Fullersburg Historic Foundation
Preserving and Promoting the Heritage Sites of the Fullersburg Historic District
Famous Dancer Loie Fuller's Fire Dance
Loie Fuller was once the most famous dancer in the world and a leader of the Art Nouveau Movement. She was born in Fullersburg in 1862 and made an explosive debut as a modern dancer in Paris in 1892. She also was known for her costumes, lighting, and stage design. She lived in France all of her adult life, and had a highly diverse circle of friends. See "Loie Fuller" Section on this website.
Loie Fuller's Fire Dance:
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Choreographed by Loie Fuller
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Reconstructed by Jessica Lindberg Coxe and
Megan Slayter, Professor of Dance
Western Michigan University and
Advisor, Fullersburg Historic Foundation
A remarkable video of Loie's choreographed dance Lily of the Nile can be viewed in the "Loie Fuller"
section of this website; see index at top of page. To learn about Loie's deeply human qualities, visit blog entitled The Deeply Human Side of Loie Fuller (1862-1928) in the blog section of this website. Did you know that Time Magazine's 2023 Person of the Year Taylor Swift pays tribute to Loie's many contributions?
Recognizing the Veterans of Fullersburg
Why donate to Fullersburg Historic Foundation? Did you know that twelve
Civil War veterans are laid to rest at Historic Fullersburg Cemetery? Help us to preserve their legacy by making a donation!
Click button to donation online (securely) or send check to:
Fullersburg Historic Foundation
P. O. Box 5131
Oak Brook, Il. 60522
fullersburghistoric@gmail.com (please give us
a "heads up" so we can properly thank you!
Donations will be used to help cover the administration expenses of the foundation. The mission statement of our organization is summarized in the headline at the top of this page, and the activities shown throughout this website demonstrate our dedication to this effect. We want to preserve and promote the important history that happened in and around Fullersburg!
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Fullersburg Historic Foundation is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization; your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim your donation as a tax deduction on your taxes, please keep your receipt. Upon the successful completion of your donation, a receipt will be emailed to you. (No goods were exchanged or services rendered for the donation unless otherwise noted.) Thank you for your generosity!
Who are our Fullersburg veterans, and how did they serve the country?
Civil War World War I
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Charles Curtis Irwin Christianson
Samuel Coe William Dierks
Menzo Coffin Wendell Jackson
Harvey Cooper Orin Peterson
Heman Fox
Morell Fuller Korean War
Charles Hess
Augustus Lincoln David Reilly
Stephen Mills
Malcom Palmer World War II
Walter Van Velzer
John Andre (Conf.) Mahlon Miller
Beautiful Historic Fullersburg Cemetery
Memorial Day, 2023
At right, Fullersburg Historic Foundation President Don Fuller and Director Kathy Fuller hosted another patriotic and moving Memorial Day Flag Changing Ceremony on 5/29/23 with approximately 70 visitors participating. The names of the veterans who are laid to rest at the peaceful Historic Fullersburg Cemetery were read as the flag was changed. A historical review of the Settlement Era and the history of the Potawatomi who lived in this area was given by Don Fuller and FHF Director Sue Devick. (See "Events" section.)
Don Fuller, great-great grandson of Benjamin Fuller (founder of Fullersburg), tells the history of this area.
Don and Kathy Fuller at beautiful Historic
Fullersburg Cemetery on 5/29/23.
Don Fuller reads the names of veterans while his sons Tyler and Michael change the flag on Memorial Day 2022 (5/30/22).
Morell Fuller's gravesite
Thank you, Clarendon Hills Historical Society!
We were very honored to be your guest!
Note (in articles above) that secret tunnels beneath Fullersburg structures were part of the Underground Railroad. Important roles were played by local citizens, including Frederick Graue, the Fox Brothers, and John and Harriet Coe (sister of Benjamin Fuller), who assisted fugitive slaves on their journey to freedom. The basement of Graue Mill (left) also was a "stop" in this secretive transportation system, which was active here from approximately 1850-1865.
The Fuller Family Legacy is the cover story in the June/July, 2022 issue of Hinsdale Magazine, which details the lasting contributions of the Fullers from Ben (the founder of Fullersburg) to the current generations of this family, who continue to shape the identity of this area. As William Baker states, "Yes, the solid family has always been there keeping Hinsdale ...Hinsdale." View at
https://hinsdalemag.com/fullersburg/.
