Illinois Governors Are an Interesting Study

The governor of Illinois writes:

"The internal improvement system, the banks, the great plenty of money, had made every one morally drunk. The failure of all these brought about a sobering process."

The governor who wrote this was speaking of Illinois in 1842, but you know what they say about those who don't learn from history being doomed to repeat it.

Thomas Ford was a one term governor who stepped into office knowing the job was going to be a tough one. Hostility toward Mormons settled in Nauvoo was growing and becoming violent. The state of Illinois was in debt to the tune of $14 million and building. The budget wasn't even close to being balanced and anyone holding currency issued by the state banks basically owned scrap paper.

The I&M Canal project was renewed by Ford and was instrumental in revitalizing the economy and getting the state back on track. It would take forty years, but those crippling debts would eventually be paid off, even with a Civil War interrupting things.

Ford was dying of tuberculosis when he wrote his "A History of Illinois." He hoped the proceeds would support his children after his death. Half of "A History" tells of the four years he served as governor and the other twenty nine years are jammed into the other half, so it's a personal sort of book rather than a impartial review.

You can buy a copy of Governor Ford's "History" on Amazon. An original leather-bound 1854 edition can be had for $1,500, but a new paperback version will only cost you $22.72.

Rod Blagojevich's "The Governor" is a bargain at $16.47, brand-new.

Have You Found a Lincoln Penny Yet?

The last of four re-designs of the Lincoln penny was unveiled last month in Springfield, ending a year-long recognition of the President's 200th birthday.

Last February, the first penny was released featuring a log cabin on the back side. The next one shows Lincoln taking a break from log-splitting to read a book. The third one pictures him standing in front of the Illinois State Capitol building and the coin which debuted last month depicts the United States Capitol with the dome still under construction.

Keep an eye on your change to get a good look at the new Lincoln cents. It's also a great way to get your children and grand-children interested in our state's history. See what you're looking for at The Huffington Post.

Where History Is Happening

Links to some upcoming events:

Joliet Library Author Fair
Saturday, March 13
11am - 3pm
Okay, this may not be very historic, but it promises to be lots of fun. Kate and 30 fellow authors of all genres will be on hand to talk about their books. For readers from children to teens and adults. Also for writers who want to talk about the craft and business.

Learn About Your Chicago Home's History Day
Saturday,
April 24,
12 - 4pm
The Norwood Park Historical Society will assist residents to research their house.
Find references on architectural styles
related to the Chicago area, a collection of references to help make appropriate
choices when renovating historic properties and information on preservation and landmark status.
New this year will be representatives of the Kalo Foundation who research Sears kit houses.

Explorer Merriwether Lewis Portrayal
Saturday,
March 20, 10 am
Walk in the shoes of one of America's great explorers, brought to life by one of the nation's foremost Humanities
scholars and actors, Clay Jenkinson. This is a unique opportunity to see this very entertaining program in the intimate setting of the Community Room at the Geneva History Center. Hosted in partnership with Waubonsee Community College. Admission - $25

Who's Been Working on the Railroad?

"Trunks Through Time" sounds like a fascinating way for students from kindergarten through eighth grade to explore the railway history of our country. While currently on display at the Buchanan Center for the Arts in Monmouth, Illinois, these four trunks will be made available for teachers to bring into their classrooms in the near future.

The premise is that students are workers at the Lost and Found department of a large railway station. The station manager hopes to return the trunks to their owners and asks the students to go through the trunks' contents to learn more about the rightful owners.

Inside each trunk are photos, replicated artifacts and actual antiques that represent specific groups of people who make up America's railway history: the Chinese immigrants who built the rail lines, "Harvey Girls" who worked in railroad restaurants, African-American Pullman Porters, and Latino "boxcar children" who lived in surplus rail cars with their families.

Sponsored by a grant from the Galesburg Community Foundation and designed by BRC Imagination Arts, Knox College students and faculty worked together to put assemble the trunk contents and write the accompanying lesson plans.

Galesburg is a big railroad town with a Railroad Museum and a two-day festival called Railroad Days in June, so it's no surprise that Knox College would embrace a project like this. Kate well remembers the wails of train horns at all hours of the day and night when she was studying for her creative writing degree there!
"Trunks Through Time" should provide a wonderful hands-on and rich experience for children to learn history. Lucky kids!

A Plethora of Local Authors

If lions come in "prides," do authors come in "plethoras?" They will on Saturday, March 13 at the Joliet Public Libary -- Black Road Branch when the library welcomes thirty local authors from 9am until 4pm to answer questions, autograph books and take pictures.

This event is free and open to everyone. Authors of all kinds of books will be on hand to chat with including those who write picture books for children, those who write adult non-fiction and genres in-between.

Children get a kick out of meeting the people who make the books they enjoy, but for adults who harbor a story within them this can also be a great experience.

The atmosphere is friendly and warm and the authors are eager to talk about their writing and publishing experience. Tell your writers' group or your teen-aged blogger or anyone who would like a one-on-one experience with an author.

Kate will be attending this event again this year and looks forward to meeting friends old and new. Come on down and say hello!