Lewis Professor Appears on TV's 'Hidden History in Your House'

Dr. Dennis Cremin, professor of history and director of the Lewis University History Center, recently served as an expert on the premiere episode of a new TV series “Hidden History in your House.” The original episode will be re-broadcasted at 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 28 on H2 Channel.

The new TV series features Kevin O’Connor, host of “This Old House and Ask This Old House.” On the “Hidden History in your House” show, O’Connor deconstructs the American home and reveals the hidden history inside. He learns from experts various insights into the home, such as how Thomas Jefferson is connected with the lights in the home and Henry Ford’s relationship with the grill on today’s home patio.

Cremin recently received the Russell P. Strange Book of the Year Award from the Illinois State Historical Society for his book titled “Grant Park: The Evolution of Chicago’s Front Yard.” His book shares how the evolution of Grant Park was a gradual process, at first fraught with a lack of funding and organization, and later challenged by erosion, the railroads, automobiles, and a continued battle between original intent and conceptions of progress. Throughout the book, Cremin shows that the parkland continues to serve "as a display case for the city and a calling card to visitors."

His latest class project was a Joliet Area Historical Museum exhibit, “The Emergence of Modern Joliet.” Cremin served as curator and involved 28 students from three courses in the recently opened exhibit. It incorporated students, faculty, and staff from the Lewis University History Center as well as faculty colleague Leslie Colonna from Art & Design. The exhibit will also be on display from June 16-July 11 in The Brent and Jean Wadsworth Family Gallery, located on Lewis University’s main campus in Romeoville.