About That Octagonal Barn in Spring Grove-- Part 3: Save That Old Barn

One wall of the barn is open, but the roof, reinforced in 1986, looks solid.  There is also a beautiful 1957 rainbow truss barn on the property.  Destroyed by fire January 31, 1957, local farmers gathered and raised the current barn in two months.

The Kattners will continue to farm the property through this year.  Pease expects it will take about a year before work begns on the residential lots and at that time the barn will come down unless someone wishes to move it.

He is willing to give it away in order to preserve the octagonal barn.

"I'd love nothing better than to drive five miles away and say, 'Hey, they reconstructed the barn over here'," Pease said.  "We would, at a minimum, sell the timbers so that they would end up in someone's recreation room."

Let's hope the barn is saved and moved.  Perhaps to Horse Fair Park or the Spring Grove Fish Hatchery.

I've talked to local farmers who believe the barn's roof is in way too bad of a shape to save.

--CootBarn

'The Godfather' Turns 50-- Part 4: About That Horse's Head

THAT BLOODY HORSE HEAD

Discovered in the bed of the ruthless movie producer, it wasn't a prop:  it was a real horse's head from a dogfood plant in New Jersey.  That scream the producer let out was as good as Pacino's in "Godfather 3."

THE GODFATHER IN POP CULTURE

"Return of the Jedi" (1983)  It's no coincidence that Princess Leia kills Jabba the Hutt by strangling him with her chain.  Screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan was inspired by Luca Brasi, whose eyes and tongue bulge out as he is garroted by an assassin.

"You've Got Mail" (1998)   Doing his best Vito impression, Tom Hanks insists that life's problems can be solved by one of the Godfather's credos, telling Meg Ryan to "go to the mattresses," to fight for her business to stay open.

"The Sopranos" (1999)   The TV series made several references to the original mob family, like when Tony Soprano gets shot after chugging orange juice near his car.

"Despicable Me"  (2010)   Even this G-rated kiddie movie includes a nod"  Villain Gru finds a doll's head in his bed and screams bloody murder.

--CootFather

Ten World Engineering Marvels-- Part 4: Netherlands and Da Subways

9.  NETHERLANDS NORTH SEA PROTECTION WORKS

With parts of their country below sea level, a system of floodgates, storm surge barriers and dams to prevent flooding and claim land from the sea, Netherlands constructed this.

The project began in 1927 with the construction of a 19-mile long dike, decades of land reclamation followed.

10.  NEW YORK AND BOSTON SUBWAYS

Horse-drawn carriages clogged the streets (and left behind certain droppings) and then there were the elevated trains with their soot, so leaders in Boston and New York took another way to solve the problem.  And that was to go underground.

Boston opened its subway in 1897 and New York City  seven years later.

--CootSubs

'Jesse James' Rides Horse on Lincoln Highway in DeKalb in 1920

 From the August 19, 2020, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1920, 100 Years Ago.

"Last night about six o'clock the people of the business section were  very much surprised to see  a girl come riding on horseback down the Lincoln Highway dressed like Jesse James in his prime.  The girl looked to be about 12 or 13 years old and when asked where she was from, replied Vermont and that she was on her way to California.

"The biggest surprise to the crowd who gathered was the fact that she was 22 instead of just being just a 'kid.'  She stopped  for about 15 minutes then was on her way west."

I couldn't find any information on her but that sure would have been an interesting story.

--CooterJames

A Short History of Hearses-- Part 2: Riding Out in Style

The most enduring hearse company has been the S & S Coach Company of Lima, Ohio, which was founded in 1876 to make horse-drawn hearse carriages.  Initially named Sayers & Scovill, they still make about 500 hearses a year in Lima with a staff of 75.

They buy cars from dealers, split them, "decontent" them, allowing only the portions they require,  stretch the lengths, weld them back together and install casket floors.  The rear doors (through which the casket is slid) is made from scratch.

Because they've added so much weight (hearses can weigh up to 7,000 pounds) they also have to have stronger brakes.

A standard hearse  sells for at least $110,000

Back in the 1970s, there were 20 hearse makers,but now the number is down to five.

Something I didn't know.  One of Neil Young's earliest bands toured in a 1948 Buick Roadmaster hearse nicknamed "Mort";  his 1976 song "Long May You Run", written with Stephen Stills, was a tribute to that car.

Then, Of Course, The" Ghostbusters" Hearse.  Who You Gonna Call?  --Cooter

The Horse That Got Away

From the September 19, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Mr. and Mrs,  Harrison Sibley wondered for a time if their riding horse had been stolen for black market 'steaks.'    However, the horse was found in the rural areas late in the day.  She had merely run away.

"It was about 1:30 o'clock in the morning that Mrs. Sibley called to her husband saying, "Harris, there goes our horse."  Mr. Sibley thought she had been dreaming and paid no more attention until daylight.  Then he discovered true enough  the horse was gone.

"An examination  of the pasture fence  disclosed the gate locked but hoof marks  brought to light that the horse had jumped  an eight-foot fence."

Sign the Horse Up for Steeplechase.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: A Horse Mishap in DeKalb

From the August 24, 2016, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"A little excitement was caused at the Sixth Street crossing over the North Western in DeKalb this morning about 9:00 o'clock when the horse that John Crego was driving hitched to a top buggy became frightened .

"Some of the traces came loose and dropped around his hind feet. The horse plunged and reared up and started to make a quick getaway but Mr. Crego was able to get it stopped and Officer Rowe who was at the depot, ran over to the horse and held him while the driver got out and quieted the animal.

The Dangers of Horse and Buggy.  Get an Automobile.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: Extreme Heat the Last Several Days

From the August 17, 2016, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"The extreme heat of the past several days has taken a heavy toll amongst the farm horses in this section of the state as well as elsewhere.  The farmers are now at the height of their out cutting and the horses are required to pull heavy binders through the hot fields all day and in many cases the animals have dropped dead."

DeKalb County Farmers Were Still Mostly using Animals On Their Farms.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: A Problem With Horses

From the August 24, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

"A little excitement was caused at the Sixth Street crossing of the Northwestern (Railroad) in DeKalb this morning about 9:00 o'clock when the horse that John Crego was driving  hitched to a top buggy became frightened as one of the traces came lose and dropped around his hind feet.

"The horse plunged and reared up and started to make a quick getaway but Mr. Crego was able to get it stopped and Officer Rowe who was at the depot, ran over to the horse and held him while the driver got out and quieted the animal.

The Problem With Horses.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: Horses Losing Out to Automobiles

From the August 24, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

"The hitching posts and rails which have been located on the south side of Locust Street between First and Third streets for a good many years have been removed on account of the  paving which is going to be laid there making it undesirable to have rigs hitched along the street anymore.

"These same railings have been set on the north side of Girard Street between Fifth and Seventh streets and considerable hitching space is afforded at this new location."

Horses Losing Out.  DaAutoer