Durant family manuscripts donated by a direct descendant of the family add more detail to the story of the first Durant family to live in St. Charles.

Kelsey Shipton

November 30, 2025

Life on the prairie, Stories of St. Charles

Primary Sources: The Diaries of Abba and Emma Durant

Kelsey Shipton

November 30, 2025

Life on the prairie, Stories of St. Charles

The diaries of Emma and Abba Durant are now available online at the Illinois Digital Archives.

Kelsey Shipton

June 29, 2025

Life on the prairie, Recipes & Food

Cast Iron Stoves - A Turning Point in Domestic Technology

Kelsey Shipton

June 29, 2025

Life on the prairie, Recipes & Food

Cast-iron stoves were preferred over open fire hearths because they required less fuel, were more economical to install, and safer.

Kelsey Shipton

March 30, 2025

Our History

Thank you volunteers!

Kelsey Shipton

March 30, 2025

Our History

For a non-profit organization to thrive it takes a village… a village of volunteers!

Kelsey Shipton

March 29, 2025

School-How did we learn?

Reconstruction of the "Red School" in Big Rock

Kelsey Shipton

March 29, 2025

School-How did we learn?

One of the last remaining one-room schoolhouses in Kane County might be saved.

Kelsey Shipton

February 27, 2025

Recipes & Food

The Community Cookbook

Kelsey Shipton

February 27, 2025

Recipes & Food

1896 Congregational Ladies’ Cook Book: a one-of-a-kind artifact of the Durant family.

Kelsey Shipton

January 5, 2025

Historic Preservation

FOX FLASH

Kelsey Shipton

January 5, 2025

Historic Preservation

Be alerted to urgent news about saving local stories. 🦊⚡

Kelsey Shipton

December 29, 2024

Our History

2024: Preservation Partners Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Kelsey Shipton

December 29, 2024

Our History

History defines the Fox Valley and that value has remained for 50 years. That value is likely to continue for another 50 years.

The First Formal Volunteers

Staffing announcements

Donation from a Descendant of the Durant Family

Primary Sources: The Diaries of Abba and Emma Durant

Cast Iron Stoves - A Turning Point in Domestic Technology

Thank you volunteers!

Reconstruction of the "Red School" in Big Rock

The Community Cookbook

FOX FLASH

2024: Preservation Partners Celebrates 50th Anniversary

MORE stories:

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