Rockin' Out with the Revolution Patriots

"Don't know much about history" Sam Cooke warbled and everyone understood him to mean that he didn't care much for his history classes. Or as the Talking Barbie Doll might have said: "History is hard!" And now we have unpopular Ben from the "Lost" television show as a history teacher in the alternate universe! No wonder it's hard to get folks excited about history!

But "Too Late to Apologize: A Declaration" certainly makes history look cool. Released a few weeks ago, the video by Soomo Publishing has America's founding fathers working on the Declaration of Independence in what one reviewer called "an '80's hair band music video."

Based on the 2007 song and video "Apologize" by One Republic, featuring Timbaland, "Too Late to Apologize: A Declaration" is catchy and fun and proves that history can be presented in an interesting way.

Soomo Publishing is a forward-thinking company with creative "new media" ideas on changing how students and professors use college textbooks. Normally Soomo provides quite serious information using web technology to gather and present the curriculum in a way that may be engaging young people as never before.

They offer programs including World History, Government, International Relations and a few others. The curriculum can be augmented by each individual teacher and it works with the brand-new iPad. This may be the way our next generation learns.

While many of us still prefer a musty old book, you have to admit that the music video grabs your attention!

Remembering the Alamo and General Santa Anna's Leg

Several journalists recently reported on Santa Anna's leg, apparently in response to renewed interest in the General following an episode of the "King of the Hill" cartoon.

Santa Anna is most known for ordering the attack on the Alamo in which Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie died. He's also been recently cited in connection with the Benito Juarez exhibit that ends this weekend at the Chicago History Museum. Juarez was exiled during Santa Anna's dictatorship, returned after Santa Anna resigned and served as Mexico's President from 1858 until 1872.

One local connection to the Santa Anna is that Uncle Joseph Naper, from Kate's book "Ruth by Lake and Prairie," served as a quartermaster during the Mexican-American war during Santa Anna's time.

But back to Santa Anna's leg. Apparently the General lost his leg to a cannon ball during a battle with the French in 1838. He was fitted with a fake leg and continued his military career.

In 1847, during a battle with the United States, Santa Anna's camp was surprised by a squad of soldiers from the 4th Illinois Infantry. Santa Anna escaped in the nick of time, but left behind his artificial leg which was duly captured by the Illinois soldiers. The leg today is displayed at the Illinois State Military Museum in Springfield if you are interested in ogling it.

At the time of writing, the web site of the Illinois State Military Museum was experiencing difficulties, but you can see a photo of the leg display at RoadsideAmerica.com.

If you are not able to make it to the Chicago History Museum before the Juarez exhibit closes on April 12, you can see highlights of the exhibit online and listen to the curator commentary.

Where History Is Happening

Links to some upcoming events:

Appraisal Fair in Aurora
Sunday, April 18
11am until 3pm
Aurora Historical Society presents "What's It Worth?" antique and collectible appraisal fair.
Verbal Appraisals
at Gray's Mill, 210 River Street, Montgomery, IL
$5 for one item,
$10 for three
For more information, call 630.906.0650 or visit our website

Heirloom-Gardening Class
Saturday, April 17,
9:30am-11:30 am
and
1:30pm-3:00pm
Kline Creek Farm offers tips for planting an heirloom-vegetable garden, including how to use compost, build hotbeds, rotate crops and find seeds. $25 per person. To register, call (630) 876-5900..

Foutaindale Library Author Fair 2010
Saturday, April 10
11am-4pm
Kate will be one of more than 25 authors kicking off National Library Week in Bolingbrook. Come by to chat about history, books and writing.

Bellwood Public Library Author Reading and Signing
Tuesday, April 13
6:30pm
Join us for a special literary celebration for National Library Week! Eight local authors will discuss their work and sign their books for the audience. Kate will be on of the authors reading from their work.

Joliet Library Event: Winners All Around

Saturday, March 13, was a rainy, gray day -- perfect for an Author Fair!

Kate was one of thirty authors of all genres who filled every nook and cranny at the Joliet Library - Black Road Branch. While the authors enjoyed chatting amongst themselves about the business of book-writing, there was hardly time as a steady stream of patrons made their way through the shelves.

Many visitors were browsing for a good read or hoping to get an autograph from their favorite author, but particularly satisfying were conversations with aspiring writers. Kate talked with several people who had stories floating around in their heads, including youngsters who could barely write cursive and retirees considering a new avocation. Plenty of college-bound high schoolers were in attendance as well, gathering information to help plan their educational goals.

Kate held a drawing of visitors to the Joliet Author Fair for a family pass to Naper Settlement open air history museum. Jenn of Crest Hill was the lucky winner. Congratulations, Jenn!

For readers and writers alike, more Author Events are coming up next month: at the Fountaindale Library in Bolingbrook on April 10 and at the Bellwood Library on April 13. You are welcome to attend either of these events to chat with a variety of authors about books and writing.

The Oregon Trail in Illinois

While recently reading "Searching for Tamsen Donner" by Gabrielle Burton, Kate learned that two of the families of the doomed Oregon Trail party were from Illinois. James Reed was a businessman from Springfield who operated a general store, sawmill and furniture factory, among other ventures, and George Donner himself was a fellow Springfield citizen.

Googling to see if there were any other Illinois ties to the Oregon Trail, Kate found a rather surprising connection: Oregon Trail Days in Oregon, Illinois.

While Oregon has long been a favorite place to visit, Kate had never heard of Oregon Trail Days, and for good reason. This summer will be its inaugural event.

Prompted by the threat of budget woes closing two nearby state parks, a group of concerned citizens decided to launch the festival as a way to boost awareness of the Oregon area as a tourism destination. While one of Oregon's charms is that it is NOT over-run with tourists, it certainly makes sense to get more people aware of what a treasure the area is and ensure that it remains open to all.

Planned for July 16 through 18, the event will celebrate Oregon's Native American and Western heritage. Activities will include Native American dancing and drumming, a cowboy medicine show and covered wagon rides.

The event's committee says: "We are sure that you and your family will have a rip-roaring, foot stomping, knee slapping, gosh darn good time," and they mean it! You have to go to the Oregon Trail Days web site to see all of the fun and interesting events they have planned.