The Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award - 2006
Chris Stach
Nominated By The Honorable Michael Garvey
Brookfield
Chris Stach
"Everybody knows that if they have questions regarding the history of Brookfield they can go to or refer people to Chris Stach," says Village President Michael Garvey. Mr. Stach, a lifelong resident of Brookfield, has combined his storytelling and writing talents with a passion for the history of his community to make numerous contributions to its preservation. Every week, he writes a new article for the local newspaper, the Landmark; the focus is almost always on historical Brookfield residents, events, or architecture. He is a historical storyteller extraordinaire, sharing tales from Brookfield's past with residents and visitors at community events such as "Meet the Creek," where he tells the history of Salt Creek every year. Residents contacting the village looking for historical information are referred to Mr. Stach, who is known as Brookfield's "Resident Historian." He has saved, found, acquired, or taken thousands of photographs and written myriad historical accounts that capture and make available information that would otherwise have been lost to the passing years. Mr. Stach has also donated countless hours to checking the accuracy of historical information -- an entirely volunteer endeavor -- and contributed to the creation of a written history of Brookfield for the Village Centennial Celebration in 1993 and banding together with other residents to preserve and move the old train station, built in 1889, when it was scheduled to be demolished to make way for a new station in 1981.Return to the archive listing for The Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award - 2006
Print this page
Email this page
