Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum & Gardens
Robert Hall Tinker was born on December 31, 1836, in Honolulu to missionary parents, the Reverend Reuben Tinker (1799–1854) and his wife Mary Throop Wood Tinker (1809–1895).[2] Tinker moved to Rockford in 1856, where he was employed as an accountant by Mary Dorr Manny, the wealthy widow of John H. Manny of the Manny Reaper Works.
Robert Tinker traveled extensively throughout Europe in 1862 and was greatly impressed by the estates and gardens he had seen there. On his return to Rockford, Tinker built himself a 27-room, two-story Swiss-style cottage on a limestone bluff overlooking Kent Creek.
In 1870 Robert and Mary were married, becoming one of Rockford's most influential couples. Tinker was mayor of Rockford in 1875, a founding member of the Rockford Park District and the CEO of the Northwest and I.C. Rail lines.
Mary Dorr Manny Tinker died in 1901 and Robert remarried her niece Jessie Dorr Hurd Tinker. His second wife adopted a son, Theodore "Teddy" Tinker in 1908.
Upon Robert Tinker's death in 1924, Jessie created a partnership with the Rockford Park District, allowing her to remain in the house until her death. After her death in 1942 the Rockford Park District acquired the property and opened the home as a museum in 1943.
Samantha Hochmann graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Master's in History in 2015. She began working at Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum in 2016 and took over as the Executive Director in 2018. Samantha spent 8 years as Secretary of the Rockford Historical Society and 3 years as the Media Coordinator for the Rock River Valley AMBUCS.
She currently serves as the Secretary for the Heritage Museum Park and as a team member of Haunted Rockford. Samantha has completed the Small Museums Pro Certification from the American Association for State & Local History and is passionate about social and cultural history.
Samantha will talk about the history of the Tinker Swiss Cottage and take us on a tour of the house via pictures. This will be an interesting and educational program and one that you can bring a guest or prospective member to join us in person at Memorial Hall or via Zoom. Jim Coffey, a former Tinker Board member and President, will introduce our presenter and act as Rotary Host.