Old mixes with new during Lisle's Depot Days

Some things indeed will be old and some things new this year when the Lisle Heritage Society hosts Depot Days at The Museums of Lisle Station Park.

New is the name of the location. The Lisle Heritage Society requested the historic park's name officially be changed to include the word "museums" to better reflect the four integral buildings and waycar that comprise the park.

On the old side of the ledger, it is 175 years since the first permanent residents, Luther Hatch and his brother, James Hatch, settled the area in 1832.

New is the exterior sprucing-up the 1850s Netzley Yender House received this summer, thanks to the hard-working volunteers and financial assistance of the Torch Classic. The event run by BP employees includes a day of volunteering as part of an annual four-day convention.

"We had approximately 75 people out there and, all totaled, including the pre-work, we put in about 750 hours," said co-coordinator Jim Williams of Schaumburg.

The Torch Classic does a volunteer activity in its host city while developing company camaraderie through competitive sports and fundraising events.

This year, the group did exterior restoration work, carpentry, painting and landscaping on the historic building and its outhouse. The busy volunteers also rebuilt the front porch, repaired the wheelchair ramp, refurbished a cellar window and door, planted the kitchen garden, laid some pavers and fixed the garden fence.

All repairs considered the house's historical integrity.

"A lot of prep work was done by our BP employees from Whiting, Indiana, who came up on their days off so that on our volunteer day we were able to complete the front porch," Williams said.

Other BP employees, formerly Amoco, came from as far away as Texas.

Visitors of all ages can enjoy some old-fashioned fun at the heritage society's Depot Days, which runs noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The historic park, 921 School St., comes alive with seldom-seen crafts and skills, samplings of old-fashioned foods and hayrack rides.

Demonstrations will include blacksmithing, glass blowing, corn grinding, rug hooking, leather tooling, spinning and woodworking. Watch as experts make candles, rope, lace and soap, and learn what life was like before modern day conveniences.

Children's pioneer games, a working mini hay baler and food booths are featured in the green space in the center of the complex, while inside are working model train layouts and the heritage society gift shop with its annual Christmas ornament.

The Friends of the Lisle Library will have a used book sale. Volunteers will offer a taste of the past with free samples of homemade apple pie baked in the beehive oven in the summer kitchen.

Teens may find the demonstrations by Morse code telegraphers inside the waycar, commonly known as a caboose, an interesting comparison to text messaging.

Appearing only on Saturday, you'll want to bring a digital camera to capture a photo of the DuPage Valley Settlers, who camp out and dress in period costumes, lending an authentic old essence to the festivities.

At 3:30 p.m. Saturday, join the live auction for the outdoor art pieces that graced the village this summer -- the Benches of Lisle. The solid-wood benches, painted in varied themes, are suitable for outdoor patios or indoor rec rooms.

Try to snare a bargain or outbid the rest on the one you really want, assured that all proceeds go to charity.

New this year are tours of the Lisle Cemetery at 1 and 2 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Costumed interpreters will highlight one of the oldest registered cemeteries in the county. Some early settlers are buried at the cemetery, which is trimmed with stone pillars and iron fencing.

No visit to Depot Days is complete without a stop in the 1874 Chicago, Burlington and Quincy depot that served as Lisle Station for more than 100 years. The structure played a key role in the community's growth.

At the depot, a must see special exhibit, "Reflections: Looking Back Upon Ourselves," features roughly 75 signed model ships, planes and other artifacts from World War II through Vietnam.

"This is the only exhibit to commemorate the Chicago area's aviation legacy available to the public," said historian and collector David Wendell.

"I started my collection by looking up all the men I only read about in books and I went to talk to them. My signatures include one by former President George Bush, who used to fly off aircraft carriers in Lake Michigan, and former President Gerald Ford, who was athletic director at Glenview Navel Air Station."

Representing Lisle in Wendell's collection are VFW post commander Jerry Neuberg, a Vietnam Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Repose hospital ship; Charlie Drendel, who served in the 15th Air Force in World War II; and Andy Yender, who lent ground support for the L-5 liaison planes used for recognizance in the Pacific theater of World War II.

Wendell will be available during Depot Days to answer any questions, talk to veterans and families, and look for others to add to his collection.

The two-day festival is all about preserving history and making it come alive for old and young alike, thanks to many generous volunteers who give of their time, energy and expertise to make it happen.