Lower Mississippi River Edition

1917.7 MEAN 8 1992 c .2 Meandering,s 92 Lower Mississippi River Edition

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©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville MEANDERINGS '92 Lower Mississippi Edition A collection of writings by high school students whose teachers and schools participated in the Illinois Rivers Project from September, 1991-June, 1992.

Funded by: National Science Foundation Illinois State Board of Education Scientific Literacy Grant Program Awarded to: Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Brussels Community Unit School District M2 Directed by: — Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Printed and distributed by: Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources Production support: Illinois Bell

Editor: Cindy Bidlack Layout Design: Michele Alikonis Cover Design: Steven Alikonis, Student Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville Chapter Page: Steve Alikonis, Student Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

ILLINOIS STATE LIBRARY

©2015 Southern Illinois3 University11 29 00641 549Edwardsville JZ°)) 7 ,7 (Y\ & fi N $■ If o ] Pi i r" V Illinois Rivers Project Educational Support Organizations: Caterpillar, Incorporated Equitable Life Insurance Heartland Water Resources Illinois Bell Illinois Department of Conservation Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Illinois Power Illinois Natural History Survey Illinois State Museum Mercantile Library Principia College Soil and Water Conservation Society Upper Mississippi River Basin Alliance Upper Mississippi River Basin Association U.S. Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Water Resources Center at the University of Illinois

Participating Schools: Upper Mississippi Lower Mississippi Galena High School Quincy High School Savanna High School Payson-Seymour High School Thomson High School Barry High School Fulton High School Pleasant Hill High School Riverdale High School Alton High School United Township High School Civic Memorial High School Moline High School ESTL Upward Bound Aledo High School Cahokia High School Westmer High School Dupo High School Dallas City High School Belleville West High School Hancock Central High School Gibault High School Hamilton High School Valmeyer High School Red Bud High School Chester High School Meridian High School Cairo High School

2 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Illinois River Tributaries Minooka High School River Ridge High School Mid-County High School Durand High School East Peoría High School Woodstock High School Astoria High School Zion-Benton High School Schuyler County High School Buffalo Grove High School Ashland-Chandlerville High School Glenbrook High School Meredosia-Chambersburg High School Thomwood High School Routt High School Rich East Township High School Winchester High School Waubonsie Valley High School Pittsfield High School Dundee-Crown High School Brussels High School Dixon High School Jersey Community High School Amboy High School Rock Falls High School Prophetstown High School Erie High School Sherrard High School Bishop McNamara High School Bloomington High School Champaign Central High School Eisenhower High School Charleston High School Carlyle High School Mater Dei High School Highland High School Metro East Lutheran High School Edwardsville High School Mt. Carmel High School

Dear Readers, Writers and Friends of Rivers; For those of you who have supported the Rivers Project this past year, we want to again thank you for sharing your towns, countryside, rivers, people, thoughts, and hearts with the World. For you who have written, your writings, published here, will now become a historical document, ultimately, part of the cultural recordings of this Nation. The spirit of your community is captured forever in this literary creation. Hundreds of years hence, a reader in some formidable archive may ponder the words you have placed on these pages, wonder at the thoughts you may have had as you recorded these words, and might ask why these comments or documentations were made. Will your words be harbingers of good or bad for the rivers of our Midwest or even the world? Time and the records you now keep will provide a ledger upon which we humans will balance our deeds towards the rivers and their life giving waters. Will the years of the 90's be the decade of water? Already citizens along some of our major rivers ‘ are contesting its uses. Is such water for drinking? Or is it for transportation , or for recreation, maybe for flood control? Much industry needs good river water as do many of our municipalities. River water is needed by so many of us in this country. As its abundance decreases and our dependence on water increases, we soon come to the realization that it is one of the nation's greatest recourses. With this awakening, comes a most important task, especially for us River Watchers, and that is to continue our task of nurturing these vital river arteries of America. So, as you read these articles, join in our new understanding of rivers. Laugh with the people we have interviewed, understand their knowledge of rivers, marvel at the wisdom of the "old" river rats, and revel in the talents of our youth who brought you these stories. The words are theirs but now belong to you. We live in a wonderful country that is full of life and so blessed by our waters, our lakes, and, especially, our rivers. Enjoy your reading, and thanks for joining us. We invite you on board with this down stream voyage into words. Robert Williams Cindy Bidlack Project Director Project Coordinator

1. Quincy High School 9. Dupo High School 2. Payson-Seymour High School 10. Belleville West High School 3. Barry High School 11. Gibault High School 4. Pleasant Hill High School 12. Valmeyer High School 5. Alton High School 13. Red Bud High School 6. Civic Memorial High School 14. Chester High School 7. East St. Louis - Upward Bound 15. Meridian High School 8. Cahokia High School 16. Cairo High School

1. Galena High School 7. Moline High School 2. Savanna High School 8. Aledo High School 3. Thomson High School 9. Westmer High School 4. Fulton High School 10. Dallas City High School 5. Riverdale High School 11. Hancock Central High School 6. United Township High School 12. Hamilton High School

1. Minooka High School 7. Meredosia-Chambersburg High School 2. Mid-County High School 8. Routt High School 3. East Peoria High School 9. Winchester High School 4. Astoria High School 10. Pittsfield High School 5. Schuyler County High School 11. Brussels High School 6. Ashland-Chandlerville High School 12. Jersey Community High School

1. River Ridge School 15. Erie High School 2. Durand High School 16. Sherrard High School 3. Woodstock High School 17. Bishop McNamara High School 4. Zion-Benton High School 18. Bloomington High School 5. Buffalo Grove High School 19. Champaign Central High School 6. Glenbrook High School 20. Eisenhower High School 7. Thom wood High School 21. Charleston High School 8. Rich East Township High School 22. Carlyle High School 9. Waubonsie Valley High School 23. Mater Dei High School 10. Dundee-Crown High School 24. Highland High School 11. Dixon High School 25. Metro East Lutheran High School 12. Amboy High School 26. Edwardsville High School 13. Rock Falls High School 27. Mt. Carmel High School 14. Prophetstown High School ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. RIPRAP 7 A COLLECTION OF SCIENCE ARTICLES.

2. DRIFTWOOD 22 A COLLECTION OF NATURAL HISTORY OF THE RIVER AREA 3. MAINSTREAMS 25 A COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL ARTICLES.

4. ISLANDS 54 A SERIES OF PERSONAL INTERVIEWS AND EXPERIENCES. 5. WATERWAYS 66 A COLLECTION OF ARTICLES ON UFE AND OCCUPATIONS ON THE RIVERS. 6. EDDIES AND WHIRLPOOLS 78 A COLLECTION OF POETRY AND SONGS.

7. DEEP WATER 94 A COLLECTION OF CREATIVE WRITINGS. 8. FLOTSAM 110 A COLLECTION OF RIVER RECIPES AND REMEDIES.

RIP RAP

A COLLECTION OF SCIENCE ARTICLES

"The Mississippi is well worth reading about. It is not a commonplace river, but on the contrary is in all ways remarkable. Considering the Missouri its main branch, it is the longest river in the world - four thousand three hundred miles. It seems safe that it is also the crookedest river in the world, since in one part of its journey it uses up one thousand three hundred miles to cover the same ground that the crow would fly over in six hundred and seventy-five.”

from Life on the Mississippi by Samuel L. Clemens

©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chemicals in the Mississippi River The Mighty Mississippi is one of America's greatest sources of fresh-water and is also a leading passageway. Chemicals and other hazardous debris are being dumped into the Mississippi at an alarming rate. Many are to blame for this including farmers who use nitrogen fertilizer and other pesticides; industries, which illegally dump toxic by products into the river instead of using costly means of safe disposal; sewage treatment plants, which dump untreated sewage right into the Mississippi; and housewives who use washing detergents, which contain high percentages of phosphates. One of the great debates is the use of pesticides and herbicides, which are dangerous chemicals used by farmers on crops. These chemicals do help to increase crop yields; however, they also contain nitrates, which eventually seep into the ground and surrounding rivers. This causes a change in the water's chemical composition. Have you ever noticed the phosphate warning on the back of your detergent box? This is a percentage of the phosphate content. Phosphates are another chemical problem threatening our waterways. Like herbicides and pesticides, phosphates also eventually seep into surrounding waterways causing great havoc to the water's chemical balance. Another dangerous effect to the Mississippi is when raw sewage is dumped without any treatment. Many sewage plants do this instead of paying for the costly methods of filtration and screening to kill the dangerous bacteria. When this untreated debris is poured into the river, nitrates and phosphates also enter the water. As these two chemicals keep building up over time, a process known as eutrophication occurs. Eutrophication is a process that increases plant and algae growth. As this plant material dies, it decomposes and consumes all of the dissolved oxygen in the water. The results are foul odors, dying fish, and the halting of bacterial action which normally consumes the organic wastes. The waterways are permanently changed into swamps or marshland as muck and scum fill them up. Each year millions of tons of toxins are dumped into the Mississippi River. People just can't understand that if enough of these dangerous chemicals are dumped into the Mississippi, the water will soon become unusable for anything. The solution lies in the hands of everyone. If things continue as they are now, all life on earth could be wiped out permanently! by Karen Lohkamp Valmeyer High School References: Hamilton, Robert A. The American Legion. "Water, Water...Nowhere?" "Sewage Pollution: What Can Be Done and When." Better Homes and Gardens. Warnick, James P. Metro-East Journal. "Ecologists Focus on Farm." Nov. 19,1972.

8 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Up the Creek An Indepth Analysis of Little Piasa Little Piasa Creek is a first order stream located in Northern Madison County, Illinois. It flows into Big Piasa Creek (a fifth order stream) which ultimately flows into the Mississippi River five miles west of Alton (see map). Little Piasa originates in hilly country which is partially forested with an oak- hickory climax and flows through a valley which is intensively farmed. It is a small stream, dependent upon springs and drainage from the surrounding hillsides an fields as its primary source. It has a sand/gravel bottom. During the summer, it becomes a partially intermittent stream with some deep holes maintained throughout the summer. During the months of February and March 1992, a group of students from the Alton High School Field Ecology Class conducted an ecological study along a one fourth mile section of Little Piasa. The study encompassed physical, chemical and biotic surveys. Data was collected and an overall evaluation of the ecosystem was made. Physical Analysis Upon selecting a study area along the stream a series of five physical tests were conducted using the techniques and procedures listed below.

Maximum Width: The maximum width of the stream at the study site was determined by using a metric measuring tape. The end of the tape was placed at what appeared to be the widest point. The tape was then stretched across the stream and the measurement recorded. The maximum width was recorded as 6.69 meters. The maximum width is dependent upon the amount of water and the channel depth.

Maximum Depth: The maximum depth of the study site was established by probing the stream bottom with a meter stick. The maximum depth was recorded as 0.31 meters. The deeper parts of the stream proved to be those areas containing washes and holes where the current and eddies had washed out the stream bottom.

Sedimentation: Sedimentation was recorded by wading into the stream with the sedimentation cone. Facing upstream, the cone was placed just below the surface of the water an permitted to fill. After collecting the sample, it was returned to the laboratory to stand for 24 hours. After the time period had elapsed, the cone was observed. There were no measurable solids in the cone. This may have been due to the lack of significant rainfall over the past 48 hours and due to the relatively slow current of the stream.

Speed: The speed of the stream was recorded by using a float, a meter stick and a stopwatch. The stream was recorded as 3 seconds per meter. The speed of the stream was directly related to the gradient and topographic features of the stream.

9 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Temperature: Air and water temperatures were recorded using a digital thermometer. On the day of the chemical testing, the water temperature was recorded as 3.8 degrees C. and the air temperature was 5.0 degrees C. Water temperature is a reflection of the air temperature and the many springs draining into the stream. Chemical Tests During the course of the study, a series of chemical tests were conducted encompassing twelve different parameters. Most of the tests were run using the Hach Test Kits.

Dissolved Oxygen (DO): Dissolved oxygen is the amount of oxygen in the water. Oxygen combines with water due to plant and atmosphere interaction. The Field Ecology Students measured the oxygen level of samples from the creek using a Hach Dissolved Oxygen test kit. The DO reading for Little Piasa Creek was 16 ppm. This level is adequate for fish to survive. The DO level was high, this was due to the fast moving water and cold temperatures (see data sheet).

Dissolved Carbon Dioxide (DC02): Carbon Dioxide is a gas found in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is put into the water by the respiring of plants and animals an the decomposition of organic material. Dissolved carbon dioxide is measured by using a Hach Test Kit. A DC02 level of 0.55 was recorded. This level is not harmful to animals or plants (see data sheet).

Nitrates: Nitrates are compounds that contain nitrogen and are found in animal waste. Nitrites can be found in farm fertilizers, leaking septic tanks, and animal wastes. The nitrite level was measured by using the Hach Kit. The nitrite reading was 0.1. This is low and may have been due to the lack of recent rainfall (see data sheet).

Hardness: The hardness of the water infers how many minerals are in the water. Calcium carbonate, or limestone, is a mineral that is found locally. Minerals can collect in the water by flowing over limestone and sand. The water samples that were taken were tested using the Hach Chemical Test. The hardness of the water was 342 ppm. The water was hard; which means it was high in minerals. This will not effect the organisms in the creek, but digestive tract damage could occur in some humans if the water is consumed over a long period of time (see data sheet).

Phosphates: Phosphorus is an essential element for life. It is a plant nutrient needed for growth, and a fundamental element in the metabolic reactions of plants and animals. Phosphorus comes from several sources: human wastes, animal wastes, industrial wastes, and human disturbance of the land and its vegetation. Although phosphorus is essential

10 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for life, too much can be a problem, such as algal blooms. Phosphorus testing was done using the Hach Test Kit. The water at Little Piasa contained 1 mg/1 of phosphorous. This level is a little high, probably from the extensive farming done around the creek (see data sheet).

Total Solids: Total solids, both dissolved and inorganic, are necessary for the maintenance of aquatic life. A constant level is necessary because the density of solids determine the flow of water in and out of the organism's cells. Outside sources that can affect the balance of total solids include urban runoff, fertilizers, leaves and other plant material entering the creek, soil erosion, and decayed plant and animal matter. Dissolved solids testing was done using a D.S. meter. The total solid reading was 155.0. This level is normal (see data sheet). pH: pH is a unit of measurement which reflects the acidity of a substance. The pH level is influenced by both acid rain and minerals. A reading of seven is neutral, a reading of less than seven is acidic and higher than seven is basic. Fish prefer a pH of 6.5 to 8.2. pH readings were conducted using a Hach Test Kit. The level of pH is 8.2, which is a weak basic condition. The backup pH was seven. This level is suitable for both plant and animal life (see data sheet).

Alkalinity: Alkalinity is a buffer against pH changes. The main source of natural alkalinity are from rocks that contain carbonate, bicarbonate, and hydroxide compounds. Phosphates may also contribute to the alkalinity level. Alkalinity was determined using a Hach Alkalinity Test Kit. The level is 12.4 mg/1, which is very low (see data sheet).

5 day Biochemical Oxygen Demand: The 5 day biochemical oxygen demand test (BOD) is a measure of the quantity of oxygen used by the micro-organisms in the aerobic oxidation of organic matter. There are natural sources of organic material like vegetation along the water, such as leaves. There may also be human sources of organic matter such as sewage. The 5 day BOD was taken using a Hach Test Kit. The BOD was 7 mg/1 which is low. This indicates a somewhat heavy load of organic matter in the stream at the time of the testing (see data sheet).

Water Quality: Once data was obtained form the stream samples, a water quality index for Little Piasa was prepared using the format of the National Sedimentation Foundation (see water quality and water index). Using nine chemical and physical parameters, the overall water index was 74.76. This indicated an overall rating of "good." (see below) Water Quality Index Ranges 90- 100 Excellent 70 - 90 Good 50 - 70 Medium 25 - 50 Bad 0-25 Very Bad

Name of Waterway: Little Piasa Creek Date: March 23,1992 Time: 9:13 Centimeters of Rainfall within the last two days: .05cm General Weather Conditions: Sunny, Clear, Cool Type of Stream Bottom: Gravel/Sand Mix

PHYSICAL TEST RESULTS: Air Temp: 5 degrees (C) Water Temp: 3.8 degrees (C) Max. Depth: 0.31 (M) Water Temp: NA Max. Width: 6.69 (M) Sedimentation: INS (mm/1) Velocity: 1 - 3 sec (M/s) Turbidity: 6+ (feet)

CHEMICAL TEST RESULTS: pH: 8.2 (surface) pH: 7.0 (back-up) pH: NA (bottom) Nitrite: .10 (mg/1) DO: 16 ppm (surface)(mg/l) Alkalinity: 12.4 (mg/1) DO: NA (bottom) DS: 300 (ppm) Hardness: 342 (ppm) Amm: NA (mg/1) DÇ02: 55 (ppm) (surface) Phosphate: 1.0 (mg/l)(total) DC02: NA (ppm)(bottom) Total Solid: 155.0 (mg/1) BOD: 7 (mg/1) % Saturation: 120% BACTERIOLOGICAL TEST RESULTS:

Coli form: 0.3 1ml (30/1 OOmL)

13 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Calculating the Test Results: Water Quality Index (WQI) Date: March 23, 1992 Time: 9:13 Test Site: Little Piasa Creek Weather Conditions: Sunny, Clear, Cool

Test Results Q-Value Weighing Factor Total (Column A) (Column B) (Column C) (Column D) 1. Dissolved Oxygen 120% ISat 90 0.17 15.3 Colonies 2. Fecal Coliform 30/100ml 60 0.16 9.6 3. pH 8.2 units 84 0.11 9.24 4. BOD 7 mg/1 47 .011 3.29 5. Temperature 0 degrees (C) 92 .010 10.12 6. Total Phosphate 1 mg/1 40 .010 4.0 7. Nitrates 1 mg/1 99 .010 9.9 8. Turbidity 6+/feet 99 0.08 7.92 9. Total Solids 155mg.l 77 0.07 5.39 Overall Water Quality Index: 74.76

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Chart 4: Chart 3: 5-Day Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) Test pH Results

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Chart 1: Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Tests Results

Chart 8: Turbidity Test Results

17 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Biotic Survey Macro-invertebrates: A biotic survey was conducted on the stream. Specimens were collected using aquatic dip nets. These specimens were later identified in the lab. The macro invertebrates identified included the following: Dragonfly Anisoptera Sp. (larvae) Damselfly Zygoptera Sp. (larvae) Dobsonfly Corydalidae Sp. (larvae) Crane Fly Tipulidae Sp. (larvae) Water Strider Girradae Sp. (adult) Riffle Beetles Elmidae Sp. (adult) Scud Amphidipoda Sp. (adult) Midge Chironomidae Sp. (adult) Phantom Crane Fly Ptychopteridae Sp. (adult) Clubtail Gomphidae Sp. (larvae) Sowbug Isopoda Sp. (larvae) Predacious Diving Beetle Pytiscidae Sp. (larvae) Crayfish Decapada Sp. (adult) Left-Handed Snail Gastropoda Sp. (adult) Right-Handed Snail Gastropoda Sp. (adult) Snipe Fly Atherix Sp. (larvae) The macro-invertebrae survey is the most important of the biotic surveys, as it is an excellent indicator of the stream’s ability to support life. A water quality rating can be achieved by using the "Illinois Citizen Stream Monitoring Assessment Form." To find a water quality rating using this form, you simply put a check on the line next to the name of each macro-invertebrate identified, total the number of taxa in each group, and multiply the group scores and dividing that number by the total number of different taxa, a total cumulative score can be reached. The quality of the stream is indicated by the stream quality assessment chart.

18 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Biotic Survey Vertebrates: The biotic survey included an assessment of the vertebrate species that inhabit the stream. These animals were obtained using aquatic dip nets and seines, or were observed at the stream. The vertebrates identified either at the stream or in the lab included the following: Raccoon Procyon lotor Bullfrog Cates bena Chorus Frog Pseudacris triseriata Common Shiner Notropis comutus Blacknoses Shiner Notropis shiner Creek Chub Semotilus aromaculatus Sunfish Lepomis Sp. Beaver Castor canadensis Muskrat Neofiber alleni With the exception of the beaver and the muskrat, whose diets consist mainly of plant material, these organisms depend on the macro-invertebrate population as a source of food. Bacteria: A fecal coliform analysis was conducted n samples from the study site using standard methods. Confirmation samples were run by the Godfrey, IL Waste Water Treatment Plant. Fecal coliforms are a reflection of human contact with the stream and are good environmental indicators. Fecal coliforms are not necessarily pathogenic but indicate the potential for pathogenic forms to exist in the stream. The fecal coliform count was 30 per 100 mL. This is well within the accepted range.

STREAM T.ij-M*» Piasa Hrppk ------— STATION R prhtnl ri-.su-Earm

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GROUP NAME Alton H.S. Field Ecology Class

DESCRIBE STREAM CONDITIONS: C olor o f W ater — — — clear O dor o f W ater. Plant Bed Growth ------Surface Scum _ Width of Riffle ------Water Depth — Riffle Composition (2 prominent types) Water Temperature------Other Observations (on back).

MACROINVERTEBRATE ESTIMATED COUNT A a 1 -9 TALLY LETTER CODE B a 10 -99 C = > 100

GROUP 1 GROUP 2 GROUP 3 GROUP 4 STONEFLY CADDISFLY . BLACK FLY WORMS _____ ALDERFLY MAYFLY MIDGE LEECH ______DOBSONFLY RIFFLE BEETLES . SOWBUG LEFT-HANDED SNIPE FLY WATER PENNY . SCUD POUCH SNAILS____ DAMSELFLY - RIGHT-HANDED/ BLOOD-WORM DRAGONFLY . OTHER SNAILS - X MIDGE ____ X. CRAYFISH X CRANE FLY . X CLAM/MUSSEL.

