Nineteenth Century Madison County Resorts July
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Madison County Historical Society MCHS News July 2013 Opening Doors to Madison County History Vol. 1, No. 4 January, 2013 Vol. 1, No. 1 NINETEENTH CENTURY 715 N Main Street THE EDWARDS TRACE Edwardsville, IL “Old Tales and New Discoveries” MADISON COUNTY RESORTS 62025 “Old Tales and New Discoveries” about Madison County summers may be the Edwards Trace, an old Indian trail and getting warmer, but one hundred years Hours: migration path that began in Kaskaskia and ago, residents still found it necessary to Wed-Fri 9 am - 4 pm led to present-day Peoria, will be the topic of Sunday 1 pm - 4 pm discussion, by historian David Brady on escape the heat. Those who could afford Group Tours Available Sunday, August 25 at 2 PM at the MCHS it, moved north during the hottest weeks Archival Library. of summer to resorts in Wisconsin or Free Admission Brady and other historians and Michigan. Others went to Europe for the archeologists have spent years documenting summer. Continued on page 4 evidence of the “trace” which ran through Museum Phone: Madison County. The location of the “trace,” 618-656-7562 an early word for road, influenced where Library Phone: early pioneers settled as well as the location 618-656-7569 of early forts such as Fort Russell. The road was named after Territorial Web Address: Governor Ninian Edwards after he led a MadCoHistory.org contingent of rangers along the trace to Fort Clark (Peoria) while pursuing a band of Kickapoo during the War of 1812. Edwards E-mail: later became the third governor of Illinois and [email protected] is the namesake of the City of Edwardsville. The Edwards Trace served as the About Us: mainland route north for early pioneers who The MCHS museum were not using the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers for travel. complex, consisting of a modern archival The illustrated presentation will cover the library, the 1836 Weir historical background of the trace along with images of known locations on the trace House Museum and today. The program is free and open to the the Helms Collection general public. Center, is owned and operated by the non- profit Madison County JULY - AUGUST CALENDAR This wonderful new pictorial of Madison Historical Society with County, authored by MCHS Archival assistance from Sunday, August 25, Madison County. 2 PM - MCHS Archival Library Library Research Manager Mary Old Tales and New Discoveries Westerhold, has just arrived. A 10% The Edwards Trace member discount is available at the The Madison County Presenter: Historian David Brady MCHS gift shop. Although the book is Historical Society is a available elsewhere, the historical 501(c)( 3) charitable Continuing Exhibit society receives the greatest benefit organization. “If I Fall, My Grave Shall Be Made in Alton” when the book is purchased from us. We Lovejoy’s Journey from Minister to Martyr appreciate your patronage! 1 MCHS BOARD Gary Denue, Pres ARCHIVAL LIBRARY SPOTLIGHT Miriam Burns, Vice-Pres By Mary Westerhold, Archival Research Manager Arnold Meyer, Treas Cindy Reinhardt, Sec One of the more interesting many photos of their business and other Donna Bardon Norma Glazebrook donations we have received recently is a scenes in Marine included in the Mae Grapperhaus collection of material relating to the donation, along with family photos and Murray Harbke BRANDES family of Marine, IL. The family information. Petie Hunter material came from estates of Esther Russell Marti EDITOR’S NOTE Jeff Pauk and Edna BRANDES, two daughters of Researching local history is always Marilyn Sulc John and Mathilda ADLER Joyce Williams interesting but can also be challenging. Sue Wolf BRANDES. Esther and Edna never Beginning with this edition, you will find married and after their deaths, the “Mary’s Research Tip” on page 8. MUSEUM AND family material came into the But here's a tip from me. You can always count on the knowledgeable LIBRARY STAFF possession of a cousin, who donated it employees of the MCHS Archival Library Suzanne Dietrich to the Archival Library. The cousin felt Director and Museum for generous assistance. the information should be where others They will embrace your project and provide Mary Westerhold incredible insight into where to look next. Archival Research Mgr. could access it. Because the The archival library has many great LaVerne Bloemker BRANDES family owned a store in resources, but their best resource is the Archival Research Asst. Marine for many years, there were staff. Stop by sometime! Carol Frisse Archival Research Asst. Karen Stoeber MUSEUM SPOTLIGHT Archival Research Asst. By Jenn Walta, Curator Jenn Walta Curator A shaving horse discovered in the Coopers used froes as well as wooden basement of the museum is this month’s mallets to shave and form