“Groundbreaking” Museum Plans Groundbreaking for Juneteenth

“Groundbreaking” Museum Plans Groundbreaking for Juneteenth

By Carol Flynn

The African Descendants Military and Historical Museum will hold its groundbreaking ceremony in Joliet on Juneteenth National Independence Day, Wednesday June 19, 2024.

Besides the physical act of starting a building project, the term “groundbreaking” is also used to describe something that is innovative and pioneering. This fits the Museum, the first undertaking on a grand scale to recognize African American history in the Will County/south Cook County area.

The man behind the Museum is Luther Johnson, the founder of History on Wheels (HOW) in 2019. HOW is a not-for-profit museum that operates out of a van, and travels to schools, libraries, historical societies, and other locations to show exhibits and give programs on the military history of African Americans.

Johnson has been passionate about researching and collecting materials relating to the history of African Americans in U.S. military service since his high school R.O.T.C. days. Fifteen years ago, he became a “reenactor,” recreating roles from major military campaigns, including the U.S. Civil War and World War I.

“African Americans have been in every major military campaign in this country. We wanted to make sure that the contributions they made for the causes of freedom are recognized. We started HOW to get the message out,” said Johnson.

Area historians have long recognized the need for an African American history museum in Will County.

“We are missing forty percent of our history by not including the African American experience,” said Sandy Vasko, the director of the Will County Historical Museum and Research Center (the Center), located in Lockport.

A permanent museum became possible when the George Washington and Delilah Casseday House in Joliet became available. The house itself is an integral part of the area’s history, and now Johnson is turning the venerable structure into a history museum.

The house was built in 1851 and is considered the oldest house in Joliet.

George Washington Casseday was one of the biggest land speculators in Joliet and central Illinois. He once owned all the land that the historic Joliet Correctional Center occupies. He was also a developer and officer of several of the railroad companies in the area.

The house was built of Joliet limestone likely quarried on Casseday’s property. This limestone, which is millions of years old, has been used for famous buildings like the Chicago Water Tower, which withstood the Great Chicago Fire.

Early images of the house show it was a grand estate for the wealthy, prominent white Casseday family. Casseday died in 1863, and with time, his estate was sold off by his heirs.

By the early 2000s, the history of the house was forgotten. When Thorntons gas company put in a bid to buy the property the house sat on to build a new gas station, the demolition of the old house, like so many other historic properties in like situations, seemed imminent.

However, the possible historic value of the house was questioned, and Vasko and the Center were called in. She identified the house as the Casseday House, and the Center took over its ownership. The house is now designated an official landmark on the Joliet Register of Historic Places.

The city of Joliet donated land a few blocks away where the house could be relocated. Thorntons spent close to a half million dollars to move the house to its current location.

Vasko then connected Johnson with the Casseday House.

The house made an impression on Johnson when he visited it.

“I could see this would be a great place to have a museum on African Americans in the great wars. This building was built pre-Civil War; when you touch the bricks, you’re touching history,” said Johnson.

“It would be a lot of work, but it would be well worth it. I told Sandy, we’ll take it, I can do this,” said Johnson.

According to Vasko, “Once Luther realized what all this meant, he was on fire. He has such energy. I know this is going to be a success. That house was meant to be saved.”

At this same time, descendants of the Casseday family learned about the house and got involved.

Lorraine Partlow Smalley, Casseday’s great-great-great-granddaughter, was doing genealogical work on her family when she came across the story of the house being moved.

Smalley visited the Center to do research, and she and other family members visited the Casseday House and met with Johnson.

Smalley’s research showed that Casseday’s daughter Maria married John Milton Partlow in 1844, beginning the Partlow line of descendants. Members of the Casseday and Partlow families were Union soldiers during the U.S. Civil War, and the family has stories of knowing Abraham Lincoln.

The Casseday family descendants are happy the house is being saved and being used for the Museum.

“It brings history to life knowing that our family once lived and worked in that home. It’s very special to have something tangible going back that far,” said Smalley.

“We are grateful to Sandy and Luther for their efforts to save the house. I don’t like to think about what would have happened without their involvement,” said Smalley, who said her family is ready to help with fund-raising and other efforts to restore the house.

Johnson took over ownership of the house and began working on it in January. Needless to say, it is going to take a lot of work to restore the house and repurpose it into a museum, but Johnson remains upbeat about the project and hopes to have it open to the public by Juneteenth 2025.

He recently shared his vision for the Museum.

“We plan on taking people all the way back to the 1700s to some of the first African Americans who fought with George Washington,” said Johnson.

Johnson said the exhibits will flow from there through a timeline of the other military periods and wars, up to the present. Interspersed will be sections on African Americans who served in important roles, such as General Colin Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State.

The plans are that the Museum will offer more than that with time.

“We’re going to have a resource center where people can do research, and a database so people can find out if family members were in the military,” said Johnson, “and one of my biggest visions is to have a large library with books about battles and other military history.”

Johnson also said that the focus would include Afro-Latin Americans who fought in the wars because they are a significant part of the community and history.

This year, there will be two events on Juneteenth as a “Celebration of Freedom.”

First, there will be a free event for the community at the Casseday House, 575 East Jackson Street, Joliet, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Plans are to feature a prototype exhibit for the Museum, a reenactment of a Civil War camp, talks on the meaning of Juneteenth, music, and the groundbreaking ceremony for the Museum. Attendees are requested to bring lawn chairs.

In the evening, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., there will be a fund-raising event at the Joliet Area Historical Museum, 204 N. Ottawa, Joliet, featuring a fashion show, stand-up comedy by Doc Love, hors d’oeuvres, and a cash bar. The cost is $40 per person.

The fashion show, under the direction of Jennifer Butler, will feature designs celebrating the emergence of African American identity following the end of slavery.

Butler, who models under the name of Model Jen B and has been brand ambassador for some local boutiques, is working with two design companies, House of Binky and Nikki Blaze Closet, on the show. There will be fashion pieces for men and women as well as jewelry.

“The different materials and textures being used to create these designs are going to be absolutely amazing on the runway,” said Butler. “These designs are all original. You’ll not see any of these anywhere else, anytime.”

Butler, who married into Johnson’s family last year, said she is “totally excited” about participating in the event on Juneteenth. Her praise for Johnson and his wife Treasa, who has been a vital part of this project since the planning stages, reflects the pervading views of the Johnsons’ accomplishments to date.

“This is Luther’s dream. I’m so proud of Luther and Treasa for taking the reins and running with it,” said Butler. “I’m extremely proud to say this is my family that’s doing this, that’s leaving this legacy for those who come after us.”

Additional information and tickets for the fund-raiser and fashion show are available at www.historyonwheels.org. Tickets may be purchased at the door the night of the event.