Honoring the rich history of rural western Illinois, and examining the problems we currently face
"I thought about leaving and then life happened and I stayed and I'm glad I did. I raised my kids here. I still teach here and I wouldn't want it any other way." Nicole Thum Mrs. Nicole Thum shows Cooper and Sam a picture of her elementary class at the Smithfield Red Brick School ON …
"We need to become informed activists. This Forgottonia movement lasted only a short time. That won't work. It will take years to implement change and we must be willing to expend that." Bill Edley ON THIS EPISODE As part of our Oral History in Forgottonia series, Cuba High School students Cadie & Courtney Churchill continue …
"The concept of Forgottonia was that this region was neglected by urban centers, but that wasn't really the problem. The problem was we don't engage at the community level like we should. Bill Edley ON THIS EPISODE As part of our Oral History in Forgottonia series, Cuba High School students Cadie & Courtney Churchill continue …
"Mining played a really big part in our town. At one time our population was 2,500, but now it's down to 1,200. This population is the biggest legacy of mining. Most people we know who live in our community have ancestors who worked in the mine." Dick Mowery, local mining enthusiast and former CHS educator …
“When small towns lose, we lose a piece of ourselves.” Marcus Boyer ON THIS EPISODE As part of our Oral History in Forgottonia series, Cuba High School juniors Cooper Leonard and Sam Thum explore the history and impact of the old Red Brick School in Smithfield, Illinois. Like many small towns, the school in Smithfield …
"I couldn't wait to leave, but then I couldn't wait to come home." Lori Noe ON THIS EPISODE As part of our Oral History in Forgottonia series, Cuba High School juniors Cooper Leonard and Sam Thum explore the history and impact of the old Red Brick School in Smithfield, Illinois. Like many small towns, the …
"We live in an unprecedented era, when community is under siege from a variety of forces, & the negative ramifications of that are continually mounting." John Hallwas, On Community: A Crucial Issue, a Small Town, and a Writer's Experience ON THIS EPISODE We begin our series on the book "On Community: A Crucial Issue, a …
ON THIS EPISODE "The railroads depended on population and product. The population and product depended on shipping. The railroads became the most valuable method of shipping, particularly for landlocked areas like Illinois." -Bill Leitze As part of our Oral History in Forgottonia series, Cuba High School senior Gavin Johnson sits down with local Railroad enthusiast, …
ON THIS EPISODE "The two most dangerous occupations were agricultural, and mining. I was raised on a farm and worked on the mines." David Lidwell As part of our Oral History in Forgottonia series, Cuba High School junior Braxton Humphrey interviews former miner David Lidwell, about his knowledge and experience working in the mining industry. …
"The community did the best they could with that school, rather than let it sit vacant." Daryle Coleman ON THIS EPISODE As part of our Oral History in Forgottonia series, Cuba High School sophomore Cooper Leonard interviews Retired principal, Daryle Coleman, about her experience with the closure of the Red Brick School in Smithfield, Illinois. …
The Forgottonia Project 