A plaque from the Illinois State Historical Society may soon tell Riverside’s history to all who pass by it.
The Olmsted Society of Riverside plans to donate a historic marker to record the village’s importance to state history as it celebrates its 150th anniversary of incorporation this year.
The marker will sit by the entrance to the Water Tower and Riverside Historical Museum, 10 Pine Ave., in Centennial Park downtown, where it will be visible from the street and sidewalk. Village Manager Jessica Frances said village staff recommended the location out of several in the area that were provided to the Olmsted Society as potential choices.
The plaque will be about 44 inches by 51 inches and stand up to seven feet off the ground, though the height could be lowered, Frances told trustees April 17.
“The Olmsted Society would purchase the marker, and then public works would install it, and the village would maintain it in perpetuity,” she said.
The group’s proposal shows the total cost for the marker, including the sign itself, the pole, the fee to apply and shipping costs would come out to about $4,900.
The plaque will include a blurb describing Riverside’s origin as a community designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1869 and lauding the village’s “curving streets,” “abundant greenery” and walkable nature.
“We have, of course, the national marker, but it’s kind of hidden in plain sight, and that’s because there are restrictions on the national marker that you can’t put it on a building,” said Cathy Maloney, an Olmsted Society board member, in reference to Riverside’s marker of its status as a National Historic Landmark.
“I’m not sure I could have told you a year or two ago where exactly it is. It is in Centennial Park near the Water Tower,” she added to the Landmark. “I happened across that, and I was startled. I thought, ‘Huh. I know there’s some state markers. What’s involved in getting state recognition? Certainly, if we have national recognition, wouldn’t we qualify for having state recognition?’ And, since it was the sesquicentennial year, I thought that would be a nice way for the Olmsted Society to mark it, and the board agreed.”
Maloney said it’s not yet “a done deal,” as the Olmsted Society plans to finalize its application to ISHS within the coming week, though she told trustees she had been in contact with the historical society’s staff and expected the group would approve the marker.
She said the Olmsted Society hoped to include Riverside’s original general plan on the marker but that they would need to double-check the extra cost first.
If ISHS does approve the plaque, Maloney said it would take “at least two months” for it to be created and shipped to Riverside.
She said she felt a state marker displayed more prominently than the federal marker would “draw attention” to Riverside’s history.
“When people are aware that there’s something unique and special here, they tend to regard it a little more closely,” she said. “When my book [‘Olmsted’s Riverside’] was accepted by the editorial board, my publisher told me that a lot of folks on the board hadn’t heard about Riverside and were surprised that Illinois had such a place. I think for Illinoisans … it’s something else for them to be aware of in terms of the history of Illinois and Illinois’ placement in the nation in terms of community development.”
