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A Circle of Friends in a Growing Town
In the early decades of the 20th century, a group known as the Entre Nous met regularly in Sandwich, Illinois. Their name, French for “between us”, suggests something private and familiar, and their gatherings reflect exactly that: a close knit circle of friends who came together for meals, conversation, and celebration.
Rather than meeting in a single location, the group moved from home to home, gathering at the residences of families such as the Culvers, Lathams, Wallaces, Stinsons, and others. These rotating gatherings created a shared social rhythm, one that reveals the strength of personal relationships in a small but connected community.
November 1918: A Town Celebrates the End of War
One of the most vivid glimpses into the life of the Entre Nous comes from November 1918, at the close of World War I.
On November 15, 1918, members gathered at the home of Dr. George Culver for what was described as a “victory supper,” marking the end of the war. The Armistice had been declared just four days earlier, on November 11, and the gathering reflects how quickly the news, and the relief, reached Sandwich.
That same afternoon, the group assembled again at the home of Jud Latham, where they were photographed together. The image, preserved today, shows members in patriotic dress, some draped in the flags of allied nations, capturing a moment of unity and celebration as the community emerged from the uncertainty of war.
The photograph is dated November 16, 1918, suggesting either a continued gathering into the following day or a formalized second occasion. Taken together, the diary entry and the image reveal a two day moment of remembrance, relief, and shared experience.
The Entre Nous Record (1903–1925)
What survives of the Entre Nous Club is not a formal history, but something far more revealing: a running record of gatherings, preserved in dated entries spanning more than two decades.
Beginning in November 1903, the club met regularly, often every two weeks, rotating among the homes of its members. The entries are brief, but together they form a remarkably clear picture of social life in Sandwich during the early twentieth century.
Even in their simplicity, the notes reveal patterns:
- Evenings centered on shared meals, often prepared by the hosts
- Gatherings hosted in the homes of families such as Wallace, Latham, Culver, Mosher, Castle, and Howison
- Seasonal traditions including Valentine decorations, Halloween suppers, and Christmas celebrations
- Occasional entertainment, music, games, amateur theatricals, and themed evenings
- A rhythm of fellowship marked by anniversaries, birthdays, and long-standing friendships
In other entries, the tone shifts from celebratory to personal:
- Members traveled together by train to Aurora for an evening at the opera
- Debates were held on national issues such as the League of Nations
- Weddings, anniversaries, and losses were quietly acknowledged
- One note simply records: “not all here on account of terrible storm”
Individually, these entries are small.
Taken together, they form something rare:
A continuous, lived record of friendship, ritual, and community life in Sandwich across a generation
A Social Circle in Motion
Entries from contemporary diaries show that the Entre Nous gatherings were not isolated events, but part of an ongoing pattern. The group met frequently, often for suppers, anniversaries, and seasonal celebrations, moving between homes across Sandwich.
These records provide a rare and personal view of everyday life, documenting not just where people went, but who they gathered with, and how they marked both ordinary evenings and historic moments.
Why It Matters
The Entre Nous offers more than a list of names or events, it reveals how community was lived.
Through shared meals, rotating gatherings, and moments like the November 1918 celebration, we see a network of families connected not only by proximity, but by friendship, tradition, and a sense of belonging.
Facts at a Glance
- Group Name: Entre Nous (“between us”)
- Location: Sandwich, Illinois
- Activity: Social gatherings, suppers, celebrations
- Meeting Style: Rotating homes among members
- Notable Event:
- November 15, 1918 — Victory supper at Dr. George Culver’s (end of WWI)
- November 15, 1918 (afternoon) — Group photographed at Jud Latham’s
- November 16, 1918 — Photograph dated to this day
- Key Families: Culver, Latham, Wallace, Stinson, Mosher, Howison, Woodward, and others
Continue the Story
Research & Sources
- Contemporary diary entries documenting Entre Nous gatherings (1918–1923)
- Photograph: Entre Nous, November 16, 1918 (identified individuals listed in caption)
- Local family records and community archives
- Courtesy of Judy Bowles