#TAXA = #TAXA = #TAXA =

X 1 = X 2 = JLÛL JL2. X 4 =

TOTAL CUMULATIVE SCORE TOTAL OF ALL GROUP SCORES 32 divided by TOTAL # OF DIFFERENT TAXA 13 2-5

STREAM QUALITY ASSESSMENT CHART: WATER QUALITY RATING l - 2.0 excellent water quality 2.1 - 2.5 good water quality 2.6 - 3.5 fair water quality Good W ater Q uality over 3.5 poor water quality write in water QuaSty assessment FIGURE 8: ILLINOIS CITIZEN STREAM MONITORING ASSESSMENT FORM

Use this form to record information on site, location, stream condition, and organism tally

DRIFTWOOD

A COLLECTION OF NATURAL HISTORY OF THE RIVER AREA

"This shining water that moves in the streams and the rivers is not just water but the blood of our ancestors. If we sell you land, you must remember that it is sacred, and you must teach your children that it is sacred and that each ghastly reflection in the clear water of the lakes tells of events and memories in the life of my people."

by C hief Seattle

22 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Zebra Mussel: The Problems They Pose Contrary to popular belief, the zebra mussel does not make the zebra run faster. The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, can grow up to two inches in diameter but is usually under one inch long. The clam-like shell of the zebra mussel has alternating bands of dark and light color, thus the name "zebra" mussel. The Dreissena polymorpha can usually be found in water of depths between six and thirty feet. One of the problems is that the zebra mussel is too abundant. It is believed that the zebra mussel was brought over from the Caspian Sea. The zebra mussel has very few, if any, predators. The female zebra mussel has between 30,000-50,000 offspring in one year. The spreading of larvae is vast because the larvae can travel in current for hundreds of miles. This would keep the population of Dreissena polymorpha rapidly growing. Game fish are threatened by the zebra mussel. The zebra mussel feeds on larvae, plankton, and other food that game fish eat. This starves the game fish out, and the population of the fish is slowly and steadily decreasing. This could possibly cause an environmental break down. Many reports of damage to boats by the zebra mussel have been reported. The mussel's larvae get into the cooling system of motor boats. As the mussels grow, the system gets clogged. This causes the motor to overheat and can be very costly. The zebra mussels also "cling" to the sides of the boats and when removed, chip and ruin the paint. Boaters should try to solve and stop the problems of the invading mollusks. The mussels also cause many problems in public areas. In 1989 thousands of the mollusks clogged a pipe in a water treatment plant in Monroe, Michigan. The city of Monroe was out of water for two days. It was very costly to fix the water treatment plant. The schools and other industries were forced to close down for the two days. The mollusks have caused economical problems for many power plants, water treatment plants, and other industries involving the use of water. Solutions to the problems are now under investigation. If zebra mussels are found, it is recommended to report this to a water conservation society. If something is not done the outcome could be disastrous. by Tim Buckley Valmeyer High School References: Illinois Department of Conservation. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Outdoor Life. August 1990. pp. 33, 81-82. University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute Science News. May 4, 1991. vol. 139, no. 18. pp. 282-284.

23 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Bald Eagle The bald eagle, our National symbol and one of America's most graceful birds, is one of the many animals that makes the area around the Mississippi its home. The bald eagle was once a common bird in this area, but hunting and pollution have taken their toll. Now these majestic birds are very rare. The eagles, usually nesting in dead trees near the river, feed mostly on fish, but their diet can also include small animals and birds. The eagle's nest, which can sometimes weigh up to one thousand pounds, is added on to each year by the pair, who mate for life. A single pair of eagles has been known to occupy the same nest for seventy years. Most of the eagles in this area are migratory, staying around here in the winter. But there are at least two permanent nesting pairs in the Chester area. Bald eagles are very rare. Most people see them in pictures and signs every day, but to see one in the wild, soaring above your head, gives you a feeling of true excitement, that all the pictures of eagles in the world couldn't replace. So when you see an eagle diving out of the sky, stop and look at it. You will see why our founding fathers chose it as our nation's symbol.

A COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL ARTICLES

"Under the shaggy bluff the bottomlands lay in a river of golden haze. The road dropped like a waterfall from the ridge to the town at its foot and came to a grassy end there. It was spring. One slowly moving figure that was a man with a fishing pole passed like a dreamer through the empty street and on through the trackless haze toward the river. The town was still called The Landing. The river had gone, three miles away, beyond sight and smell, beyond the dense trees. It came back only in the flood, and boats ran over the houses."

from At the Landing by Eudora W elty

25 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville French Kaskaskia 1719-1894 French Kaskaskia was the fourth of six different Kaskaskia locations. It was located on the western bank of the Kaskaskia River about four miles north of the Mississippi River and five or six miles north of the present city of Chester. The Kaskaskia Indians left the fourth Kaskaskia several miles up the river. The Indians felt Frenchmen were beginning to overcrowd Kaskaskia. The French Kaskaskia was just a continuation of the fourth Kaskaskia. The increasing social scale of the town made Kaskaskia well known in France as well as in America. The King of France, Louis XV, presented Kaskaskia with a churchbell in 1741. The bell was cast by Normand in La Rachelle, France in 1741. It weighs 600 pounds. It's inscription says "Pour 1' eg'lise des Illinois par les soins du roi d' outreleau." ("For the church of the Illinois, with the compliments of the King from beyond the sea"). This bell was used until 1873. Then new bells were cast in St. Louis and the French bell was stored away. Due to great Mississippi flood- waters the building which held the bell was destroyed. In 1918 the bell was recovered and brought to New Kaskaskia. The state of Illinois erected a shrine to hold the "Liberty Bell of the West" in 1948. The French Kaskaskia was captured for America during the Revolutionary War by George Rogers Clark. Father Pierre Gibault was pastor of Kaskaskia at this time. The French of Kaskaskia were upset that Americans were in control of their town. Colonel Clark allowed Father Gibault to continue church services and promised that America would protect and defend their property. This was enough to satisfy the French of Kaskaskia.

26 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Colonel Clark, Father Gibault, and Jean Baptiste Laffont went to Vincennas to win the French opinion of the American cause. When all the great things about Kaskaskia and Colonel Clark were heard they immediately supported the American cause. The French Kaskaskia also became the first capital of Illinois in 1818. But, when the government was moved to Vandalia in 1819, the Kaskaskia importance greatly declined. by Julie Platt Chester High School Reference: Reyling, Rev. August, O.F.M. Historical Kaskaskia.

Historical Shrine Housing the Kaskaskia Bell

27 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Legend of Kaskaskia Kaskaskia has been the scene of the most romantic and tragic legends of Southern Illinois. One of the most famous legends was the time a priest came to Kaskaskia. In those days everything was sworn to the priest before the altar. One day Americans, who did not belong to the Catholic religion, wanted to swear to something that was not presented to the priest. The priest knew it was faulty and denied them the privilege to swear to it. This made them very angry and they put the priest in a canoe and sailed him down the river. As he drifted away, he put a curse on the town up unto the fourth generation and sure enough Kaskaskia was washed away. However, the curse ought to be lifted by now because this is the fourth generation. Although this is a legend, Kaskaskia was actually washed away. The history of Kaskaskia precedes the beginning of Illinois, but due to a half-century of floods the land has been eroded. In the year 1894 the town broke away from Illinois and relocated. The church had to be dismantled and moved brick by brick to be rebuilt down river at the site of the present town. Kaskaskia is not only a wondrous site but also a very historic one. One of the most historic monuments of Kaskaskia is known as the Kaskaskia Bell. The Kaskaskia Bell located on Kaskaskia Island was sent to the United States by King Louis XV of France in the year 1741. King Louis intentionally sent the bell to the church of the Immaculate Conception at Kaskaskia. It took nearly two years for the 650 pound bell to arrive in Illinois after being shipped to New Orleans and then towed up the Mississippi River by men walking along the river bank pulling ropes. One side of the bell is decorated with French lilies; the other is a cross and pedestal. The inscription on the bell reads: "For the Church of Illinois By the Gift of the King from across the water." On July 4, 1778 the bell was rung to proclaim the occupation of Kaskaskia by George Rogers Clark. The bell became known as "the Liberty Bell of the West." Last year on July 4, 1991 the bell marked its 250th anniversary and its many years of proclaiming freedom. by Colleen Juelfs Valmeyer High School References: Division of Parks and Memorials pamphlet of Fort Kaskaskia. Illinois Rural Electric News. Tales and Songs of the Southern Illinois Timeless Folklore.

28 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Mound City The original settlers of the area around Mound City, Illinois, on the Ohio River, are known to us as "Mound Builders." They were probably part of the Mississippian civilization centered at Cahokia and Kincaid, although The Mounds may have been built earlier, by the Hopewell people. There was a particularly large mound on the river which later became part of the Ohio River levee, and another mound at the south end of town which became part of the south levee. Some artifacts were taken from these mounds but many probably remain buried, because the Army Corps of Engineers is not archaeologically minded. The earliest history of the location where Mound City now stands dates back to 1812, the time of the Indian massacres. The details of this massacre were related by Thomas Falker and written down by Rev. E. B. Olmsted, and told in Perrin's History of Pulaski County. According to this account, written many years after the actual occurrences, the first white settlers in the area were Tennesseans, driven here by the earthquake of 1811. Two families, Clark and Phillips, lived near present Mound City. A man named Conyer settled at America; and a man named Humphrey lived at Lower Caledonia. These were the only inhabitants of the country from the mouth of the Ohio to Grand Chain. By 1836 seven cabins and a storehouse and an associated wood-yard had been built. Natural pastures in the canebrakes and wild grasses made it easy to raise livestock, and wild game abounded. People with commercial ambitions began arriving in the river port around 1838, when a man named Coblitz built a large two-story frame storehouse on the present site of Mound City, near the mound on the river. When it burned down the following year, Mr. Coblitz left the area. He was followed by James Dougherty, who stayed and became a prominent businessman. The town was not platted until 1854 when William J. Spence, surveyor of Pulaski County, surveyed the land for Gen. Moses M. Rawlings and platted land within the current boundaries of Mound City. South First Street was the main street of Mound City. Mound City was at one time named Emporium City. It has had several newpapers. Starting in 1856, a printing press was bought and shipped to Mound City. The first publication of the National Emporium was June, 1856. Dr. Z. Casterline was the editor and J. Walter Waugh the publisher. The paper continued publishing until early 1860. It was followed by the Mound City Gazette, which lasted only a year. The Mound City Journal was founded three years later, and under different editors operated until 1874. The Pulaski Patriot began publication in 1871, passing through a number of owners and editors and operated for many years. by Natalie Johnson & Rebecca Williams Meridian High School

©201529 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Prairie Du Rocher Prairie du Rocher is an exciting town. In French the name means a "field of the rock." This is because the town is surrounded by bluffs. In 1723, the town became the third most important French settlement. The French background is very important today. In some sections of the town some members still speak French. When Rocher started out, it had a population of 100 whites and 80 slaves; today's population stands at 350 people. There are several French events held in Rocher including La Guiannee and The Rendezvous. During La Guiannee, a group of singers go around singing on New Year's Eve. The phrase La Guiannee means "the time of the mistletoe." In the old days there was a ball held on January 6th. It was known as the "12th Night Ball." At this ball a huge cake was made with four beans in it. Whoever got the beans would then pick a queen to host the next ball. This tradition continued up until Lent. Another French tradition which is still practiced is the "Rendezvous." The Rendezvous is held the first weekend in June. People come and dress as French and Indian settlers and reenact the fort life when it was in use. You can buy products that resemble those used when the fort was in use. The Rendezvous is held at Fort de Chartres outside of Rocher. This place would be a great place to grow up and learn of your family history and some of the things the French had to go through in early America. This town also holds a special place in my heart because my family's background is here. by Brandi Ruby Valmeyer High School Reference: A History of the Prairie State by Robert Howard Lords The History of Dupo Louis J. Dyroff was chosen chairman of a committee to seek incorporation of a town that would be located adjacent to the railroad yards. Someone suggested to call it Dupont and Dyroff shortened this to Dupo, and the name stuck. Dupo, chartered in 1907, was mostly a railroad town, with more taverns than grocery stores. Dupo has had its share of excitement. Oil was discovered on a nearby farm in 1928. Two hundred barrels of high grade crude were pumped daily. The boom began all over town, even on public property. The land was soon found to be too shallow to support sustained drilling. Unfortunately, by 1930 Dupo was a town of abandoned oil wells. Dupo was often threatened by floods and in 1947, it seemed that no barrier was high enough to hold the Mississippi's predicted crest of 39.3 feet. "Dupo is Doomed" said a St. Louis Post-Dispatch headline after the Army Corps of Engineers ordered

30 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville evacuation of the 2,600 residents. However, 500 Dupo residents refused to give up. The Mississippi crested at 40.3 feet. Damage totaled more than 50 million dollars, and 35,000 acres of top soil were carried away, but not a drop of floodwater reached Dupo. On April 7, 1955, a "funeral train" of 11 steam locomotives arrived at the Dupo railroad signaling the end of the steam era in railroading. During the next ten years as the railroad industry contracted and changed, so did Dupo. At their peak, the Dupo yards handled 70 trains daily; today only 16 trains come through. Dupo's present population is about 3,000, and almost half its workers commute to St. Louis, going over the Mississippi River. by Amy Reel Dupo High School Maeystown The village of Maeystown was founded by Jacob Maeys in 1852. He had purchased the 100 acres because it included a large spring and three stream she intended to use the waterpower to run a sawmill. After a few years Maeys sold his sawmill to Jacob Pilliard and split the 100 acres into lots, which sold quite rapidly. Soon German settlers moved in and the village of Maeystown came alive. Here the immigrants, who were fleeing from economic and religious oppression, were free to put their talents and ideas to work. Some occupations represented in early Maeystown were cobbler, tailor, tinner, stonemason, cabinetmaker, innkeeper, horse trader, merchant, carpenter, blacksmith, miller, butcher, and pastor. Maeystown changed more slowly than most towns, for the same families stayed on and few outsiders moved in, yet from 1910 till the mid-1930's, Maeystown was at its best with a population of 300. The village had a bank, a high school, three taverns, three general stores, a hotel, and a furniture factory. But after half a decade businesses began to fold one by one and the villagers directed the blame on a recent invention, the automobile, which soon brought the town to an abrupt hault. Many years have passed, but the tiny town still takes pride in its heritage. On June 23, 1978, Maeystown was made a Historic District by the United States Department of the Interior National Park Service. Since then several individuals and the village board have worked diligently on restoring the small town into a scene from the past. Today in 1992, Maeystown has 150 residents and is a popular historic site visited by more than a 1000 tourists a year. The small stores up and down Main Street not only entertain but tell a story of the past. A weekend in Maeystown offers country meals, carriage rides, and beautiful scenery. For 140 years Maeystown has remained a place of tradition and prestige. by Julie Hoefft Valmeyer High School

©201531 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Pulaski Pulaski was first started as a construction camp by the Illinois Central Railroad in 1852. The engineer in charge of the construction equipment called it "Camp in Pulaski County." After a railroad depot was built there, the name was shortened to Pulaski. In 1855, Abraham Perley and Egbert E. and Henry Walbridge laid out the village, calling the Post Office established there Walbridge. The train depot's name, Pulaski, became the one generally recognized, and so the new village became called Pulaski. The Walbridge brothers were leading businessmen, with a flourishing trade and sawmill operation. As the area was cleared for farming, the sawmills and other woodworking industries disappeared. The box, barrel, and veneer factories that once operated in many Pulaski County town, including Pulaski, became uneconomical to operate as nearby forests were cleared, raising freight costs for importing timber to the factories. Also, after W.W.II, papers and plastics replaced wood as packing material, so the market for local wood products declined sharply. Like Villa Ridge, orchards and horticulture were important to Pulaski. During the 1950's, fruit and vegetable production declined sharply, so the agriculture of the Pulaski area became predominantly row crops and livestock. by Connie Young & Stephanie Helton Meridian High School Chester River Rats Chester, fifty years ago, was very different than what it is today. Today it starts at the river bank and extends past Camptown, the out skirts of the city. But around fifty years ago, almost everything was on the riverfront. The riverfront had grocery stores, clothing stores, the St. James Hotel, a variety store, a coal dock, a sand dock, a depot, and even a small train called the "Dinky". My aunt told me about cruises on riverboats where the ladies dressed in evening gowns and the men wore their tuxedoes. She and her sisters would sit on the bank and watch the boats with these people on it go by. Elsie Seagar, the creator of Popeye, got his many characters from the riverfront. Popeye was based upon the town drunk, while Olive Oyle was based on a lady named Miss Pascal. She seemed to be a thin, tall, and not an exceptionally beautiful lady. She was the owner of the variety store on the riverfront. Today the riverfront is very different than it was then. The coal dock is gone, the stores are gone. The railroad has moved up to where the stores used to stand to avoid floods. This moved the stores further uptown. The Landmark, a present-day riverfront establishment, used to be called the St. Louis Flatts. The depot is still there but it's different also. As river traffic slowed down, the town moved further up the hill. by Kristel Choate Chester High School

32 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Cairo's Role in the Civil War In the year of 1860, Cairo's population was about 2,200. With the coming years of the Civil War, Cairo's population would boom to a whopping 6,300 in only ten years. Much of this population growth was due to Union troops occupying this city at the junction of the mighty Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Union troops moved to Cairo on April 23,1861. The town was like a basin with its high-rimmed levee systems, muddy streets, and many Union soldiers. The Union army built Fort Defiance at the junction of the two rivers. The fort was strategically placed to defend Cairo from water vessels transporting supplies to the Confederates from the Mississippi up the Ohio. The fort was not too impressive; it was simply flat-topped mounds for placement of cannons. The Union army would have stood no chance against the Confederate army along the Mississippi if the Union had not put Colonel Ulysses S. Grant in charge of the Cairo regiment. Grant first stationed his headquarters at Jefferson City, Missouri. He then was transferred to Cape Girardeau. Knowing he could launch no attack from this far up the Mississippi, he moved to Cairo where this town remained his headquarters until he moved to Confederate lines farther south. After only two days of Grant's being in Cairo, he assembled a small navy of vessels and headed for Paducah, Kentucky, on the Ohio River. Grant took possession of the city just in time, as Confederate troops were only miles away. Meanwhile, Colonel Oglesby, former commander of Cairo, was sent to Missouri where he proceeded down the Mississippi to Columbus and Belmont. This movement led to the Battle of Belmont. Grant stated that had this movement not been made, Oglesby's troops may have been captured. Grant saw that the rivers provided him the best means to break the control of Confederates in Kentucky. After he assembled his small fleet of eight to ten gunboats, he proceeded to push Confederates south. The boats were brought into service at Belmont on December 7, 1861, and then at Forts Henry and Donelson in 1862. The capture of these forts by the Union led to the evacuation of many Confederate troops. Within four months of his command at Cairo, Grant pushed the Confederates from the Southern Illinois border to the Southern Tennessee border. These battles led to the junction of northern Union troops and southern Union troops, which when combined, had control of the entire Mississippi River from its source to its mouth. All of these accomplishments were made by Grant setting up his headquarters in Cairo and using the rivers to gain control of a once Confederate controlled area. by Charles Fowler Cairo High School

33 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Mighty Mississippi Dooms a Town At one time Rockwood, Illinois, a small town located about seventy-five miles south of Saint Louis, was a booming river port. This was around the year 1857 before the river changed its course. The river is now more than a mile from town. Rockwood, also formally known as Jones Creek, was named after Emsly Jones, an early settler in the area. Next it was named Liberty, after the river island which had in turn received its name form negroes fleeing slavery from the state of Missouri during the Civil War. Years later it become known as Rockwood because of its high rocky bluffs and three wood yards, which suppled almost one hundred thousand dollars worth of fuel to passing boats each year. In this ’'large" town of three hundred people, there were five dry-goods stores, four blacksmiths, one shoe maker, one dress maker, one tailor, one plasterer, two school teachers, and three physicians. Most of the rest of the population either sold wood, raised stock, or worked in the large flour mill. There was also a chair maker named Thill, who’s products are still sought by collectors. There was a "large" hotel, a wagon shop, a school house, and one or more churches. There is not much left of the original town, a few old delapidated buildings and crumbled rock walls. There is still a small number of people living in this town, but it will never again be what it was before the mighty Mississippi changed its course. by Scott McAdams Chester High School

A remaining portion of a building from the small town of Rockwood, Illinois.

