Trip to Normandy Evokes a Time of Action for Illinois World War II Veteran"

From the June 2, 2024, Chicago Tribune by William A. Ryan.

Since there is a lot of news about the 80th anniversary of D-Day, I will be writing about some of it here in this blog as well, of course, in my World War II blog.

In a nursing home about three hours northwest of Chicago near the Wisconsin border on the edge of Durand, Illinois, a town nicknamed "Village of Volunteers," three WW II veterans are talking about the upcoming 80th anniversary of D-Day.

One of them will be traveling to Normandy for the occasion, though he is increasingly frail at the age of 98.  Frank Kohnke is a bit anxious about the trip.

He straightens his 101st Airborne cap and holds up a sepia-toned photograph of him back then.

At the beginning of June, the Army kicks off 10 days in Normandy to commemorate perhaps the most iconic military maneuver in modern history:  the day America and her allies stormed the beaches of France to gain a foothold in German-occupied Europe.

Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to attend, but the guests of honor will be the nearly 130 World War II veterans like Kohnke who are making the the trip on two medically-supported Honor Flights.

--GreGen

Most Common Jobs in Illinois and the U.S. 150 Years Ago-- Part 1

From the April 4, 2022, Stacker.  From U.S. Census Bureau.

First number is Illinois and second number is national.  That would make it 1872 so from the 1870 census.

1.  Farmers and Planters  

240, 256  //  2,977,711

2.  Agricultural laborers'

133,649 //  2,885,996

3.  Laborers (not specified)

63,130 //  1,031.666

4.  Domestic servants

44,903  //  975,734

5.  Carpenters and joiners

23,040 //  344,596

6.  Employees of railroad companies (nor clerks)

14,946 //  154,027

7.  Clerks in stores

13,980 //  222,504

--Cooter

Illinois' I&M Canal's 175th Anniversary-- Part 1

From the April 8, 2023, Northwest Herald "Experience I&M Canal's 

Of course, people have heard of the Erie Canal, the Suez Canal and Panama Canal, but fewer are familiar with this one.

At the end of April, I wrote about Illinois Governor JB Pritzker declaring April as the official month of the I&M (Illinois & Michigan).

Here are some things you might want to check out in regards to this important canal, which connected the Great Lakes with the Mississippi River via the Illinois River.

Ottawa, Illinois, has a remarkable I&M Canal structure in the form of an original tollhouse which has many recovered items and fascinating displays about the waterway' storied history in a compact one-room footprint.

Located in the heart of Ottawa's downtown, right along the I&M towpath, you'll find the immacilate-looking, 175-year-old structure that a group of dedicated volunteers turned the husk of a building into a paonstakenly researched approximation of what the canal collector's tollhouse would have looked like back in 1848.

--Cooter

April 2023 Official Month of I&M Canal in Illinois

To commemorate the 175th anniversary of the openingof the Illinois & Michigan Canal and the enormius impact it had on the region, state and nation, Governor JB Pritzker declared April 2023 the official month of the I&M Canal.

The next several posts will be about it and things you can do along it today.

--CootCanal

About the Octagonal Barn in Spring Grove That Is Endangered at the Former Fred Hatch Farm

 From the October 1, 2022, Northwest Herald (McHenry County, Illinois) "Only you can ensure local history will be 'barn' again" by Kurt Begalka.

The exterior of the 1876 octagonal horse barn in Spring Grove, Illinois, is not much to look at (despite being octagonal).  However, go inside and look up.  Well, that's a whole different story.  That ceiling appears almost cathedral-like.  

And, it might well be the only remaining octagonal barn in McHenry County.

Jack Pease, president of McHenry-based Super Aggregates Inc., recently bought the remainder of the Fred Hatch Farm (site of the now-demolished first silo in the United States that was designed by Fred Hatch).  This farm was most recently owned by the Kattner family.

I knew one of the Kattners, Ed.

Pease said he intends to mine the estimated 100 acres on the north side of Main Street and develop the current Kattner farmstead to the south (where the barn is located).  That means tear it down, subdivide it into lots.

This land is on Spring Grove's Main Street a short distance east of Wilmot Road.

--Cooter

DAR Celebrating Phebe Ashley Weed Today-- Part 2

The Battle of Hubbardton, led by Lt. General John Burgoyne, promised to destroy the village of Poultney.  While the men were busy defending the village, Beulah Wheeler Howe, Phebe's grandmother, and 12 other women, led all that could not fight to Fort Bennington -- over 50 miles away through wilderness to safety.

