Meet and Greet Authors at Glen Ellyn's Bookfest

On Saturday, June 19, Glen Ellyn's Downtown Alliance will be hosting its first Bookfest. Many of the shops downtown will host local authors for book sales, book signings and chats about writing with more than 30 authors on hand from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm.

As one of the authors, Kate will be set up at the Vintage Living Store, a charming shop filled with antique "found treasures." A map listing each shop and author will be available at downtown stores, or you can download a copy now.

In addition to authors scattered throughout downtown, programs for children, families and adults will take place all day. Learn about "Local Underground Railroad History' from Glennette Tilley Turner or hear spine-tingling tales of suspense by Marie Ringenberg. Later in the afternoon, adults can join authors J.A. Konrath and Charlene Baumbich for cocktails.

Elizabeth Berg will be the keynote speaker at Glenbard West High School Auditorium and will sign books as well. Her presentation as well as some other events require tickets, so see the Glen Ellyn Bookfest website for details and a schedule of all the events.

Bookfest promises to be a fun event for readers, writers and shoppers of all ages, so plan to come by for a bit. Be sure to say "hello" to Kate at Vintage Living when you do!

Where History Is Happening

Links to some upcoming events:

Free Admission for Dad on Father's Day at Naper Settlement
Sunday, June 20
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Dads are free with paid admission for their child or another adult from 1-4 p.m. on Father's Day, Sunday, June 20. It's also a Settlement Sunday with free ice cream sundaes and all the toppings.

Garfield Farm Archeology Volunteer Opportunity
June 16 - 20
September 22
Morning or Afternoon Shifts
Garfield Farm, an 1840's farmstead and tavern, has started excavating the site of the original 1830's log cabin. If you've always wanted to be an archeologist, here's your chance to feed your inner Indiana Jones. Volunteers can register to help by contacting the museum at 630 584-8485 or by e-mail at info@garfieldfarm.org.
Work began June 9, continues until June 20, and will resume for two weeks in late September. If you are unable to volunteer, but have a desire to see the dig, you can also arrange to visit the site by contacting the Farm.

Log Cabin Days at Naper Settlement
Friday and Saturday,
June 25 - 26
10:00am -4:00pm
Sunday, June 27
1:00am - 4:00pm
To highlight the preservation of log cabins, Naper Settlement will be celebrating Log Cabin Days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 25 and 26 and from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 27.
This weekend is the debut of new hands-on activities in the Log House. Experience pioneer activities including carrying a yoke and bucket, grinding corn, building a fence, open hearth cooking and more. Visitors who can name the seven U.S. presidents born in a log cabin will win a prize. Activities are included free with regular admission.

Remembering Some of America's First Soldiers

When the United States of America was a very young country, there wasn't a lot of gold in the treasury to pay for a standing army. Still, there were wars to be fought such as the War of 1812, the Mexican War and of course the American Revolution.

One way the government could pay its soldiers was to offer bounty land grants for their service. Discharged soldiers applied for a warrant, and if the warrant was granted they could apply for a land patent which made them owners of a portion of the land in the public domain.

Certain swaths of land were set aside for war land grants. Sometimes the soldiers actually took possession of their land, but often they sold their grants to speculators and took a smaller amount of ready cash rather than move their families to an unknown territory.

A large chunk of western Illinois was set aside for soldiers who served in the War of 1812. Each soldier was eligible to receive 160 acres of land. Where that 160 acres was located was determined by lottery.

Many of the soldiers chose not to travel out to Illinois, which wasn't even a state yet when the bounty land was being granted. Instead speculators bought out a lot of the claims and amassed large holdings. Pioneers from the east often ignored the speculators' claims, however and simply settled down where they wished, "squatting" until they were kicked out or could legally stake a claim.

The United States government felt they had the right to grant these lands because no one of European extraction was currently claiming them, but the native people of course felt very differently. This same area was home to several Native American tribes who already were using the land for farming and hunting and didn't see why they should have to give it up.

Black Hawk took a stand in 1832, but he didn't get the backing he hoped for and was defeated by U.S. troops. The Native Americans were relocated west of the Mississippi and European settlers continued to arrive in droves to stake their homesteads.

Abraham Lincoln's only military service was during the Black Hawk War until he became Commander in Chief of the Union Army during the Civil War.

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.