34 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville River Memories These stories were told to me by my Grandma and Grandpa: Around 1940 there was a mud road in Cahokia right across from the police station. It was approximately one mile long, led to the Mississippi River and was known as Cargill Hill. There was a sandy beach there and the water was very clean. If you saw it now you would have a hard time believing it. Lots of families went there on Sundays for picnics. Everyday my Grandpa and his buddies went for a swim. One day the beach was deserted except for my Grandpa and his friends. There was a log out towards the middle of the river and all the boys said they would swim out to it and back. My Grandpa got tired on the way out and turned back. He said you had to handle the current the right way. My Grandpa had a big dog named Mike who saved his life that day. Grandpa gave Mike a call and the dog swam out and Grandpa grabbed his tail and Mike towed him to shore. My Grandpa also told me that there was a dance hall right there by the beach and a ferry that took them across the river. Now there is just a granary. Before the levees were built after the last big flood, around 1903 or 1904, the waters stretched from the bluffs in St. Louis to the bluffs by Dupo. Cahokia was the first little town and Grandpa said it would have been a big industrialized city like St. Louis, but people were scared of the floods. So they settled to the west and the east sides of the bluffs. My Grandma said that after the big floods she and mother would wash the walls of the house with the river water and some soap. My Great Grandma was bom in 1888, so this was about the early 1900's. My mom still has a piece of furniture that was in the last big flood. Great-Grandpa used to fish in what they called "sloughs”. These were little pools of water left behind after the flood. It was good fishing, but all the snakes and water animals were all over during and after the flood. In the winter when the river would freeze over, my Great- Grandparents would sharpen their horses hooves so they wouldn't slip on the ice while crossing the river. Being able to cross the Mississippi on a river of ice is just another river memory we'll never see again. by April McGinnis Althoff Catholic High School

35 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville An 1800's River Town A little piece of history - gone, and forgotten. A river town, reincarnated and forgotten again. The settlement of Southwestern Illinois' Horse Prairie began in 1795 on the west bluff of the Kaskaskia River. John J. Whiteside laid off a town in Randolph County just south of the St. Clair County border, which he named Washington. The residents engaged mostly in agriculture, but there were other professions that any frontier town would need. There was a stone mason named John Grosvenor and the Going families, who were in the blacksmithing business. But as Horse Prairie became more hospitable and its rich soil was discovered, Washington faded from existence. Its name was changed to Horse-Prairie Town and it "died" around 1810. About 25 years later, a town rose from the ashes of Horse- Prairie Town with a new name and a new purpose. As other towns began forming in Horse Prairie, the settlers of LaFayette saw a need and filled it. As a river town, shipping was seen as a possible venture. Because of its isolated location, there was not much business at first. When the Kaskaskia River was navigated, shipping became profitable. LaFayette was never large - it probably contained only about 100 people, but it did prosper. John Ralls was a prominent citizen. He owned a dry goods store and was a partner in a saw mill. Much of the grain grown on Horse Prairie was shipped out to the Mississippi River, along with lumber from the saw mill and flour from the mill in Red Bud. LaFayette lasted much longer than Washington. There is record of it in an 1859 Randolph County history and the Randolph County Surveyor constructed a map of it in 1882, but it disappeared soon enough to be just a blurry, yellowed photograph of 1800's life, crumbling pieces falling from it as it travels through history. byTedWiatr Red Bud High School

Steamboats on the Mississippi The most important event along the Mississippi River was the appearance of the steamboat in 1811. Its appearance began the most exciting, the busiest, and the most romantic period the Mississippi Valley has even seen. Several steamboats were being operated on the Hudson River by Robert Livingston and Robert Fulton. Nicholas Roosevelt, another steamboat operator, consulted with these two men about operating steamboats on the Mississippi. Even though they had trained pilots, the steamboats were awkward and difficult to move around other boats. Steamboat wrecks were frequent. The people and the merchants still chose this way of transportation because it was the fastest and the best way to get up and down the river for many years. While the Mississippi River remains a busy waterway today with thousands of barges, it is not like it was during the era of the steamboat. Steamboats brought a life of luxury to the towns along the Mississippi. With their rich food, fine liquor, elegant

36 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville deep carpets, expensive furniture, spectacular entertainment and open gambling, the boats offered romance and excitement wherever they docked. The appearance of the railroad in the late 1840's brought astonishment to river people- The rapid spread of iron rails brought the decrease in river travel. The railroads brought the end of the glorious era of the steamboats. by Jeannie Mitchell Valmeyer High School References: Andris, Ralph K. Steamboats on the Mississippi. St. Louis Globe Democrat Early Trails and Roads Randolph County at one time was the center of the entire road system of Southern Illinois. Three trails that originated here are the Shawneetown Trail, Vincennes Trace and the Peoria Trail. They merged to cross the Kaskaskia River at what is now Reily Lake. The Shawneetown-St. Louis road dated about 1829-30, came through Old Duquoin, Pinckneyville, Sparta, New Athens, and on to St. Louis. The Old Massac road crossed the Big Muddy River near Murphysboro, came up through Ava to Steeleville, and then north to Sparta to join the Shawneetown-St. Louis road. Most main roads led to Chester, on the Mississippi River. The hill road out past Evergreen Cemetery, through what is now McGuireville, went on to Ellis Grove, Evansville, Ruma, and Red Bud. This road is now Route 3. The Murphysboro road, going east out of Chester to Shiloh Hill is still sometimes referred to as the County Farm road. Part of the Sparta road between Chester and Breman was a plank toll road. The covered bridge was encouraged by the Randolph County Plank Road Company, charted by the state on February 11,1853. The New Palestine road goes north out of Chester. It was one of the first oiled roads in the county. Diamond Cross was an intersection that resembled the sides of a diamond. Diamond Cross is about one and one fourth miles southwest of New Palestine on what is now the Shawneetown road. Diamond Cross was among some of the trading centers in the days before and immediately after the Civil War. by Mindy Pautler Chester High School References: A History of Chester. Illinois.

37 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Gorge Bridge The Gorge Bridge is thought to be about 142 years old. It was built by Joseph Elliott and James Mann from stone quarried in the Gorge area. Although the exact cost of construction is unknown, an approximation of $250 was made by the Fall Creek Township on September 7, 1858. The bridge rises in a 180 degree arch, 33 feet high from the rock bottom of Fall Creek. Gravel had to be kept on the bridge to keep the weight on the Keystone structure. The stone rails of the bridge are two and a half feet high on the ends sloping up to five feet at the center. The rails were originally lower until a boy was almost thrown into the creek by a horse in the early 1900's. Legend says the boy was riding a blind horse that stumbled. The horse fell to its death in the creek bottom while the boy gained hold on the rock sides. The accident happened during a thunderstorm, thus thunder and lightning probably shied the horse. The bridge has taken its toll of abuse from farmers using it and from vandalism. It was used until it seemed unsafe and too narrow for cars to pass. In 1949 a new bridge was built 200 yards to the southwest of the Gorge. If you would like to see the Gorge Bridge and surrounding area, you may stop at Fall Creek State Park and walk to it or you can turn up the first gravel road after the new bridge. The new bridge is on the blacktop road from Payson to Highway 57. If you turn on the gravel road, go to the stile and enter to walk a short distance to the bridge. The stile is 100 feet or so up the gravel road. The Gorge Bridge, a wonder work, is still around and will probably be for many years to come. Visitors can walk across the stone bridge and examine its beautiful, yet strong structure. We, at Payson, encourage you to come visit the area. by Preston Althoff and Brian Dittmer Payson-Seymour High School

38 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Indian Cave Just north of Chester about a mile and a half and close to Gravel Creek, which flows into Mary's River and in turn into the Mississippi, lies a cave in the side of a hill. It’s called Indian Cave because it’s rumored that Indians lived or hid out in it many years ago. The entrance of the cave looks like a big crack in the side of the hill. It's about three and a half feet wide and eight feet tall going straight in for about twenty feet. It then turns right and widens. For a way there are pools of water between waist and chest high that go around curves. On these curves are mud banks where salamanders lie. The salamanders are about four inches long, pink with tiny black spots. Continuing on, the cave straightens out a little and the ceiling drops to about six feet. Frequently you come to forks that offshoot the main passage. These are smaller passages which are able to be traveled for a while but they ultimately become too small to go any further. Further on, the ceiling drops to about four feet and is more round. There is only about five or six inches of water now flowing like a stream. The water is clear and it has a gravel bottom on which very tiny and transparent cave shrimp swim. It continues like this for a long time and this is all the further I or anyone I know can make it. No one knows how far or where the end is, but it is said it either just ends or comes out at the Mississippi. by Matt Schuwerk Chester High School

Mound City's First Two Murders Mound City, once a rough and tumble town, is located along the banks of the Ohio River. The first murder in Mound City was in early 1857. Two men by the name of Cook and Scott quarreled with a man named Harper, resulting in Harper's death. Cook and Scott were arrested. Cook took a change of venue to Golconda and was acquitted, while Scott was tried at Caledonia, then the county seat of Pulaski County, convicted, and sentenced to hang. He was granted a 30-day reprieve and managed to escape before the expiration of the 30 days. In 1859, a man named Vaughn shot and killed one Daniel K. Charles. He was placed in the Mound City jail and, before his case went to trial, he was dragged from the jail and hanged by a mob. by Rebecca Williams Meridian High School

39 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Early Entertainment in Chester The entertainment business in Chester began in 1920 when Bill Shuchert opened the Opera House at the intersection of Opdyke and State Street. In its heyday it had both lantern slides and live performances. The originator of Popeye, Elzie Segar, did some of his first cartooning while employed at the Opera House. In those days the reel had to be rewound before the next picture could be shown. Elzie used his creative abilities by making slides to be shown on the screen during the rewinding of the film. Mr. Schuchert sold to Walter Light, a film distributor from St. Louis, who built the "Joy” movie theatre on the present site of the V.F.W. Because Mr. Light knew many of the ins and outs of film supply, the "Joy" theatre became a first run, showing all of the newest films. At about the same time Arthur Beare owned the "Gem" theatre which was located downtown. Much rivalry existed between the two businesses during the depression years for the movie goers’ dollars. In 1938, a third movie theatre was opened by Mr. Light. The "Court" did not last long however, and in the early 1940's it was sold to the Turner Movie chain based in Harrisburg. Where there was once three movie theatres, now there are none. by Brandon Roche Chester High School

The Legend of Lover's Leap Overlooking the Ohio River and not too far from Caledonia Landing is a high cliff known as Lover's Leap, where one can get a beautiful view of the river. At one time it was supposed to have had an altitude of about 100 feet but, as the years have gone by, much of the soil has slipped down the hill until now it is a graded slope down to the land surrounding the river. A legend has been handed down as to how the cliff got its name. Two lovers, thought to have been from two different Indian tribes, fell in love and were planning a life together. Their parents were very much opposed to this union. Rather than be separated, the young lovers joined hands and jumped to their death; thus, the name "Lover's Leap." by Rebecca Williams Meridian High School

40 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Ellis Grove Truck Stop The Ellis Grove Truck Stop was considered to be a great landmark by many people. According to the townspeople the truckstop was built in 1939 by Elmer Schopfer and Stanly Hargis. It was then called Shep and Stan's. Together they both ran the service station and cafe. When Shep and Stan operated the truck stop, old Route 3 was the best way to travel south. Many truckers would stop in and fuel up their trucks and get something good to eat. There were also law enforcement officers, railroad workers, and frequent travelers. Amongst all these people were the regular townsfolk. The place was quite busy, so they kept it open 24 hours a day. About 1945 Shep and Stan leased the cafe part to the Suhre brothers: Vernon, Hugo, and Charles. The cafe was named Suhre Bros. Cafe. They ran the cafe for about 30 years. In 1976 Shep and Stan sold the property and building to Rolland Sr. and Rose Eggemeyer. The Eggemeyers leased the service station or the cafe to numerous people. Some of these people were, the Jim Noes family, Mel and Rocky, Marvin and Tammy Suhre, Pete and Mary Kempfer, Sam Hall, Junior Hoffman, Charlie McCarty, and Larry Coonrod. On February 15, 1992, in the early morning hours, the truck stop tragically caught fire. The fire was caused by lightning. The Ellis Grove Truck Stop was a great landmark that will be missed by many people. by Lonnie Wenzel Chester High

The ruins of the Ellis Grove Truck Stop, which was built in 1939.

41 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville A School's History Only a mile up from Maeystown, located on the right side of the road, stands a small white house which holds many memories for many residents. Over one hundred years ago a public school was started. It was founded by Peter and Katherine Decker, Philip Baum, John Harbraugh and Abram Poston. On June 9, 1856, the Posten school was formed and the land deed was recorded. The Posten school, as it was called, was given the title of District # 3. Mr. Poston at the time lived on the McRoberts land. Because of this, the school was soon named after him. The spelling of the school then changed from Posten to Poston, the same as Mr. Poston. In 1883 the original building in District # 3 was disassembled and a more appropnate and up to date building was erected. Timber from the old school was used in the building of a bam that stands on the Mrs. Charles Krone property. The new and up to date building was made out of brick and was moved back a few feet from where the old school originally stood. This was just a standard building with not many windows or doors and only one room. It seemed at this time the school grew much more than anticipated. The district covered a large area including Modonnaville. The school never had fewer than 42 kids, and it did reach up to 92 kids. At this time the students had to sit three in a desk. The reason the school got so crowded was that very few students went on past the eighth grade. The teacher did teach special classes and subjects to those who wanted and were able to go on past the eighth grade. As the years progressed more changes were made. In 1917 the Sanitation Law was passed, which meant that the door had to be moved to the south side and the windows had to be put on the north side of the building, which was the left side of the students. More changes and improvements were completed from 1930 through 1933. In 1930 sidewalks were put in the front and around the sides. In 1933 slate blackboards were installed. In 1940 a water system and a coal burning furnace were added. The coal furnace later allowed them to install an oil burner. These changes had to be met for the little school house to meet state regulations. In 1951 Poston School had to become a high school equipped facility. At this time Poston School was known as District # 32 and would soon become part of the Valmeyer School District which was District # 3. In 1956 the memorable Poston School closed. Over one hundred years old, this little school has given many people memories that they will never forget. by Kevin Darnell Valmeyer High School Reference: Waterloo Republican. May 30, 1956.

42 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville America's School The first public school ever built in the Southern Illinois territory, now known as Pulaski County, was built in 1831 by the people of the town of America. The first school was built by the consent of the Trustees of the town but supported by subscription. It was a roughly constructed log cabin with two windows for ventilation and heated by a fire place. It was in session only a few weeks a year. The exact site is unknown. In 1865 another school was built east of the Herman Schaare farm and north of the Nick Niestrath farm. It was a log cabin with a brick foundation made of bricks fired at America. A Mr. Steele and later Mrs. Depew were the first teachers. Children walked to school and some rowed a john-boat across the bayou. At the time there was a school for black children across the railroad tracks from where the America School stood. Most of the population was then centered about a mile west of ea6h school and it became increasingly difficult for pupils to attend. In 1882 B.F.and Elizabeth Mason deeded 1\4 acre to the Trustees of Township 16 for the colored school known as Hayes School. The school was first taught by Millie Goe and later by Kate Lyerly. The first colored teachers on record were G.V. Lane and Wren Harris. About 1940 George McNeil began his career there and was highly regarded by all for a number of years. In 1883 the final site of America School was deeded to the Trustees by William and Ann Lyerly. The old building was sold to a German fellow, Reichster, and dismantled. The usable beams were taken to what was known as the Dee Leidigh farm. The old recitation benches were brought to the new school as well as the bell that called pupils to school. An all day picnic and dance was held with a huge crowd attending. The salary of $150 for five months of school was paid once a year. In 1890 Will Mathis, a former pupil of Mr. Helm's, began teaching at America for $45 a month. School started at 8:30 a.m. and sometimes lasted as late as 5:30 p.m. Records show as many as 75 scholars in the one-room school, ages ranged from beginners to 23 years of age. Attendance was sporadic. There was no "high school" and much more was taught in the grade school. An eighth grade graduate was eligible to teach if a school was available. Records show that Cornelia Lyerly Brelsford was the first to attend "high school" after leaving America. Teachers often took a contract to cut and supply the wood to heat their school. The schools were updated and modernized in every aspect but once again shifting population made changes necessary. Pupils were sent to Mound City and Olmsted as the district was forced to consolidate. And so the doors closed, not only on a way of education, but on a way of life. Many will always remember the community involvement that kept the little schools alive. The buildings may be a thing of the past but the happy memories of the one-room schools can never be forgotten by Melissa Carr Meridian High School

43 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Building of the Pay son Seymour Elementary School The town of Payson was deeply shocked when young Charles W. Seymour, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. Seymour, was accidently killed when a pitched ball struck him over the heart during a baseball game. Charles died at the young age of 16 on May 22, 1915. The boyhood dream of Charles Seymour was to make a better place for the youngsters of the community to attend school. From the shattered grief of Mr. and Mrs. Seymour a beautiful limestone school building was built in memory of their only son, Charles. The stone, owned by the Seymours, was quarried from the Fall Creek Gorge and hauled by teams and wagons to the building site. The Charles W. Seymour Memorial High School was completed on December 30, 1916. It was dedicated on the same day, and State Superintendent of Schools, Francis G. Blair, delivered the dedication address. In his speech he said, "He who builds with wood and stone, must see his work decay, but he who shapes the human mind builds for eternity." The original school building was 172 feet long, extending back on the wings, on the eastern and western ends, to 42 feet. The center had a depth of 92 feet. The cost of the school totalled $150,000.00. The new school, equipped with a new science laboratory and home economics department, became the showplace of the state, both educationally and architecturally. Within the marbled foyer is a bronze plaque, commemorating the life of young Charles Seymour and the tribute of his parents to the entire community.

44 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville "A blameless nature, glad and pure and true He walked life's morning path in happy light, then passed from sight. But still he lives in every kindly deed we do. In all our love of truth and right-forever young, forever glad, forever true." The Seymours built the gymnasium four years later after World War I had ended. The gymnasium was much smaller in size, but the cost was nearly the same as what the entire school had been built for. This increase in cost reflected the economic changes and inflation rate following the War. It is with real meaning and deeply ingrained pride to the Payson Community that Seymour High School remains today, even though a new high school was built in 1954. The original Seymour High building is now being used as the grade school, and is often referred to as Seymour Grade School. by Jessica Gilmore, Jennifer Germann & Shannon Miles Payson-Seymour High School Shiloh Baptist Church Shiloh Baptist Church, located two miles west of Villa Ridge, Illinois, was organized on October 17,1817, one year before Illinois became a state. The original church was a log structure which served as a church and a school. The present church, which is over 120 years old, has been modernized several times to keep pace with changes in convenience. Many of the earliest Southern Illinois settlers came from the east, lured by stories of abundant land and game aplenty. Some of the people settled in the valleys but soon moved to the hills and bluffs overlooking the Ohio River after the devastating earthquake of 1911-12. The move to the hills was a matter of safety, hence, the new settlers called the hilly land where they settled Villa Ridge. Some of the oldest families in the community have members attending Shiloh Church regularly. A few of these members are eighth and ninth generation church members. The church cemetery has graves which date back to 1831 in "Old Shiloh" cemetery. Among these are three graves of Union soldiers who lost their lives fighting in the Civil War. The final burial in this cemetery occurred in 1903. The "New Shiloh" cemetery was begun in 1908 and is still open for burials of church members. Shiloh Baptist is a church of deep faith in the Villa Ridge Community. Boasting 150 members, the church recognizes many community leaders among its faithful flock. by Kerrie Weston Meridian High School

45 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville For Whom the Bell Tolls In the early years of Payson Township the main emphasis was focused on education and spiritual development. Already 20 men and women had met with the intent of establishing a church. Delegates from the Congregational Church in Quincy and Rev. Anson Hubbard, a resident minister, were present in council at the organization. David Prince was elected the first deacon, and later named treasurer. Anson Hubbard was asked to be the first minister, at a salary of $400 per year. The first Congregational Church of Payson was built in March of 1841, at a cost of $4400. The pride of the town was going to be short-lived because of a disaster that hit around midnight on November 18, 1842. That fateful night in November, flames were discovered coming out of the building. The floor fell to the basement and most of the church was destroyed. Several days after the fire, the dedicated members of the church met and made plans to obtain a new church home. Until the new spot for the church was found, they had to hold church in a wagon shop on Main Street. The edifice was completed by Mr. Elloit at a cost of $6000. The new building on the west comer of the old foundation would be 30 by 36 feet and was completed in 1844. In September of 1843, Rev. J. H. Prentiss arrived from Naperville, IL. to take up his pastorate here. His salary was $300 plus fuel(wood), transportation, and any possible aid from the Home Missionary Society. The new building was in use for about 20 years. This same two-storied building is still standing in the village today having been moved to the southwest comer of the park. After the construction of the church, the members took up a collection for a bell, and in June of 1865 J. K. Scarborough traveled to West Troy, New York, with $722 in silver dollars to be melted down and put into a casting to make the bell that is here today. It is the high percentage of silver in the bell that gives it the clear tone of its ring. Another historical piece of the church is its old Hook and Hastings pipe organ. The organ was manufactured in the late nineteenth century, but only came to the church in August of 1933, as a gift from the disbanded Griggsville Congregational Church. Although it was first placed in the front of the church, it is now in the rear of the church and can still be heard during church services. The historical church that stands in Payson today is a constant reminder of the diligence that was possessed by our forefathers. The church is over 160 years old and is still in use today. Our church is recognized by the Library of Congress and is still a pleasure to look at. by Brent Koetters & Todd Seiverling Payson-Seymour High School Reference: 150th Anniversary booklet prepared by the Sesquicentennial Committee

46 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Akers Chapel On December 25, 1839, a group of devout people living in what is now the community between Hull and Plainville in the western part of Pike County organized for the purpose of raising funds for the erection of a house of worship. Peter Akers was at the time the presiding elder of the Quincy District for the Methodist Churches. He dedicated the building and it was named in his honor. Twenty-nine years later (in 1868) the congregation decided to build a larger structure. Thus, the present building has observed the centennial of its construction, which was 50 years after Illinois became a State of our Union. Peter Akers was asked to come for the dedication of this second building, though he was 80 years old and living in Pleasant Plains, Illinois. He came by stage and on horseback to oblige his friends who had named their church for him three decades before. In 1922, the Methodist Conference of Illinois ordered the church sold as defunct. The cemetery and church lot, composing 3 1/4 acres, were deeded to a cemetery association of local people. Trustees were appointed and the cemetery incorporated by the State. The building and furniture were sold. The Congregational Church of Payson, Illinois.

