Local History

[pesoto74]

I found this and it didn't really fit anywhere else, and I thought it might be interesting to someone.  It is an extensive history of The street railways of Urbana and Champaign.
http://www-faculty.cs.uiuc.edu/~friedman/champaign-urbana/Chapter01.htm

[andmac]

You all should find this of interest-and a little known part of our Champaign/Vermilion County History

http://www.trailofdeath.org/

[pesoto74]

I think it was andmac that first posted this when we were on the old CN forums.  I thought it was interesting and worth posting here for those of you who may not have seen it there.

Water Mill at Grape Creek, Vermilion Co., Illinois

[Butterfly]

When I was married the second time, we lived in Grapecreek.  I used to enjoy the drive to and from work the back way, past the water treatment plant (except for the smell).  It reminded me of Tennessee.  I know this has nothing to do with the article you posted, but hey, your the one who brought up that memory.  

[pesoto74]

My ex grew up in Hawbuck and her sister still lived there so we used to go out that way.  It also reminded me of Tennessee.  The only thing I didn't like about it is how in the summer there would be so much dust stirred up on some of the roads.  It seemed like everything by the road would be covered by dust then.

[andmac]

My first batch of Vermilion county kin (1820's) are buried out at Parrish Cemetery in Grape Creek. Always felt werid going there, like you are driving through someone's back yard.

[Butterfly]

This isn't local, but it's history and I thought it was interesting.

On Paris street, layers of history are bared

Story

[Guardian Angel]

I'll bet that history could be found beneath the streets of any city in the US or the world for that matter.

[pesoto74]

This reminds me of when I lived in Paris Illinois and saw that one day some road work had uncovered a very nice brick street.  Unfortunately, all they were doing was removing a layer of new paving.  Soon they covered the bricks up again. 

Here is a picture of a building that I had an office in when I lived in Paris.  The place originally was called the Hotel France.

[Guardian Angel]

Here in Sikeston they are removing all the tar layers from the streets downtown revealing the old brick roads.  It's a nice touch for the downtown area since a lot of the buildings are really old.

[andmac]

They were doing some street work in San Antonio on Alamo Plaza...not only did they find several layers of old street, but as well the original pathing blocks made from mesquite wood. Also the old trollly tacks were still there.

[Nan]

I think it was andmac that first posted this when we were on the old CN forums.  I thought it was interesting and worth posting here for those of you who may not have seen it there.

Water Mill at Grape Creek, Vermilion Co., Illinois

A few years ago, I was for what ever reason doing a google on crawdads and came across this site. The link I'm going to post is actually for a Josephine Henthorn Bolerjack. Her family moved to the Heights when she was young and lived over on Oakwood Avenue. Her story was quite interesting and then she wrote the story of her husband, They were the first couple married in the Vermilion Heights Church and she lived in the house across the street from me when they were first married. Last I knew she was in Arizona. She and I corresponded for a while, but I lost contact with her. The last I knew she was having problems with her vision, so I don't know what happened to her.

http://members.aol.com/RYouCuz/bolstory.htm#top

[Guardian Angel]

Thanks Nan.  That was interesting.

[pesoto74]

I read some of the other stories on that site also.  It is too bad that more people don't write down their memories.  I think each of us has a unique perspective on the history that we live, although I tend to think that many wrongly believe that our personal story is not important.

[Oops Did I Do That]

I have a few questions for anyone whom may be able to answer them...... I was born in 1976 so I didnt get to live out much history as of yet,although one of my passions is Vermilion County history.First one is what is the exact reason for St Elizabeth hospital being torn down?I took a walk through there a while back and I thought it was in pretty decent shape.Next one is what is the OLDEST standing stucture in Danville as of today?
Thank you anyone who can answer!