Our Rural Heritage
188 stories
Civil War: July 1862, patriotism takes a stand
By Sandy Vasko We return to the Civil War in July of 1862. July is a month to show our…
Man’s greatest friend … and worst enemy
By Sandy Vasko If there is one thing that everyone shares, urban or rural, today or 500 years ago, here…
Piscatorial dynamiters & fearless finny anarchists
By Sandy Vasko In the southwestern part of Will County spring means one thing – fishing. Most avid fishermen have…
The Civil War: Slow times and a different type of shot
By Sandy Vasko Summer on the battle fronts for Will County troops was uneventful. The boys had been through a…
A Castle on the prairie, smell that money
By Sandy Vasko When I was growing up a wooded area of Homer Township, a local farmer would let his…
Civil War: April 1862 — the Battle at Shiloh
By Sandy Vasko Shiloh is a Hebrew word; it means “place of peace.” And so it was, until April 1862,…
Coal Wars come to a head in Braidwood
By Sandy Vasko The two sides were ready, the Illinois Militia was armed, the miners probably were armed. Gen. Ducat…
Coal Wars: Preparing for battle, the militia arrives on the scene
By Sandy Vasko When we last met, it was Monday, July 23, 1877. Sheriff Noble and his posse had just…
Miners vs. Coal Companies, Round 3
By Sandy Vasko It is the spring of 1877. Once again, the coal companies propose to reduce the wages of…
16 Tons, and What Do You Get? The Shaft
By Sandy Vasko In the last few years, many have lost their jobs, many saw inflation take them into poverty,…
Our Rural Heritage: The Civil War: March 1862 – men on the move
By Sandy Vasko We are back to the Civil War. It is early in the war, and most of the…
A snapshot in time, Mokena 1877
By Sandy Vasko Set the way-back machine for June, 1877; place Mokena. From the Joliet Weekly Sun: “Mokena is a…