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                          Organizations and Groups

                                     Kinmundy and Alma, Illinois

 

             

   We are looking for photos of people and/or places from around Kinmundy & Alma.  Can you help?

Or maybe you have stories or memories from the "Good Old Days"?  What do YOU remember?

        The Kinmundy Historical Society would be honored to preserve your memories and stories.  We also have the

equipment to scan (or copy) your photos so that they may be enjoyed now as well as for generations yet to come!

        We would love to hear from you!  For more information, please contact: 

       

   Dolores (Ford) Mobley – Dolores@ford-mobley.com

                       208 Joan Dr.; Divernon, IL  62530; (217) 625-7527

            or

           

            Gladys (Corrie) See – gsee49@yahoo.com

                                         408 S. Washington St.; Kinmundy, IL 62854; (618) 547-7731

 

 

                                                Click to return to 

 

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                                                Opry House and Shows

 

(O-48a) Opry House in Kinmundy

1- ____________; 2 – Darrell Arnold; 3 – Horace Ashby; 4 – Hubert Fisher; 5 – W.S. Pruett; 6 – Robb Maxey Jr.; 7 – Carl Dunlap; 8 – Dr. Hugo Miller; 9 – Ira C. Morris; 10 – Edward Wormley; 11 – Geo Bargh; 12 – Dr. Fowler; 13 – Jim Brown;

14 – Webster Lowe; 15 – Norris Vallow; 16 - _________________; 17 – Arno Miller; 18 - Carl Jones; 19 – Henry Boyd; 20 – Fenton Switzer; 21 – Merle Nirider; 22 – Eli Robb; 23 – Forest Motch; 24 – Peck Brown; 25 – Rev. E. Winenger;

26 – Von Bullmon; 27 – John Fowler; 28 - ____________; 29 – Burdette Maxey; 30 – Paddy Gray; 31 – Bill Neaville; 32 – R.J. Andrews; 33 – Gilbert Nirider; 34 – W.W. Lowe; 35 – Frank Rogers; 36 – Earl Furry; 37 – Bernice Furry;

38 – Audrey Vallow; 39 – C.B. Rohrbough; 40 – Lem Kennedy; 41 – Edd Doolen; 42 – Robert Rowan; 43 – Chas. Pruett; 44 – Charlie Jones; 45 – C.S. Watson; 46 – Frank Jones; 47 – John Merchant; 48 – Edd Perry; 49 – C.R. Alderson;

50 – Oswald Miller; 51 – John Holt; 52 – John Nelms; 53 _______________

 

 

(O-48b) Opry House in Kinmundy (left half of photo)

1- ____________; 2 – Darrell Arnold; 3 – Horace Ashby; 4 – Hubert Fisher; 5 – W.S. Pruett; 6 – Robb Maxey Jr.; 7 – Carl Dunlap; 8 – Dr. Hugo Miller; 9 – Ira C. Morris; 10 – Edward Wormley; 11 – Geo Bargh; 12 – Dr. Fowler; 13 – Jim Brown;

14 – Webster Lowe; 15 – Norris Vallow; 16 - _________________; 17 – Arno Miller; 18 - Carl Jones; 19 – Henry Boyd; 20 – Fenton Switzer; 21 – Merle Nirider; 22 – Eli Robb; 23 – Forest Motch; 24 – Peck Brown; 25 – Rev. E. Winenger;

26 – Von Bullmon; 27 – John Fowler; 28 - ____________; 29 – Burdette Maxey; 30 – Paddy Gray; 31 – Bill Neaville; 32 – R.J. Andrews; 33 – Gilbert Nirider; 34 – W.W. Lowe; 35 – Frank Rogers; 36 – Earl Furry; 37 – Bernice Furry;

38 – Audrey Vallow; 39 – C.B. Rohrbough; 40 – Lem Kennedy; 41 – Edd Doolen; 42 – Robert Rowan; 43 – Chas. Pruett; 44 – Charlie Jones; 45 – C.S. Watson; 46 – Frank Jones; 47 – John Merchant; 48 – Edd Perry; 49 – C.R. Alderson;

50 – Oswald Miller; 51 – John Holt; 52 – John Nelms; 53 _______________

 

 

(O-48c) Opry House in Kinmundy (right half of photo)

1- ____________; 2 – Darrell Arnold; 3 – Horace Ashby; 4 – Hubert Fisher; 5 – W.S. Pruett; 6 – Robb Maxey Jr.; 7 – Carl Dunlap; 8 – Dr. Hugo Miller; 9 – Ira C. Morris; 10 – Edward Wormley; 11 – Geo Bargh; 12 – Dr. Fowler; 13 – Jim Brown;

14 – Webster Lowe; 15 – Norris Vallow; 16 - _________________; 17 – Arno Miller; 18 - Carl Jones; 19 – Henry Boyd; 20 – Fenton Switzer; 21 – Merle Nirider; 22 – Eli Robb; 23 – Forest Motch; 24 – Peck Brown; 25 – Rev. E. Winenger;

