www.boonecountyjournal.com In Our 20th Year 815-544-4430 The Boone County Journal June 5th, 2015 1 FREE COUNTY LOCAL NEWS, OPINION & HISTORY Real Journalism for a Real Democracy www.boonecountyjournal.com Published Every Friday • June 5, 2015 • Vol 20 • Issue 6 No. 994 school systems agreed to consolidate with neighbors to Mr. Madison became the first shopkeeper in Genoa What Genoa Was; create a more efficient means to distribute public education with a store featuring general merchandise. Some of his to a wide audience at, presumably, a lower cost. early sales records remain available today to show the What Genoa Is After consolidation the movement of children from early entry of sales dating to May 12, 1843. The original By James Middleton their homes to their schools was accomplished through settlement of Genoa consisted of four developed blocks the use of busing. The Genoa High School remained in of property. The first industries that appeared in Genoa The very idea of a reunion is one that was popular downtown Genoa for decades before being replaced with was a village sawmill and a distillery, for obvious but and annually repeated in the 19th Century and earlier but a new high school. By the late 20th Century, after passage different reasons. However, Genoa was and continues to the practice began to dwindle by the late 20th Century. of a school bond referendum, the current Genoa/Kingston be known as primarily an agricultural community. Today the practice of sponsoring a reunion is more often High School was built on the west side of town to also Many of those that live in town and their brethren considered an idea that is hopelessly out of step with the afford closer proximity to Kingston. from the rural areas around the village will congregate day. Often these celebrations occur today a community The Village of Genoa was founded at about 1835 when at the 80th Annual Genoa Days. The fun and festivities wide event or perhaps to commemorate a historic event or Thomas Madison, a Revolutionary War Veteran from planned for this year are bigger than in years past with maybe the reunion occurs at a county fair. Ashtabula, Ohio travelled west and stopped on the banks the Genoa Days King and Queen contest being decided The village of Genoa, however, has striven to sustain of the Kishwaukee River were Genoa is today. Historic Wednesday night, June 10, at 8 p.m. the very idea of a reunion and will do so at the 80th Annual records attest that the name of “Genoa” was borrowed for Thursday night is another big evening with Genoa Days event that begins on Wednesday, June 10 and the new site in Illinois from the town of Genoa, New York entertainment from 6:30 until 9:30 p.m. provided by runs through Thursday, Friday and Saturday June 13 with though no one remains who can confirm why that name Towes and Thursday is also Kid’s Wristband Night. a wide variety of family-fun entertainment. The old and was chosen by an Ohioan. Friday, June 12 features the Wade Buzzard Band from young will gather as they have for decades to reminisce The collection of people that settled near Mr. Madison 6:30 until 9:30 p.m. Saturday begins at 8:30 a.m. with while others will play and meet in downtown to be a part was incorporated into a town in 1876. Later, on September Brett’s 5K Walk and Run followed by the 4H Children’s of the reunion. But any reunion tells only part of the story 9, 1911, the town was incorporated into a city. Pet Show at 10:30 a.m. Later, at 1 p.m. is the big Genoa of what Genoa was or of what is Genoa. With transportation or access to transportation being Days Parade through the center of downtown. From The photograph shown here is of the early Genoa High a primary reason why some villages and town thrive and 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. features the Beth Fowler School of School. The village matured as a collection of people others fail, Genoa grew resulting from the village being a Dance and Genoa Days closes from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. that resided at the confluence of transportation outlets. stop along the Galena—Chicago Trail. That Trail was a with Beaux on the big stage. The village is connected to the network of the Illinois route on a stagecoach line that ran from the middle-1830s Genoa Days is sponsored by the Genoa-Kingston highway system with Illinois Route 23 and Illinois Route until 1854. It was about 1854 when the railroad network Fire Department. The rides and midway attractions are 72 intersecting. The village also provided a site for the across northern Illinois expanded providing more efficient provided by Skinner’s