This extrordinary bravery of the of these thirteen women is still celebrated today woth a parade and festival in their honor called East Poultney Days.

Phebe's family relocated to New York where she married Amasa Mead, who had fought in the War of 1812, and had her first family.  A Kishwaukee Trail member is descended from her fifth child, Catherine Phebe Mead, born December 20, 1821.

Phebe's husband  died and she married John Weed.  They had three more children and she ran a very busy and happy household.

Phebe moved to be near her daughter, Catherine Phoebe Mead, sho married Frederick Morgan Webb.  They were residents of Marengo, Illinois, in the early 1850s.

--Cooter

DAR Celebrating the Life of Real Daughter Phebe Weed Today in Marengo, Illinois

On Sunday, August 14 at 1:30 PM, the Kishwaukee Trail Chapter NSDAR (Illinois) will have a ceremony at Old Marengo Cemetery in Marengo, Illinois.  They will mark the grave of Phebe Ashley Mead Weed, daughter of an American Revolutionary Patriot.

Phebe Ashley was born on Poultney, Vermont, the sixth child of 13 children.  Her uncle Thomas Ashley, Ethan Allen and Nehemiah Howe helped settle the small farming community where she grew up.

Phebe's father, William Ashley, served in the American Revolution and fought for our country's freedom in the Vermont militia.

Young Phebe grew up knowing that her grandmother, Beulah Wheeler Howe, was also a freedom fighter known for being among thirteen women who saved the children and citizens of Poultney from a British invasion.

--Brock-Perry

Prohibition Hangover-- Part 7: The Economics and Politics

One notorious example of the Klan's involvement with Prohibition occurred in 1923-24 in southern Illinois' Williamson County, where the Klan mobilized hundreds of volunteers to raid saloons and roadhouses.  Hundreds of people were arrested and more than a dozen killed.

That kind of social friction helped spur efforts to repeal Prohibition.

Economics also played a role.

While some Prohibition supporters predicted it would boost the economy, instead it proved harmful.  Thousands of jobs were lost die to closures of distilleries, breweries and saloons.   Federal, state and local governments lost billions of dollars in revenue as liquor taxes disappeared.  One major consequence:  Increasing reliance on income taxes to sustain government spending.

The onset of the Great Depression hastened Prohibition's demise, as the need for more jobs and tax revenue became acute.  The Democratic Party called for the repeal of Prohibition in  its 1932 platform; its presidential nominee, Franklin D. Roosevelt, embraced that cause as he rolled to a landslide victory over incumbent Republican Herbert Hoover.

--CootPro

Denny and Sgt. Floyd

On July 7, I wrote about this monument and just recently, my buddy Denny Gibson stopped at it on his drive from the western terminus of US Highway 20.  I told him about it on a conversation we had to get together at some point on US 20 in Illinois.  I discovered that while doing research on Sergeant Charles Floyd, the only member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to die on it.  Sgt. Floyd's 100-foot tall monument is at Sioux City, Iowa, which is on US-20 and Denny would be driving through that place on his trip back home on that highway.

I had come across the Sergeant Charles Floyd name while researching a man named Patrick Gass whose name I had come across in a War of 1812 Google Search and wrote about him in my Not So Forgotten: War of 1812 blog.  Gass replaced Floyd as the Corps of Discovery's sergeant on Floyd's death.

Denny said that the Sergeant Floyd Monument was already on his list of things to see when his US-20 cruise entered Sioux City, Iowa.  He took four pictures there of the obelisk, the view and previous burial sites.  I found his flag shot of interest as it had 15 stars and 14 stripes.  (Well, now I see that the top red stripes was not shown.  But the stars were arranged in five rows of three.)

Of course, I ended up finding about Sergeant Floyd because of my Roadtripping Through History.  This is where I start with a story and connect it with others and see how far I can get with a common thread.  I started with Patrick and went to Charles.

You can see what Denny saw by searching Denny Gibson and going to Denny G's Road Trips.  He's a Real Back Roads Kind of Guy.

That U.S. Travelin' Denny Guy.  --Brock-Perry

Thoughts About Movie 'Caddyshack'-- Part 2: What About Lou Loomis and Carl Spackler?

**  Even though the movie was inspired by Illinois, it was set in Nebraska and shot in Florida.

**  The concept was sold as "Animal House" on a golf course.

**  "Caddyshack" may be signature Bill Murray, but older brother Brian Doyle-Murray was more involved.  Bill spent just a short time on set; but Brian provided the idea, co-wrote the screenplay (with Rami and Kenney), then played the manager of the caddyshack.