pieces of wood. VOLUNTEERS There are abundant and spotlight item. According to 1840 Census In order to make a barrel, basket, or cask, varied opportunities for information, 2,855 coopers worked within the cut staves (the individual pieces of volunteers at either the the confines of Madison County. Coopers wood that eventually form objects such as museum or the archival library. Please call if provided a valuable service to county barrels) were soaked in water until the interested. residents, wood became especially pliable. MEMBERSHIPS agricultural On this particular Several membership workers, since the levels are available to bench, the cooper those interested in baskets and sat on the flat end supporting the work of barrels that they of the bench with preserving Madison made were used County history through an his legs extended MCHS membership. to store and haul forward under the Memberships run on the harvested goods. bench. In order to calendar year, Jan 1-Dec These men secure a piece of 31. Applications are available on our website, made tubs, This wooden cooper’s bench or shaving horse was donated to wood, the cooper at the MCHS Museum or the museum by Mrs. Goddard in 1964. Make sure to stop casks, barrels, by the museum and check out this wonderful piece of Madi- brought the pegs at the Archival Library. and similar items under the bench son County agricultural and industrial history. on this artifact toward him. This known as a “coopers’ bench.” The word would lift the large block of wood up PUBLICATIONS “cooper” was derived from “kuper,” the away from the bench and open the “vice.” MCHS NEWS lower Saxon word for tub. The bench, The cooper then placed a piece of wood to 6 issues annually also known as a shaving horse, was a be worked on between the large block and Cindy Reinhardt, Editor three in one tool for coopers. It pushed the pegs back towards the end of WEB SITE functioned as a seat, work bench, and the bench to lock the piece of wood in MadCoHistory.org vice. place. 2 RECENT MCHS NEWS ROUTE 66 FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR Thanks to everyone who volunteered at PROBATE PROJECT Edwardsville’s Route 66 Festival June 8-9 at City We have started a new project at the Archival Park. The MCHS Route 66 map, shown below, was Library and we are SEEKING VOLUNTEERS! again a popular feature where festival visitors could Working with the Madison County Circuit Clerk’s add notes of their favorite sights along the historic Office, we are examining probate files from the early Mother Road. 1900s and extracting the wills for retention in the Madison County Circuit Clerk’s Office. The work is interesting as you discover history in the various documents and receipts of Madison County businesses nearly a century ago. Would you like to help preserve Madison County Probate Records? Are you able to volunteer a few hours a week on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday in a comfortable, friendly environment? (Hours are flexible!) For information or to volunteer, contact Mary Westerhold at the Madison County Archival Library (618) 656-7569 or at [email protected] A MCHS program on Route 66 in Madison County, NOTE: If you have dust or mold allergies this scheduled for June 2, was cancelled when a severe is NOT the volunteer project for you. However, if storm knocked out power to MCHS facilities and most you are interested in volunteering at the Archival of Edwardsville. Library, we can find a project for you! COMING EVENTS A LOOK AHEAD: PROGRAMMING, FIRST SATURDAYS NEWSLETTERS & EXHIBITS LAND OF GOSHEN COMMUNITY MARKET In November the newsletter will MCHS has signed on as hosts of a community feature nationally known individuals table at the Land of Goshen Community Market in of Madison County a century ago, downtown Edwardsville. Representatives from the especially those with names that might society will be at the popular farmers market on the not be recognized today. The MCHS first Saturday of each month through October. Museum has artifacts related to many of these individuals and welcomes The Land of Goshen Community Market is open suggestions of people to include in this 8 a.m. - Noon every Saturday from the second week issue. in May through the third Saturday in October. It is located on the 100 block of St. Louis Street on the The focus in January 2014 will be south side of the Madison County Courthouse. the three generation Kane family of Produce, plants, organic meat and artisan products architects whose work can be found are available at the market. throughout Madison County. If you can identify a building designed by Stop by the MCHS tent to purchase MCHS Michael Kane, Edward Kane, Sr., or publications, including our new pictorial history of Edward Kane, Jr. please contact Madison County. Volunteers will be happy to Cindy Reinhardt at 618-656-1294.