47 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The day after the sale, the community set about recovering them. Henry Schmiedeskamp, Quincy attorney, had bought them, and he resold them to the trustees for the price he paid: $370.15. Rustic Akers Chapel is located on a hillside overlooking Route 96, just three miles south of Plainville, Illinois. The century-old red brick church is well known to the citizens of Western Illinois, not only as a house of worship, but also as a "landmark” dating back to the early history of Pike County. Regular services were held until 1922 when it was disposed of at public auction. In 1953 the building was leased by a group of citizens of the Akers Chapel community and the Church of Christ was orgainized with a charter membership of 26. The first meeting was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Heine, and the first services were held in the Chapel on April 5, 1953. The first minister to serve the new congregation was Kenneth Littleford. Other men who have served the congregation since its beginning are Max Brandon, Floyd Herron, Charles Embree, Dean Huffman, Jerry D. Kenady, and Morris Tippon. The membership of the congregation is approximately 140. In August, 1960 a house located in Plainville was purchased by the Akers Chapel congregation to be used as a parsonage. During February and March of 1966, a new floor and ceiling were installed and also the interior of the auditorium was painted, paneled, and new carpet was laid. Future plans call for further improvement of the classroom facilities and the auditorium. by Kevin Schaffnit & Cory Miller Pay son-Seymour High School C'&iyreya£t(>nai ^ ura/[

48 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Stephen W. Miles "For miles and miles it is all Miles" was the quotation stated by Stephen W. Miles in 1858 after erecting a fifty-six vault mausoleum. The mausoleum stands at a lonely and desolate spot overlooking the hill to the fertile plain of the Mississippi in Monroe County. Built at a rumored cost of $20,000.00, the mausoleum was to serve as a burial place for all the members of the family and to be held in trust by the oldest male heir. This Italian marble construction still holds many stories, tales, and myths today. Stephen Miles was no ordinary incoming settler on the frontier of the new Illinois country. Bom in 1795 in Cazenovia, NY, his education and culture was far above the normal. He was a musical genius, a complete master of the violin. The moment he settled near Eagle Cliff, he became legendary. In some mysterious way he acquired thousands of acres of prime farmland in the flood plain of the Mississippi. He brought in relatives from the East to establish his feudal empire. When he climbed to the top of Eagle Cliff to command the flood plains spread at his feet, it was proper (although arrogant) to say, " For miles and miles, it all belongs to Miles." This interest though somewhat macabre, but always respectful in the early times, took a different turn in the later years. Vandalism provoked the closing of the old graveyard to all except those with permission. The ghouls who invaded this mausoleum have done such damage as inscribing the walls with filthy graffiti and have held ceremonial beer bashes in the crypts. Although the Miles' empire has crumbled, the ruins of this majestic creation will remain within the lands of Monroe County forever. by Windy McDaniel Valmeyer High School References: Bundy, Gloria. Arrowheads to Arrowiets. Historic Cemetery Should Be Restored. St. Louis Globe-Democrat "Rich American Bottom Lured Pioneers to Monroe County" East St. Louis Journal Vandalism Continues at Historic Miles Cemetery. The Republican Times Shopper.

49 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Pierre Menard The first lieutenant-governor of Illinois, Pierre Menard, was bom near Montreal, Canada, in 1766. Around 1790, he moved to Kaskaskia and started a business. He was short, impulsive, bright and alert, and possessed a kind heart that won him many friends. He was poorly educated, but had a good understanding of men and much intelligence of practical affairs. Menard treated all men equally. He possessed an influence over the Indians greater than that of any other man in the territory. At his home he gave endless generosity to rich and poor alike. Salt was expensive and hard to find in his days. At one time, Menard held the only supply to be found outside St. Louis. In great distress, people came to buy. He told those who had money to stand on one side of his store, and the ones who didn't have money to stand, on the other side. He then told those who had money to "go to St. Lofiis to get your salt." The people who had no money received all the salt. At the end of his term of office, Menard retired from public service and lived upon his large estate at Kaskaskia, where he died in 1844. The house that Pierre Menard built in Randolph County merits a high place on any list of historic homes in the U.S. This sturdy old frame house of French colonial design is very attractive and pleasing to the eye. Moreover, it has remained basically unaltered through the years since it was completed in 1802. It then stood on the east bank of the Kaskaskia River, looking across the stream toward the ancient town. The Mississippi was seven miles away. Today, the house, though it stands unmoved at its original location, faces directly toward the spot where the town of Kaskaskia once stood, but its view is now obstructed by a high levee. This paradox clears when it becomes known that many years ago the Mississippi, while in flood stage, cut a new channel across a narrow strip of land that separated it from the Kaskaskia a few miles above the town and shifted its current to the latter stream. In making this shift, the town of Kaskaskia, once the metropolis of the Mississippi Valley, was washed away. Among the houses that were part of the Kaskaskia scene, only the home that Menard built against the foot of the Garrison Hill Bluff remains. It has seen much history and as the years have passed, it has become more and more an object of interest. The house, considered alone, has its appeal just as does the man who built it. Each adds to the legend of the other. by Marla Kock Valmeyer High School

50 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Pierre Menard Home Pierre Menard was bom in 1766 in the town of St. Antoine-sur-Richeive, located near Montreal, Canada. At age fifteen he left his home to begin an expedition as a voyageur. In 1790, Menard settled in Kaskaskia, Illinois where he began a life in business and politics. Two years later, he married a Kaskaskia resident named Theresa Godin. In 1804 Theresa passed away leaving him with three daughters and one son. Menard remarried in 1806 to Angelique Saucier and had six more children. By this time in Pierre Menard’s life he experienced being a fur trader, store keeper and a family man. He was also contributing a great deal to the developement of Illinois. From 1818 - 1822 Menard served as Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. After ending this term he withdrew from politics. ® Menard had been a political figure for many years and at this point in his life, he decided to retire to his home. The Pierre Menard Home is located near the Mississippi River. The home is kept and owned by the State of Illinois Department of Conservation. His home is open to visitors and is an excellant example of the South's French Colonial architecture. Pierre Menard died in 1844 at the age of 78. He was buried in the Kaskaskia Immaculate Conception Cemetery. by Martha Scott Chester High School Reference: A History of Chester. IL. 1829-1979.

Count Pulaski Pulaski County was named in honor of Count Pulaski, a Polish nobleman. Casimir Pulaski was bom in Warka, Poland, in 1748. Like his father, Casimir was a leader of the Polish Confederation. When it was defeated, Casimir left his country. After his arrival in America he took part in the struggle for the independence of the United States, which became his second homeland. He had met Benjamin Franklin in Paris, who persuaded him to aid the Colonies in their fight for freedom. In 1777, Pulaski joined the American Army and he was commissioned a Brigadier General. He served under General George Washington and later raised an independent corps, known as the Pulaski Legion. At the Battle of Savannah in the Revolutionär War, October 9, 1779, General Pulaski was wounded and died two days later. Many memorials have been erected in the United States to General Casimir Pulaski. by Rebecca Williams Meridian High School

51 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Craig House On July 9, 1838 William Craig was bom in Glasgow, Scotland. Two years later William came with his family to America. Both of William's parents died before he reached twelve years old, leaving behind twelve children. William Craig enlisted in the Union Army under Colonel Morgan. Craig was wounded and return home. The money he obtained from the army was used to build the Craig house in 1866, which still is standing today. The land on which the house is built originally consisted of 151 acres, later reaching over 350. The house is located two miles east of Chester on Highway 150. William brought Miss Louisa Snyder, his bride, to Chester from St. Louis and had 13 children. William's grandson, Delbert, and his wife Libby were the last Craig family to live in the house. Today the farm is owned by the Krieg family. The house is a white-frame building consisting of two stories. The foundation is made of sandstone. The dirt from the basement was used to create four mounds, one on each corner of the house. Originally spruce trees occupied each mound. Now large maple trees have taken their place, making it shady with a steady cool breeze. The house has two chimneys accommodating both floors. There are four fireplaces, 3 of marble and one of red brick. They are found in the living room and dining room of the first floor and in two of the bedrooms on the second. All the rooms have ten-foot ceilings. The original staircase is made of carved walnut and is still in use. The house has four identical porches. There are two on each side of the house, one on each floor stretching the length of the house. The railings on the porches are wood carved in a Grecian Key Motif. When the house was built, the main road came from the south. The original front door of the house was thus facing south. As friends and family walked in they gazed upon the grand staircase leading upstairs. Later a new road was built to the north of the house. Plumbing too was becoming visible in many houses. The Craigs built a bathroom in place of the elegant entrance hall and used the door entering the kitchen as the customary entry way. Many small buildings occupy the other areas of land. A large bam stands to the east of the house and the original smokehouse is still only five or six feet from the porch. Delbert Craig restored the farm to it's authentic beauty. He introduced modern farming methods and made the farm very prosperous. Strawberries and raspberries grew in abundance and provided a nice income for the Craig family and also pleased many nearby communities with the quality of the fruit. In 1976 Governor Richard Ogilive designated the Craig farm a Centennial Landmark. The present owners have made some changes in the farm. Many of the rooms have been remodeled due to the age of the original wallpaper. The rooms have all been decorated in a country look to maintain the home-like warmth established by William and Louisa.

52 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The grounds of the farm are changing also. A stable has recently been built for the family's six horses. A wood fence is also being built by the family to increase pasture land for horses. The Krieg's have taken down a large number of the berries, due to the care the fruit needed to maintain a healthy look. A large garden, filled with all types of fruits and vegetables, takes up much of the family's time, along with many flower gardens scattered around the house. Being a member of the Krieg family, my experience with the history of the land is first hand. Walking down the staircase makes me wonder how many people before me did the same thing. What were their lives like? The view from the house is beyond compare. It reaches in all directions for miles. Early in the morning many times, the house is surrounded by thick fog, covering the area with a thick white cloud. It feels like the house is on an island. The enchanting feeling that fills the house is one of awe and honor for the man who built this majestic house, whose beauty still shines through. by Jessica Krieg Chester High School

The Craig House as it appears today.

A SERIES OF PERSONAL INTERVIEWS AND EXPERIENCES

"We are indeed enjoying a very intimate relation with the river; only a layer of fabric between our bodies and the water. I let my arm dangle over the side and trail my hand in the flow. Something dreamlike and remembered, that sensation called deja vu - when was I here before? A moment of grouping back through the maze, following the thread of a unique emotion, and then I discover the beginning. I am fulfilling at last a dream of childhood and one as powerful as the erotic dreams of adolescence-floating down the river. Mark Twain, Major Powell, every man that has ever put forth on flowing water knows what I mean." from Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey

54 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville An Interview with Captain Bo Inman On December 3, 1991, the Valmeyer River Project members took testings at Modoc, IL. While visiting the site, we interviewed the ferry captain, Bo Inman. This thirty year-old operates the Jeanne-B which travels across the Mississippi to St. Genevieve. The trip is five minutes each way and costs $4 per car, $1 per walker, $2 per motorcycle, $1 per bicycle, and $35 per tour bus. The ferry can also be rented at $400 for two hours in the evenings. The ferry can hold 70 adults and 30 children. During the summer there is an average of 60 patrons each day, while there are only 20 per day during the winter. Since this is the first year the Jeanne-B has been reopened, they are hoping to draw more people next season. Captain Inman has worked on ferries all his life. Growing up in Wittenberg, MO, his family owned the local ferry. After his father’s death, Bo went with the boat to Wisconsin. Now a licensed master of steam and motor vessels under 100 tons, he works 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. In his "spare time" he is a folk singer in St. Genevieve where he lives. Bo says he does not make a bad living, but he works many hours. To avoid boredom, he keeps his guitar and music on the ferry. Captain Inman explained that although he is licensed to run a towboat, it requires a different lifestyle. Running a towboat demands 30 days on the river and 30 days off, but more money is involved. His musical career prevents him from pursuing this lifestyle. When asked about pollution, Bo had plenty to say. Working on the river, he realizes that the government apathy is destroying this major natural resource which he holds close to his heart. While in Wisconsin, Captain Bo discovered that the Pig’s Eye Plant, the sewage treatment plant for St. Paul and Minneapolis, dumps sewage directly into the river. The government says it is too costly to regulate these problems. A half hour before we arrived a refrigerator had floated by the ferry. Bo explained to us some of the most interesting things the Jeanne-B has encountered. Kevin and Linda Hirsh, frequent patrons of the ferry service, own several horses and old-time carriages which they take across the river. Last summer an incident involving an overturned boat created quite a stir. The former captain spotted the accident and saved the boater from probable drowning. Captain Bo told us the most interesting person he has taken across has been Willie Nelson. Nelson was on his way to Branson, MO and told Inman to come for an audition some day. Knowing the river is also important. Three boats ran aground at the same bend in the Mississippi in one week. Ninety-eight percent of all accidents on the water are alcohol related. There are more accidents per vehicle on the water than on land. Inman explained how to determine the angle needed to reach the other landing. He also said that after working on the ferry for so many years, it is second nature to him. by Suzanne Mueller & Chandra Scowden Valmeyer High School

55 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville An interview with Steve Dulaney (a tow boat chief engineer) Q: What company did you work for? A: I worked for American Barge and Towing Co. Q: What was your position on the boat? A: I started off as deck hand after 30 days I went to the engine room where I became Chief Engineer. Q: What rivers have you been on? A: I have been on the Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio, and Missouri rivers. Q: How long did it take you to get from St. Paul to New Orleans? A: It usually averaged 30 days round trip. Q: Where do you drop your cargo off? A: We dropped the cargo off at pre-specified cities or barge terminals. Q: How much cargo can you carry? A: It all depends on what cargo the barge has. Usually the maximum is 30 barges, 5 wide, 6 long, the maximum draft is 13 feet. Q: What different kinds of cargo did you carry? A: The company I worked for hauled fertilizer, grain, and some times concrete materials. Q: How long did you stay on a boat at a time? A: I usually rode for 45 days and got off for 15 days. The longest I ever rode was for 78 day s. Q: How fast can a tow boat go up river? down river? A: Up river exactly 50 miles per day, down river exactly 150-200 miles per day. Q: How many days did it take you to go up river? down river? A: It took 15 days to go from New Orleans to St. Louis fully loaded, and about 7 days from St. Louis to New Orleans. Q: How large was a barge? A: One barge was 200 ft. long * 75 ft. wide * 15 ft. deep. Q: How much can a barge carry? A: One barge can carry 300 tons of grain.

©201556 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Q: What was your worst experience on a tow boat? A: My worst experience was when the blower motor blew up on a V-676 Detroit Desiel generator. Q: How large is a tow boat? A: It depends on the companies request but the tow boat I road was 220 ft. long * 40 ft. wide, and 4 decks Q: Did you ever run aground? A: We ran aground quite often in 1988 during the drought. The worst one though was in St. Paul, Minnesota, when we hit ground and busted 15 barges loose. by Chris Kimball Chester High School

Ice Gorges on the Ohio Southern Illinois has always been known for its extremes of weather, among them extreme cold. One reason that our area is known as Little Egypt is based on the relative warmth of the area which allows crops to mature during particularly cold years, and because yearly spring flooding of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers allows the land to remain extremely fertile. During the winter months, however, ice on the Ohio is a common occurrence at both Cairo and Mound City. This ice causes hardships for boats and barge traffic on the river because they cannot navigate and are forced to tie up when the ice thickens. Just as dangerous as the thick ice are the ice gorges, where the ice freezes to a depth of many feet and stops the flow of water of the river. These gorges are particularly dangerous when the ice "breaks up" and the force of the river's current carries the ice rapidly downstream. This flow usually causes considerable damage . A tremendous ice gorge above Cairo broke in 1918 and caused much damage as it moved downstream. Many barges were sunk and other barges and steamers were damaged. A cow and her calf were even seen floating by on a piece of ice! Gorges today are not as common in winter as diesel-powered tow boats are able to keep the ice broken up before it has a chance to form a solidly frozen gorge. Also, winters during the past fifteen years have not been as cold as winters in the early part of the century. by Tamieka Thompson Meridian High School

©201557 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Anna Britton, Famous Community Cook I would like to share a story about my wonderful grandmother with you. Her name is Anna Irene Britton. She is known all over Pulaski and Alexander county as one of the greatest cooks around. In the year of 1911, the Cruse family was blessed with the birth of their daughter Anna Cruse. Anna moved to the thriving railroad town of Mounds in 1924. She was 13 years old at that time and attended Thistlewood Elementary School. Looking back at that time period she remembers Mounds as having three drug stores, five grocery stores, and three doctors. Every building in Mounds was occupied. When Anna was nineteen, a young man named John E. Britton caught her eye. On April 25,1930, a double wedding was held at the Congregational Church and Anna Cruse and John E. Britton were united in marriage, along with Blanche Stinnet and Benson Britton. John and Benson were brothers and the women were very close friends. Both couples lived together with the men's father, Mr. B. I. Britton on the family farm. Everyone shared equally in the farm chores. Anna recalls that Mr. B. I. Britton was the first person who owned a car in the area, and the entire family delivered eggs to Cairo, about ten miles away, for sale. They also sold produce, meat, and dairy products produced on the farm. Three children were bom into the family of John and Anna. The oldest is John E. Britton of Mounds, followed by Larry William Britton of Anna, and Dea Ann Britton Walsh, also of Mounds. The family moved from the farm back into Mounds in 1955. They built a house on Spence Street where Anna still resides. As I was talking to my "Nannie", she told me about a few of the jobs she has had. Her first employment was as the owner of a tea room in Mounds. Later she became a cook at the Elks Club in Cairo. She held that job for twelve years and enjoyed it very much. All the while she also catered some very large dinners both in Illinois and in Missouri. She also catered two parties for Illinois Governors Ogilvie and Stratton. This was quite an honor for her. Anna worked at Egyptian School for four years as food supervisor. My Nannie was very concerned with the people of this area. She started the senior citizen centers called Smiles in Mounds and Ullin, and the Happy Days nutrition program for senior citizens in Cairo. In 1991, Anna wrote her own cookbook containing all of her prized recipes. Many of the recipes were passed down through the Britton and Cruse families. Many will agree that the cookbook is very valuable to anyone who enjoys good food. I would like to end my story with a few words to my very special grandmother. Nannie, you are the greatest grandma a person could have and I admire you so much for everything you have done for our area. I love you very much and I think you are very special. by Jill Alison Russell Meridian High School

©201558 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The History of the Krone's Store Ludwig Krone, a cobbler by trade, immigrated to America from Minden, Westfalen in the 1850's and settled in Maeystown. In 1881, he purchased a home across from the Krone's store and operated a cobbler shop in the house. His oldest son, Louis, also became a cobbler. Louis eventually took over his father's business and began to stock and sell coffee beans, sugar, and flour as a service to the shoe customers. The business continued to expand which made it necessary to build a store across from the house. The store building was built in 1896, and soon after it became the Village Post Office. The store served as the Post Office of Maeystown until the early 1950’s. As the business grew, the store began to sell hardware and dry goods. Near the turn of the century, Charles (Karl) Krone, the youngest brother of Louis, joined him in the business and began a weekly peddler route. This involved taking goods from the store to the farmers and trading them for chickens, rabbits, hides, cheese, and eggs. These products were later taken to St. Louis and sold, and more store goods were picked up. The store was a social and economic point of the community. Louis Krone also became the village clerk, church secretary, a beekeeper, and a barber, besides being a postmaster and a storekeeper. He also pulled teeth and assisted the local doctor in setting bones. He also assisted the local undertaker. Louis was loved by many people. They all thought that he was definitely one of a kind. Louis Krone died in 1945. His daughter, Irene Krone, operated the store until it closed in the early 1960's. The store remains unchanged from its original structure, except for the addition of modem conveniences added in 1990. The store remained vacant for 30 years, but now is owned by David Asselmeir, a third generation of the Krone's. David's grandmother is Irene Krone. My mother, Sharon Miller, rents the Krone's store from David Asselmeir. She has filled it with antiques, floral designs, soda, candy, and hand-crafted gifts. She enjoys knowing the history of the store she now operates and realizes the sentimental value of a family owned store that has been around for a century. This story was told to my mother by Irene Krone, who is still living today. by Marla Miller Valmeyer High School

59 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Flood of 1973 In 1973, the Mississippi River overflowed causing major damages to land, people, and crops. When torrential rains spilled over her tributaries and banks, over eleven million acres, in eight states, were flooded. The estimated property damages were over 200 million dollars. On April 8, 1973 President Nixon declared Illinois, Arkansas, and Louisiana disaster areas. The death toll for the three states was 21. By the end of the flood over 30,000 people were left homeless. St. Louis reported that the Mississippi River was flowing six times its normal rate. At the same time the Mississippi River peaked at 39.8 feet, which was the highest since 1951. Lake Erie also rose one foot and two inches. Because of the river rising, more than seventy-five miles of the levee was out. Since the levees were washed out, twenty percent of the crops were lost. Finally on April 8, 1973 three Louisiana spill ways were opened. The flood of 73 lasted approximately six weeks. When asked, Gloria Bundy recalls that in Monroe County it was impossible to cross certain sections of the roads leading into and out of Valmeyer. Altough the flood of 1973 was bad and considered a disaster in some areas, it did not leave Valmeyer as devastated as did the flood of 1943. by Cathi Bundy Valmeyer High School

The Hotel Plainville I have lived in my home for five years now, since moving to Plainville. Just in the past few months I have found some very interesting facts of the once, "Plainville Hotel." My home was erected in the late 1860's for a hotel. Some of the older citizens of Plainville have some wild stories about this house, some of which have been found in record books. How about this one for size? How many people know that Abraham Lincoln stayed a few days in their house? How many people have underground slavery railroad tunnels under their home, some of which are completely under their basement floor and some that can be seen at about seventy feet in length? The original outhouse is still in my backyard used as a shed and the original water pump and septic system is on the side of the house although it is no longer in use. We have found small pieces of chain from runaway slaves in the tunnels and have found names carved in the walls of our basement from former visitors. For being as old as this house is, it has been a good home for my family and me. We remodeled the house from 1985-1987, leaving the house in its original shape, but designing the interior to our likings. by Josh Cook & Cory Huber Pay son-Seymour High School

