Jack Kelley's contributions to the humanities in Franklin Grove community began in the early 1980's when he and his wife Carol joined the newly organized Franklin Grove Area Historical Society. Mr. Kelley was heavily involved in promoting the 1985 Sesquicentennial of the founding of the city. His historical research made a significant contribution to the celebration and placement of a time capsule. In 1986 the Historical Society began the development of Chaplin Creek Historic Village, a re-creation of an 1840's era community displaying life on the Illinois prairie as it would have been when the first settlers came to the area. Mr. Kelley has had a hands-on involvement with virtually every construction project undertaken, from the first blacksmith shop was moved to the site in 1987 through the completion of a gazebo this year. Among his many endeavors, Mr. Kelley spent more than one thousand hours researching the history of, and working on the restoration of, Franklin Grove's oldest commercial building, the H.I. Lincoln Building. Since 2000, Mr. Kelley has maintained the Franklin Grove Village Web site (franklingroveil.org), which he also developed. The site is now the official instrument in promoting the village, its heritage, and its way of life to the world.
Select Illinois Humanities Council programs are now available for listening or download at Chicago Public Media (WBEZ) as a part of Chicago Amplified, a web-based audio library of diverse public events recorded throughout the Chicago region.
