Ellwood House to present new exhibit discussion, Past and Pleasant

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Courtesy of the Ellwood House Museum

Historic and modern images of the historic Finnish Temperance Society Meeting Hall, today’s DeKalb Area Women’s Center, at 1021 State St. (Left) Courtesy of Joiner History Room, (Right) Photo by Grace Ellinger.

By Michael Mollsen, Written Managing Editor

DeKALB – The Ellwood House will be hosting a new exhibit discussion titled Past and Pleasant as part of the Brown Bag Lunch/Local Lore, a free monthly lecture series about history relevant to DeKalb County.

The April 6 discussion presents the lives documented in DeKalb’s historic Pleasant Street neighborhood. The lecture highlights the intersections of industry, domesticity and community gathering spaces.

The exhibit will also feature work from NIU photographers alongside historic photographs, creating a portrait of an immigrant community of the city of DeKalb.

The discussion will be led by NIU Associate Professor and Head of the Photography Department Jessica Labatte and the Ellwood House Museum’s Exhibits and Events Coordinator Anna-Marie Zurlinden.

Parking will be available on site, 420 Linden Place in DeKalb.

Students who would like to attend can register for in-person or virtual attendance on the Ellwood House’s website.