Author Liz Heinecke presented Don Fuller with a signed copy of her highly acclaimed book Radiant at the Hinsdale Library on 6/28/22 (see photo, left). Ms. Heinecke led a literary and historic discussion about the strong friendship between Nobel prize winning scientist Marie Curie and world-famous dancer Loie Fuller, who was born at the Castle Inn in Fullersburg in 1862. Both women impacted early twentieth-century history; Marie's research with radiation led to life-saving discoveries as well as radiation illness, and Loie's innovative use of light in her elaborate costumes and choreography were an inspirational force in the Art Nouveau Movement. Ms. Heinecke generously donated several artifacts related to Loie Fuller to the Fullersburg Historic Foundation. Don Fuller, president of the foundation, expressed his deep gratitude to Ms. Heinecke, as both Loie and Don are descendants of Benjamin Fuller, the founder of Fullersburg. Find out more about Liz Heinecke's research about Loie at: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/liz-heinecke/radiant/9781538717370. Radiant can be obtained through bookstores or online.
Why aren't all Native American burial sites in DuPage County (Il,) recognized and appreciated?
Fullersburg (Sauganakka) is the largest of four former Potawatomi villages in DuPage County, and its Native American burial mounds are documented in numerous archeological and historical sources that consistently authenticate their existence. This legacy of our past offers a fuller and richer understanding of our identity, which Fullersburg Historic Foundation recognizes.
Note: While the widely known Scharf Map (inset, above) recognizes burial mounds in both Fullersburg and Glen Ellyn, another historic map of DuPage County also notes Bonaparte (Lisle) as having at least one mound. Mounds at Winfield have been restored, as well.
Foundation Gives Historical Presentation at Graue Mill Tent
Fullersburg Historic Foundation President Don Fuller and Director Sue Devick spoke on 6/5/22 at historic Graue Mill about the Potawatomi village of Sauganakka, the Native American burial mounds in the area, the Black Hawk War, and the changes brought by the Settlement Era. Photos courtesy of Bruce Nudd (right). Click the icon for presentation outline. Note: THIS PRESENTATION ALSO DETAILS SOME OF THE VARIATIONS IN THE HISTORICAL INFORMATION DOCUMENTING THE NATIVE AMERICAN BURIAL MOUMD LOCATIONS IN FULLERSBURG!
See slide show presentation about the Native Americans and the Settlement Era in DuPage County by clicking on icon, right.
Benjamin Fuller forged a friendly relationship with the local Potawatomi, and he showed them how to shoe their horses. Although Native Americans who lived in this area did not have a written language, there is evidence of their presence here. The first Fuller homesite was built near a "chipping station," where indigenous people made their tools and weapons.
Burial sites are also documented in the Fullersburg area. "For as long as I can remember the people of Fullersburg were particularly fascinated by the two circular mounds about eight feet high and fifteen feet in diameter which were said to mark the burial site of tribal chiefs. The area, known as the wiccibottom, is now the forest preserve parking lot... Remaining, perhaps are archeological sites, yet to be explored." (George Ruchty, Ben Fuller descendant)
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"The old dam was 2 feet higher than it is today. The Indian mounds are still there. We could have picked up bushels of Indian arrow heads at this place and all around it." (George Kolzow, former Fullersburg caretaker)
Executive Board of Fullersburg Historic Foundation
Don Fuller is the great, great grandson of Benjamin Fuller, the founder of Fullersburg. Don is also the president of the Fullersburg Historic Foundation. "The mission of the foundation, working in partnership with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, is to raise funds to restore the Ben Fuller Farmhouse and develop educational programs and exhibits. We continue to promote and support the preservation of the Fullersburg Historic District and its heritage sites."
Officers
President - Don Fuller
Vice President - Patrice Macken
Secretary - Lynnette Ruiz
Treasurer- Lynnette Ruiz
Directors
John Baar
Robert Crane
Susan Devick, editor
Kathleen Fuller
Marci Hanzlik
Dr. Erlo Roth
Kathleen Sievertsen
Susan Yochim
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Advisors
Richard Allison
Mike Dutka
Charles Hartley
Megan Slayter
Matt Stockmal
Sheila Susman-Scheftner
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Partners
Thank you to our partners that help make the preservation of these historic sites possible.