Amusements and the big bingo connection of the former Soo Line and the Chicago, transportation and the stagecoach line disappeared due to events are sponsored by the Genoa Lions Club. Genoa Central & Pacific railroads. Genoa is also touched by the a lack of use. Days is a reunion event that Senior’s and youngsters meandering Kishwaukee River that passes through the The development of the stagecoach lines across the alike will enjoy with entertainment designed to appeal to west side of town. Midwest resulted elsewhere for many of the same reasons visitors of all ages. Don’t miss any of the fun at the 80th It is believed that the Genoa school system began the Galena—Chicago line thrived. Even in the 1830s Annual Genoa Days celebration. sometime in the late 1800s. It was near the turn of the freight, US Mail and passengers needed to move from The Journal wants to recognize that the photograph century when the first Genoa High School was built. one place to another. The stagecoach lines of those days used here was from the Illinois High School Glory Days That high school served the village for more than 40 developed and prospered until another stagecoach line and was also available through the Illinoi State Archives. years before, in 1947, the school system agreed to be that was larger consolidated with the smaller. This cycle Additional research information was obtained from a consolidated with the Village of Kingston. It was after the of industrial consolidation was as apparent in the 19th number of websites associated with Wikipedia.com the end of World War II when many Illinois and Midwestern Century as it is still today in the 21st Century. “Internet Encyclopedia.” continued on next page..... 2 June 5th, 2015 The Boone County Journal 815-544-4430 In Our 20th Year www.boonecountyjournal.com Over 300 new and used vehicles Full Service Department in-stock, with more arriving daily! We carry new Chevrolet models as well as We can service any make or model other pre-owned makes (Chevrolet, GMC, Loaner vehicles available Pontiac, Cadillac, Buick, Honda, Dodge, Ford, Hummer, Jeep, Toyota, and more!) Service Hours: M-F 7:30-5:00 If we don’t have it, we will find it for you! Sat 8:00-1:00 Sales Hours: 700 Pearson Dr. M-Th 9:00-7:00 Fri 9:00-6:00 Genoa, IL 60135 Sat 9:00-3:00 800-NEW-CHEVY www.Chevys4Less.com www.boonecountyjournal.com In Our 20th Year 815-544-4430 The Boone County Journal June 5th, 2015 3 City Leaders Should Shape the Future One mistake that many voters make is to elect politicians that claim they can solve the public’s problems while claiming they know what they are doing. Few ask what local elected officials know of urban planning or other complicated public affairs. Yet, that is a question that voters should ponder before entering a voting booth and making Est. 1996 a choice. Est. 1996 The current collection of elected city officials are who the voters chose to make long and short term plans and that is perhaps the most important element of the job that a local elected officials execute. One example of when local Real Journalism For A Real Democracy planning was lacking occurred when a property owner offered a commercial building to the city for $1. There may have likely been no planning as to what the city would do with that structure before the transaction was made. Publisher David C. Larson When the title to the Leath Building was conveyed, smiles radiated from City Hall and many city officials had Editor James Middleton no idea what they bought for $1. With that purchase, the city was saddled with a building of marginal historic value Design/AdvertisingDena Roethler harboring a deteriorating interior under a collapsing roof. The City Council argued for a while how to repair the roof but no decision followed and not one shingle has been replaced. With the passage of time since this gift was Advertising Cathy Wargo bequeathed to the city, nothing is being done about this public nuisance. Advertising Danielle Wilson Not long after the gift was received the applause peeling from City Hall must have shocked the white wine crowd at Growth Dimensions and the Chamber of Commerce. Their shock likely emerged from being expected Reporter Ronnie Thompson to do something for the community. To no one’s surprise, neither did anything. No one appeared who wanted to Photography Susan Moran do anything with the Leath Building except to let the place collapse. Planning by elected officials reassembles the David Grimm April 1938 - Dec. 2000 situation with the Leath Building and still the city has no viable plan to manage city infrastructure over the next five Richelle Kingsbury Aug.