60 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Valley Recluse School Mrs. Alice (Crain) Mahoney, a 1920 graduate and former teacher of the one-room Valley Recluse School, is full of memories of the school and sought to make the public more aware of the school's achievements. The one-room building housed all eight grades. Her graduates were: 1932- Eleanor Clancy Caldwell, Cora Clifford Bums, Henry Shumaker, Frances Clifford Billingsley, Mona Lee Shettleworth. 1934- Mark Tally, Jay Nixon, Leonard Clifford, Mary E. Shumaker George, Minnie Clifford Maxwell, Mae Belle Clifford Andrews, and Lawanda Tally Full. This school was once a log cabin until it was tom down and a new one built on the site. Valley Recluse School's name came from its being in a valley and not being easy to find, Mrs. Mahoney recalled. The building was erected about 1875, but there had been a log cabin school about one-quarter mile west that had been attended by mothers and fathers of that generation that lives today. This school was in session six months a year until about 1911 when it changed to seven months. When it was consolidated, it was an eight-month school. The Valley Recluse site was deeded as a piece of ground of approximately one acre in size in 1887 by William Crain and his wife of Villa Ridge to the school district. In 1955 it was sold to the grandson of William Crain who is John L. Crain and he is now living in it and has renovated the property. There were no less than thirty scholars any term and alternate grades were taught each year. In 1910 the teacher, Louise Parker, had 48 students. In 1912, Alma Wright, had 35 and in 1915, Josephine Bride had 40. They gave to their pupils souvenirs with the names of their students. Other teachers during the 30 years were Clara Basse, Louise Green, William Whitaker, Lyla Parker, Evelyn Galeraith, George Crain, Mark Guy, Lora Johnson, Susie Johnson, Herbert Jones, Mary Bride, John Mathis, Francis Coleman, Kenneth Winger, and Jessie Unger. There are four generations of the Crain family that attended Valley Recluse School, Mrs. Mahoney noted. The Pulaski County Superintendent of Schools from 1882 until 1906 was Hester M. Smith and from 1906 to 1926 was May S. Hawkins the sister of Addie Hawkins Crain, mother of the Crain children. by Rebecca Williams Meridian High School

61 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Restoration Continues on Cairo fs Custom House Last summer, as part of a student work program, I found myself assigned to the Cairo Custom House. It didn't occur to me that I was in the same building that had seen the Reconstruction Period of the United States in the 1860's. During that summer I learned a lot about the history of my hometown and the history of the Custom House, a building with a unique past and now-thanks to restoration efforts-a promising future. From research I found that this historic structure, built during the years 1869 through 1872, features Romanesque and Renaissance architecture. Serving as architect for this building was Alfred B. Mullett, the supervising architect of the U. S. Treasury. An Act of Congress in 1854 made Cairo a Post of Delivery, so the building was designed for use as a U. S. Post Office and to house various government offices and the U. S. District Court. When Mullett designed the Custom House, his idea was to build the building with the main floor on the same level as the levees because of Cairo's potential for flooding from the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Mullett's early design for government buildings were simple classical boxes with projecting bays or pavilions on all four sides. His designs were rich in classical details with many columns and pilasters and elaborate pediments. Above decorative windows were wide projecting cornices, bracketed Italianate eaves, and high mansard roofs with cast-iron baroque porthole windows. Mullett incorporated all of these traditional design elements into the Cairo Custom House. But all of this beauty has been marred by time and weather. That’s how I came to work at the Custom House. A committee of interested citizens became concerned with preserving as much of Cairo's history as possible, and they set their sights on the Custom House. Their objective was to utilize the front section of the first floor to house a museum to be open to the general public with many display cases showing Cairo's history. But first the building, which had sat vacant for years, had to be cleaned, repaired, and declared structurally sound. My summer job involved helping in the clean up process. Since that time, much progress has been made. Amazing changes have taken place on the main floor of the structure, including setting up one area to resemble the original post office section of the structure. And objects of local interest historically are finding their way to the Cairo Custom House. For example, a hobbyist from down South has donated an impressive scale replica of the US S Cairo, a Civil War gunboat sunk and then recovered 102 years later on the Yazoo River near Vicksburg, Mississippi. This replica occupies a position of prominence in the first-floor museum. Though progress is slow, it continues at a steady pace. Money, of course, is a factor in the restoration, but dedicated volunteers are not letting obstacles like that dim their vision. Considering the amount of progress that has been made in such a short time, there can be little doubt that the Cairo Custom House will once again be a landmark that the city can be proud of. by Corey Brann Cairo High School

©201562 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Building of a New Levee After the flooding of the Valmeyer area in 1947, the Army Corps of Engineers decided that the existing 10 foot levee was not adequate. Construction on a 5 foot agricultural levee began in 1949 on the Mississippi River. This new and improved levee was to run from Rocher to Fountain Creek. The Army Corps of Engineers moved many workers to the site of the new levee. My grandfather, Joseph E. Tipton, was transferred to the Rocher area from his home in Cotton Plant, Arkansas to work as a civil engineer. He earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Centralia during World War II. Soon after construction began on the new levee, he sent for his wife, Louise, and their two children, Bill and Wanda. The family decided that the area surrounding the Mississippi River was very much to their liking and made it their home. In a way, the Mississippi River is responsible for a lot of my heritage. It brought my grandparents to the comfortable town of Valmeyer. Today, I live across the street from my grandparent's home. The levee my grandfather helped build is only a few miles away. However, according to the F.E.M.A., the "new and improved" levee that was built in 1949 is now non-existent. A new federal law was passed and as of January 1, 1992, nothing can be built in district 3 because it is on a flood plain. by Nicki Tipton Valmeyer High School Reference: Information obtained from Nicki Tipton, through a personal interview.

Camping Just over a year ago, I went camping on an island between the Mississippi and the Illinois River. The island's name is Royal Landing. I am not so sure that "Royal Landing" is such an appropriate word for this island. Maybe "Slum Landing" would be a more suitable name for it. For starters, after we beached and anchored the boat, we had to clean the area before we could set up camp. Now maybe if this island was not in the middle of the Mississippi, people would not treat the island so terribly. Maybe if we were down in the Caribbean Islands, people would have more respect for it. Even though we cleaned up our own areas, we still had to wear shoes because of broken glass, dead fish, and other kinds of trash that was either left by other campers or washed in by the tide. At night we could not do much because the camp fire illuminated so much area. So most of the nights we spent there, we just watched the barges go up and down the river. In the morning, you could walk up and down the beach and see different kinds of dead fish.

63 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville This trip to the Mississippi helped me to become not as intimidated by the river. It also helped me to see just what we are doing to the river. Now instead of just carelessly throwing that can or bottle out the car window into the river, I think back to what I went through on the river and just set it in the back of the car and throw it away when I get home!!!! After I camped on that island I was really ready to do my part to help cleaning up the river. That is why I joined the Mississippi River Project, which has opened up my eyes even more to how bad we treat the river. by Steve Holmes Dupo High School

Something To Think About Today, many people are becoming more aware of the environmental problems facing the world. Such problems as global warming, Ozone depletion and wildlife destruction are making the headlines but a simpler problem is pushing its way to the top. This problem is the excessive dumping of untreated water into Earth's waterways. The Mississippi River is one of the world's most polluted bodies of water. Chemical plants along with agricultural and urban runoff contribute to its high pollution content. With this problem hitting so close to home many people along the river are becoming concerned with the quality of their water. Many cities along the Mississippi obtain their water from underground wells that reach down into the water table but most citizens receive their water directly from the Mississippi. After the water is taken from the river it undergoes a battery of tests, filtrations, and treatments to ensure safety and quality. This process would be fine if humans were the only ones drinking from the Mississippi River, but as you know we are not and this is where the problems come in. True, a large percentage of water is well treated before returning to the Mississippi, but there is another percentage that is not. This percentage returns to the river carrying toxics, harmful bacteria and raw sewage. If asked, most chemical plants and waste water treatment plants tell a somewhat different story. Treatment plants pledge they are working constantly on returning pollutant-free water back to the Mississippi but if this is correct, why is the Mississippi River becoming dirtier everyday? by Heather Vanover Dupo High School

64 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Untitled People now days take this world for granted. It's almost like we're playing a game with the environment. The game is chess; we are like a small child just learning how to play the game. The opponent is an expert, and a bad sport. We are taking all the wrong moves and really screwing up the world. Being that we don't play by the book, the expert can't predict what we will do next. At this point in the game we are winning, we have the technology to be the expert, or God. Now the expert does not like the fact that we are winning and that we are taking over the game. He is getting mad; the only thing he can think of to do is to plan revenge. In the following I will tell you of some of our moves and what revenge is being sought. First of all, we are demanding so much and thinking only of ourselves and how it will affect us. We use the world as a large trash can, throwing the garbage wherever we want. The animals are then forced to live in this mess. I don't think that is really fair because we don't want where we live to be a mess, so why should the animals want to live like that? Litter also pollutes groundwater. This makes it a poison to all who drink from the spring the ground water flows into. Since we have a continually growing population, we need more farm land. We also need more land for roads, shopping malls, and houses. We have started cutting down the precious rain forest. This has lead to the extinction of quite a few species we have not yet been able to study. It is also killing many of the plants that we get medicines from. The opponent is starting his revenge. He has started with Global Warming. This is gradually warming the world so that we get, what seems like, shorter winter and longer springs, summers, and falls. Another thing he is doing is putting holes in the ozone layer. This will give us a higher number of people with skin cancer. It is also an effect of the Global Warming. Since we need food for our population, the fields need rain. The expert has given us droughts, bugs that kill, and rain and wind storms that destroy the crops. We need to work with the expert to form a compromise so we can all live in harmony with each other. We are the ones doing the harm, we are the ones that need to fix it. by Debbie Putzler Quincy High School

A COLLECTION OF ARTICLES ON LIFE AND OCCUPATIONS ON THE RIVERS

"The keelboat was a standard carrier on the Missouri. Sixty or seventy feet long, with a cargo box rising five feet above the deck, the keelboat was powered by various kinds of equipment-oars, poles, sails, and the cordelle (long rope for pulling). The main reliance was the cordelle, sometimes 1,000 feet long; fastened to the top of the mast, it was pulled by a crew walking alongshore. The absence of established towpaths increased the difficulties of this method, the more so because the boat was constantly in danger of being hung by snags or made fast to a sunken island of sand. The propelling of a keelboat upstream was an all-summer job." from Historical Geography of the United States by Ralph Brown

66 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The History, Actions, and Benefits of the Levee System The first recorded flooding of the Mississippi River was described as starting on March 10, 1543 and cresting about forty days later. This description came from a man named Garciliaso De La Vega in his history of DeSoto’s expeditions. The river is no less powerful today, and in recognition of this, a levee system was created. The first levee system on this Great River was built at New Orleans to protect the city. This levee was 5,400 feet long, three feet high, eighteen feet wide, and had a roadway on its crown. In March 1917, the Flood Control Act was created to provide a basis for Federal and local cooperation in the lower Mississippi. The Flood Control Act of 1928 resulted from the great flood of 1927. This act committed the Federal Government to a definite program of flood control on the lower Mississippi. A subsequent act, the 1936 Flood Control Act, authorized the beginning of the levee system that stretches from Gale, Illinois to Alton, Illinois today. The Wood River Drainage and Levee District was formed on July 20, 1910. Its present commissioners are: President-Wayne Bridgewater, Vice-President-Dan Robien, James Holt, and Secretary-Treasurer-Judith Beckham. The commissioners meet on the first and third Mondays of each month and inspect the levee at least two days each month. The responsibilities of the levee board are great. The President is responsible for the yearly budget and levy. He also represents the Levee Board in public relations and address. The Vice-President fills the President's vacancy and duties when the President is unable to fulfill them. The Secretary-Treasurer keeps a minute-book at meetings, maintains inventory, and keeps records and deeds. An attorney is also named each year to attend meetings as a legal advisor. The Superintendent is responsible to the Corps of Engineers for the operation and maintenance of levees during flood periods. He must also continuously inspect and maintain the project works during periods of low water. The powers of commissioners are as follows: (a) construct additional drains, ditches, inside and outside the district to aid in the control of the waterway, (b) alter, enlarge, deepen any existing drain or ditch, (c) change the method of the construction of the levees, (d) acquire, purchase, and lease the mechanical equipment needed to carry out the construction work, (e) construct access ways to maintain transportation to the levee construction site. The power of this levee board allows the freedom to be flexible to the changing needs of people on an ever changing river. The work provided has saved homes, wildlife, and human life. With improvements in the future, perhaps citizens may work more easily with the levee board to provide a better life for the inhabitants of the Great River. The preceding information was taken from the following: Illinois State Statues Chapter 42, section 4-16, and the Administrative Ordinance of the Wood River Drainage and Levee District amended on July 20,1989. by Lisa Kellmeyer Althoff Catholic High School

67 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Levee Board: The Politics of Water Control How do the politics of water control affect citizens? Politics has always been a subject of interest and concern for residents, and at no point is the interest greater than when these politics deal with human safety. The Wood River Drainage and Levee commissioners, like many on other levee boards, do influence the safety of area residents, for the control of rivers is especially important in easily-flooded areas. The question remains, "How much do the taxpayers actually know about these commissioners and the levee board itself?" And, possibly even more important, "Do the taxpayers have any say in their actions?" Truly, the appointment of commissioners is, in itself, quite a process. On the first Tuesday in September after the organization of the district, "the appropriate appointing authority" shall appoint three commissioners for this district. One commissioner shall hold office until the first Tuesday of the following September, the second commissioner shall hold office until the first Tuesday of the September next, and the third commissioner shall follow this same process for the first Tuesday in the next September. After each commissioner has served one year respectively, "the appropriate appointing authority" fills the vacancy with a qualified successor. Unfortunately, in reading the Illinois State Statue Chapter 42, section 4-1, the identity of the "the appropriate appointing authority" was never revealed. However, some power of the selection is held by the Madison County Board. The landowners may request to the court the appointment of an individual as commissioner not more than four weeks before nor less than one week before the first Tuesday of September. The court, however, makes the final decision. What are the requirements of those who "the appropriate appointing authority" feel are qualified? The qualifications of commissioners are as follows: (a) The person must be an adult resident of Illinois and (b) the person must be a landowner in the district unless it is decided that it would be in the best interest of the district that he not be a landowner. The pay of the commissioners is also an area of interest for many. In the Illinois State Statue Chapter 42, section 4-13, it states that each commissioner shall receive no more than twenty dollars per day of actual work done by the commissioner. However, the commissioners of the Wood River Drainage and Levee District decided in an amendment that this salary should be raised to thirty dollars per day of work. In any case, each commissioner must present an itemized account of his services and expenses to be audited by the approval court. The actions of the auditor and bank depository functions are highly strict in their dealings. The board names a bank as a depository for the district, and every two years an auditor is named to the district. All checks must be signed by any two of the following: Commissioner, Secretaiy-Treasurer, President, Vice-President. Except in emergencies, bids shall be taken on all construction over three thousand dollars. In conclusion, many take the actions of the levee district for granted, for, truly, the citizens do not have much say in this board's actions. The residents may suggest a commissioner, but cannot force the court to accept him. Also, the Illinois

68 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville statues call for constant changes in the makeup of the levee board, auditors, and banks selected. The positive aspect of this is that no one man or institution has a power or monopoly for too long. However, this system may also allow the loopholes of politics to take control in the selection of such persons. Although Illinois State Statues control the laws of the levee board, the people of this state retain the right to speak out about the protection of their land along an untamed river. Perhaps, it is time that the people reminded the state of this right. by Lisa Kellmeyer Althoff Catholic High School

The Valmeyer Flood Plain Restrictions The flood plain restrictions are becoming real problems for people in the Mississippi River bottoms. As of January 1,1992, building in areas designated as a flood plain has been prohibited. These restrictions were proposed by the Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA) and if they are not followed, FEMA can deny federal crop and flood insurance to all residents in the flood plain. The law of 1985 prohibited any building in the flood plain with the exception of new homes and buildings for farmers. The 1992 law prohibits building even for agricultural use. The FEMA restrictions have made it almost impossible for any kind of development to take place. Because the Valmeyer Levee is not considered adequate to protect against the 100 year flood, which has a 1% chance of occurring in a year, Valmeyer residents will no longer be able to build or improve the community. The sale of property in the bottoms has become very difficult and the FEMA ruling has severely hurt the local economy. If these restrictions remain and building is prohibited, the community may cease to exist in years to come. by Heather Scheer Valmeyer High School Reference: Information obtained from Dennis Knoblach, mayor of Valmeyer.

69 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Riverboat Gambling Gambling is one of the country's fastest growing industries and some legislators want to get in on it. Five states- Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Mississippi, and Louisiana- have considered riverboat gambling as an economic boost for recession depressed cities. But while Missouri, Mississippi, and Louisiana are still wrapping up the legislative aspects, Iowa and Illinois already have floating casinos running on the river. Illinois Gov. James R. Thompson signed a bill that legalized riverboat gambling in February, 1990. The bill stated that there could be up to five sites on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers where the ships could dock. Probably the most well known riverboat in this area is the Alton Belle which, of course, resides in Alton. Alton Mayor Ed Voumard believes that it shouldn't be too difficult to receive $1 million each year from tax and casino related business revenues, not to mention the tourism money that is expected. Although boats are already cruising, there is some controversy over these beautiful 19th century designed pleasure boats. The argument coming from the Senate is mainly about whether or not to set a loss limit on the ships. Most are suggesting $500. But Thompson is confident and says he is just going to sit back and see if it is really needed. But the Alton Belle seems to be doing pretty well without any infractions or mishaps. Perhaps this is the beginning of our own (floating) Atlantic City. by Chris Pflasterer Valmeyer High School Barges Q: What is 195 feet long and 35 feet wide and carries as much as 15 railroad cars or 65 semitrucks? A: One river barge A barge is a flat-bottomed boat of heavy construction used to transport materials in bulk on rivers and canals and in short distance coastal traffic. Barges have been around for thousands of years. On the Mississippi River, there are as many as 40 barges that may extend 1500 feet ahead of the tug. The"Mighty Mississippi" is one of the most important rivers that barges and other boats travel on. St. Louis is the halfway stop for trips made on barges from Minnesota to Louisiana. Barges make their journey down the Mississippi tied together in groups called tows. The barges in the St. Louis area provide jobs for an estimated 2,000 people and 43,000 others whose jobs rely on river transportation. The value of commodities the ports handle each year usually reaches up to $5 billion.The main products transported are grain, coal, petroleum products, fertilizers, and manufactured goods. Seventy-seven percent of Illinois farmers' com is sent on barges on the Mississippi River and 90% of soybeans. by Carla Lattina Valmeyer High School

70 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Carlyle Lake Carlyle Lake, Illinois' largest inland lake, is approximately three and one- half miles wide and twenty five miles long. It has eighty three miles of shore line and contains a total of over twenty-four thousand five hundred acres of water. Many more thousands of acres of land around the lake are devoted to public use, including a variety of federal recreation areas and two state parks. Private camp grounds, a resort, and recreational subdivisions also cater to visitors. It is also a hunting, fishing and water sport center for southern Illinois. Four gates on the main dam are raised or lowered to control the lake level, depending upon the inflow, outflow, and the current lake level. Inflow is the total amount of water flowing into the lake from the Kaskaskia River, its tributaries and the rain fall on the lake. Total outflow refers to the amount of water flowing through the gates on the main dam. When more water is coming into the Lake than is leaving, the gates are adjusted to keep the lake at a designated pool level set by the United States Corps of Engineers. During the course of a year three different lake levels are maintained. During winter the level is lowered two feet to make room for spring run-off and storms. The winter level is 443 feet above mean sea level. This is between December 1st and March 31st. The intermediate level is 444 and is between April 1st and April 30th. The recreational level is 445 and is between May 1st and November 30th. The minimum flow is the minimum amount of water that can be released through the dam at any given time. It is 50 cubic feet per second. It is this minimum release of water that assures that the flow downstream is of adequate volume for aquatic and riparian wild life. Th maximum flow is the largest amount of water that can be released at any time except during emergency conditions. The maximum flow is 10,000 cubic feet per second. The Carlyle reservoir on the Kaskaskia River was built by, and is operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The project was first authorized by the U. S. Congress in 1938, but World War II interfered and the development was postponed. Construction plans languished until a young Carlyle attorney, the late Eldon E. Hazlet, helped found first a Carlyle Lake Committee and later the Kaskaskia Valley Association. This Association promoted not only the Carlyle reservoir, but also Lake Shelbyville and the Kaskaskia River navigation project on the lower 55 miles of the river, which flows into the Mississippi near Chester, Illinois. The lake was opened for public use in 1976. Now it is one of Illinois’ most popular outdoor recreational areas. The Lake is known for its natural amenities rather than developments of commercial resorts. Private boat docks are restricted along the shore line which keeps the natural appearance of the lake intact. Along with the natural attractions, the lake area offers historic buildings and other sites for visitors to see, including the unique General Dean suspension bridge spanning the Kaskaskia River at the east side of the City of Carlyle. Built in 1895 and restored in 1977, the bridge is listed on the national register of historic sites. Now, one hundred and twenty-nine years later the bridge is still swinging.

