ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 



15 



The Elgin Audubon Society's New Home 



The new natural history Museum in Lord's Park, Elgin, which is in 

 the custody of the Elgin Audubon Society, was formally dedicated on Oct. 

 24th. Mayor Arwin E. Price made the presentation speech and gave the 

 keys to the President of the Elgin Audubon Society, Mr. B. F. Berryman, 

 who acted as chairman on the occasion. In response, Mr. Berryman 

 pledged the Society to use the Museum properly for the benefit of the 

 people. He outlined briefly some of the plans of the Society for the 

 protection of bird life in the Elgin area. He then introduced Mr. Orpheus 

 M. Schantz, President of the Illinois Audubon Society, who congratulated 

 Elgin upon the possession of such a museum and upon the local interest 

 in the study of nature which the Elgin Audubon Society is so successfully 

 furthering. He expressed the hope that Elgin will become as noted for 

 its natural history interest as for its watch factory and other commercial 

 enterprises. 



The local papers, particularly the Daily Courier, quoted extensively 

 from Mr. Schantz' address. During the day more than 500 persons at- 

 tended the exercises and visited the museum. 



The initiative in the organization of the Elgin Audubon Society was 

 taken by Mr. Carl F. Groneman, an artist, in June 1914, who attributed 

 his inspiration to a chance copy of Bird- Lore which he picked up at 

 a sale of miscellaneous books .in Chicago. It was a good investment for 

 Elgin, apparently, for an Audubon Society was organized there on June 

 14, 1914 with Mr. Groneman as its first President and Mrs. Barbara 

 Culley, Secretary. The growth of the Society was gradual until its first 

 public bird exhibition and bird lecture on April 21, 1917, Mr. Schantz 

 lecturing at that time, when wide spread interest was aroused. Today the 

 membership is over 200. Its bird exhibits are annual events widely at- 

 tended and markedly beneficial in influence. 