**  Brian based Lou Loomis, his character, on Lou Janis, an Indian Hill caddy master.  According to Bill Murray's golf memoir, Janis "would bet on anything."  In the movie, Loomis wagered that a member would pick his nose and eat it.

**  As early as the mid-1970s, Bill Murray was performing variations of his character, Carl Spackler --  his side talking, imbalanced, philosophical groundskeeper -- as a cast member at Second City.

--RoadDog

TEENAGERS AND CATS:  Cats and teenagers yawn in exactly the same manner, communicating that ultimate human ecstasy--  a sense of complete and utter boredom.

Deaths: William 'Bill' Schulz, Member of IHSA 1952 State Basketball Champs-- Part 2

By the 1951-1952 basketball season, Bill Schulz stood at 6-foot-10 and played center for the Alden-Hebron Green Giants.  That school had just 98 students and just five players on its basketball team.

That year, the team went 35-1 and won the 1952 IHSA Basketball Tournament by beating Quincy in overtime 64-59, with Bill as the leading scorer.

Alden-Hebron is the smallest school ever to win the IHSA (Illinois High School Association) Tournament in the old one-class system where all schools are in the same class regardless of size.

In 2017, Bill was inducted into the Illinois Coaches Association Player Hall of Fame.  Today, the Hebron water tower is painted to look like a basketball in honor of the 1952's team accomplishments.

(Today, Quincy, Illinois, has a population of 40,000 and Hebron 1,200.)

Deaths: William Schulz, Member of Illinois 1952 Basketball Tournament Champs, Hebron ( a 'Hoosier' Moment')

From the January 30, 2021, Northwest Herald (McHenry County, Illinois).

WILLIAM SCHULZ

Born:  November11, 1934

DIED:  January 21, 2021

A well-known Illinois high school basketball player, F. William "Bill" Schulz, 86, of Kenilworth, Illinois, passed away due to complications related to leukemia on January 21, 2021, with his family by his side.

He was born on November 11, 1934, in Harvard, Illinois.

Raised on a dairy farm in Hebron, Illinois, Bill attended Alden-Hebron High School (98 students) where as a lanky 6-foot-five freshman, he was recruited by Coach Russ Ahearn to play on the Green Giants basketball team.  Before this time, Schulz had never played basketball and had to ask his father's permission to be released from his after-school farm chores.

He worked hard to develop his skills, and by his junior year, he had grown to 6-foot10 and played center for Hebron's varsity team which only had five players.

And, Then.....   It was the movie "Hoosiers" all over again.

'Woke' Hits Sports Teams: University of Illinois

Illinois has taken steps to find a new mascot but has not committed to a name change.  In September 2020, the campus senate endorsed a change to the belted kingfisher, a blue and orange bird native to the state.  (I've never seen one or even heard of one.)  

The university retired Chief Illiniwek in 2007 after the NCAA found the mascot to be "hostile and abusive."  (Really, hostile and abusive?  Come on.)

So, you better go out and buy any U of I mascot-related items.  I know I have a sweatshirt, tee shirt and hat with the likeness.  As well as a couple bumper stickers.

If I were a member of the Illini tribe or an Indian. I don't think I'd find offense with the image.

--CootIllini

The Spanish Flu of 1918-- Part 8: Boy, Those 'Cures'?

People tried all sorts of remedies, many of which were advertised in local newspapers and today sound atrocious as medical cures.

Menthoeze, for example, was widely sold in town and consisted of goosefat mixed with turpentine for an inhalation treatment.  Quinine tablets along with an elixir derived from opium were highly recommended for fever and pain.

A children's concoction called California Syrup of Fig was sold by local pharmacies.  Made up almost entirely of fig syrup, it also contained 25 percent Senna, an herbal laxative, as well as 6 percent alcohol.

It's a miracle that residents survived the treatments!  But the point is, they did survive and despite large numbers of lives lost, Belvidere and Boone County (Illinois) eventually conquered the virus, not through horrific syrups, but through isolation, quarantine and protection.

By October 25, 1918, cases were down to three per day with very few deaths and Belvidere Mayor W.W. Ray petitioned the State Board of Health to have restrictions eased after weeks of closure and isolation.

So, it may seem like 2020 was the worst year ever, but we have come through bad times before.

--DaCoot

The Spanish Flu 1918-- Part 6: No Spitting Allowed Here

Continued from February 6, 2021.

