| From Byron to the Big Leagues |
Albert Goodwill Spalding, professional baseball player and famous sporting goods manufacturing founder, was born right here in Byron, Illinois in 1850.
Did you know? In 1871, Spalding was recruited by the Boston Red Stockings, and was highly successful; he won 205 games and lost 53 as pitcher and batted .323 as a hitter.
In 1876 at the age of 26, Spalding helped to establish and the National League. He was half owner, as well as manager and star pitcher of the Chicago White Stockings (which later became the Chicago Cubs). That season, Spalding led the team -- both managing and pitching -- to the National League championship, posted a 47-13 pitching record(still the Cubs record), and batted .312. That year, together with his brother Walter, he founded the Spalding & Bros. Sporting Goods Company, which contracted with the other teams to furnish uniforms, equipment, and balls to all of the other teams. Spalding baseballs were the official National League ball for 100 years, 1876-1976.
Want to learn more? Come see our recently expanded Spalding exhibit. |
| Crossing Boundaries in Ogle County |
"Crossing Boundaries' was created by the Byron Museum, with the help of many people and organizations around Ogle County. Though created as a companion exhibit to the Smithsonian's "Between Fences", the exhibit will remain a semi-permanent feature of the Byron Museum. "Crossing Boundaries" tells the stories of 10 individuals from throughout Ogle County's history. Each encountered different barriers in his or her life. Some were physical barriers, like conquering the untamed prairie in the 1830s. Others faced challenges such as sexism. The exhibit examines these stories, and asks the visitor: how do you encounter barriers in your life? What do you do to overcome those sometimes hard-to-see boundaries? How do we address the subtle "fences" of gender, social status, and race? |
| From Shackles to Freedom: The Underground Railroad in Byron |
Did you know that the original owners of the Read House were abolitionists and participated in the Underground Railroad? The Lucius Read House was constructed in the early 1840s. In spring 2002 the house was officially recognized by the NPS as a site in the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program. This exhibit is currently undergoing a makeover which will feature more information on Ogle County's involvement in the Underground Railroad. |
| 1910 Model of Byron with Train |
See what Byron looked like in the early 1900s. Learn about the devastating fire of 1877 which destroyed a good portion of downtown. An audio program provides visitors with the story of the importance of railroads in Byron’s history and growth. This exhibit is very popular with train & railroad enthusiasts! |
| Clamming on the Rock River |
| Clam harvesting was a big industry in the Rock River Valley in the early 1900s. Young and old would come to the river for the summer and work steadily for four months. The meat of the clams was sold as pig feed or fish bait, and the shells were then loaded into wagons and taken to train cars for shipment to button factories. Clammers were paid by the ton, and prices once peaked at $110 per ton. However, with the popularity of plastic buttons, by 1935 the price had dropped to only $30 per ton. An average clammer might harvest about a ton per week. Today, the North American River Mussel is an endangered species due to over-harvesting in the late 19th and early 20th century. |
| Life on the Farm |
Take a walk back and view what farming was like in the late 1800s and early 1900s. More than 50 artifacts make up this collection, which is on long-term loan from an area resident. |
| Outhouse Treasures |
Ever wonder what you might find in an old outhouse pit? An exhibit of artifacts uncovered during several pit toilet digs includes broken chamber pots, toys, medicine bottles and some other surprises. Ever wonder what it would be like to dig an old outhouse pit? Find out by volunteering for our dig program and learn about “outhouse archeology” first hand. |
| Byron Schools |
This exhibit features a photo display, artifacts and books. The exhibit tells the story of early schools in Byron and exemplifies the importance of education to residents then and now. |
| Byron Post Offices |
This collection includes a block of Post Office Boxes and other items on permanent loan from the Byron Post Office. The exhibit demonstrates the changes in Byron’s postal service through the years. |
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