Plan to attend the program “The Little Town with a Big Heart” on February 21, 2026, at 1:30pm at   at Sumner’s new City Hall, 224 S. Christy Ave. Free admittance and refreshment courtesy of the city of Sumner.  Presentation by George Zwilling. Local Black history in Lawrence County is a source of deep pride: it is the story of resilience, creativity, faith, entrepreneurship, and the leaders, families, churches, schools, and businesses that built and sustained this place agai

Born in Richland County, Illinois on March 8, 1908, Virgil Henry was the son of E Clinton and Rosa Shick Henry. He came from a family of schoolteachers; his father was a teacher; his brother Omar taught in schools in Lawrence County and his sister Fern was a teacher at Sumner High School. While a student in 1924, Virgil Henry of Sumner was awarded the prize in the home lighting contest conducted by the Central Illinois Public Service Company. The prize was a radio outfit

January 7 1881 ‘Ye tax gatherer is abroad in the land with his big book; Don't sic the dog on him.’  The tax collector counted 1,430 dogs in the county and hopefully was not bitten by any of them. The 17 th  snowstorm of the year occurred the day before the paper was published. Notwithstanding the extreme cold weather, a little Seed came to the surface in Lawrenceville last week. (The researchers haven’t learned who the parents were yet.) Reverend John Hennessy delivered qui

in 1991 the LTHS Marching Band performed at Disney World in Florida. Note their uniforms. By 1998 The band had new uniforms. This year they have new uniforms again and the Historical Society is the happy recipient of an old uniform for their county music exhibit. Look for it to be displayed soon.

Don't forget the Ladies of Lawrence: Clothing Through the Decades program Thursday Dec 4 10:00 at the History Center! News in Lawrencre County as reported in the Lawrence and Knox County newspapers for the week ending on December 3 1880. After the death of Mary Buntin , the new editor, her brother- in- law Sam B Day , began reporting the news. He had spent fifteen years in the publishing office setting type but stated that he would do a fair job with the news.    The worthy c

Sponsored by the BTHS Girls Athletic Association (G.A.A.), the Snow Ball was held every winter. Note the girls dancing without their shoes and the aluminum Christmas Tree in the corner.

Don't forget to register for Thursday morning's opening program (November 6 10:00 at the History Center) featuring 'Stories from the Wardrobe: The Dresses and the Ladies who Wore Them', by Curator, Nancy King. Admission $10 Goodie bags will be provided.   Seating is limited to 25 people.  Reservations required and can be made by calling 908-208-2372.   Early Teachers’ Association Teachers of the County formed an association as early as 1856 according to the American Banner,

The local newspaper in 1880 advertised for students at what we now call SIU. “The 7th academic year of Southern Illinois Normal...

IN THE BEGINNING Lawrenceville high school students attended Old Central on the southeast corner of 12th and Washington Streets facing...

Thad Hennessy In 1982 Lawrenceville Illinois High School played Monmouth High School in the State Basketball tournament.  The Lawrence...