Well, I got tied up with some mighty interesting stories about Blacks for Black History Month.  Lots of stuff I didn't know.  I like anything dealing with history and sadly, didn't know much about the people I was writing about in February.

But since you-know-what is still with us, I will start this up again.

In Belvidere, Illinois, schools, churches and theaters were closed as the pandemic unfolded before even the state banned attendance at any public gathering effective October 18, 1918.

Once the ban took effect, funerals, weddings, lodge meetings, government meetings/councils and hospital visits were not allowed.  Also the state mandated masks for anyone in contact with the public outside of their own families.

Belvidere took even a further step by banning bonfires and any sort of outdoor burning in town to ease the suffering of the sick.  Anyone who coughed or sneezed in a Belvidere public establishment was ejected.  Spitting in public was outlawed and spitters were arrested.

--Cooter

Spanish Flu Outbreak 1918-- Part 4: A Major Fuel Shortage As Well That Year

In January 1918, the federal government ordered all businesses closed for five days due to a national fuel (coal) shortage.  In the local area (Belvidere, Illinois) the National Sewing Machine, The Belvidere  Screw and Machine Company, The Gossard Corset Company and Parsons Casket Company were shut down but food manufacturing companies like the Borden Plant and Wait Creamery were allowed to stay open. 

In addition, the railroad ran on reduced hours and any businesses that needed fuel to run were ordered to close on Mondays for nine weeks.  Schools which had enough surplus fuel to heat classrooms could stay open as could businesses which did not rely on fuel.

This caused a huge debate on whether to close the schools to use their fuel for businesses and residences.

So, the year 1918 was already off to a bad start and the country was still in the midst of World War I as American casualties increased dramatically.  So, before the virus hit, there already had been a major scarlet fever outbreak and the coal shortage.

--Cooter

The Spanish Flu Outbreak of 1918-- Part 3: A Massive Scarlet Fever Epidemic Preceded the Flu

In Boone and Winnebago counties in northern Illinois, hospitals had no neds for the stricken because of the fast rising demand so victims ended up roaming the streets seeking help and shelter.

The virus was not identified at first because these counties were recovering from a massive outbreak of scarlet fever in 1917.

Many children died from this contagious fever and a ban was put on school gatherings, interschool athletic contests and school activities.  The primary scarlet fever cases struck from January to April of 11917, but cases were still being reported as late as December of that year.  Local schools were closed on and off at varying times throughout the year as cases flared up.

--Cooter

Already Had the Spanish Flu and Survived By 1920? No Worry Mon

From the December 2, 2020, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1920. 100 Years Ago.

"If you had the real Spanish flu back in 1918 and 1919, and didn't die of it you won't have it again.

"You can start in the winter with a perfectly light heart and no worry whatsoever as how to treat yourself in the case of a fresh attack, now that the time-honored whiskey and  quinine cure is no longer integrally available."

Prohibition started in January 1920.

It is too bad that these days in 2020 that if you get the virus and survive you only get a temporary immunity from it.

No Whiskey for You.  --Cooter

A Coal Shortage in 1920

In the last post, I wrote about the Normal School in DeKalb, Illinois, (NIU) having a shortage of coal in 1920.  Evidently this was not just here, but elsewhere.  I came across an blurb in the September 20, Bloomington-Normal Pantagraph newspaper from 1920 as follows:

"A large group of citizens met in the BHS (Bloomington High School)  auditorium to  tackle the coal shortage.  They decided to wire President Woodrow Wilson and ask him to take action against speculators.

"Keeping the McLean  County Coal Co. open is the heart of the issue."

************************************

And, I found a copy of the November  2, 1920 Duluth (Minnesota) News Tribune with headlines "Duluth Coal Companies Charged With Illegal  Combination, Shortage Forced, Prices Boosted."

"A group of West Duluth residents yesterday charged that coal companies have conspired to cause a shortage of coal and to boost prices.  The residents have formed a committee to urge the U.S. District Attorney to  start proceedings against the coal companies."

--Cooter

Free Doctoring and Getting Rid of That Cat in 1878

From the June 3, 2020, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1878, Many, Many Years Ago.

"Drs. Nesbitt and& brown have taken the contract to doctor the poor of Sycamore next year.  That includes pretty much all of us, don't it/  What's the use of paying any more doctor bills?

*********************************************

"You can sell your cat for ten dollars in the Black Hills.  It will cost you eighty-five dollars to get out there with the cat and get home but you will be rid of the cat and that is worth  one hundred and twenty-five dollars to anyone."


Cat Lovers, Obviously.  "Don't It."  --Cooter