HR1109 LRB096 21901 GRL 39953 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to congratulate the Maple Street
4 Chapel Preservation Society on the 140th anniversary of the
5 Maple Street Chapel; and
 
6     WHEREAS, The Maple Street Chapel and the Village of Lombard
7 have been linked together for 140 years; the Village of Lombard
8 was incorporated in 1869 and the Maple Street Chapel, the most
9 visible, enduring, and recognizable architectural structure in
10 the Village of Lombard, was dedicated on May 29, 1870; and
 
11     WHEREAS, This National Historic Landmark chapel has a
12 Gothic design and a rich heritage; it was built for $5,000 with
13 a bat and board exterior and a natural oak and hickory wainscot
14 interior with unique Calico-leaded glass windows; and
 
15     WHEREAS, The soaring spire of the Maple Street Chapel has
16 been a welcoming sign to people coming to visit the Village of
17 Lombard; and
 
18     WHEREAS, The Chapel was the site of the first Village Hall
19 and the first free Public Library; the bell of the chapel
20 served as the fire alarm for many years; and
 

 

 

HR1109 - 2 - LRB096 21901 GRL 39953 r

1     WHEREAS, Originally built as a central worship space for
2 the congregation of the First Church of Lombard, the Maple
3 Street Chapel is currently preferred for special worship
4 services, concerts, wedding, lectures, meetings, and other
5 special occasions; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Noted Lombard citizen Josiah T. Reade was the
7 founder of the first free library located in the chapel; it was
8 through his love of books and his willingness to share
9 knowledge and insight that the library was established, with
10 over 6,000 of his books as the core of the collection in the
11 new Public Library; and
 
12     WHEREAS, William Plum, another notable Lombard citizen,
13 donated lilacs from his garden, and today there are over 300
14 varieties of lilac in the eight-acre Lilacia Park; his land and
15 home were donated to Lombard and became the home of Lilacia
16 Park and a library; and
 
17     WHEREAS, For more than 20 years, the Maple Street Chapel
18 Preservation Society, Inc., and its predecessor group have been
19 the stewards that have maintained this vital part of Lombard
20 history; therefore, be it
 
21     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
22 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we

 

 

HR1109 - 3 - LRB096 21901 GRL 39953 r

1 congratulate Maple Street Chapel Preservation Society as they
2 commemorate the 140th anniversary of the Maple Street Chapel;
3 and be it further
 
4     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5 presented to the Maple Street Chapel Preservation Society as a
6 symbol of our respect and esteem.