71 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The U. S. Army Corp of Engineers maintains a number of recreation areas around the lake including the Carlyle Lake Visitors Center. The most popular recreation area operated by the Corps during the hot summer months is the Dam West Recreation Area. Other more secluded and shady areas include the McNair Area located in the Dam East Recreation Area, just east of Carlyle and the Boulder Recreation Area located four miles north of Coles Creek. At this last location there is a marina, boat ramp, shady picnic area, a camp ground and a excellent view of the lake. The outdoorsman who is interested in sampling the game fish at Carlyle Lake will encounter a variety of the following species: largemouth or black bass, smallmouth bass, flathead and channel catfish, white and black crappie, white bass as well as some hybrid stripers, walleye, bluegill, tiger muske, a hybrid of muskellenge and northern pike, drum and carp. Waterfowling is also a very popular sport at this major Central Flyway reservoir. Hunting is available on the open water north of the preserve, in the flooded timber area and the sub- impoundment areas. The preserve consists of the lower third of the lake from the dam north towards the railroad tracks which divides the open water from the flooded timber area. The sub- impoundment or "Walk-in Area" is a 3,200 acre area managed by the Illinois Department of Conservation. In this part of the lake nearly eight hundred acres of com, millet, buckwheat and mile crop are planted each summer. These grains attract a number of different species of ducks both in the fall and the spring during the birds migrations north and south. In addition to a formative Canada goose, the species of duck population consist of mallards, black ducks, blue and green wing teal, gadwalls, pintails, wigeons, wood ducks, shovelers, canvas backs, redheads, ring-necks, greater and lesser scaups, goldeneye, buffelheads, ruddy ducks, common, red-breasted and hooded mergansers. by Joe Stenger Althoff Catholic High School

72 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Alexander County's Horseshoe Lake The evolution of Horseshoe Lake began many thousands of years ago. The source of the mighty Mississippi River starts in northern Minnesota at a small lake called Lake Itasca. The Mississippi flows southward near my hometown of Cairo. In this area, the Mississippi made a series of U-shaped twists called an ox-bow. This series of twists were cut off from the main channel and Horseshoe Lake was formed. Originally the lake contained water only during the rainy season and almost completely dried up during drought periods. In 1927, however, the Illinois Department of Conservation decided to make Horsehoe a game refuge. With this purpose in mind, they made an initial purchase of 3,500 acres. This acreage included all of the island and most of the lake. The land on the island was put into a grain crop to provide food for the birds expected to come, and a dam was built across the south end so that the lake would hold water all year long. Horseshoe Lake is located about 15 miles from Cairo, Illinois. A paradise for hunters and fishermen, the setting is reminiscent of the Deep South with its large stands of cypress, tupelo gum, and swamp cottonwood trees. The southern theme is also reflected in its animal and plant life; several species found at Horseshoe Lake are typical of those found mostly in the southern swamplands. Fishermen, for example, often have to maneuver their boats through the prolific growth of water lilies in order come up with an impressive catch of Horseshoe Lake crappie and bluegill. Located in the Mississippi Flyway, Horseshoe Lake has been the stopping-off place for millions of ducks and Canadian geese who make their way south. Hunting clubs located on the land surrounding the lake and its refuge have in the past experienced much popularity. Here in our own part of Southern Illinois we can boast of being the unofficial "Goose capital of the world". With its months of fishing opportunities due to the mild nature of the Southern Illinois climate and its winter season of duck and goose hunting, the Horseshoe Lake area truly is a "sportsman's paradise". by Stacey Denson Cairo High School

73 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Transportation of Cotton-field Workers In years past, the Southern cotton industry expanded as the demand for cotton increased. In fact, cotton became so important in the South that it was known as "King Cotton". In Cairo, Illinois, too, cotton was once the main crop. In addition to the growth of cotton in this area, gins and processing mills were important parts of the area’s economy. Oldtimers in the area can still recall the pleasant smell that resulted when Cairo plants processed the seeds into oil and other products. All of that is gone from Cairo now. However, for many, the memories of the cotton industry linger on. In my own family, for example, cotton was an important part of our family heritage. Because most of the people who worked in the cotton-fields in this area had no transportation of their own, they had to either walk or find a way to get to work. My great-grandfather, Willie Irish, was responsible for finding a way to get these workers back and forth to their jobs in the cotton-fields. He first began transporting people using his truck. Then he saved up enough money to buy himself an old school bus. For forty years he hauled groups of 35-40 workers to their jobs at fields in the Cairo area and across the Mississippi River into the Mississippi Delta region of Southeast Missouri. The trips to the fields often began as early as 4 a.m. with workers generally staying in the fields for 12 to 14 hours. The workers got paid by the pound for hand- picking cotton out of the bolls or for chopping the weeds that grew up around the cotton plants. Farm owners usually supplied workers with the necessary tools and sometimes sold them their lunches. Most days, though, workers took their own lunches which generally consisted of a potato and water. My great-grandfather charged the people sometimes, but not all of the time. Often the men who owned the fields where the people were working would pay him for transporting them. All of that was years ago. Today if you want to see cotton growing, you have to drive across the bridge into our neighboring state of Missouri. While I may not know too much about how cotton is grown, there are some things I know for sure. Thanks to stories passed down through my family, I know that my great-grandfather Willie Irish did help make life just a little easier for those who spent days working in the drudgery of the cotton fields. by Veronica Irish Cairo High School

74 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Orchards of the Chester Area Throughout the years the fruit orchards of the Chester area have been cared for mainly by two families, the Gross family and the Colvis family. In the beginning these two families helped each other. It began after Nicholas Gross and wife, Margaret, moved from Evansville to Chester in 1910. Nicholas and his wife rented the Andrew Singer farm and, later purchased the farm. For ten years he grew grains. Unfortunately, he couldn't make a living selling grain which had too much garlic in it to bring in much profit. So, Nicholas decided to grow a crop that wouldn't be affected by garlic. He then planted strawberries and a small orchard of peaches and apples (about 120 acres). Nicholas and a neighbor Harry Colvis, (who also owned an orchard) went in together to purchase a fifty gallon sprayer. The sprayer was a pump sprayer which they pumped by hand. In the early 1940's Nicholas purchased the Decker farm, which was adjacent to his other farm. In 1944 one of Nicholas' sons, Leonard, and his wife, Ruth, moved to the Decker farm owned by his father. One of Nicholas' other sons, Lawrence, returned home from service in 1946. Nicholas thought it was time to retire and now that Lawrence was home he could move into Chester and, Lawrence could move into his father's original farm and keep the orchard maintained. Later, after several years at his father's old farm, he decided to start an orchard of his own. So, he purchased the Norrison property in 1953. After Lawrence moved to the Norrison property, Leonard moved into his father's original farm. In 1957 he expanded the orchard by purchasing the Jany property which joined his own property. Both Lawrence's and Leonard's farms are located on Rt. 3 just outside of Chester (about a mile apart). A few more miles down the road you'll find Tom Gross' orchard. Tom is also a son of Nicholas Gross. He has been selling peaches and a few apples for about 40 years. One of Tom's sons Dale Gross, also owns an orchard on Rt. 3 near Evansville. Nicholas' neighbor, whom he worked with when he first started his orchard, Harry Colvis, retired his orchard to his son Joe. Since then, Joe has retired the orchard to Mark and Bemie Colvis. They have expanded the orchard quite a bit since then and, are also located on Rt. 3 north of Chester. Today, you can drive on Rt. 3 and see Leonard's, Lawrence's, the Colvis', Tom's, and Dale's orchards which sell mainly peaches and apples. Even though Leonard, Lawrence, and Tom are nearing retirement you can tell that their families have always helped them to keep the orchards well maintained, by Tracy Gross Chester High School Reference: Information obtained from Tom Gross, through a personal interview.

75 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Visit to Ethyl Corporation The Ethyl Corporation located in Sauget, Illinois, is one of the largest plants of its type in the United States. Originally the plant was begun in 1969 by the Edwin Cooper Company of London, England, but was purchased by the Ethyl Corporation in 1975 and the name of the plant was officially changed to Ethyl Petroleum Additives in 1984. The Ethyl Corporation home office is located in Richmond, Virginia. The local plant in Sauget occupies twenty-three acres of land and employs approximately 300 people. Most of the employees are college graduates including mechanical engineers, chemical engineers, research engineers, research chemists, and process chemists. The name of the company was derived from the first product produced there, tetraethyl lead, an additive for gasoline to provide the power needed for engines to avoid engine knock. Since leaded gasoline has been phased out, the company currently makes lubricant additives for crankcase, gears, and hydraulics. These additive types include detergents, dispesants, velocity improvers, antioxidants, rust and corrosion inhibitors, and others. Their products are sold to such companies as Mobil Oil, Shell Oil, Texaco Oil, Pennzoil, and others. One of the primary concerns of Ethyl Corporation is the handling and disposal of hazardous waste products. Since Ethyl does not have its own treatment facility, it hires other companies to remove and treat the waste. However, they have very strict regulations about the way their employees handle the waste to prepare it for removal. Waste must be carefully sealed into waste drums and accurately labeled. The waste is then hauled off by companies authorized to dispose of hazardous waste. Finally, the waste is either incinerated or placed in landfills. Ethyl has considerable expense in having the waste hauled off but so far has had no real difficulties meeting EPA standards. However, they do have some obsolete underground storage tanks that must be removed. by Leanne Mispagel Cahokia High School

William Staudacher, My Great-great-grandfather William Staudacher, my great-great-grandfather, was bom September 15,1865, in Württemberg, Germany to John and Mary Staudacher. In 1883, after much thought and a lot of courage, 18-year-old William left his family and home to come to America, the "land of opportunity.” The trip was a dangerous one, but it was a wonderful sight when he finally reached New York harbor. It was exciting but scary to be in a strange new country. Luckily, William had an aunt living in New York, who allowed him to stay with her until he could make other plans. He left New York and finally arrived in Cairo, Illinois. From there he traveled to Ullin to the home of Fred Hoffmeier to work on a farm. Later, William's parents and his

76 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville brothers and sisters, Gottlieb, Louie, Fredericka, Sophia, Louise, Nonnie, and Minnie came to America and settled near the Hoffmeiers. William could not speak the English language, but he learned English by going to church and listening. He always spoke a broken English with a German accent. William married Dossie Brown and they had five children. Dossie died and in 1901 William took another wife, Mattie Poole. They had seven children, one of whom was Edna Hight, my great-grandmother. William was engaged in farming and raised fruits and vegetable crops to be sold, as well as raising livestock. With his large family, it took a lot of work to provide for them, but he was happiest when helping others. He died on August 8,1945, with burial in the Ullin cemetery. William was not a wealthy man in terms of money, but he was very rich. He knew how to love his family and his fellow man and he was respected and loved by all who knew him. He was proud to be a citizen of the United States of America. by Jennifer Redcloud Meridian High School

Oldest Citizen of Mound City Dies at 103! Mrs. Jennie Wilson, age 103, was found dead in her home at 714 Main St., Mound City, Illinios, Tuesday, September 15,1964. Mrs. Wilson was the daughter of a slave, Clara O'Daniel. She was bom on the O'Daniel plantation February 14, 1861, in Obion, Tennessee. She married Robert Wilson at the age of 16, Christmas Day, 1877. Mrs. Wilson moved to Pulaski County, Illinois, February 10, 1893 along with five children, coming from Kentucky to Illinois on the Mobile and Ohio train. About ten days later Mrs. Wilson and sons, Sam and Jim, arrived with the family possessions which consisted of a new wagon, two mules, a cow, a 500 lb.hog, a large iron kettle of soap, and several boxes of cooked food. There were seven more children bom to this family between 1893 and 1904 making a total of twelve children. Mrs. Wilson moved from Olmsted to Mound City, in 1916. She lived in Pulaski County from 1893 until her death except for about six years which she spent in Madison, Illinois. A short time after her 100th birthday she received a citation from the late President John F. Kennedy congratulating her. Her son Jim Wilson was Chief Deputy Sheriff in Pulaski County for many years. by Rebecca Williams Meridian High School

EDDIES AND WHIRLPOOLS

A COLLECTION OF POETRY AND SONGS

The Mississippi, sister of the Ganges, Main artery of earth in the western world Is waiting to become In the spirit of America, a sacred river. Whoever lifts the Mississippi Lifts himself and all America; Whoever lifts himself Makes the great brown river smile. The blood of earth and the blood of man Course swifter and rejoice when we spiritualize. from American Negro Poetry by Arna Bontemps (1963)

78 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Taken for Granted Each day we look around and see, What our environment could be. We see what nature's given us, But we say, "It's not worth the fuss." We look where pollution began, It didn't start in the ocean. It didn't start in the sea, It was with people - you and me. We may say, "I didn't do it," But our words and acts add to it. Our actions and words are to blame, But there's a way to lift our shame. Each day we look around and see, What our environment could be. We see what nature's given us, Couldn't we say, "It's worth the fuss"? We see what's taken for granted, The seedlings we could have planted. The trash left by the litter bugs, The wastes from when we pull the plugs. We might change our environment, And in pollution make a dent. Maybe if we work together, Think, it could change for the better. Each day we look around and see, What our environment could be. We see what nature's given us, One day we'll say, "It was worth the fuss," by DeAnna L. Meyer Cahokia High School

79 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville She Has Seen Many Faces Her beauty, her grace Flows to tell a tale of many years Once a crystal clear body Upon the banks a trading place The Indians rested beside her Anger, frustration War waged around her waters A time when freedom did not ring Flowers wither and blossom again... Steamboats busily pass Samuel’s love is her mystery Another turn in history Depression-economic recovery This massive foundation has seen Many colors, many faces~old and new Mighty she is land important Tribute to a history of a free people. by Shannon Dabbs Gibault High School

Water We the people of the land should write to make a stand. All for one and one for all we the people can stand tall. Together we can put our heads together Make our water safe forever. Everyone has a freedom of speech to tell about what we were taught and preached. Rescue the water and free the land And if you don't we will all be in glory land. by Tino Bailey East St. Louis High School

©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The World Tomorrow Men, women, and young children wearing gas masks and protective body suits. Men, women, and young children living underground for safety. Young children not knowing what it is like to see a green leaf or a yellow flower or a blue sky. Adults trying desperately to remember what it is like to feel the soft spring breeze after a cool spring shower. Everyone trying to remember the Earth the way it used to be soft, colorful and safe. A time before the end came. A time before destruction by pollution. A time before the Earth died. by Jenny Davis Dupo High School

The Magic of the River Upon visiting the river I discovered a glorious air about it. Contrary to popular belief, it is more than sludge and pollutants. It is a mark of history, from Lewis and Clark to Twain. Upon the rippling waves is a sense of beauty and what lies beneath them is a mystery. Sticks and reeds of the banks are like a treasure-trove of old, lost possessions. If the waves of the river could talk, they’d unleash fascinating secrets of its past. by Maria Madaus Gibault High School

81 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Our Muddy Mississippi Starting in Minnesota, ending in New Orleans; The "Muddy Mississippi" has experienced several scenes. Many barges along with famous boats use this riverway; You can see them down at the riverside on any given day. The Mississippi River is in the heart of the United States; The large cities on the river first began as small stockades. This mass of water has created many occupations; Such as commercial fishing or even surveying the surrounding plantations. Every once in a while, the water level rises to create a flood; Its results are led to New Orleans ending in mounds of mud. For a lot of people the river offers relaxation to sit and watch it flow; To watch the currents go around and listen to the wind blow. Literary pieces have been set on this river and its kin; One Classic is about the tales of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. A whole era is associated with this river, when "Cotton was King" For some, that was soon to be "just the beginning". My poem of the Mississippi is about to end; So from by collective thoughts, let your imaginative mind begin! by Heather Grace Chester High School

Mississippi River M - is for Messing up our water I - is for Intentionally flushing pollutants down the drain S - is for Stench that might make you flinch S - is for Smell that we’ve pick up in our well I - is for Irritant that has made our cells rotten S - is for Speech we have heard but failed to impeach S - is for Sincerity of heart to do our part I - is for Intelligence to hold the land we have not sold P - is for Pride in our style to do something worthwhile P - is for Participation in a cleanup plan to free our air, water and land I is for Integrity which is a worthwhile criteria in our fight with bacteria by Patryee Jackson East St. Louis High School

82 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Old Chester I love you, Old Chester, With your touch of God’s art; I love your Old Picture, And it's locked in my heart. I love you, Old Chester, My home and my dream, With your beautiful hills, And your gallant old Stream. I pride in your beauty, In your green and your brown, Old Chester, my home, My Old River Town. I love you, Old Chester, And each little rill. And I love the Old River, At the foot of the hill. I love your old valleys, And each wee waterfall; I love the Old Trees And their shade over all. I love your Old Hills,! In their green and their brown; I love the winding Old Road, Leading up through the Town. I love your great beauty, And the shade of your gown; Old Chester, my home My Old River Town. by Angela Berner Chester High School

83 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Bad Water The water is so bad. It makes me so sad. By the year 2003. We would all be debris. It makes me wonder why. Or just sit back and cry. The river use to be such a sight to see Now its full of trash, junk, and pee. We need to step back and take inventory. For we all meet our God in glory. Everyday I ask my imaginary friend Garter What are we going to do about the water. It's a shame it’s full of dirt and tartar. But even Garter don't have a solution for the bad water. by LaTashia Fusher East St. Louis High School

Iceblood Waxen feathers of freedom Scream of a closed world A world of silent need For food For shelter For air and water The brown needles of their wings Fan the freeing air to stay afloat A fish is clamped in the iron talons The slick white belly is punctured, dripping life by Cathy Fry Quincy High School

84 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Eagles Flight Their hoods stand bright Eyes Beam like hellish light Scraping, scratching, clawing Their preyish hands glide The mirror reaks Small shards cut the blue Their blanketing arms outstretch Covering the slick silver The blankets beat against the clear skin of the water Kick and jump The talons thrust Push hard and soar The body rises high White lightening flashes Against the horizon Search high and proud on skeletal bough by Tera Jones Quincy High School

Water Water is used for all kinds of purposes ranging from bathing to drinking So why do people contaminate Water with things that are stinky Only some of the bacteria can be removed from the water line The rest stays in the water and ends up in your household by Andrea Ashford East St. Louis High School

85 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville River Rap The world knows that water pollution is a terrible revolution- It's hurting our loved ones, that's why we need a solution We can't let this ruin our lives Gotta find a way to survive Yo, if you wanna know why its because we want to live not die There is a solution to this pollution Every stream should be clean Clean, air, water, and neighborhoods everywhere Pick up those papers, bottles, and cans each and every boy, girl, woman, and man Keep your dignity and your pride Clean up, pick up, and don't put it aside Help clean your neighbors house too. Be a good neighbor and see it through. by Carlos Calhoun Dupo High School

A Dying Mississippi Anger lies within its depths, Rage boils onto its surface, As it is poisoned by mortal beings. Crying for help, Mississippi-- few can hear— Trying to preserve its existence, Mississippi- most take for granted- Watching the ghosts, Mississippi- losing the memories of a time when the waters ran clear and pure Mississippi- a dying source of life. by Matthew Mundy Cahokia High School

86 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Untitled Absorb the realm the inconceivable GIANT though extremely microscopic majestic the aura true comprehension Nearly impossible! Appreciation through listening minds reaching out, pleading probing the sky sunlight consumption praying for rain quickly drinking the moisture shedding the sorrow of companions long standing ripped of their pride and dignity Yes, I hugged my share of trees today cracked the ice into stained glass intricacy cradled the palm of nature's serenity merged with apparent simplicity ears searching Initial silence standing, breathing devouring the wind gentle appearance yet noble, ancient cry sorrow or understanding? leaves ever spinning in the vicious life cycle and I the transient destructive being!

