It's a wonderful life: from Box office flop to holiday tradition
DATE: Sunday, December 10th
TIME: 2:00 PM
Think you know Frank Capra’s classic film, "It's a Wonderful Life?" Go behind the scenes on an illustrated journey through the film’s beginning – as a Christmas card! – to mixed reviews at the box office and then to its place as a beloved holiday classic.
We’ll explore the cast, sets, technical challenges, and more including the film’s connection to a Disney Princess and how Lionel Barrymore (Mr. Potter) lost a bet with Donna Reed (Mary Hatch Bailey).
Experience this classic like never before with behind-the-scenes photos and deleted scenes.
This program is free and open to all!
About the presenter:
Jamie Poorman is Head Librarian at Marshall Public Library. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University and an MSLS from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.
She is a dedicated genealogist and local historian and serves on the board of the Clark County Historical Society.
Personally, she and her family are dedicated to a small homestead raising lots of veggies, goats, Saint Bernards and one sassy Chincoteague Pony.
As a librarian, Jamie Poorman has many experiences with children’s programming, leading book clubs, presenting programs for public audiences and groups like the DAR. She has also taught computer courses. Outside the library, she led the local Cub Scout pack for many years and presented programs and ceremonies for the scouts and their families. She has presented programs as a board member for the Clark County Historical Society as well.
Building Rentals
Interested in renting out the Museum for a small get together, workshop, or meeting? We rent out a section of our main exhibit space for your smaller rental needs. Please call us at 217-235-2535 or email us at douglascountymuseum@hotmail.com. Download the rental form and send it along with your request. All funds from rentals go toward preserving history and supporting the museum!
Click here to pay or Purchase Tickets for any event:
Family Heirloom REcipes from the Illinois State Fair
DATE: Saturday, November 18th
TIME: 1:00 PM
Since 2009, Catherine Lambrecht has judged Family Heirloom Recipes contests on behalf of Greater Midwest Foodways in Illinois as well as Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Contestants would enter their best scratch family heirloom recipe suitable for a family or community dinner. The recipe should have originated 50 years ago or earlier. Contestants would bring to the fair a prepared dish along with a history of who passed the recipe down to them.
This presentation offers an opportunity to follow the judging experience by providing the histories and recipes presented as submitted at the Illinois State Fair (2009-2019) with pictures of the food as presented at the fair. The foods were sometimes submitted simply in their transport container, or more elaborately on the family’s china with relevant props of family pictures, kitchen paraphernalia and their loved one’s handwritten recipe.
Catherine will highlight the wonderful stories she has collected over the years as an expert culinary judge. Some examples include:
-How a contestant wanted a judge to settle a long-held family argument about which is better: green or white asparagus soup?
-A right of passage as young boy’s pet pig may be his breakfast
Dueling pasta salads from the church and community dinner circuit
-An Italian-American family circling a cutting board mounded with polenta and meat sauce ready to dig in
-A family of mushroom collectors preserve their old country traditions
If Catherine inspires you to document a family favorite recipe to share with loved ones, then she has accomplished her mission.
This event is Free and Open to the public.
This program is being produced by Douglas County Museum in partnership with Illinois Humanities.
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Events
The Museum offers a variety of events and programs throughout the year. We host speakers on local historical topics, have larger events with local musicians and exhibit openings, host craft workshops, give tours and much more!
Rental information is at the bottom of this page.
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ClickHEREfor photos of some past events and programs!
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2023 Santa Stop
DATE: Saturday, December 2nd
TIME: 8:00 - 11:00 AM
As a part of Christmastown in Tuscola, we are hosting our annual Santa Stop at the museum! We will once again have a Drive-thru Santa Stop with candy canes, pictures with Santa, and a gift for every child along three stations in our parking lot! This event is free for every child.
To help keep things organized the day of, we as that you please read through the following directions:
Vehicle line up is along Washington heading South & continued along W. Pinzon St. heading East and into our parking lot. For your safety, no walk-ups please.
Station 1: INFORMATION
Enter the parking lot and let our welcome volunteers know how many children are in your vehicle for gifts (you will indicate boy, girl, or gender neutral & a type of gift from our list).
Station 2: SANTA
This is where Santa will be in his sleigh. Here your children may exit the car and you can say hello and take a picture with Santa. Please get back into the car and go to the next station.
Station 3: PRESENTS
One of our volunteers will bring gifts to your car.
Then you may exit onto Main St. Thank you for your cooperation & happiest of holidays to you and yours!
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