By Sandy Vasko This week, we look to Plainfield, the first township settled in Will County. Our subject is Rev. S. R. Beggs and the…
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By Sandy Vasko I hope no one is thinking the above phrase has anything to do with homophobia. In the 19th century “shoving the queer”…
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By Sandy Vasko Today, our ramble through history takes us to Frankfort, one of the earliest-settled townships in Will County. Instead of telling one story,…
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By Sandy Vasko Meddling in other countries’ politics scandalizes our nation. They meddle in ours; we meddle in theirs, immigrants working here and helping political…
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By Sandy Vasko The war is not over, and may never be. I am talking about the war between mankind and the little beasties like…
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By Sandy Vasko When I bring up the name of James Elwood at the museum, people usually say, “Oh, that’s the guy the town of…
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By Sandy Vasko In 1894, a project known as the Sanitary Canal, or the Big Ditch, was in full swing. This project employed the best…
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By Sandy Vasko I think that there are few other topics these days that are more contentious than that of immigration. And like most other…
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By Sandy Vasko Today we are going back to the War to End All Wars. May 1918 brought warm breezes and the sweet smell of…
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By Sandy Vasko An ambitious young man and a beautiful young woman had their whole lives ahead of them. On January 11th, 1871, Cornelius O’Donnell…
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