Staley Museum In The News

Who's at the lake enjoying the boat races?🚤🌊

If you need a break from the weather, visit the museum and learn about A.E. Staley's involvement in the creation of Lake Decatur.

We're open Tuesday - Saturday, 1-4PM
Admission is $5/Adult, $3/Senior, $1/Child
Visit www.StaleyMuseum.com for more information. ... See MoreSee Less

Mr Staley’s Roses are Blooming!
Every year in June we are blown away by the blooms of Mr Staley’s beautiful Dorothy Perkins roses!
Both the roses and our new pollinator garden are lovingly tended by the University of Illinois Extension Service Master Gardeners.
Our deepest gratitude to the Master Gardeners for all the many hours of service they have given the museum.
Mr Staley’s Roses will only be in bloom for a short time so be sure to stop by soon. 😊🌹🥀 ... See MoreSee Less

Celebrating 95 Years of Staley Credit Union

Why did Staley employees want to start a credit union?

Before Staley Credit Union, if a Staley employee had a small loan need the Staley Fellowship Club or the company itself would step in to help.

The dues paid by Staley Fellowship Club members assisted this process, but on their own could not meet everyone’s needs. The Staley company fully supported and encouraged the creation of a credit union.

But those at Staley felt there was a better way.
The Staley Credit Union was created for three primary purposes.

🧡To promote thrift among the membership through a system of saving which specializes in the smallest units of saving, and by a pay day saving plan, endeavoring to make a saving habit.

🧡To make use of the funds thus accumulated for the benefit of those who accumulate them by creating credit for the members at legitimate rates of interest for provident purposes.

🧡To educate the members in matters pertaining to the investment and care of their savings.

Additionally, the benefit of the Staley Credit Union wasn’t only in lending money. They also offered to automatically transfer 10%, if so authorized, of an employees paycheck into a savings account, making saving money both simple and easy. ... See MoreSee Less

100 Years Ago in the Staley Journal, June 1925

Topics in the June 1925 issue of the Staley Journal included a summertime movie program where Staley employees could watch free pictures with their families every Sunday night at Staley field (courtesy of the Staley Fellowship Club), the opening baseball season and coming games, and new plans for launching a grain storage and merchandising department at the company.

For the opening baseball season, Mr. Staley was presented with a silver cup at the first game "To Decatur's truest sportsman, the man who has made possible baseball in Deatur." When asked to make a speech, Mr. Staley smiled and bowed, but refused reportedly stating, "You came to see a baseball game, not to hear a bunch of men talk." Mr. Staley also threw the first pitch of the game, as seen on page 18.

Captions for "Decatur Greets Baseball Season":
⚾️Upper Left--Mr. Staley pitches the first ball.
⚾️Center Left--G.C. Knickerbocker and J.H. Galloway crept off from the crowd as ⚾️Springfield's scores mounted.
⚾️Center Right--Pitcher Staley and Catcher Elder ready to start.
⚾️Lower--This big crowd shivered but stayed through the game. ... See MoreSee Less