Published September 21, 2024
By Nancy Benz
The story of The Quincy Museum begins with a passion for history and a respect for the past. In 1962, Dr. James Reed, a local Quincy dentist interested in archaeology, received special permission from the Quincy Park Board to partially explore the Native American burial mounds at 5th and Harrison streets in what is now as Indian Mounds Park. This was the start of a unique project that would bring a little-known culture to life for the people of Quincy. A year later, the Erroke Museum opened its doors to the community. The name “Erroke” wasn’t just a catchy title—it was an acronym derived from the names of Dr. Reed’s children: Erin, Robin, and Kevin.
Dr. Reed’s creation quickly became more than just a personal project. In the fall of 1963, he transferred ownership of the museum to the Quincy Park District. The Park District reached out to Dr. John Snow, the ceremonial advisor of the Boy Scouts of America’s Order of the Arrow about the Boy Scouts taking over operations of a Native American museum. The Explorer Post 107, a group of young scouts, began operating the museum with semi-regular hours. Gardner Denver Company served as the Posts’ institutional representative. The scouts gave the museum a fresh face with painted murals and a painted thunderbird on the outside walls, and by July 27, 1965, the Erroke Indian Mound Museum was officially chartered by the State of Illinois. It was a community effort, with Byron Knoblock leading the way as the first President of the Board of Directors, serving eight years.
December of that same year marked a significant transformation—the museum was renamed the Quincy Museum of the American Indian and Natural History. However, the journey was not without its challenges. Within two years, the enthusiasm for the museum waned, and it faced closure due to vandalism and the Explorer Post losing interest in operating a museum. The skeletal remains were respectfully reburied, and the future of the museum hung in the balance.
But the Quincy Park District had bigger plans. Development began on Quinsippi Island, a tourist destination, and they encouraged the museum to relocate. A new building, funded by the Park District and the Moorman Foundation, was erected. With dedicated volunteers, the museum re-opened on August 22, 1971. The museum was reborn as The Quincy Indian Museum Inc., attracting visitors with engaging displays, including a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution.
Despite its success on Quinsippi Island, the decline of other island attractions by the late 1970s pushed museum officials to consider another move. Around this time, Quincy College was releasing its ownership of the historic Newcomb-Stillwell mansion, which had been used as a dormitory for nearly 40 years, with the nuns of Notre Dame and seminarians living in the mansion as well.
Before Quincy College’s occupancy, the mansion belonged to Richard Newcomb, a notable city resident who owned and operated the American Strawboard Association. When he died in 1904, one of his eldest daughters, Elizabeth, moved in with her husband John Stillwell. Stillwell was one of the proprietors of Electric Wheel, now known as Titan International. The Stillwells lived in the home until both of their deaths in the 1930s.
Seizing the opportunity of Quincy College’s sale, the museum board secured a one-year lease with an option to buy in 1980, igniting a community-wide effort to support the museum’s new home. That summer, Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Mahannah moved into the mansion as live-in caretakers, joining Dr. John Snow and Jim Blackwood in the restoration efforts. Open houses were held to showcase the renovations and spark interest and donations from the community. The first open house was held in January 1981, where guests could see the renovation of the sitting room and den. The strategy worked, and by the summer of 1981, the museum board purchased the mansion, officially broadening its scope and renaming it The Quincy and Adams County Museum Inc.
As the museum continued to evolve, so did its mission. On January 3, 1983, it was renamed to The Quincy Museum of Natural History and Art Inc., reflecting its growing collection and ambition. The museum opened to the public during Dogwood Weekend on May 8, 1983, offering tours and exhibits that drew in curious visitors from near and far. Tours of the house and exhibits were available during the week by appointment only and admission was $2 for adults and $1 for school-aged children.
The museum’s first executive director, Raymond Shubinski, was hired in October 1989, bringing a new level of professionalism to the institution. As interest grew, regular hours were established. Under his leadership, the museum launched its first major exhibit, “Mummies and the Mysteries of Egypt,” in 1990, which captivated the local community. Following Shubinski’s departure in 1993, Nike Mendenhall served as interim director until Steve Adams took the helm in December 1994.
Adams oversaw a period of growth in the museum’s membership, educational programming, and volunteer involvement. His decade-long tenure was followed by Jannel VonderHaar as interim director until the hiring of Barbara Wilkinson-Fletcher as executive director in 2004. Fletcher further expanded the museum’s offerings, exhibits, and events until her retirement in 2024.
Today, under the guidance of Katherine “Katie” Roskamp-Ellerbrock, The Quincy Museum continues to thrive, building on its rich history while looking forward to an exciting future. From its humble beginnings as a small local project to a cornerstone of Quincy’s cultural and architectural landscape, the museum’s journey is a testament to the power of community, passion, and perseverance.
Nancy Benz is the Curator of Collections and Exhibits at the Quincy Museum in Quincy, Illinois. She holds American History degrees from Quincy University (2014) and Western
Illinois University (2018). Nancy has 10 years of public history experience and owns Tracking Your History: Family & History Preservation Services.
Sources:
The Newcomb Stillwell History. Brochure.
Website. www.thequincymuseum.org accessed September 5, 2024.
