Beetcafe.com
rockford illinois entertainment guide
Date: 09/22/2004
Poplar Grove Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum - A Living Tribute To A Dying Age
by Gary Hill
gary@beetcafe.com
www.musicstreetjournal.com
Nestled adjacent to the grounds of the Poplar Grove Airport, the Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum is built on 11.5 acres. The facility at present consists of four buildings built in 1938 or earlier. These are not reproductions, but actual buildings moved to the site then reassembled and renovated. Such attention to detail and authenticity shows off the loving care that the creators have for the memorabilia here, and that is one of the key attractions of the place.

The centerpiece building at the museum is a 70' x 110' hangar that was built at the Waukesha, Wisconsin Airport in 1937. The hangar has been made the home of the vintage transportation collection, an aviation library and other facilities. Among the remaining buildings here is an original hangar from the 1920's brought in from Hamilton's Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (now Milwaukee's Mitchell Field). A 41' x 47' hangar built in Springfield in 1938 has also been displayed here. The final vintage building is a Sunoco Filling Station from the 1920's. The company built 200 of these, and this one shows visitors what they would have seen had they filled up their car in those days.

In many ways it's more difficult to accurately describe the displays inside the Waukesha Hangar. That's because part of the vision of this museum is to create an ever-changing display. To that end much of what is presented within is borrowed, and changes frequently, offering guests the chance to see different things on every visit. Even with the changing inventory you can count on the museum to always have fine examples of vintage cars and planes. They also have smaller items on show, such as the entire display case devoted to earlier passenger plane service. They even have autographs from Wilbur Wright and Charles Lindbergh.

Kendra Helvey (President of the museum's board of directors) told me that all the people involved do this for a love of the history they are preserving. She said that they made a conscious choice to present items from the period before World War II, as there are many museums that display items from the 1940's and up. She also explained that every item on display has a history behind it. You can tell by listening to her speak about it that she takes a special joy in knowing and preserving all these memories.

The site is also an activity center hosting numerous auto enthusiast events, Radio Controlled plane clubs and an aviation academy. The museum also hosts numerous special occasions like Family Fly Day, Boots and Bonnets British Car Show and an Annual Pancake Breakfast. The museum is open to the public only one day a week so far, from 9AM to Noon on Saturdays as they rely on a volunteer staff. They are located on Orth Rd. just East of Rt. 76. For more info, you can give them a call at 547-3115, email them at vintagemuseum@earthlink.com or drop by their website at www.poplargroveairmotive.com/museum.

Although they don't have as many large items on display as some museums, their library, display of vintage clothing, propellers, engines and Hubbell paintings can certainly keep you busy for hours. The mission statement of the museum includes creating "an environment reminiscent of early airfields",providing "facilities for local and regional historic aviation activities and vintage automobile activities" and establishing aviation workshops and information programs. From looking around and talking with the staff it's obvious that they have succeeded. Helvey says that the museum is "a work in progress." I, for one, plan on making repeat visits to enjoy their progress.
Contact Information
Poplar Grove Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum
Orth Rd. just East of Rt. 76.
Poplar Grove, IL
815-547-3115
vintagemuseum@earthlink.com
www.poplargroveairmotive.com/museum
Hours
Saturday: 9am to Noon
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