Our Rural Heritage
188 stories
Sin in the city, the County Seat ‘exposed’
By Sandy Vasko WARNING, THIS COLUMN NOT TO BE READ BY YOUNGER OR MORE SENSITIVE READERS! Yes, today we need…
Labor and immigration, the beginnings of unions
By Sandy Vasko With Memorial Day in the rear view mirror, and Fourth of July on the horizon, soon, it…
War, Women, Widows and Wilmington
By Sandy Vasko Many Wilmingtonians just called it The Home. It was a beautiful sight on the banks of the…
Before Dellwood, Riverview Park ruled
By Sandy Vasko Most people in Will County are aware of Dellwood Park in Lockport. It was created by the…
Memorial Day reminds us of the bloody battle of Chickamauga
By Sandy Vasko As we mark another Memorial Day, we need to turn away from the picnic and party, to…
A farm fit for a king, or an emperor
By Sandy Vasko It started out as a rumor when “suits” started visiting Will County. People with electronic equipment were…
Rev. Steven R. Beggs, pioneer of Plainfield
By Sandy Vasko This week, we look to Plainfield, the first township settled in Will County. Our subject is Rev.…
‘Shoving the queer,’ or how to defraud your neighbors
By Sandy Vasko I hope no one is thinking the above phrase has anything to do with homophobia. In the…
Frankfort through time, a quick snapshot
By Sandy Vasko Today, our ramble through history takes us to Frankfort, one of the earliest-settled townships in Will County.…
Meddling in other country’s politics, spy vs. spy
By Sandy Vasko Meddling in other countries’ politics scandalizes our nation. They meddle in ours; we meddle in theirs, immigrants…
Germ warfare is not over … Who will win?
By Sandy Vasko The war is not over, and may never be. I am talking about the war between mankind…
James Elwood, a man with many hats
By Sandy Vasko When I bring up the name of James Elwood at the museum, people usually say, “Oh, that’s…