Bond County Historical

Bond County

Historical Society

In the fall of 1992 the Greenville Public Library board decided to expand their children's library into the space used for the museum. In January 1993 a public meeting was held to determine the fate of the society's collection. Charter members Douglas and Susan Hoiles, and Cornelia Davis pledged large donations to the society to purchase its own home.

Past Presidents of the Bond County Historical Society

John H. Nolan, 1955-1957, Evelyne McCracken, 1957-1973, Cornelia Davis, 1973-1985, Tom Shea, 1986-1990, Mary Jane Sandifer, 1990-1992, Kevin Kaegy, 1993-2001, John Goldsmith, 2001-2003, 2004-2005, Donna Thacker, 2003-2004, Don Jordahl, 2004, John S. Coleman, 2005-Present

Since the opening of the Hoiles-Davis Museum, the Bond County Historical Society has worked to obtain and preserve items important to the history of the county and its communities. The society also began sponsoring Bond County Heritage Day in Greenville each year in April. The Heritage Day Quilt Show has become a major event and draws hundreds of people each year. In 2003 the society published its popular book Images of America, Greenville and Bond County, containing hundreds of vintage pictures. In 2005 the newsletter Historically Yours was started and regularly sent to members. In 2006 the society went online with its website, www.bondcountyhistorical.org, as a way to inform the public on the history of Bond County and the society’s events. These activities, and more, continue to be the mission of the Bond County Historical Society as it continues into its second 50 years.

Hoiles-Davis Museum

In the summer of 1998, a museum committee began negotiating the purchase of a house at 318 West Winter St. in Greenville owned by the family of the late Byrl and Katherine Alexander. This historic home was originally built in the 1870’s and owned by Isaac Norman. The Kingsbury Park District provided a small tax levy to support the operation of the facility, and the house was bought in August 1998. In December 1999 the new home of the Bond County Historical Society formally opened and was named the Hoiles-Davis Museum in honor of these two family's generous contributions.