HS Board

The Mount Prospect Historical Society, the dynamic and growing organization which has taken pride in preserving the Village’s past since its founding during the nation’s Bicentennial in 1976, is excited to announce a trio of new employees, all of whom live within the Village.

Emily Dattilo who holds a bachelor’s degree in history and anthropology from Loyola University and a master’s degree in history from Marquette University, is the Society’s new director. Dattilo is a native of Mount Prospect who has always loved history and is excited to add to the public’s understanding of its community’s unique past. Previously she had worked as a museum educator at the Naper Settlement in Naperville and a collections assistant at the McHenry County Historical Society, following internships at the Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear in Milwaukee, the Milwaukee County Historical Society and the May Weber Ethnographic Collection at Loyola University.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to care for and to share the history of my hometown,” Dattilo stated. “I look forward to sharing history with the community in new, engaging ways.”

Amanda Marcus has accepted the Office Manager position. She, too, is a lifelong resident of Mount Prospect. The mother of four has worked part-time in a variety of local office positions and is excited to now work for the Historical Society since she minored in history at the University of Illinois at Chicago while earning her degree in psychology.

Tom Groenwald, the resident of an historic home in the Village for over 35 years, has taken over the part-time bookkeeper position. He recently retired after a 42-year career in finance and accounting for a variety of firms, primarily in the senior healthcare realm and looks forward to sharing his extensive financial knowledge with a local organization.

“As the Society continues to expand its community outreach, we are so pleased to welcome new staff members who bring us a variety of talents, ideas, and experiences, all of which will enhance our programs, exhibits, and dissemination of history to local residents in fresh, new ways,” stated Deb Rittle, Society president.

The Society bid farewell in July to long-time Office Manager Cindy Bork who retired after 17 years on the job. Former director Lindsay Rice moved on to become Executive Director of the St. Charles History Museum just before the pandemic began and former bookkeeper Jane Winters has chosen to concentrate on her full-time position.