12 Days of West Chicago Artifacts: Grief & Loss
12 Days of West Chicago Artifacts
As part of our 12 Days of WeGo History series, we’re celebrating the stories behind some of the most meaningful pieces in our collection. With nearly 40,000 artifacts to choose from, we couldn’t possibly pick just 12, so each day we are sharing a themed group that helps tell the story of West Chicago.
This year’s series is also in conjunction with our preparation for the 250th anniversary of the United States by highlighting local history in a national context.
The holiday season can be joyful, but it can also be difficult. Grief, loss, and hardship are part of every community’s story, even if they’re often hidden from view.
American culture tends to shy away from pain, but as we look back over 250 years of national history, and 176 years of West Chicago’s own story, we know that resilience often comes from acknowledging what’s been lost.
Today, we’re sharing artifacts that reflect sorrow, hard truths, remembrance, and perseverance. These items are powerful reminders that history isn’t just about triumphs, it’s also about how we care for each other through life’s hardest moments.
Shoes belonging to Clarence Hayward (1894-1896). Clarence Hayward died as a toddler and the next boy born in the family was also given the name Clarence. The second Clarence Hayward lived from 1901-1979 and is buried in Glen Oak cemetery.
Account Statement from C. E. Norris to Est. of Mrs. Dorcas Wiant, listing of funeral expenses
Soldiers in Decoration Day Parade May 1919, six months after the end of The Great War (later known as World War I)
George B Seanor Obit Feb 5 1953, one of thousands of obituaries in the Museum’s archive that pay tribute to lives lived in our community
Joe Buenrostro Funeral May 1983
Want to explore more West Chicago artifacts on your own? Check out our online artifact database where we upload recently digitized items every month!
