Our Rural Heritage
188 stories
Was Plainfield really plain? Quirky perhaps
By Sandy Vasko Everywhere you look in Will County you can see new construction, a lot of which is warehousing…
Twelve Mile Grove, and other mysteries of Wilton
By Sandy Vasko Take 52 south, past Manhattan, and you will come to the community of Twelve Mile Grove, now…
Let there be light, and there was
By Sandy Vasko I live in the southern agricultural area of Will County. The other evening, when there was a…
Christmas in the 1870s, Part 2
By Sandy Vasko Today we continue or look at Christmas in Will County 150 years ago. Step on the way…
Christmas in the 1870s, Part 1
By Sandy Vasko Today we are going on a journey, not unlike Scrooge’s journey, to the past, the long past.…
How to dress for every occasion, 1881
By Sandy Vasko In today’s society, how you dress is not as important as it used to be. My mother…
Thanksgiving Day at the Pen, with the electric pen
By Sandy Vasko Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in many different ways, large family dinners, visits to local restaurants, community suppers,…
A Wild Goose Chase, at Kankakee’s Grand Marsh
By Sandy Vasko If you live in the country anywhere around here, you are aware when hunting season starts. The…
The mysterious case of Henry Belt
By Sandy Vasko The story of the freedom-seekers is one that has been told in Will County for many years.These…
Mr. Edison’s talking machine, it really talked!
By Sandy Vasko Listening to other people’s voices is something we do day in and day out. One might think…
The hometown hero hurler hunted success
By Sandy Vasko Will County is a sporting place, whether it’s football, baseball, basketball or even fishing, sports has always…
A county, and country, divided – the Election of 1860
By Sandy Vasko Elections in this part of the country are usually hotly contested. But they don’t hold a candle…