Rochelle Flagg Township Museum

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Rochelle Flagg Township Museum

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Admission Costs:
Family Rate: $7.00
$3.00/Adult
$2.00 for 6-12 yrs. Free-Under 5 Yrs. old
Free-Th

"The mission of the Flagg Township Historical Society and Museum is to stimulate interest in Flagg Township history through education, research, collection and preservation of information for the benefit of the public of today and in the future."

10/30/2026

In 1907 the Coliseum building was erected on the south-east corner of Fifth Avenue and Lincoln Highway.

10/30/2026

1946. Don Dentler's gas station and Beebe's trailer court and cottages. Located at the north end of Lincoln Highway.

10/30/2026

These are pictures of those who served in the military. Some lost their lives most did not, but they all served. Billy Roberson (Air Force), Dan Sage (Vietnam) and Dennis Thompson ( Air Force).

10/29/2026

These are pictures of those who served in the military. Some lost their lives most did not, but they all served. Mark Reineck (Navy), Galen Richardson (Army) and Doug Plourde (Marines).

10/29/2026

1800's. City Hall and water tower.

10/29/2026

Andrew Binz Meat Market and refrigerator plant. The refrigerator plant burned down in 1910.

10/29/2026

For more than thirty years the “Long Arm of the Law” for Rochelle was Ambrose Hodges. Through shoot outs, bootleggers, and prohibition Ambrose made sure that when someone fought authority, authority always won.
Born in Ashton on September 24, 1864 Ambrose was in his early twenties when he moved to Rochelle to clerk at the DeLos Hotel. It was 1899 when everything changed for Ambrose and the people of Rochelle.
Police Chief William Way retired. Mayor M. L. Ettinger called on Ambrose Hodges to fill the position. With no background Ambrose went from hotel clerk to police chief overnight. Little did anyone know that he would hold the position for thirty-five years.
In 1899 the city’s population was little over 1300 people. The police department consisted of two members, Ambrose was the daytime marshal and police chief, William Delaney was the night time marshal. Ambrose served seven days a week for twelve hours a day at the modest rate of $50 per month. The $50 pay was maintained for the first twenty-six years Ambrose served as chief.
Ambrose had his first brush with death in 1900, not fighting crime but getting in over his head (literally) at the Braiden quarry.
“While bathing at the quarry last week Tuesday evening Hodge ventured out to where the water was over his head, and not being able to swim, he tried to lower the water in the quarry by drinking it. He soon filled up with water and sank to the bottom.”
Luckily Alderman Dodge was on scene and after two or three dives got Ambrose to shore “more dead than alive.” After that Ambrose kept his activities to the shore and avoided the watery depths.
The most popular tale of Ambrose involved his famous mustache. Ambrose was extremely proud of his handsome mustache. Long, full, and with sweeping curls at the ends, his mustache was a thing of beauty and great personal pride.
In 1917, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was suffering from a rash of thefts at their rail yards. One such theft involved thousands of pounds of butter from the Rochelle area. The railroad sent Detective Fairweather to investigate the crime.
Fairweather had worked for Scotland Yard before coming to work for the railroad. After careful investigation Fairweather and Ambrose received a warrant for the arrest of Robert Fordchester, a notorious scofflaw who had settled into the community.
Waiting until late at night, Ambrose Hodges, James Adair, Al Robbins (the whole Rochelle police department) and Detective Fairweather slipped silently up to the front door of the abandoned house where Fordchester was hiding.
Like most great plans, this one fell apart almost from the beginning. Fordchester was not alone; his partner in crime Red Morgan was with him. They were both armed and they were ready with a trap of their own.
When the lawmen rushed through the door they were met with a hail of bullets. Fairweather went down shot through the throat. In the smoke and confusion both criminals escaped. Fairweather recovered after months of care.
Adair and Robbins escaped uninjured. Ambrose Hodges was left with a painful reminder of the adventure. His mustache, his pride and joy, was lost in the shootout.
“One bullet clipped off Chief Hodges mustache as neatly as a barber’s shears could have turned the trick.”
Fordchester and Morgan were apprehended safely at a later date.
Ambrose Hodges served as police chief of Rochelle from 1899 until 1934. He is still the longest-serving police chief for the City of Rochelle.

10/28/2026

1949. J.H. Russell throws the lever, starting the cities new generator.

10/28/2026

Undated. Early view of Steward Il.

10/28/2026

1919-1930. The Majestic Theater was located at 425 Lincoln Highway.

Address

518 4th Avenue
Rochelle, IL
61068

Telephone

+18155623040

Website

http://www.flaggtownshipmuseumrochelle.org/home.aspx

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