Bess Bower at Grass Lake, circa 1905. Dunn Museum Collections.
Bess Bower Dunn has made appearances in previous posts, but I've never featured her until now. She is so deserving of her own post!
Bess, also known as Bessie, was a woman of firsts. She was one of the first women in motion pictures, the county's first official historian, the county's first assistant probate clerk, and one of the county's earliest genealogists and historic preservationists.
Still from Edward Amet's silent film featuring best friends, Belle Spoor (left) and Bess Bower. Circa 1896. Amet Collection, Dunn Museum.
About 1896, Bess and her best friend, Isabel "Belle" Spoor, were asked by inventor, Edward Amet, to help with his new motion picture invention. When the women arrived at the inventor’s home on North Avenue in Waukegan, Amet handed each a pair of boxing gloves. Bess recalled, “We whipped those long skirts out of the way and had a fine old time.”
For several historic minutes, the girlfriends punched each other while Amet filmed. The stars of Amet's film titled, "Morning Exercise," became the first women in motion pictures.
Bess Bower working in Lake County's probate office as the assistant probate clerk, circa 1899. Bess Bower Dunn Collection, Dunn Museum, 61.14
In 1899, Bess was hired as the county's assistant probate clerk, and in her spare time assisted people with their family research. If you happened into the probate office at the first half of the 20th century, Bess would happily assist in your research by looking into county records, and offering to visit local cemeteries to verify the correct spelling of surnames and birth/death dates.
Bess Bower with Daniel Wright Memorial Rock in Half Day, 1909. Bess Bower Dunn Collection, Dunn Museum.
Bess was one of the founders of the Lake County Historical Society (defunct). In 1909, the Society placed a 7-ton memorial rock near the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) and Aptakisic Road west of the Des Plaines River to commemorate the county's first permanent non-native settler, Daniel Wright (1778-1873). See my post on Wright.
Bess promoted Lake County history through the efforts of the Lake County Historical Society and by giving lectures. She also preserved history by documenting the county's heritage through research and speaking with descendants of early settlers. She was an avid photographer and traveled throughout the county looking for historic sites and natural areas to capture on film.
Bess Bower with her box camera at an unknown location, circa 1905. Bess Bower Dunn Collection, Dunn Museum.
Bess Bower with Native American trail tree in Lake Bluff, circa 1909. Bess Bower Dunn Collection, Dunn Museum.
On November 21, 1918, after several years of courtship, Bess Bower married Roland R. Dunn. Roland was the son of Byron A. Dunn (1842-1926), historian, author, Civil War veteran, and newspaperman. Roland became the advertising manager of the Globe Department Store in Waukegan. Sadly, just ten years into their marriage, Roland died of pneumonia following an appendicitis operation. Bess and his sisters were at his bedside. Bess never remarried.
Bess Bower's husband, Roland R. Dunn (1874-1928). Photo 1903.
In the mid-1950s, Bess Bower Dunn assisted Robert Vogel with his Lake County Museum of History in Wadsworth, Illinois. She was the museum's curator and donated materials from the Lake County Historical Society and her own collections for Vogel's museum. Those collections are now part of the collections of the Bess Bower Dunn Museum in Libertyville.
Just before her death in 1959, the Lake County Board of Commissioners awarded Bess the title of Lake County Historian. She is the first person in the county's history to have the title. She was also honored for her 60 years of service as an employee of the County of Lake from 1899 to 1959, which made her the longest county employee on record.
The day after her passing, the courthouse flags were at half mast in memory of Bess and the county's Recorder of Deeds, Gustaf H. Fredbeck, who had also passed away.
Bess Bower likely at home in Waukegan, circa 1896. Bess Bower Dunn Collection, Dunn Museum.
Bess Bower Dunn is one of my most admired Lake County citizens. From her photographs and articles it's apparent her life was full of joy and purpose. I think she'd be pleased that her efforts in preservation are appreciated to this day.
D. Dretske, ddretske@lcfpd.org
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Note: In 2016, the Lake County Forest Preserves Board voted to change the name of the Lake County Discovery Museum to the Bess Bower Dunn Museum, honoring Dunn's extraordinary efforts to preserve and promote Lake County's heritage.
Note: the Lake County Historical Society's collections are now held by the Bess Bower Dunn Museum and Lake Forest College.
8 comments:
Thank you so much for this post about Bess. I've often wanted to learn more about her, as she seems to have been so connected to many people in Lake County and so instrumental in the preservation of its history. Great piece!
Born in 1921, I was resident in Waukegan soon after end of World War II --- between about 1947 to 1956. We had baby son, and moved in with my husband’s parents on Grand Ave. There were no places to rent, in those times of demobilization of our military husbands (US Navy); Nearly a year later we felt lucky to rent a small apt:in “FARNSWORTH’ remodeled from military barracks & located on the grounds of the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, where my husband’s Dad was civilian Transportation Manager. After our first daughter was born in 1948. we moved to a tiny house on Fairfield Circle.
It was a surprise and a pleasure to find this site & learn so much about Bess. Her first name: “Bess” was all I remembered, besides her unique box-shaped, black electric car and her devil-may-care style of driving! Searched for: “Bess+Waukegan + "electric car". Have vivid memories of "Bess Dunn" driving her black electric car about 15 mph, as though there was no such thing as crossroads, stop signs or other cars driving on the roads of Waukegan! Other drivers were warned to watch for: this traffic hazard: Bess Dunn --- driving along in her black electric car stopping for nothing --- and to remember that “BESS DUNN always has the right-of-way! Never heard of Bess having any accidents, or getting any traffic tickets, either. R Filstead
Great article about Bess Dunn. I don't think I've ever heard of her before. I'm grateful, now, though, for all she did.
And regarding the comment above me from Ruth, I'd like to know more about all that- hadn't heard of Farnsworth.
Thanks!
I am trying to find information on a place I lived for 8 years, 1946-1955, which was part of the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. i grew up in refurbished Navy Barracks called Farnsworth somewhere in the North Chicago area. I am trying to find the location of it. There was a building at the top of the hill which had been the grocery store and I believe a school also. It was within walking distance of the building I lived in at 3205 Farnsworth. Any information would be appreciated.
Hello Nancy,
I found a Chicago Tribune article that mentions Farnsworth barracks. Please email me and I can send it to you. ddretske@lcfpd.org
Was Bess Dunn a member of the DAR
The Waukegan Historical Society confirmed that yes, Bess Dunn was a member of the DAR Waukegan Chapter.
"National Number 340241, Dunn, Bess Bower (Mrs. Roland R.), 212 Julian Ave., Ancestor: Elijah Townsend."
Nancy I too have been looking for info on Farnsworth. We lived there approx 1947 to 1952. I well remember the building at the top of the hill where there was a grocery, post office and church services. I do have a few pics showing it he barracks and maybe a public area. I recently found out it was considered Shields Township.
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