26 – Von Bullmon; 27 – John Fowler; 28 - ____________; 29 – Burdette Maxey; 30 – Paddy Gray; 31 – Bill Neaville; 32 – R.J. Andrews; 33 – Gilbert Nirider; 34 – W.W. Lowe; 35 – Frank Rogers; 36 – Earl Furry; 37 – Bernice Furry;

38 – Audrey Vallow; 39 – C.B. Rohrbough; 40 – Lem Kennedy; 41 – Edd Doolen; 42 – Robert Rowan; 43 – Chas. Pruett; 44 – Charlie Jones; 45 – C.S. Watson; 46 – Frank Jones; 47 – John Merchant; 48 – Edd Perry; 49 – C.R. Alderson;

50 – Oswald Miller; 51 – John Holt; 52 – John Nelms; 53 _______________

 

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(O-66) Alma Home Talent WLS Show - 1936

 

 

 

 

 

 

(O-68) Alma Home Talent WLS Show - 1936 (left half)

 

 

(O-69) Alma Home Talent WLS Show - 1936 (right half)

 

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                                                                Community Bands

 

(O-3) (According to Steve Loomis of Centralia, IL) "I believe it was taken 2-23-1888 at Kinmundy at an IOOF meeting.   All these bands are from the county. 

L-R  these are Sandoval, Kinmundy (Six's) Centralia (Turners), and Salem.  A tremendous amount of musical minutiae can be gleaned from this classic historical item.” 

 

(Written on the back of the picture: “Papa with the tuba is W.W. Neil, furniture and undertaker, Kinmundy, Ill., father of Mrs. Lottie Neil Harlan Milligan Sharpe”)

 

 

(O-4) Left third of photo includes the first area band

 

(O-5) Middle third of photo includes the second area band. W.W. Neil in in the upper left corner.

 

 

(O-6) Right third of photo includes the first area band

 

 

(O-8) Kinmundy Merchants Band

 

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                                                             Alma Ladies

 

(O-20) Alma Ladies Group - Early 1900's

Standing: _________, Mrs. Pullens, __________, Sarah (Shepard) Ford, __________, __________, __________,

Sitting in Chairs: __________, Stella Laswell, __________, Mrs. Smith, Myrtle Day

Sitting on Ground: Maude Tomlinson, __________

 

 

(O-22) Alma Ladies Group - 1900's

Standing: _________, Mrs. Pullens, __________, Sarah (Shepard) Ford, __________, __________, __________,

Sitting in Chairs: __________, Stella Laswell, __________, Mrs. Smith, Myrtle Day

Sitting on Ground: Maude Tomlinson, __________

 

 

 

(O-21) Alma Ladies Group - circa 1910's

BACK: _______ Grandma Laswell, Mrs. Bundy, Stella Laswell, Mrs. Dan Purcell

MIDDLE ROW: Mrs. Coffin, _________, Mrs. Tomlinson, Mrs. Rebecca “Becky” (Fulton) Wilson

FRONT ROW: Mary French, Laura French, Mrs. Frank McCarty, Sarah Ford

 

 

(O-62) Alma ladies who performed in the Chicagoland Music Festival at Soldier Field, Aug. 1941

Back row: Lois See, "Billie" Agnes Bee, Beth Rainey, Margaret Bee, Grace Jackson, Kathryn Williams, Ruth Wilson?, Hazel Bishop?, Lelia Ford

Front row: Lillian Jackson Squibb, Betty Broom, Barbara Bee

 

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(O-29) Kinmundy Methodist Episcopal Sunday School class which was hosted by Prudence Wilkinson, who can be seen standing on the porch of her house

 

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(O-51) Young people dressed up around Foster twp. - August 1912

TOP ROW: Fletcher Cole, Edwin Walker, Frank Doolen, Hobart Arnold, Andy Dukes, Sam Jones, Frank Garrett, Cecil Lowe, Ernie Jones, George Cole, & Sam Lowe

MIDDLE ROW: Mollie Livesay, Esta (Garrett) Robb, Allie (Jones) Thomas, Blanche Frizzell, Ola (Green) Frizzell, Hazel (Garrett) Livesay, Flossie Eagan, Ella Engler, Gladys Arnold

BOTTOM ROW: Martha Walker, Jane (Walker) Stevens, Carl Doolen, Josie Ballance, Laura (Garrett) Lowe, Grace Frizzell, Lois Jones

 

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(O-65) Kinmundy Reunion near Monte Vista, Colorado, 1927:

Many families from the Kinmundy area, who suffered from Tuberculosis, traveled to Colorado in an attempt to relocate, since the weather helped them with their illness.

Some stayed, but a lot returned after missing "home".

