Spring in the Park with Friends
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www.boonecountyjournal.com In Our 20th Year 815-544-4430 The Boone County Journal May 8th, 2015 1 FREE COUNTY LOCAL NEWS, OPINION & HISTORY Real Journalism for a Real Democracy www.boonecountyjournal.com Published Every Friday • May 8, 2015 • Vol 20 • Issue 2 No. 989 and appreciate the warmer temperatures after the icy cold that characterized the previous four months. The assemblage of men and women here must have been a rather formal event. They posed in front of an elaborate tent that had draw drapes. How many of the readers have ever camped in a wooded area within a tent that had draw drapes? Some of the people present sat in what were likely canvas backed camp chairs or “director’s chairs.” The gentleman on the far right who holds a bowler hat on his lap, is seated in one of those canvas and wooden chairs. It is uncertain how much time might have been needed to erect the tent or to even install the draw drapes. If the group spent the better part of a day at the campsite they likely enjoyed a light lunch. Perhaps a variety of salad was served along with egg salad sandwiches or maybe even cold-cut and cheese sandwiches. Ice tea was likely the drink of choice. Taking time to enjoy a spring day is an activity that does not need a tent or a chair or even draw drapes to enjoy. Belvidere is fortunate to have a majestic river that defines the center of the city. There might be few people who would describe the Kishwaukee River as majestic but there are characteristics of many rivers that resemble the word majestic. spend a day outside with friends. Even the Mississippi and the Ohio rivers are majestic, The friends wore their “Sunday best” clothes for the to some eyes. The Kishwaukee rolls south and strays in Spring in the Park event. But, that was common then. The men wore their the four directions of its own meandering quality. The best wool suit and donned a fresh celluloid collar for their Kishwaukee River makes a drowsing path as it roves from whitest-white shirt to contrast with their most formal black place-to-place and through one town and village after ByWith James Middleton Friends tie. The women wore their best dresses with a hint of a another until the river flows into the Rock and Illinois A century and a half ago most people were prone to flounce at the ankle. They wore their finest cover, perhaps a Rivers eventually merging with the Mississippi. take life easier than is the case today. In modern culture we measure time in terra-bytes per milli-second. We jacket but more often a long coat to protect their dress. The There is a placid quietness on the faces of the people calculate efficiency based upon our ability to accomplish crowning item was their hat and we might conclude that shown here. They were like the people that Mark Twain 45 activities in the same time it would have taken our some of the women had not merely shopped in Belvidere lived with, but for the separation from Cherry Valley, ancestors to accomplish five. Yet, a quick glance at the or in Rockford to buy their hat. Some of them might have Illinois to Hannibal, Missouri. People in the middle 19th people assembled here, when compared with a recent ridden the train to Chicago and shopped at that new store, Century understood spring, perhaps far better than most of “selfie” that we might have on our telephone, should “Marshall Field’s” on State Street. us do today. indicate the answer to the question, “Who seems to be The people shown here seemed to personify a word Mark Twain described a typical spring day in the enjoying themselves?” that Mark Twain used often when speaking with friends, Sandwich Islands when he went there on an assignment One bit of good news disclosed earlier this week. performing before an audience, or even in his writing. The for a newspaper. From that visit he described the weather Archivists at the University of California at Berkeley where word he chose was “drowsing.” The word was used to conditions that he experienced on what would later be the complete collection of written material of Mark Twain describe a nether world that is found somewhere between known as the Hawaiian Islands. He wrote, “This is the is held, have found 150 news stories that Twain wrote in sleep but not quite awake. Twain used the word to describe most magnificent, balmy atmosphere in the world—ought the middle 1860s when he was a reporter in San Francisco. his living his youth in a state of eternal childhood by way to take dead men out of the grave.” One of the benefits reading Mark Twain is to languidly idle of memory. There is nothing wrong with taking time to enjoy the across the hills of Missouri, through the dells, smelling Of course, in this modern world where people race new spring season with flowers blossoming, young birds flowers and relishing in a permanent season of summer that from one meeting to another and from one commitment chirping to life and people, such as those shown here, just he wrote of on the banks of the Mississippi River. to another without thinking of what had or would occur enjoying the pleasure of their company. The men and women shown here were assembled at except to manage driving to the destination and arriving The Journal wants to that the Boone County Historical about the same time when Mark Twain was writing in San near the appointed time. In Twain’s world that was lived Society for allowing use of the photograph. We also want Francisco. The people met at a Cherry Valley Campsite on the edge of safety and danger, he could take the time, to acknowledge that the quotation was obtained from the but the photograph does not identify any purpose for them as did the people seen here, to enjoy the spring weather website www.twainquotes.com to have assembled. But, in spring, who needs an excuse to 2 May 8th, 2015 The Boone County Journal 815-544-4430 In Our 20th Year www.boonecountyjournal.com require that a new well to be drilled and a new septic project and proposed completion date calls for the project system would also need to be installed. to be finished by/or before the end of 2015. Mr. Terrinoni Final Plans Mr. Schmidt said that he expected that bids could also said that the plans as drawn must go through a be opened as early as June 3 and he suggested that the professional plan review. There is no one in Boone County Almost Ready bids should be received for the scope of work and that government who is competent to provide that service and By James Middleton installation needs be taken out from the general contractors an outside service will be hired to provide that review. Almost an hour of discussion was dedicated by bid. “What drives the prices within bids are the unknowns,” Mr. Schmidt also said that site work could begin only members of the Boone County Board roads and capital Mr. Schmidt said. “Taking out the unknowns could give days after letting the bid for the construction of the building. improvements committee to evaluate the final plans for you a better price.” He also suggested that the installation Boone County Board chairman Bob Walberg (District the animal control building. This version of the plan is work for the cages and animal holding needs be separately 1) asked if the county should impose a guaranteed expected soon to be reduced to a bid document that would bid. He said that often the manufacturers can either completion date for the general contractor chosen with the precede construction of the facility. provide installation crews or have a list of groups that are winning bid. Mr. Schmidt said, “The general contractors For Boone County resident, Mr. Christensen who has competent to install the equipment. that will bid the project will identify and report with their attended every meeting related to the new county animal Debate arose over a suggestion that the well and septic bid documents a proposed start date and their proposed end control shelter, perhaps reaching this step should have system be created so that the needs of the County highway date for the project.” occurred quicker. However, the process has moved at its department and a potential future use by the Boone County With that, there were no further elements that required pace and, according to Mark Schmidt, the architect who Sheriff’s Department would be available. During the consideration. Mr. Schmidt said that he would be clarifying designed the facility, “We expect to have the plans done by debate, Mr. Christiansen cautioned that the county not the length of the animal receiving bay and then to double May 11 and we hope to open bids by June 3.” duplicate uses for these utilities that could restrict the check a number of other elements in the drawings. But, Over the recent months, plans have been drawn and ability or the utilities to be used by the animal control for now, the drawings are finished to such a point, the bid decisions have been made regarding where this building shelter. Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Johnson both expressed their documents will soon be prepared and made available to would be constructed and a number of versions of drawings assertions that the primary use of utilities would be for the those general contractors that will bid the project.