Very Brief History of Memorial Day

Originally known as Decoration Day, the day of remembrance was first observed on May 30 in 1868. General John Logan made the proclamation earlier that month to decorate the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington Cemetery.

The Southern states who were at one time Confederate chose not to recognize the holiday and decorated their veterans' graves on a different date until after World War I when the day of remembrance was expanded to include soldiers from conflicts beyond just the Civil War.

While those who sell cemetery wreaths would like you to decorate the graves of all loved ones who have passed on, Memorial Day was specifically intended to remember and honor those who served our country in the military.

Where History Is Happening

Links to some upcoming events:

Reddick Mansion Tours
Beginning May 31
Sunday, Monday & Wednesday - Friday
11:30am - 3:00 pm
Saturday
12:00pm - 3:00pm
The Reddick Mansion stands facing historic Washington Square in Ottawa, Illinois, and was built in 1858 for the then-costly sum of $25,000. Mr. Reddick served as a state senator. Mr. Stephen A. Douglas was one of the many politicians entertained at the Reddicks' home. This mansion has been restored to its original splendor and is open for tours. $ 5.00 per person

Railroad Days Galesburg
Saturday, June 26
9:00am -5:00pm
Sunday, June 27
10:00am - 4:00pm
Galesburg Railroad Days annual event celebrating the city's rich railroad heritage with a carnival, exhibits, a street fair, railyard tours, 5 & 10K run/walk, hobby train show, die cast toy show, flea market, rib cook-off, entertainment, beer garden, Saturday night Teen Dance 8 - 11PM, car show on Sunday and much more. Over 40 events----most of them free.

Rockford Area Historical Museum
Summer Hours begin June 3
Thursday, Friday and Saturday 1-4 pm
The Museum features a wide variety of artifacts, ranging from the prehistoric to the historic, representing more than 150 years of Rockford history. It also houses the largest collections of research and genealogical material in northern Kent County, pertinent to people, places and things of the past.

Illinois Pioneers Traveled by Sailing Schooner as Well as by Prairie Schooner

While most local citizens are aware that Joseph Naper founded what became known as Naper's Settlement and was later incorporated as Naperville, few people are familiar with the details of Joe's journey.

We usually picture wagon trains heading west, also known as "prairie schooners." But Joe had an actual schooner. Father Robert Naper was a ship builder and Joe and several of his brothers followed the family trade, building, owning, sailing - and wrecking - many different ships.

Joe sailed a regular run in Lake Erie from Buffalo to Cleveland, housing his young family in a small town near Dunkirk, New York. His brother John, also a ship's captain, operated out of Ashtabula, Ohio, where father Robert settled when the boys were young. Friends and family from both New York and Ohio joined their settlement journey, including sister Amy Murray's family; Amy's married daughter, Sarah; Sarah's in-laws; and several others.

While the exact dates are uncertain, we know the journey started in Buffalo around May 30. They traveled to Ashtabula to pick up more settlers and then sailed across Lake Erie, navigated up the St. Clair Flats to Lake Huron, swung around Mackinac into Lake Michigan and anchored offshore near Fort Dearborn about mid-July. It took another three days by wagon to reach the DuPage River.

Not all of the families stayed at Naper's Settlement. Some moved on to Wheaton, Plainfield and Lockport while others stayed in Chicago.

Joe sold his share in the Telegraph, the schooner that transported the
settlers, but John continued as a ship's captain for several years before
becoming a full-time farmer in what would eventually become Lisle.

The month of May was designated as Heritage Month in Naperville a few years ago, with events and activities happening all month long. Event hosts include:

* City of Naperville
* DuPage Children's Museum
* Naper Settlement
* Naperville Park District
* Naperville Public Library and
* North Central College.

There's still two weeks of Heritage Month Activities if you want to check out the calendar at NaperSettlement.org.

For kids interested in learning more about the schooner journey, or for adults who like a quick read, Kate's book "Ruth by Lake and Prairie" tells the story from the point of view of Naper's twelve-year-old niece, Ruth Murray. The book has a "Little House" feel and is available from the book's website, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, Anderson's Bookshops and Naper Settlement.

1000 Teenagers and Chicago's Mayor Daley -- How Scary is That?

On Saturday, May 15, Mayor Daley's Book Club held their Spring Conference. Kids from 7th through 12th grades have been meeting in school libraries and branches of the Chicago Public Library all year long, reading and discussing books. At the Spring Conference, teenagers by the busload arrived at DuSable High School to attend workshops and meet authors.

At the suggestion of a fellow author, Dyanne Davis, Kate submitted a proposal to teach a workshop at the Conference. She was thrilled to be accepted and was busy preparing when she got a call from the organizer inviting her to be a "special guest."

As a "special guest," Kate got to hang out in the V.I.P. green room with the other guests, among which was award-winner Allan Stratton. But she also had to sit onstage with the guest authors, with officials from Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Public Library, and with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

Don't forget this was also in front of 1,000 teenagers sitting in the audience and staring up at the stage.

Fortunately, there was no public speaking required of her during that Opening Ceremony. Nerves were conquered, all went well, and Kate went on to lead two classroom sessions on "Creative Non-Fiction: The Reality TV of Literature."

The kids were great, the discussions were interesting, and meeting a bunch of new authors is always a joy. Photos and video will be posted at Kate's website soon, but you can read more about it now at K.C. Boyd's blog.

Where History Is Happening

Links to some upcoming events:

The History of the Pickle
Norwood Park Historical Society

Wednesday, May 26
7pm
The pickle was in its heyday in Chicago in the late 1800s. Important Chicago firms including Clausen and Libbey had large farms in the area which ended with the Great Pickle Blight of 1911.Learn about this history from pickle expert, David Leider. The free event will be held at the Noble-Seymour-Crippen House and is open to the public.Pickle "treats" will be available to attendees.

I do! Chicago Ties the Knot
Chicago History Museum
Opens Saturday
May 22
The exhibition explores an array of wedding traditions through costume and tells how some of those traditions were standardized by Chicago retailers to create the wedding industry we know today.

Wedding from the Past
Kline Creek Farm
Friday through Monday May 21- 24
10am until 4pm
Learn about wedding traditions, and see the farmhouse in preparation for a wedding. Free. Registration not required.

Vintage Wedding Gown Display
Western Springs Historical Society
Opens May 29
Saturdays
10am until 12pm
Thursdays
4pm until 6pm during the French Market
The Western Springs Historical Society will feature a new exhibit of vintage wedding dresses and accessories from its collection, donated by Western Springs' residents through the years. Dresses featured cover the period between 1855 and 1945.
Volunteers researched the dresses and their wearers, as well as repaired the dresses for the show. Unique and touching stories about the brides and grooms, particularly around World War II, will be part of the exhibit.