everlit. The 85th
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  Speaker 1: anniversary of the Dickinson House in Oglesby will be celebrated
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  Speaker 1: with refreshments and music on Wednesday, September 9th. The event
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  Speaker 1: will be celebrated with an ice cream social and band
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  Speaker 1: concert featuring Brandon Chubakowski, conductor, and the municipal band. A
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  Speaker 1: choral group and an instrumental group consisting of students from
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  Speaker 1: Washington School will also perform. The public is invited to
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  Speaker 1: this free event, which begins at 5 p.m. with music
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  Speaker 1: starting at 6.30 p.m. Those attending are asked to bring
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  Speaker 1: their own lawn chairs. Homemade cake, ice cream, and punch
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  Speaker 1: will be served. The band will feature songs from the 40s,
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  Speaker 1: moving through the years with additional songs and the singing
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  Speaker 1: of Happy Birthday to the Dickinson House. Also commemorating the
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  Speaker 1: anniversary is the sale of t-shirts, $ 20 each, which are
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  Speaker 1: currently available at City Hall and will also be sold
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  Speaker 1: the night of the anniversary party. According to historical information
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  Speaker 1: from Gary Peterlin, president of the Dickinson Foundation, the Dickinson
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  Speaker 1: House was donated to the city of Oglesby through the
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  Speaker 1: efforts of Bertha K. Evans and Richard Moyle Sr. Dedication
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  Speaker 1: was on March 27, 1941. The Marquette Cement Company assumed
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  Speaker 1: the responsibility of keeping the structure in repair, of supplying light, power, water,
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  Speaker 1: and all maintenance supplies that were required for the facility.
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  Speaker 1: These contributions were done also, for many years by the
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  Speaker 1: successors in business to the Marquette Company. The building was
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  Speaker 1: built entirely of monolithic concrete. Not a stick of wood
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  Speaker 1: is used in the permanent structure part of the building.
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  Speaker 1: It has historical and architectural significance as it was one
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  Speaker 1: of the first buildings created with a monolithic pour. The
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  Speaker 1: community center housed a swimming pool and bowling alley, as
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  Speaker 1: well as various rooms located on two floors, utilized for meetings,
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  Speaker 1: recreational activities, family gatherings, club meetings, and public events. The
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  Speaker 1: exterior of the building is surrounded by recreational fields over
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  Speaker 1: 12 acres, where baseball and softball fields, as well as
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  Speaker 1: other youth baseball diamonds, are established. Through the years, many
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  Speaker 1: other recreational outdoor activities have been hosted on the grounds,
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  Speaker 1: including hockey ball, archery ranges, horseshoe courts, children's playgrounds, and
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  Speaker 1: band concerts. The interior of the building has interesting molded
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  Speaker 1: beams and indentures, which are adorned with beautiful sconces, adding
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  Speaker 1: to the charm and highlighting the decorative architectural brilliance in
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  Speaker 1: paying tribute to the history of Vogelsby built on the
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  Speaker 1: cement industry. When the cement plants were unable to continue
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  Speaker 1: their support of the facility, the facility was offered to
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  Speaker 1: the city of Oglesby. A citizens group, the Dickinson Foundation,
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  Speaker 1: was formed in 1998 and has been a support organization
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  Speaker 1: for the Dickinson House, raising funds, making improvements, and hosting
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  Speaker 1: events in cooperation with the city of Oglesby and the
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  Speaker 1: Park and Parks and Recreation Department. The residents of Oglesby,
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  Speaker 1: their guests, and the surrounding communities have been able to
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  Speaker 1: attend and host recreational events, receptions, dinners, weddings, family gatherings, concerts,
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  Speaker 1: and outdoor activities over the last 85 years, with much
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  Speaker 1: more planned for the years to come.