Annual Dinner
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Doors Open at 6 p.m.
Dinner served at 6:30 p.m.
Dinner reservations are required. Payment by cash, check, credit card or Zelle
Presenter: Joe Schmitz
Dinner is $35/person
Credit Card Payment (click to pay)
$35/Person
Historic Tour: Gateway to Liberty Street from Canal to Rail
Saturday, June 6th at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Adverse weather date June 20th
Step back in time and walk the same paths as the early pioneers, railroad “drummers,” and industrial visionaries who built Morris. This 90-minute walking tour explores the dramatic evolution of Liberty Street—a corridor that witnessed the birth of the railroad era and the rise of the electric interurban, forever changing the landscape of Grundy County.
The Story of the Street
In the mid-19th century, Morris was defined by the slow-moving waters of the I&M Canal. But on February 5, 1853, a wood-burning steam locomotive chugged into town, sparking a “railroad fever” that shifted the town’s center of gravity north toward the tracks. This tour traces that shift, highlighting the architecture and innovations that turned a canal town into a modern hub of commerce.
Tour Highlights
- The Golden Age of Rail: Visit the 1898 Rock Island Railroad Depot, a community landmark saved by dedicated volunteers. Learn how the arrival of the rail forced a fierce rivalry—and a literal toll—on the established canal industry.
- The Traveler’s Rest: Stand before the Carson House, an 1858 landmark that once hosted traveling salesmen for $1.50 a day. Discover its hidden “19th-century refrigerator”—a cellar with walls insulated by tanning bark to keep perishables cold.
- A Spark of Innovation: See the Interurban Depot, where 15,000-volt high-tension wires once powered electric streetcars that connected Morris to the rest of the Illinois Valley.
- The Automotive Boom: Marvel at the Hal Osmanson Building, the first in Morris to feature massive plate glass windows and a heavy-duty elevator used to store Buicks and Oldsmobiles on the second floor.
Plan Your Visit
Starting Point: Rock Island Railroad Depot (Liberty Street at the tracks)
- Ending Point: Liberty Street and Main Street
- Duration: Approximately 90 minutes
- Distance: An easy walk through the historic downtown commercial district.
Explore the heritage of Morris today. This tour is produced and maintained by the Grundy County History Museum.