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By MIKE CASTELVECCHI How do YOU say “Matteson”? Do you use two or three sylla bles? If you use two, you are not cor rect. IT’S MATT-E-SON, Three syl lables with the accent on the first syllable And unlike the often mispro nounced Wausau, it’s not in Wis consin, or downstate Ilinois. Mat teson is just along Interstate 57 with Lincoln highway running east-west through the town. The village was named after the state’s 10th governor, Joel Al drich Matteson, who served from 1853-1857. He was governor when the town was formed. The main culprits in saying “Mattson” appear to be “out siders,” although residents are also known to utter the erroneous pronunciation ONE THEORY has the arrival of Lincoln Mall, which brought regional attention to the town, as the genesis of the mispronun ciation. The mall encouraged the mis pronunciation because delivery trucks for regional or national stores, unfamiliar with the area, were ending up in Madison, Wis consin. There is occasional confusion caused by the mispronunciation, with phone calls being directed to village hall. Tax revenue meant for downstate Mattoon was once sent to Matteson. The money was returned. At Matteson elementary school, second grade teacher Mary Ellen Thurston said the word is pronounced both ways but that the school officially pro nounces it Matt-e-son. DIRECTOR OF village com munity relations Judith Kramer is on a one-person crusade to let the correct pronunciation be known. When she sees wrongdoing, she lets it be known to radio and tele vision stations and commercial producers. They sometimes ask her to referee disputes between them and clients who insist it is Mattson She says old-timers are “very adamant about that, very ada mant.” “If you saw that word printed you would say it, Matt-e-son.’ BUT THE definitive source may have been tapped at the town’s 125th anniversary in 1980. According to village adminis trator Daniel Dubruiel, relatives of the former governor came in from Pennsylvania to attend the festivities. “They verified that that was the pronunciation, with three syl lables, Matteson,” Dubruiel said MATTESON HISTORICAL SOCIETY 813 School Ave. ~*~ = Matteson, Illinois 60443 MATTESON (matt’ eee sun} A card for the Matteson Historical society tries to clarify the pronunciation of “Matteson” for the un knowing. A sign in the library says the same thing
Newspaper Details
Matteson Richton Park Star
Matteson, Illinois, US
Thu, Jan 28, 1988
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Michael Y.
USA 03 Dec 2025
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