BACK - Clyde Garrett, Mamie (Garrett) Bassett, Charles Lee Doolen (baby), Bill Doolen, (person behind) Ruth Doolen, _____________, Willie Garrett, ____________, Dorotha Jones, ____________,

____________, Ella Garrett, ?Marlin Diss, ?Harold Jones, ?Fat Doolen;

FRONT - Benny Doolen, Lora (Jones) Ingram, Cecil Jones, Millie (Jones) Vallow, _____________, _____________, Julia Jones Uhle

 

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(O-70) Kinmundy Ladies

Back row: Fannie Eagan, Widdis ______, Pearl Telford, Stella Pruett, Olga Witwer, Mat Nirider, Bertha Curry

Middle row: _______ Kellogg, Maude Porter, Ann Miner, _____ Laswell, Margaret Hammers

Front row: Mary Doolen, Mrs. Lothman, Stella Wilkinson

 

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(O-72) Kinmundy Ladies

Back row: Bertha Curry, Julie Pentor, Mrs. Miner, ____________, Jennie Norris, Mrs. Lacy, Mrs. Lee

Front row: Matt Nirider, Stella Wilkerson, Fannie Eagan

 

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(O-73) Kinmundy Ladies

(Bertha Curry is to the right of the lady with the flowers in the front row)

 

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                  Quadrillites Square Dance Teams

     It all started around 1957 when Kenny & Bernice Alberson opened their home to approximately 16 to 18 young people 12 to 15 years of age. 

In the very small kitchen, Kenny would teach square dance drills and Bernice would reward them with refreshments.  With two squares (16 kids),

they would travel to nearby towns to perform at Lions Clubs, VFW’s, Moose Clubs, Salem’s Soldiers and Sailors Reunion, and many other city

celebrations.  By the end of 1958, there were so many kids who wanted to join the fun, the Alberson’s began to rent the “old” school gym (for $5 a night)

every Saturday.  All kids 12 years and older were welcome to bring their “445’s” and dance away 2 ½ hours.  Kenny only had 3 restrictions: No smoking,

no alcohol, and once one left the gym, you could not come back in.  After a few weeks, several of the parents began to bring in refreshments and

many of them would stay and watch and enjoy their children having so much fun.  Both Kenny and Bernice always opened their home and hearts to all children. 

Kenny’s motto was “You are never better than others, you may be better off than others, but never better.”

 

 

(O-54) Kinmundy Quadrillites Square Dance Team

 

 

 

(O-55) Kinmundy Quadrillites Square Dance Teams

 

Appreciation certificate to Kenny Alberson, sponsor of the Kinmundy Quadrillite Dancers - 1960-61

 

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           American Legion Auxiliary -  Kinmundy Unit 519

 

(O-1) American Legion Auxiliary - Kinmundy Unit 519 - 1947-48

First Year of organization.    Maxine Robb - President

"The Kinmundy Express" - Oct. 23, 1947:

There was a meeting held in the American Legion Hall in Kinmundy this week for the purpose of organizing a Legion Auxiliary. The following were elected and installed: Mrs. Wayne ROBB - President; Mrs. F.A. MOTCH - 1^st Vice President; Mrs. Ruben CRAIN - 2^nd Vice President; Miss Louise GREEN - Secretary; Mrs. Hugo ZIMMER, Jr. - Treasurer; Mrs. Otto REESE - Historian; Mrs. Jesse REESE - Chaplain; Mrs. Irene HANNA - Sergeant; Miss Ilene EAGAN - at Arms. It was decided to meet the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesday of each month.

 

(O-2) American Legion Auxiliary  - circa 2007

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                        Order of the Eastern Star - Kinmundy Chapter

(O-12b) Order of the Eastern Star calling on Mrs. Allie Nelms on her 88^th Birthday

 

Elizabeth Dennis, Pauline Johnson, Marge Boyd holding child,  _______________, _________________, ______________, Dorothy McCulley, _____________

Mrs. Nelms holding flowers, __________________, ___________________, Vera McCulley holding Russell, _________________,

_________________, __________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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                                  4-H Clubs

 

(O-7) Campfire Girls 4-H Club:

Back Row: Lenora (Doolen) Lowe, Martha Jackson, Helen Wininger (preacher's daughter), Roberta "Bobbie" Jones Collier, Miss Mary Shriver (4-H Leader)

Front Row: Virginia (Rohrbough) Green, Lora Elsie (Doolen) Pfeffer, Florence (McCulley) Thoms, Tiona (Eagan) Blair, Ella (Jackson) Williams

 

(O-40b) Meacham Worthwhile 4-H Club following Summer Clothing Show and Dress Revue - Summer 1969

Karen (O'Leary) Ritter, Margaret (Greenwood) Turner, Ginny (Johnston) Randolph, Frances Jones, Lois (Hampsten) Crippen, Mandy White,

Cathy Boecklen, Susan (Engel) Hoehne

              

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O-50) "The Gospel Five" Musical Group - Oct. 1965

Back Row: Russell McCulley, Sandy DeVore, Francis Johnston; Front Row: Debbie Deadmond, Clarence DeVore, Marlis Ingram