MCHS Hosts a Musical Dining in History in Highland

The Madison County Historical Society will hold their annual Dining in History event on Sunday, November 5, noon-4 p.m., at the Olde Wicks Factory in Highland, Illinois. As the name implies, Dining in History (DIH) is held each year at a historic site in Madison County and includes a program about the location. 

The Olde Wicks Factory is today a beautiful event space, but for more than a century, the facility was home to the Wicks Pipe Organ Company. The current owners had the vision to convert factory space into ballrooms, music venues, and more while retaining the history of the space. At DIH, they will give tours where the different spaces will be identified by their past and present uses.  For example, their Main Hall was originally the erecting room where Wicks assembled (erected) pipe organs in a final step before sending them to the buyer. The organs were tested along each step of manufacture, but at the end of the process they were completely assembled and tested in the erecting room, then disassembled for shipment by train or truck.

As is the custom, the September issue of the MCHS News included a story on the history of the DIH venue. In this case, it was about the Wick family that dates back four generations in Highland, as well as the Wicks Organ Company. The organ company is still in business, but today makes only custom organs.

DIH will begin with tours from the Gatsby Room where patrons can take advantage of the cash bar while they wait for their tour. That will be followed by a catered dinner, and a brief Annual Meeting for the purpose of nominating new MCHS Board members. 

With business settled, the event will continue with a program and performance by Dave Stephens in the Grand Hall. The Grand Hall features a Wicks theatre pipe organ. Stephens will tell how the organ was returned to Wicks, and demonstrate how it is played. Theatre organs were, for the most part, no longer made after talking films came along. They are somewhat rare, and having someone available to play it is also fortunate since most church organists would not have the knowledge to play this kind of instrument. Stephens, who is best known for playing the “Mighty Wurlitzer” at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, is very familiar with this instrument and will provide a great show.

Tickets for DIH are $50 for MCHS members and $60 for non-members. To order tickets or for additional information, call 618-656-1294 or visit the Society’s website at https://madcohistory.org/. The last day for reservations is October 25.