“ We have people that want to know about their house or what happened to certain relatives ,” Illiana Genealogical and Historical Society President Mark Denman said . “ In fact , I had a former student come in years ago . Her mother died when she was a young child and she wanted to know if she had an obituary . We have a huge collection of obituaries .” Denman sits in front of the obituary index at the IGHS library . The index helps one find a certain obituary on a wall full of them . Hannah Shillo photo
of the IGHS is named Payne Street . Heinly demolished the mansion and built what is now the IGHS home .
Ownership had been passed on to others throughout the years following
Heinly ’ s death in 1905 , including to William G . Hartshorn , Grant Holmes , Albert Berhalter and Bob Pape . From 1994 to 1997 , the home operated as a Christian Home for Youth .
The IGHS purchased the property from Pape in 1998 and now uses the entire facility as a genealogical and historical library . The local Governor Bradford chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution meets periodically on the second floor .
The IGHS is open 10 a . m . to 3 p . m . Tuesday through Friday and by appointment on Saturday , though there are plans in the works to open on Saturdays in the future .
Memberships to IGHS are $ 35 for an individual per calendar year , and family memberships are $ 40 . People can join anytime during the year , though , and their first year membership fee will be prorated .
One does not need to be a member to enjoy the IGHS resources .
The Illiana Genealogical and Historical Society is located at 215 W . North St ., Danville . The society purchased the property in 1998 . Hannah Shillo photo
SPRING 2023 | ILLIANA MAGAZINE
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