By Karen Haave
Monee Historical Society President Christi Holston has stepped down from the post, citing a desire to scale back her demanding schedule.
Holston has worked tirelessly on behalf of the MHS for 13 years, when she and her husband, David, implored the Monee Village Board to reconsider its plans to demolish the 159-year-old Creamery building on Court Street.
Saving the imposing limestone building, once a butter and cheese factory, led to creation of the historical society and, in 2019, the building’s designation as a Will County Historic landmark.
It now is known as the Monee Heritage Center.
History has been a lifelong interest for Holston, a Monee native who, as a 12-year-old, founded The Saturday Afternoon History Club with several of her friends.
David Holston was the MHS charter president in 2011, with Christi taking the reins in 2013.
She conceded that stepping down was not easy.
“This was an extremely hard decision because I love Monee and feel that what we are doing at the historical society is important work and vital to our community,” she said.
“I wish I was 30 years younger and had as much energy as I used to. I intend to remain active in historic preservation and still carry on with the mission of preserving and sharing our history, just not in as much of a leadership role.
“There were many factors that led me to decide that now was the right time to step down as president of the Monee Historical Society,” she added.
“Any healthy organization needs new ideas and new leadership from time to time to remain healthy, relevant and viable and the historical society is no different. I’ve been retired from my full time career for 10 years, but working full time as a volunteer for those 10 years and I’d like to throttle back just a bit!
“I spent my entire career in management and now my entire retirement so far has been in a managerial role, as well,” she noted. “I take that responsibility very seriously and that can be very stressful.”
For Holston, saving the Creamery building and creating an organization that will assure its preservation was a labor of love.
“The best part, by far, is knowing that together we have all done something wonderful in not only saving a building, but building community,” she said.
“I love all of the people I work with, the new people that I meet and the new discoveries we make all the time about the history of our area.
“Back when we first heard that the Creamery was going to be demolished, I was so angry. I had seen our heritage torn down and disregarded bit by bit throughout the years. I honestly had no idea how we could stop it, but I was mad enough to try. I had a hard time believing, and could not see how we would be able to save the Creamery, but I knew it was worth saving and I had to try. I had a vision, right from the start, of what it could become. I just kept telling myself I would keep going until we ran into a brick wall that we couldn’t get around, and miraculously, we never did. It was not just me, it was many people, working together for a common dream and the common good, but I am so very proud to have been a part of making a difference.”
Even though she is leaving the leadership role behind, Holston plans to continue to be active with the MHS.
“Absolutely! I hope retiring from the presidency will give me more time to research and develop other programs for the historical society. I have a million ideas of things that I’d like to do and I hope to have more time to put those into practice.
“In the spring, the new statue of “Princess Monee” will be unveiled and I will be on hand to talk about the real person behind the legend and reveal all of the information we have found out about her!”
A member of the Will County Historic Preservation Commission, she also plans to continue her efforts there to dedicate “other sites in Monee of historical importance that should receive landmark status, and I will continue to work on those.
“St. Boniface Catholic Church and St. Paul’s United Church of Christ are both in process and there are at least three other sites waiting.”
In the meantime, she applauded her colleagues and supporters, saying she is confident that the MHS will continue.
“The historical society is made up of many, many dedicated and talented people and will continue to grow and evolve long after my tenure is over,” she said.
“This organization is not just about one person, it has always been about teamwork and about community. I am very proud that I can step down, but the MHS will carry on.”