Elaine Egdorf: The 'Grande Dame' of Homewood's History

Homewood resident's lifelong dedication to preserving the town's past

Mar. 11, 2026 at 2:48am

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Elaine Wolf Egdorf, a longtime Homewood, Illinois resident, has dedicated decades of her life to uncovering and preserving the history of her community. What started as casual curiosity about the streets and buildings around her grew into a mission to make Homewood's past visible. Egdorf founded the Homewood Historical Society in 1980 and has since championed the preservation of local landmarks, built a robust archive of documents and photographs, and shared the town's origin story with residents and researchers.

Why it matters

Egdorf's work has been instrumental in shaping Homewood's strong sense of identity and community. By building the historical society's archives and sharing the town's stories, she has helped residents understand how Homewood became the close-knit place it is today. Her dedication to preserving local history has earned her recognition as the 'grande dame' of Homewood's history.

The details

Egdorf's interest in Homewood's history began almost by accident. Walking through town with her children, she found herself wondering about the streets, buildings, and names around her. This casual curiosity soon grew into a mission, fueled by her husband Gerry's passion for firefighting and the stories he shared about the buildings he helped save. Egdorf organized the first meeting of the Homewood Historical Society in 1980, and under her leadership, the organization has grown its membership, built a robust archive, and championed the preservation of local landmarks, including securing the 19th-century Dorband-Howe House as the society's headquarters and museum.

  • Egdorf moved to Homewood in 1958 after marrying Gerald 'Gerry' Egdorf.
  • Egdorf organized the first meeting of the Homewood Historical Society on May 10, 1980.
  • Egdorf received the Illinois State Historical Society's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.
  • Egdorf celebrated her 90th birthday in 2021 with a celebration at the Evil Horse Alehouse in Crete.

The players

Elaine Wolf Egdorf

A longtime Homewood resident who founded the Homewood Historical Society in 1980 and has dedicated decades to preserving the town's history.

Gerald 'Gerry' Egdorf

Elaine's husband, a Homewood native and volunteer firefighter whose stories about the buildings he helped save opened a new window into the village's past.

Bob Anderson

The current president of the Homewood Historical Society, who said that 'Elaine didn't just start the Homewood Historical Society, she is the Homewood Historical Society.'

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What they’re saying

“I came to know a lot about the village through him.”

— Elaine Egdorf

“Elaine didn't just start the Homewood Historical Society, she is the Homewood Historical Society.”

— Bob Anderson, President, Homewood Historical Society

What’s next

The Homewood Historical Society plans to continue Egdorf's legacy by preserving the town's history and sharing it with future generations.

The takeaway

Elaine Egdorf's lifelong dedication to uncovering and preserving Homewood's history has been instrumental in shaping the town's strong sense of identity and community. Her work as the founder and driving force behind the Homewood Historical Society has ensured that the town's origins and evolution will be remembered for years to come.