87 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Clay plastered by hands of the wind eyes of the rain baked in the sunlight the branch lies decaying as the carcass of the buck defeated in battle against the what-human? renowned man! branch of tree countenance of deer Perhaps similarities here eyes ever sunken with inquisitive wonderment decayed teeth familiar gnawing and grinding and antlers which speak the proud heritage by Sarah Hallas Quincy High School

The Destroyer, The Provider, The River I am the river. The Great Muddy I am known. I am a destroyer and a provider. How you treat me, I will treat you. Many live off what I give. Men make a living off my water. All I ask is that they take care of me. I, in turn, remain calm for them. Those who treat me harshly be warned. I have been known to move, killing many. Be warned also those that are not cautious around be. I will take your life in a second; when you least expect it; when you are not looking. by Dwight Doerhoff Gibault High School

There is something about knowing that an eagle, a bald eagle, is only so far away from you. You cannot get that feeling from television and never conceive what the camera man must of felt when he filmed that natural wonder. I left the cabin searching for a picture I sought a subject from nature And a perfect throne to sit upon I found a picture everywhere I turned I looked around and all of nature became my subject I sat upon a stump and began to draw I am not a poet, I am an artist but I cannot claim that picture For my own by Alicia Ward Quincy High Ward

Mississippi River The magnificence of this mighty river overwhelms me as I realize there's no other place I would rather collect my thoughts. It's so peaceful being alone watching the water flow. Then I realize how much man neglects his beautiful river. Trash and pollutants he dumps will one day come back and haunt his future generations. The river will show man how much he has underestimated the power of nature. by Danielle Wills Gibault High School

89 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 15 to 50 Along the banks of the once beautiful Mississippi River, there I find Pollution and dead fish of all sorts and kinds As I walk along it to get some fresh air A wrong turn I took and ended down there Which was once my favorite destination I'd sit back and read or for relaxation But now it's enormously sad to see This place destroyed which was once filled with beauty Though I can still hear every now and then The noise and laughter of old foes and friends It really hurts to think of the ones that don't know Our river banks were a glorious sight to see a long time ago I come back to visit, every now and then To reminisce or just let my thoughts blow with the wind At the age 15 I visited first I was captured by the surroundings, the water, the earth Then I continue through my greatful givin life's span My children, my marriage and even great grands But I took as a note things started to change The scenery's not as pretty and things were rearranged By the time I hit 45 and my children were grown I had already realized things had gone wrong

90 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville And at the age of 50, now wiser than before This pollution was growing and could not be ignored Some people ask why I still go there And in my response I gesture and stare For my answer is one of honesty and truth... It brings sentimental values to me that were held in my youth. by LaShonda Hubert East St. Louis High School

Untitled Fascinated by the beautiful sight, Through the trees and the moonlight We spy on the great white. High above we see in the skylight, The wing span of the eagle in flight. In its nest...in rest...in despite, These two animals we see in the cold of night. They prey on the sight. Only to know they have no right. We trap and track all around their beautiful sights. They must know they are alright,. Because they stand in the moon and sunlight. These are the animals of the day and night light. by Rachelle Heldebrandt Chester High School

91 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Mississippi River M is for the mighty river, the largest in the land; I is for the Indians who traveled these waters grand. S is for the Spanish explorers, the first these waters to see; S is for the springing up of towns and many industry. I includes the adventures of that famous man, Mark Twain. S is-for the song written, poets, and novelists writing historically for personal gain. S is for steamboats and showboats making their way from source to mouth; I includes the millions of people living along its banks from north to south. P is for the property that is damaged during floods; P is also the power from the dams built with private funds, I is for Illinois, a boundary for the river and state in which I live. R is for the richest farming regions the world has to give. I is for the imports and exports that make their way on this great route; V is for the valley - fertile; and rich their is no doubt; E is for the Eads Bridge, famous from its birth R is for this River - The Mississippi grandest on the earth. by Angela Berner Chester High School

The Frozen World The gently flowing water escapes through the icicles. Streaming magically over the icy rocks. Sun shines brightly over the ice Emitting a wonderous glare of light. The bubbling water strains to tell me its legacy of forgotten lore. And my heart asks the water to tell me more, show me more. by Tracy Blickhan Quincy High School

92 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Untitled What's in your water, does it really matter You have had a really busy day at last it's time to be on your way You haven't had time to sit and think or go to the fountain for a drink To quench your thirst you drink water first Why do you drink it too fast surely it will not last You settle down to listen to the news about the water you should not use Unless at first you bring it to a boil now your life is really in a turmoil by Patyee Jackson East St. Louis High School

The River, It's No Game To me the Mississippi River is like a game of Russian Roulette! It starts out with a gun and a bullet, but in the case of the river, you start out with chemicals and man. Now apart, these things are not always dangerous, but if you put them together that is when they become deadly. In the game of Russian Roulette, the longer you play, the lower your chances for survival. Like in the game the longer we add our pollutants to the river the lower the chances for the rivers survival. Hence if the river dies we die!! by Steve Holmes Dupo High School

"Sometimes we'd have that whole river all to ourselves for the longest time. Yonder was the banks and the islands, across the water, and maybe a spark- which was a candle in a cabin window; and sometimes in the water you could see a spark or two-on a raft or a scow, you know; and maybe you could hear a fiddle or a song coming over from one of them rafts. It’s lovely to live on raft. We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them, and discuss about whether they was made or only just happened. Jim and he allowed they was made, but I allowed they happened; I judged it would have took too long to make so many. Jim said the moon could ’a’ laid them; well, that looked kind of reasonable, so I didn't say nothing against it, because I've seen a frog lay most as many, so of course it could be done. We used to watch the stars that feel, too, and see them streak down. Jim allowed they’d got spoiled and was hove our of the ne st." by Mark Twain

94 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Wild Trees Dusk was falling upon the land as my friend and I were walking through the woods on a cold and cloudy day. The surroundings were dreamy, since the trees were shed bare. The leaves that were shed lay scattered upon the ground and blew in the gentle wind. I gazed up into the darkening sky and saw the curved branches of the trees silhouetted against the gray cloudy sky. As my friend and I were walking quietly along the trail we noticed the peculiar ways the trees were growing. Some were twisted around each other with their branches entwined. There were many stands of trees planted in straight lines. They were crowded together and their branches were in tangled masses. Some of the branches reached sky ward while others were bent over so far that they touched the ground. I was so engrossed in studying the shapes of the trees that I unknowingly stepped off the trail. One of the trees reached out and seized my arm and bit my head! What manner of wild beast was this that could grasp my arm and bite it? Why did it attack me? I had done nothing to my knowledge to provoke this majestic giant into anger. I removed my glove to examine the wound. No blood, not even a scrape. Nothing to worry about. I put my glove back on and caught up with my friend. "These are wild trees," I murmured to myself. Further along the path my friend and I came upon a frozen little mud-hole called Frog Pond. It was a serene place to sit and rest. We found a log laying next to the pond and sat down on the log to rest for a bit. I sat silently and listened intently to the wind as it rustled through the trees. I was waiting to hear the words of wisdom that the trees whispered in the wind. I did not hear the place in the ecosystem. All I heard were the sounds of man. The wind carried the sounds of cars as they sped down the highway. I heard sirens in the distance. I heard the low hum of engines as an airplane passed overhead. I realized just exactly how small these woods were. Then I understood why that tree attacked me. We humans have taken away the tree's land. Now they live in overcrowded conditions. Their spirits are not allowed to live wild and free any longer. They were fighting their own brothers for survival. Every twist and every bend in their branches is a struggle for space to spread their great arms toward the sky. They are angry at humans for making them live in these hellish conditions. The trees only know that it was humans that have taken away their land and destroyed their brothers. The trees whose thorn struck me held no personal malice toward me. It only understood that I was a human and struck out in its own anger toward humans. I learned that these wild trees are unique. They are not like the "Suburban domestics" species of trees that are indigenous to the cities and our zoo-like backyards. The wild trees are old and wise. Their spirits are still untamed. by Amy Myers Quincy High School

95 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Untitled Quietly, and ever-so gently flows the Mighty Mississippi, standing guard over the land that she loves most; Illinois. Never does she fail to whisper a hello in her waves, or wish a fond farewell in her sweet aroma. She raises her voice in appreciation on a special spot which holds her name high and treats her with dignity and pride that she so greatly deserves. Chester, the twinkling lights that dance in the sky above her, enlightens her with gratitude for making it what it is today. Lazily her waters cascade along the land awaiting the company of newcomers, sweethearts, or picnickers. All the while she stares hopeful at the strategically placed rocks plummeting down the landscape, uniting the world she longs for with her graceful waters. The rocks, seeming to ascend to the stars, mark a hallowed pathway to safely bring the people to her calling. One by one the rocks incline, though one never knows if the foot must take a short step or a long stride. Jagged in some places, yet smooth in others, these stones were each as individual as the people who walked them. The Mississippi never had trouble in luring admirers down this landmark, for the pathway was apparently well traveled. She's not a disappointing ole Girl either, for she always provides an impressive tour of her province in an enchanted surrey. Proudly she displays her majestic steamboats and rugged barges which depend on her night and day. Yonder lies that beaten path, though, steadily being watched by the eyes of the Mississippi herself. Even when in the busiest of seasons, her yearning for attention can not be sufficed. Always, searching to procure the continuity of footsteps along that two hundred and thirty-nine-step stairway. And as years go by and many people journey her trail of rocks, they will always be inspired not only by her unwavering beauty, but by her cause. A cause that never ceases as she drifts ever - so gently down her bed of sand, longing for a people just up the path. by Mynde Reinman Chester High School

96 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Untitled A once vibrant canopy of green now fades into a tangle of decayed limbs under ashen sky. The expansion of pollution and ignorance continues to invade my now silent companions which talk to me through the wings of majestic flight and the cool shade of a sturdy oak. This world no longer remains untouched. In order to help the forest lead, I must admit my faults and share the lessons my mighty Mends once taught. Appreciation for nature is the only path to nourish the creativity of future generations. We must educate the ignorant and force ourselves to wake up from this state of denial and teach ourselves to preserve our only provider. by Leslie Klinger Quincy High School

Spunky The Catfish My name is Spunky and I am a very upset catfish. A few years ago, I could swim up and down the Mississippi River without stopping. That is not the story now. Even though I am old, the water has too much trash and dirt and that is the main reason that my swimming distance has been shortened. I can barely breathe when dirt gets into my gills, and in the mornings my fins hurt all over. I wish I could put a net on my back and clean out the river, but I am too small. I am not asking you to do this because I know it would cost a lot of clams. I am asking you to stop throwing trash into the river. Your Very Upset Friend Spunky the Catfish by Eric Benton Althoff Catholic High School

97 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Just a Little Bit... A one-act play about the river, (Opening scene: A teenage girl stands, waiting impatiently in a garage. A teenage boy appears at stage right, helping an old man walk. The old man has the appearance of a vagrant drunk. He has a piece of plastic tubing protruding from his mouth). GIRL: Hi. Aren't you ready for our date yet? (reacts with disgust at the sight of the old man). Uggh. What's that? BOY: Hi. I guess not yet. I've got a cleanup job to do. GIRL: Yeech! Who—or what-is that? BOY: What is it? Why, it's Grandpa Mississippi! (Boy helps old man into chair at stage center, front). GIRL: Wha—? Grandpa Mississippi? What are you going to do with him? BOY: My dad doesn't care much for him. He says if I want to keep him around, I've got to bring him out here to the garage and clean him up. (Boy attaches plastic tubing to a plastic bottle). GIRL: Why doesn't he clean him up? Come on, let's go drive around. BOY: He says he doesn't have time. GIRL: Yuk. He’s really filthy. How come he's such a mess? BOY: Misuse and overuse. People throw all kinds of stuff at him. GIRL: Wow! You need to run some clean water through him. BOY: Hey, he starts out with clean water! (taps bottle) Have you ever seen Lakeltaska? It's beautiful! GIRL: So how come he's so dirty? (becomes impatient again) Our friends will all be waiting for us! Come on! BOY: I dunno. Because people make him take all kinds of— stuff. GIRL: Stuff? What stuff? BOY: Oh, sewage, chemicals, pesticides, cow poop. That sort of stuff.

98 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville GIRL: Why do they do that? BOY: Why? Well-why? To get rid of it, I guess. They have to do something with it. Here, help me hang this up, will you? (holds tubing and bottle up to metal rail) Hand me a hammer and a couple of nails. GIRL: (getting hammer and nails) People are so inconsiderate! (hands boy hammer and nails). BOY: (holds bottle to frame and taps hammer on frame) Ouch! GIRL: You know, you could probably see better if you’d turn on some lights, (flips switch and lights go on) BOY: Yeah, thanks. Turn on the radio, too, will you? (he hammers again. She picks up nail from the floor and turns on the radio). ELECT. CO. REP.: (enters with a flourish) Say! How do you like those lights, huh? And radio? (He hangs another plastic bottle with plastic tubing on the frame, trailing the tubing down to Grandpa Mississippi, who holds it in his hand) Makes life better, huh? GIRL: (turns radio down) Who are you? ELECT. CO. REP.: Continental Electric Company, at your service! Pro-vid-ing electric power for all those wonderful modem conveniences! You like ’em, huh? Lights? TV? Radio? Huh? Microwave, computer,huh? Power tools, huh? BOY: Well, yeah, sure. ELECT. CO. REP.: And at a price you can afford! Can you imagine not being able to buy electricity? (He squeezes bottle, and colored water runs down tubing. All watch closely. It runs out tube onto Grandpa. He chokes. Boy and girl jump back). BOY: Well gosh, no.

99 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ELECT CO. REP.: 'Course not! It's the American way. Everybody should have those things! That's what we work for in life, right? Comforts? The good life? GIRL: (eyeing the bottle and tubing) What did you just do? ELECT. CO. REP. Why, just a little by-product of the electricity generating process. If we're going to have electricity, we need to get rid of some stuff. Just a little. Hardly notice it. BOY: Why don't you do something else with it? I'm trying to clean him up. ELECT. CO. REP: Hey, it's just a little thing! Miniscule. Tiny. River washes it right away! BOY: Well, I guess a little won't hurt. ELECT. CO. REP: 'Course not!

GIRL: Gee, yeah. Can you imagine life without a curling iron? ELECT. CO. REP: Ha! Ha! See you! Have a nice day! (exits) BOY: Nice guy. GIRL: What do you want me to do with this? (holds up nail) BOY: What is it? GIRL: The nail you bent. What do I do with it? BOY: What-well, throw it away! It's no good! And there are plenty more in Dad's workbench! (She discards nail) STEEL MFG. REP: (enters with bottle and tube) Hi kids! (attaches bottle to frame) Just gotta hook this up.

100 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville BOY: Wait a minute. What's that? Who are you? STEEL MFG. REP: Continental Steel Company, at your service! The nails you just used? We make 'em for you—to make life better. And you're welcome! BOY: Yeah, but what's that? (points to bottle) STEEL MFG. REP: Just a minor thing. The steel-making process-or any other process- involves a little waste. You know, mining the ore, processing it, burning coal to make steel. You know. Just a little waste, you know. Gotta get rid of it so we can make more nails, right? You use 'em, we make more for you! GIRL: But why are you putting stuff in the- STEEL MFG. REP: Hey! Whaddya going to do with it? It's just waste—river carries it away! BOY: Well, I guess a little won't hurt... STEEL MFG. REP: 'Course not! Think what nails would cost if we couldn't get rid of the waste! Ha! Ha! See you, kids! (Squeezes bottle. Boy and girl watch liquid flow down the tube to Grandpa as the Steel Mfg. Rep exits. Grandpa coughs) BOY: (still staring at bottles and tubes) Well, lets-- (Chicago Sanitary Rep. enters with bottle and tubing) Wha- who are you? CHI. SAN. REP: I'm here to correct your river. Seems to me you should have the Illinois River attached, (hangs bottle and attaches tubing into original tubing) See, I'm from the Chicago Sanitary District, and I need to take care of a little problem. GIRL: What little problem?

101 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville CHI. SAN. REP: You know the history of Chicago? The Chicago River used to flow into Lake Michigan, you know? And the good people of Chicago got their drinking water from the lake. It started tasting funny, and they figured the sewage they dumped into the Chicago River was getting into the lake, and they were drinking it. BOY: Wow! Was that one of those government financed studies? (rolls eyes) CHI. SAN. REP: Ha! Ha! Common sense. And those good and bright people solved their problem-they changed the course of the Chicago River so it would flow into the Des Plaines River-see?-and kept Lake Michigan clean-well, cleaner. GIRL: Wait a minute! Doesn't the Des Plaines River flow into the Illinois River, and the Illinois into the Mississippi? (traces with finger, realizes the connection, and stares, wide-eyed) CHI. SAN. REP: Riiight! Smart, huh? BOY: B-but— CHI. SAN. REP: Riiight! Lots of people in Chicago! Can't have sewage in our drinking water, now can we? River makes it disappear! GIRL: (still wide-eyed; again traces the flow as she speaks) But—You mean that every time a toilet flushes in Chicago- how about all those people downstream? CHI. SAN. REP: Ha! Ha! Not really much to Illinois outside of Chicago! Besides, the river purifies it! Natural solution. And we need Chicago. Think of all the products you use that are made there. And its a center of transportation and communication-all that stuff. BOY: Well, yeah. I guess so.

102 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville CHI. SAN. REP: Okay. Well, gotta go. Work to do. Hope Grandpa gets to feeling better. (He squeezes bottle. Boy and girl watch liquid flow down the tube. Grandpa chokes). BOY: Oh, Grandpa Mississippi! How are we going to clean you up? GIRL: (takes bottle off garage shelf) How about this? It says it'll clean up anything. BOY: (takes botde) Hmmm. Worth a try. (sprays on Grandpa, then hands bottle to girl. He turns on hose spigot and approaches Grandpa) GIRL: It's almost empty. Do you want me to save it? BOY: Naw. Just pour it down the drain, (he sprays Grandpa and she pours cleaner down the drain. Enter Sanitary Treatment Rep., who hangs a bottle and hands end of the tube to Grandpa. Boy and girl freeze and watch him, then exchange glances). BOY: Now what? SAN. TR. REP: Waste water treatment We can't just let waste water flow into the river, can we? BOY: (exchanges glance with girl. Both brighten and smile) You mean you want to help clean up? Wow. SAN. TR. REP: That stuff you just poured down the drain? (Boy, wide-eyed, points at girl) We have to clean it up. Whaddya think, you pour it down the drain and it just goes away? And you owe me ten bucks, (holds out hand) BOY: B-bu-what? Ten bucks! For what? SAN. TR. REP: Sewage charge. (Squeezes bottle. Grandpa wheezes). Who do you think pays for this? And you owe me five bucks for the hamburgers. BOY: Hamburgers! What hamburgers?

103 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville SAN. TR. REP: Hamburgers. These hamburgers. (Holds up bag). People won't increase their taxes to support waste treatment, so I haven’t had a salary increase in 14 years. Have to moonlight delivering hamburgers for Burger Biggie. GIRL: But we didn't order hamburgers! SAN. TR. REP: Don't you like hamburgers? It's the American way! And if you don't pay for them they'll dock my pay. They I'll have to find another job, and then who is going to clean up your water? (glares defiantly) BOY: Oh, jeez! Let's just pay him! Will you go away if I give you the money? (hands him a bill) Keep the change. Just go! SAN. TR. REP: Okay, but turn off that water when you're not using it. BOY: What? SAN. TR. REP: I said don’t waste the water! Do you want— GIRL: No! No! I'll do it. Just go—please! BOY: No, wait. If you clean up the water, what's this stuff in here? (taps bottle) SAN. TR. REP: Well, jeez! We can't clean it all up! There's a little waste, you know! (He squeezes bottle; Grandpa coughs. San. Tr. Rep exits, grumbling). (Boy and girl stare after him, than at Grandpa. They begin unwrapping hamburgers: lots of paper. A person enters, looks around, and says: Excuse me. He squeezes Chi. San. bottle as boy and girl look up, then exits opposite). FARMER: (Enters stage opposite, hangs up bottle, and hands tubing to Grandpa) BOY: What are you doing? FARMER: You’re eating hamburgers, aren't you?

104 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville BOY: Well, yeah. But what's that to do with- FARMER: Cows! Hamburger comes from cows! Cattle have waste, you know. Just gotta get rid of it so's you can enjoy your burgers. GIRL: You just stop it! You can’t put that in the river! FARMER: Ha! Ha! You must be kidding! You gonna tell a cow she can't poop? Don't worry about it! The river will take care of it. Enjoy those burgers! (He squeezes the bottle, Grandpa chokes, and Farmer exits).

(Chicago resident enters, says: Excuse me!, squeezes botde, Grandpa chokes, Chi. resident exits). CHEM. CO. REP: (Enters with a bottle and tubing, trips, and spills it on Grandpa. Grandpa coughs). Ooops! Ha! Ha! Sorry, old boy! (Looks up at boy and girl) Sorry, sorry! It was accidental. (Hangs up bottle, hands tubing to Grandpa, then squeezes bottle. Grandpa coughs). BOY: Oh, sure. You're sorry. But who's going to clean it up? CHEM. CO. REP: (Produces handkerchief and swipes Grandpa's face. He sputters). There! Good as new! Just a little spill. GIRL: Who are you? What are- CHEM. CO. REP: Continental Chemical Company, at your service. Producing better things for a better tomorrow. Chemicals for all kinds of things. We're making the world a better place. BOY: By spilling chemicals on Grandpa Mississippi? CHEM. CO. REP: Sorry, accidents do happen. (He begins backing out and bumps into Barge Co. Rep, who turns and spills gasoline on Grandpa. He coughs).

105 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville BARGE CO. REP: Oooops! Sorry, old-timer! (to boy and girl) Hi! Continental Barge Company, at your service. (He hangs up a bottle with tubing, which he hands to Grandpa). Just a little gasoline spill. Just a few thousand gallons. It'll evaporate in no time. (He swipes Grandpa's face with his handkerchief) Sorry. (He squeezes botde. Grandpa wheezes. He exits as Chicago resident enters from other side, says: Excuse me! squeezes botde, and exits). BOY: (Exasperated, holds head in hands) Oh, Grandpa Mississippi! How will we ever get you cleaned up? (Housewife enters with frothy, foaming botde and hangs it up). GIRL: What are you doing? What is that? WIFE: Oh, it’s only soap suds. It’ll go away. Happens every time I wash clothes. But it gets out that ring around the collar! (Holds up shirt, smiles. She hands end of tubing to Grandpa). Here, hold this, will you, dear? (She squeezes bottle. Grandpa chokes). BOY: Can’t you use some other laundry soap that doesn't do that? Just look what you're doing to Grandpa Mississippi! (Wipes him with towel). WIFE: Well, I never! It’s only soap! He can take care of it. You don't expect me to wear clothes that aren't their brightest bright, do you? (She leaves in a huff). (Boy and girl are at their wits' ends. They slump against each other. They start to leave and turn off the lights. Grandpa glows. Boy and girl turn slowly, eyes wide and mouths open). GIRL: Grandpa Mississippi is glowing! BOY: Wow! What's happening?

106 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville NUCLEAR POWER REP: (Enters with two bottles. Lights go up). Oh, Ha! Ha! Sorry. Just a little leak from our nuclear reactor. It's low level stuff. (He hangs up bottle, hands tubing to Grandpa, squeezes the bottle, and grandpa’s eyes widen). Sorry, sorry. It'll go away. Ha! Ha! It's low level, you know. And, by the way, hang on to this stuff for me, will you? (he hands the boy the second bottle). BOY: What is it? NUCLEAR POWER REP: Oh, never mind that. It's just some stuff-a little waste-left over from producing all that electric power we all love so much. Just don’t let your grandpa get into it. And don’t ever open it. BOY: Ever? NUCLEAR POWER REP: No. Not ever. Well, in about a million years or so. Watch it carefully, will you? BOY: (Stares at bottle) A million years? DIRECTOR: (Enters stage) Hey, kids, come on. Lighten up, will you? This is supposed to be entertaining-you know, kind of funny. What's with all this serious stuff, anyway? BOY: (aghast) We didn't say all this stuff was supposed to go into Grandpa Mississippi! But it's there! Look at him! DIRECTOR: Yeah, yeah. But not so heavy. Can't you just pretend that's not happening? People don't like to hear that sort of thing. GIRL: Pretend? Pretend it doesn’t happen? That's what got us into this mess! We close our eyes and pretend it isn't there. We say a little bit doesn't hurt-but it does! All those little bits add up to a lot. (Covers face with hands and cries. Director exits).

