The RM Christmas Tree Lighting will take place at the RM Historical Museum at 6pm on Thursday, December 1st at the Rolling Meadows Historical Museum at 3100 Central Road.
Rolling Meadows Historical Presentation
The Esther Perica Historical presentation is Sunday December 4, 2022 at 2pm at the Rolling Meadows Library Community Room. Ms. Perica is the author of the book “They Took The Challenge” a history of RM and the area from the 1700’s. She plans to talk about the preparations and research that she performed in the writing of the book.
Upcoming Events for 2022/2023
Upcoming Museum Events
– The City’s holiday tree lighting and museum open house will be December 1, 2022 at 6pm.
– The Esther Perica Historical Presentation will be Sunday, December 4, 2022 at 2 pm at the RM Library meeting room. This event is to celebrate the museum’s 20th anniversary year. Free to the public but reservations encouraged.
– The Avon and Tupperware event is on Sunday, April 16, 2023 from 2pm-4pm at Park Central, 3000 Central Rd, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008.
1950’s Style Avon/Tupperware Lecture/Party
You’re Invited to the 1950’s House!
1950’s Style Avon & Tupperware Lecture/Party
Sunday, April 16, 2023 from 2pm-4pm at
Park Central, 3000 Central Rd, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008.
1. Limited seating for 25 individuals
2. $5.00 per person in advance to hold seat.
3. RSVP to Kent Nyblin 847-845-5389.
Join us to learn about the mid-century history of these two iconic companies from Presenters who were representatives and salespeople.
About Avon:
AVON recognized that women would make natural sales representatives, and would passionately sell products and gain financial independence. Throughout the company’s 130 years, there have been a long line of Avon Representatives, and each with their own unique story. An early representative was Viola Morse who worked for Avon from 1951-1962. When she started working, she walked 3-4 miles daily to visit her customers. Eventually she purchased a car, used her Avon earnings to send her kids to college and was hired to manage her sales district.
About Tupperware:
TUPPERWARE was developed in 1946. Tupperware developed a direct marketing strategy to sell products known as the Tupperware party. The Tupperware party allowed women of the 1950s to work and enjoy the benefits of earning an income. During the early 1950s, Tupperware’s sales and popularity exploded.
Opportunities to win and/or purchase Avon and Tupperware products!
EVENT POSTPONED. New date to be scheduled Spring 2023.
Museum Hours
The Rolling Meadows 1950’s House Museum is open to the public on Sundays from 1-4 pm, or by appointment on weekdays and Saturdays.
Mildred and Fred
When making decisions regarding furnishing The 1950s house, the curator and society created a fictional family. They developed a profile of this imaginary family and used it as a guide when selecting objects for the museum. The parents are Mildred and Fred. Fred was a Korean War Veteran and they met in college where Fred attended on the GI Bill. After they married and the children started to arrive, they needed a new home. The advertisements for Kimball Hill drew them to Rolling Meadows. Most of the early residents were young married couples fresh from the service or college. Few had older children, many were expecting. While some had a few pieces of furniture from relatives most were starting fresh. The new homes were furnished with furniture the young couples could afford and which also reflected their taste. In the early 1950s the style of the day was about color and clean lines.
The first section of Kimball Hill homes in Rolling Meadows sold for between $11,000 to $13,000 in 1953. They came with a selection of two colors of floor tile, (black and grey…brown was later added) and a Norge washer and dryer. Ladies who were early residents had to attend a class at the model home on how to use the clothes dryer as many of them had never owned or used one before.
Mildred and Fred had three children – Danny (seven), Susan (five) and baby Judy (two). Danny and Susan shared a bedroom with a bunk bed. Judy’s nursery is the third bedroom.
As a landscaper, Fred had a beautiful yard which he hoped would encourage his neighbors to patronize his business. Mildred was a full-time homemaker and was involved with her family, her church, her local school and the community. Mildred and Fred made a nice life in Rolling Meadows. They were glad they had saved their money to purchase a dream home of their own.
The Rolling Meadows 1950s Museum 