"Berwyn Through Pictures" Today at the Library, 2 PM

[Terri]

Library highlights historic photos
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By Cari Brokamp, cbrokamp@mysuburbanlife.com
Berwyn Life
Thu Feb 07, 2008, 12:40 PM CST
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Berwyn, IL -
Berwyn residents can get a glimpse of the city's past this weekend through a display of historic photos, postcards and other images being shared by local collectors.

In anticipation of the city's centennial anniversary in June, the Berwyn Public Library has planned the "Berwyn Through Pictures" program to offer residents an opportunity to look back to an earlier time. Local collectors Frank Magallon and Doug Deuchler will have old images of the city and other memorabilia on hand at the event.

"(People) can learn more about the community and its rich history, and have a little bit more pride in their hometown," said Magallon, 30, a lifelong Berwyn resident who collects historical artifacts related to the city. "Berwyn has an amazing rich history culturally and, in the things that have happened, there's a lot worth celebrating. You have a lot of people who have roots in Berwyn and it's where a lot of people have gotten their start."

Magallon has become an avid collector of historic Berwyn memorabilia in recent years, gathering photographs, postcards, old newspapers and ads, and promotional items from businesses, some of which date back to the 1800s. One of the prizes of his collection is a promotional booklet for Berwyn produced by Charles E. Piper and Wilbur J. Andrews, who helped to found the city.

"I've always been interested in history, and I was born and raised in Berwyn, so the area has always been near and dear to my heart," Magallon said.

Joining Magallon to share photos from his book "Berwyn," is Doug Deuchler. The Oak Park resident's book was published in 2006 as a part of the Images of America series, and contains more than 200 historic photographs, many of which were obtained through the Berwyn Historical Society, which helped plan Saturday's event.

"Sometimes Berwyn gets a bum rap for not being too interesting, but on the contrary, it's very exciting historically, politically and architecturally," Deuchler said. "It's always been such a fascinating community to me."

Deuchler said getting to know one's community is important for any resident, and makes them more deeply connected to their town and neighbors.

"The more we know about our community, the deeper our roots plug into it," Deuchler said.  "One of the problems modern people have in any of their relationships, with others and with the community they live in, is that we don't invest enough into them. Getting to know your community is like getting to know a friend; the more you know about it, the more you know where it's been and where it can possibly go."

Want to learn more?

The "Berwyn Through Pictures" program will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Berwyn Public Library, 2701 Harlem Ave.

[frankie]

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