107 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (Chicago resident enters, says: Excuse me!, squeezes bottle, Grandpa coughs, and Chicago resident exits). BOY: What is becoming of Grandpa Mississippi? Don't people understand what they're doing? GIRL: They? You mean we. BOY: (aghast) We? Haven't you been paying attention? Haven't you seen what all those people have done? GIRL: And haven't you noticed they all did just a little bit? The problem is that everybody does just a little bit--and that becomes a lot! BOY: But you said we. What have we done— GIRL: Don't you get it? We do it too! Look at all these lights burning! Look at all the packaging we got with our hamburgers! Look at the stuff we poured down the drain! BOY: But those are just little things—(face falls). Oh. GIRL: Yeah, oh. We've bought the argument for the good life-the American way. To have as much of everything as we want and let someone else worry about it. And let others get away with all those little bits as long as we got something out of it. BOY: Jeez. People don't understand, do they? Waste isn't really waste, is it? Nothing ever really goes away! We just pass it on along to someone else. People need to know what to do. Tell you what—I'm going to write a book about it! Listen to the chapter tides: "How to Recycle” and "What You Can Do--" GIRL: (Shaking head) No, no, no! Everybody writes a book about it! People know how it works! They just don't do anything about it. BOY: Well, then- GIRL: We start with us. If its a combination of "just a little bits" that have done this to Grandpa Mississippi and other rivers, then it will take a lot more positive "just a little bits" to make it better.

108 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville BOY: So--you mean you want to really live these things we hear about—like conserving, and recycling, and writing congressmen, and-you mean not just saying we believe in it, but actually doing it. You're talking about changing our whole life style. What will our friends say? GIRL: I think you know the answer to that. If they aren't Grandpa Mississippi's friends—they aren't our friends. by Amy Wiatr, Christina Santilukka, Jeremy Hinton, Leslie Yarbrough, Lynn Meyer, Brian Weinhoff, and Ted Wiatr Red Bud High School

A COLLECTION OF REMEDIES AND RECIPES

"How do you cure'em warts with dead cats?" "W hy, you take your cat and go and get in the graveyard ’long about m idnight when somebody that was wicked has been buried; and when it’s m idnight a devil w ill come, or maybe two or three, but you can't see 'em, you can only hear something like the wind, or maybe hear ’em talk; and when they're taking that feller away, you heave your cat after ’em and say, "Devil follow corpse, cat follow devil, warts follow cat, I'm done with ye!' That'll fetch a n y w a rt." from Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

110 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville The Three C's of Mississippi River Snapping Turtles 1. Catching: There's only 2 or 3 ways to catch a snapping turtle that I know of. The best way to catch a snapping turtle is; first you find a nice creek with a lot of tree cover, second, get about fifteen feet of nylon string , a milk jug, and a fairly good size treble hook, third, after you’ve gathered up all your supplies take your string and loop it through the handle of the milk jug and tie a knot about five feet from the end of the string. Then at the end of the string tie on your treble hook. When you have this completed you're ready to catch a snapper. Take your supplies to the spot you have found and tie the free end of the string on to a log, or something that's not going to move. Your bait is going to be a catfish head. You take the catfish head, and put the treble hook through his mouth until you can't go any farther. Then pull the string back until the hook catches itself. Now you're going to throw the line out into the water. 2. Cleaning: After you catch the turtle, take it home and put it in a barrel, and put water in the barrel. Don't fill the barrel full because you’ll drown the turtle. The reason for having the turtle in the barrel is so it can clean it's insides out. Change the water daily, and feed the turtle lettuce.You will repeat this method for about two or three weeks. After this is done, you are ready to butcher the turtle. You're going to need these things to use to clean your turtle: 1) Table 2) A hand saw, and pliers. 3) One can of beer 4) One cleaver and a sharp knife First, take the turtle and put him on the table and pour beer in his eyes and then chop his head off. Second cut the shell on his stomach off. Third scrape the guts out. Fourth take a pair of pliers and start pulling his skin off of his legs. Fifth take the meat from his legs, back, tail, and neck and set it in a bowl of salt water for about three hours then put it in the freezer in a zip-lock bag. 3. Cooking: Turtle Recipe Take flour, seasoning salt, pepper, and salt, and role the turtle meat in it until it’s covered. You have to fill your pressure cooker an inch full and preheat on high. As the meat is cooking add some gravy, potatoes, carrots, onions, and green beans. You cook it for about two hours and then turn it over. Remember that the meat is done when it falls off the bone. by Devin Rockel and David Farran Dallas City High School Reference: Infromation obtained from Ralph Drish, Dallas City, Illinois, through a personal interview.

ill ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Non-Toxic Cleaning Products All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix one gallon of hot water with a 1/4 cup of sudsy ammonia, a 1/4 cup of vinegar and a tablespoon of baking soda. (For a stronger cleaner or wax stripper double the ingredients, except water. Scouring Powder: Use baking soda instead, apply just as you would any store-bought product, dampened with a little water. Toilet bowl cleaner: Pour one cup of vinegar into the bowl then toss in a handful of baking soda. The vinegar, being a mild acid will strip off hard-water lime deposits if you leave it in for awhile. Drain Cleaner: Simply dump a handful or so of baking soda into the drain, pour in a big shot of vinegar and put the plug in immediately to drive the carbon-dioxide down the pipe. Keep the plug in until the fizzing stops then run hot water down the drain. Window Washer: For windows exposed to dirt and grime from the streets, just combine vinegar and water. For windows exposed to fat or grease accumulation from cooking , just combine ammonia and water. Bleach and Disinfectant: Sunshine is the best bleach and disinfectant known to man. Oven Cleaning: Combine strong version of all-purpose cleaner with baking soda; wear gloves when scrubbing. Or, place about a quarter cup of ammonia in a shallow pan (not aluminum) and add enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. Heat oven for 420 minutes, turn off, and place the pan in the oven overnight. Baked on foods will be loosened and the oven can ,be cleaned with baking soda and scrubbing. Carpet Cleaning: To clean and deodorize carpets, mix two parts commeal with one part Bora. Sprinkle liberally, leave one hour, then vacuum. Furniture Polish: Dissolve a teaspoon of lemon oil in a pint of mineral oil. Apply with a rag. by Author Unkown Dupo High School

112 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville To Tan a Hide An ever-present resident of Southern Illinois, the Whitetailed deer has become a true, exotic symbol of beauty. Living in a rural setting, deer have become an everyday part of my life. As the deer population increases so rapidly though, it is important that these beautiful creatures be taken as game. Once the animal has been killed, I feel it is important to use as much of it as possible, leaving little waste. Most people understand how to butcher a deer, but I want to teach everyone how to tan a hide. Following the steps below should give you an excellent hide, which can be used for many different purposes. After the hide has been carefully removed from the carcass, it needs to be soaked approximately twelve hours in a brine or borax solution. This will make the flesh easier to remove. Next, the hide should be rinsed well with fresh water, and hung to drain. After the hide has drained, but is still moist, rub salt into the flesh side until it is covered completely. Once it has absorbed the first application, apply a second. Then fold the hide in half lengthwise, flesh side to flesh side, roll it up, and place it on a slanted surface so that it can drain. The next day the hide needs to be stretched out, placed on a log (fur side down), and scraped with a fleshing knife to eliminate fat and gristle. Once the entire membrane on the hide's inner surface is evenly removed, wash the hide in soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Finally, after the hide has dried, stretch and twist it, until it gradually becomes soft. by Ryan Petrowske Chester High School

113 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Recipes Mississippi Mud Cake (microwave) Serves 16 Cake: 1 cup butter or margarine 2 cups granulated sugar 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 4 large eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup walnut pieces, chopped coarsely 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows Frosting: 1/2 cup butter or margarine 1/3 cup milk 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 (16 ounce) box confectioners sugar To make cake, put butter in large mixing bowl. Microwave on high for 1 1/2 minutes until melted. Stir in sugar and cocoa powder. Add eggs and vanilla, beat vigorously until well-blended. Stir in flour, walnuts and salt. Let batter stand 10 minutes. Pour into an 11 3/4x7 1/2 inch baking dish. Place on a plastic trivet or inverted saucer in microwave oven. Microwave on medium for 9 minutes rotating dish 1/2 turn after 3 minutes. Shield the comers fo the dish with small triangles of foil (don't let triangles touch each other or sides of oven). Microwave on high for 3-5 minutes, rotating dish 1/2 turn once, until top is mostly dry with a few moist spots and pick, inserted near center, comes out clean. Sprinkle marshmallows evenly over top of cake. Let stand about 5 minutes until marshmallows are slightly melted. Meanwhile to make frosting, put butter in a large bowl. Microwave on high for 30-60 seconds until melted. Stir in milk, cocoa powder, and vanilla. Add sugar and beat vigorously until smooth. Spread evenly over marshmallows (cake will be warm). Let stand on flat heatproof surface for 30 minutes until slightly warm, or cool completely and serve at room temperature. Reference: Waldo, Karen. Women's Circle "Cooking With Taste"

114 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Mississippi Mud Pie 3(1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate 1/2 cups sifted confectioners sugar 1/2 cup whipping cream 1/3 cup butter or margarine 3 T. light com syrup dash salt 1 T. vanilla 1 (9 inch) graham cracker crust 1 cup chopped pecans, divided 3 cup coffee-flavored ice cream softened and divided - sweetened whipped cream Melt chocolate in a heavy saucepan over low heat; add confectioners sugar and next four ingredients. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth. Remove from hear, stir in vanilla and let mixture cool. Spread 1/2 cup pecans. Freeze 10 minutes. Remove from freezer and spread 1 cup ice cream over pecans. Freeze 20 minutes. Repeat layer twice. Cover pie and freeze at least 8 hours. Drizzle remaining chocolate sauce over pie. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with remaining pecans. Reference: Askins, Edna. Women's Circle "Home Cooking" Mississippi Mud Cake 2/3 cup sugar 1/2 cup butter or margarine 1 tsp. vanilla 2 eggs 3/4 cup self-rising flour 3 T. cocoa powder 1/3 cup pecans (chopped) 1/2 (7 ounce) jar Marshmallow Creme 1 recipe cocoa icing Cream sugar, butter or margarine, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs just until blended. Stir together flour and cocoa; add to creamed mixture; mix well. Stir in pecans. Spread in a greased and floured 8x8x2 inch baking dish. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Cool. Spread Marshmallow Creme over cake. Frost top with Cocoa Icing: In a small bowl, beat 2 tablespoons butter or margarine until light and fluffy. Gradually add 1 1/4 cups sifted powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, blending well. Beat in 1 tablespoon milk and 3/4 teaspoon vanilla. Gradually blend in an additional 1 1/4 cups sifted powdered sugar. Add enough milk (about 2 tablespoons) to make of spreading consistency.

Mississippi Mud Cake 2 sticks oleo 2 cups sugar 4 eggs 1 1/2 cup flour 1/4 cup cocoa 1 teaspoon vanilla Bake 30 minutes in large cookie sheet at 350 degrees. Remove from oven and spread on a 7 ounce jar of marshmallow creme. Let cool. Ice with: 1 stick oleo 1/3 cup cocoa 1/2 cup milk (heat) Let cool, then add 1 box powered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla and nuts. Spread on cooled cake. by Brenda Eggemeyer & Angela Berner Chester High School "Big Catch" Casserole 1 can cream of celery soup 1/2 cup Miracle Whip 1/4 cup milk 1/4 grated Parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon onion, 1(1 pound) can salmon, drained and flaked 1(10 ounce) package frozen peas, cooked 1 (4 ounce) package noodles, cooked and drained Combine soup, Miracle Whip, milk, and cheese. Blend well. Stir in rest of ingredients. Pour into a 1 1/2 quart 1 casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. by Mildred Baldock & Angela Berner Chester High School

TO THE PARTICIPATING TEACHERS FROM THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI AREA HIGH SCHOOLS Galena High School Fulton High School Keith Hesselbacher Al Schuitema Terry Stoffregan Charlene Johnson Sue Cording Savanna High School Thompson High School Gary Strawbridge Dennis Etnyre Gene Wright Michael Highland Erik Torrison Barbara Ottens Greg Stott Riverdale High School United Township High School Linda Thomas Robert Hanske Todd Heeter Elaine Catton Don Thomsen Jim Wesselman Moline High School Aledo High School Jim Gager Susan Kuster Wes Johnson Nancy Watkins Mark Slater Susan Blackwell Wesìmer High School Dallas City High School John Swank Roy Schwass Randy Brown Craig Rowley Linda Eldridge Phyllis Clark Lee Purchatske Hamilton High School Hancock High School Mike Sallee Connie Flesner Ed Lemon Troy Heath Garry Meredith Nita Johnson

We would also like to recognize and extend our gratitude to all of those very special people in each of the participating schools and communities who aided teachers, students, and consultants with much needed resources and support.

117 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville TO THE PROJECT STAFF FOR THEIR AID, SUGGESTIONS, AND ADVICE Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Dr. Virginia Bryan, Chemistry Department William Weiler, Instructional Technology Jack Ballinger, Florissant Community College faculty; SIUE doctoral candidate Principia College Dr. Tanner Girard, Biology Taylor Delaney, Biology TO THE TRAINING STAFF FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE AT WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR Rich Feezel, Pittsfield High School Marvin Mondy, Alton High School Kathleen Dunn, Pittsfield High School George Ann Swicki, E. Peoria High School Mary Westerburg, Anoka High School Sue Cording, Galena High School Linda Elridge, Westmer High School A1 Schuitema, Fulton High School Jim Meyer, Highland High School Bill Beckman, East Peoria High School FOR THEIR VERY GRACIOUS ADMINSTRATIVE SUPPORT Mike Barry, Project Fiscal Officer and Superintendent of Schools, Brussels H.S. Patti Rose, Brussels High School FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN THE PUBLICATION OF THIS BOOK Michele Alikonis, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Steven Alikonis, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Maureen Shortal, Jersey Community High School, Jerseyville, Illinois Pat Pickerill, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Pat Wellen, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Jun-Hua Zhou, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT Gary Hull, Dean, School of Education, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Bill Brinson, Photographer, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Tommye Walters, University News Services, Southern Illinois University at Edw. Luther Jones, Educational Video Specialist, Southern Illinois University at Edw. Jack Massey, Photographer and friend Greg Myers, Southern Illinois University Graphics

118 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE PROJECT EVALUATION Dr. David Winnett, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Dr. Bill Alhbrand, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Dr. Marylin Lisowski, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston TO THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND INTERESTED OTHERS WHO ATTENDED AND SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCES AT THE SECOND ANNUAL ILLINOIS RIVERS PROJECT STUDENT CONGRESS Galena High School River Ridge High School Savanna High School Fulton High School United Twp. High School Moline High School Sherrard High School Aledo High School Westmer High School Thronwood High School Hancock Central H. S. Quincy High School Amboy High School Barry High School Pittsfield High School Pleasant Hill High School Winchester High School Jersey Community H. S. Zion-Benton Twp. H.S. E. Peoria Comm. H. S. Astoria High School Highland High School SIUE Upward Bound Cahokia High School Erie High School Dupo High School Gibault High School Valmeyer High School Red Bud High School Meredosia-Chambersburg Chester High School Rushville High School High School Alton High School Glenbrook South H.S. Mid-County High School Durand High School Dundee-Crown H. S. Riverdale High School Cairo High School Rock Falls High School Minooka Comm. H. S. Hamilton High School Mater Dei High School Clinton High School Champaign Central HS. Woodstock High School

Doug Blodgett, Illinois Natural History Survey Allen Grosboll, Executive Assistant to the Governor for Environmental Regulations Diana Nichol, Coordinator of Glen Ellyn Teacher's Network of Foxfire Teacher Outreach Tanner Girard, Illinois Pollution Control Board Glenn Stout, Water Resources Center, University of Illinois Marilyn Leland, Catepillar Inc. Gordon Johnson, Superintendent, East Peoria School District Jeannie Williamson, Principal, East Peoria High School Jim Maloof, Mayor, Peoria, Illinois Bill Beckman, Science Teacher, East Peoria High School

Becker, Lucien. Moonlight on the Mississippi. Kunkel Bros., 1891. Bricher, Thomas. The Mississippi Waltzes: played during the moving of Banvard's Three Mile Picture of the Mississippi River. Mass: Oliver Ditson, 1847. Brown, G. W. Lost on the Steamer Stonewall: Manna! Why don't Papa come home? Missouri: Baimer & Weber. Brown, Greg. Mississippi Moon. 1983. Burleigh, H. T. Deep River. New York: Fanco Colombo, Inc., 1917. Byers, Mary Warner. Pat Fas'nation' Rivah Gal! Mass: R. F. Wood Music Co., 1940. Carmichael, Hoagy., & Arodin, Sidney. Lazy River. New York: Peer International Corp., 1931. Obtain copy from Sole Selling Agents -- Southern Music Publishing Co. Carroll, & Fields, On the Mississippi. New York: Shapiro Music Pub. Co., 1912. Chamberlin, C. H. Illinois. Illinois: Clayton F. Summy Co., 1894. Conner, Daryl Sinclair, & Tate, Clarke. High Water Blues. Arkansas: Conner Publishing Co., 1927. De Rose, Peter., & Richman, Harry. Muddy Water. Broadway Music Corp., 1926. Drumheller, Charles. Moonlight on the Mississippi. Missouri: Publishers Shattinger Piano & Music Co., 1921. Edwards, Clara. By the Bend of the River. New York: G. Schirmer, Inc. 1927. Emmett, Daniel Decatur. De Boatman Dance. Mass: Oliver Ditson & Co., 1882. Enblom, Mark. Path of Least Resistance. 1983. Fain, Sammy ^Mississippi Dream Boat. New York: Leo Feist, Inc., 1943. Fond, Gene La. Another Mississippi River Song. 1983

120 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Foster, Stephen C. My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night. New York: Firth, Pond & Co., 1853. Gabriel, Chas H. The Deep Deep Sea. Missouri: (S. Turney, Copyright). Gasner, Sidney. American Archetypes: Part IV, a rondo, form a work in progress for guitar and tape. 1983. Green River. Lyrics. Grofe, Ferdie. Mississippi: A Tone Joumev. New York: Leo Feist, Inc., 1926. Hamilton, Arthur. Crv Me a River. New York: Saunders Publications, Inc., 1955. Handy, W. C. East Saint Louis. New York: Handy Brothers Music Co., 1587. Handy, W. C. Ole Miss Blues. New York: Robbins Music Corporation, 1923. Handy, W. C. Ole Miss Rag. Tennessee: Pace & Handy Music Co., 1916. Hoover, Joe. Mississippi Dream Boat. New York: Max Kortlander Music Co., 1927. I Love the River: Sung to the tune of I Love the Mountains. 1983. Jerret, Harry E. Ridin on the "Steamer J.S." Missouri: Shattinger Piano & Music Co., 1925. Kern, Carl Wilhelm. Mississippi River Scenes: Suite for the Pianoforte Op. 338. Penn: Theodor Presser Co., 1918. Twilight on the Mississippi. Saint Francis de Sales. Maiden Rock in Lake Pepin. Metoswa Rapids. Mississippi Bubble. On the Bathing Beach. Kern, Carl Wilhelm. Mississippi River Scenes: Suite for the Pianoforte Op.338. Mosquito Island. Scenes from a Riverd Levee. Kneass, Nelson. Down the River We Swiftly Glide. Missouri: A. C. Peters & Bro., 1865.

121 ©2015 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Le Boy, Grace. Moonlight on the Mississippi. New York: Jerome H. Remick & Co., 1913. Macaulay, Stewart. The Mississippi Woodman's Wife. Mass: Oliver Ditson & Co., 1853. Mancini, Henry. Moon River. New York: Famous Music Corp., 1961. Miller, James I. Big Human River. 1983. Millward, G. Circlet of Brilliants: Rippling Waves. Mass: W.A Evans & Bro. Miss the Mississippi and You. Lyrics. Olman, Abe. Mississippi Cradle. Illinois: Forster Music Pub., Inc., 1921. Pround Mary. Lyrics, Push Boat. From (Heart Songs) New York: 1909. Quasha, Sol. Mississippi Rose. New York: LaSalle Publishers, Inc., 1960. Rau, Jerry. The Mississippi Waltz. 1982. Richard, Hector. Mississippi Lullaby . Buck Enlow, 1940. Rodgers, Richard. Down by the River. New York: Famous Music Corp., 1935. Rosenkrans, Geo. Gliding Down the Waters of the Old Mississippi, Illinois: L. S. Norris Co., 1905. Sisson, Kenn. Mississippi River Rage: (A Song of the Levee). New York: Cason Music Corp., 1941. Sizemore, Arthur., & Van Alstyne, Egbert. Mississippi Shore. Illinois: Van Alstyne and Curtis, 1919. Stamer, Fred. The Mississippi River. 1980. Stevenson, John Sir. Flow on Thou Shining River. Mass: John Cole,? Stone, R. W. Down the River. Indiana: Indiana Historical Commission, 1916.

©2015122 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Van Berg, T. Mississippi Valley Sanitary Fair Grand March. 1864. Wagner, Pop. Daisies from the Island. 1981. Washburn, R. E. Run on the Levee. Missouri: Thiebes -- Stierlin Music Co., 1895. Wesley, Les. Mississippi Shantv. Illinois: T. S. Denison & Co., Publishers, 1934. Westcott, Sarah A. The Mississippi Flood Song: (On the Old Mississippi Shore). New York: Ager, Yellen & Bomstein, Inc., 1927. Westemman, Floyd. The Land is Your Mother: (La Tierra es tu Madre). Red Crow Productions, Inc., 1983. White, Jamees. Floating Down the River: ['Cause it's Moonlight Now in Dixieland.] Illinois: Will Rossiter the Chicago Publisher, 1913. Williams, Curley & Simmons, Billy. Mississippi. Tennessee: Acuff — Rose Publications, 1950. Wood, F. H. The Cottage by the River, Missouri: J. L. Peters, 1881. Wyman, A. P. Music on the Water: A Moonlight Reverie. Mass: Oliver Ditson & Co., 1882. i