The Staley Museum in Decatur, Illinois
The Staley Museum opened its doors to the public during the summer of 2015. We are excited be a full-fledged member of our community. Here you will find updates and news about the museum and exciting events going on.
The Staley Museum and this web site are both works in progress. We encourage visitors to continue to check back with us and see how we are progressing. We would also like to encourage visitors to the site to share any stories or information they may have regarding Staley history.
Photos, documents, articles and memorabilia are all welcome and appreciated. Anyone wishing to make a contribution to the Staley museum may contact us through via the Artifact Donation Form found on this site. Also, for anyone in our area who wishes to be a Volunteer at the museum and offer their time and/or expertise, please go to the Volunteer Form and fill out your information so that we may contact you personally. We invite you to Contact Us.
Visit the Staley Museum
The Staley Museum is open year-round
Tuesday – Saturday: 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Last Sunday of the month (March – November): 1:00 – 4:00 pm.
Admission
Adults: $5
Seniors: $3
Child (18 and under): $1
Location
361 N. College Street
Decatur, IL
The Staley Story
A.E. Staley was a big man with big dreams and had the determination to make those dreams a reality. Although he did not arrive on the scene until the 1900’s, his impact of Decatur was such that he is counted as one of the founding fathers. The largeness of his dreams and of his civic minded generosity has contributed in major ways to the city we know today.
It was A.E.’s pioneering vision in the area of soy beans, both the cultivation and processing, that gave Decatur the name “Soy Bean Capitol of the World.”
In the period of one decade, 1920-1930, A.E. Staley made significant contributions to the community of Decatur, being the driving force behind the creation of Lake Decatur, the Staley viaduct, the Staley Office Building, and the formation of the Decatur Staleys football club, later to become the Chicago Bears.
The story of A.E. Staley is one in which the city of Decatur has the right to feel great pride. It is a story which forms a major part in the industrial and agricultural history of central Illinois. We look forward to sharing that pride and history as we work toward the opening of the Staley Museum.
The Staley Office Building: Inaugurated in April, 1930
Also known as “The Castle in the Cornfields”
Photo courtesy of the Hieronymus Mueller Museum
The Staley Office Building: Inaugurated in April, 1930
Also known as “The Castle in the Cornfields”
Photo courtesy of the Hieronymus Mueller Museum
Staley Museum Latest News & Happenings
You know about the Staley football team, but did you know the company also supported a Staley baseball team?
Discover Staley sports by visiting the museum!
Open Tuesday - Saturday, 1-4PM.
Admission is $5/Adult, $3/Senior, $1/Child.
📸: July 1940, Staley Journal, Page 21 - Staley Museum Archives
"The Staley baseball team, of which Chet Boyles is manager, had its picture taken recently. in the front row are Dick Hopkins, Don Hall, Bill Artze, Chet Boyles, Larry Withrow, Carl Grant and Pete Kelly. Standing are Irv Smith, Max Craig, A. Hopkins, Emil Martina, Doolin, Griffin, Norm Schultz and Joe Hilberling. The mascot is Chet Boyle's son."
Art of the Staley Journal, July 1940
⚾ The cover of the July 1940 issue of the Journal features a cartoon drawing of a baseball player catching an incoming ball overtop a newspaper featuring sports news. The contents of the issue heavily covers Staley baseball, as well as plant safety, home purchasing, airplane transportation, and more.
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Thank you WAND News for the spotlight on our upcoming event! Tickets are on sale now through the 18th for $20/person and will be available at the door on the 19th for $30/person.
Beautiful wedding gowns will be on display along with some of Theatre 7's lovely costumes!
Staley Museum to exhibit a vintage wedding collection
www.wandtv.com
DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — The Staley Museum will exhibit a vintage wedding collection in collaboration with Theatre 7.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Celebrating 95 Years of Staley Credit Union
Membership at Staley Credit Union was initially limited to Staley employees and their immediate family members. To apply for membership, prospective individuals needed to visit Staley Credit Union offices in the administration building and pay a one-time fee of 25 cents and purchase at least one share, valued at five dollars. Shares could be paid in full at the time of application, or in regular installments.
The by-laws for the credit union, published in the August 1930 issue of the Staley Journal, provided employees education and transparency to the credit union system and established trust with the organization. Membership quickly grew.
At incorporation - 25 members, $125.00 in shares.
Six months after incorporating - 574 members, $13,000.25 in shares, $14,256.37 borrowed.
After five years - 1429 members, $96,728.68 in shares, $97,003.71 borrowed.
Tenth anniversary - 1725 members, $367,955.81in shares, $389,189.68 borrowed.
Business at the credit union grew so quickly that in 1935 Gene Rhodes was hired as a full-time accountant for the credit union, managing the bookkeeping, accounting, and statistical work. Due to this growth, the board also increased in size from nine directors to twelve in order to better manage the needs of their members.
Rhodes started his work at Staley in 1928 as a plant messenger before moving to clerical work, then accounting, and eventually Assistant Treasurer in the 1950s.
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The Staley Museum is closed today.
Normal hours will resume tomorrow, Saturday, July 5th from 1-4PM.
Stay cool and Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸
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