Honoring the rich history of rural western Illinois, and examining the problems we currently face
ON THIS EPISODE We're pleased to begin a multi-part examination of one of the greatest history books about our Forgottonia region; the western (or anti-western) book called “Dime Novel Desperados: The Notorious Maxwell Brothers” by Dr. John Hallwas. Shout out to CHS students Audrey Cozart & Aaron Zimmerman for helping with this episode. Be sure …
The Forgottonia Project is pleased to announce our local history podcast book review series. Our first book study will feature an analysis of Dr. John Hallwas’s 2011 book “Dime Novel Desperados: The Notorious Maxwell Brothers.” Dr. Hallwas visited our class at Cuba High School to discuss his book Dime Novel Desperados ABOUT THE BOOK Dime …
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Have you ever wondered who lived a long time ago in the very place you’re living right now? Did you know there are incredible ancient cities that existed right here in IL? And that people have been trying to find out for years what happened to these cities. On this episode of the Forgottonia Project, …
Continue reading "S4, E1 – The Mystery of Cahokia Mounds with Archaeologist Bill Iseminger"
GREENE COUNTY POPULATION: 13,886, INTERESTING FACTS: Named for Revolutionary figure, Nathaniel Greene. Home of prehistoric archaeological Koster Site, one of the oldest known cemetery sites in North America and the Center for American Archaeology's most important discovery. MAJOR CITIES: White Hall: - Population 2,520 The town got its name from a long, white tavern owned …
Continue reading "History of all 16 Counties: #6 Greene County"
FULTON COUNTY POPULATION: 37,069, INTERESTING FACTS: Named for Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steamboat. Home of Camp Ellis a WWII prisoner of war camp. Home of Edgar Lee Masters author of Spoon River Anthology. Known for Spoon River Scenic drive, a tradition since 1968 that happens on the first 2 weekends of October attracting …
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CASS COUNTY POPULATION: 13,642, INTERESTING FACTS: Named for former Secretary of State and general Lewis Cass. Home of the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area. MAJOR CITIES: Beardstown - Population 6,123. Home to a large pork slaughterhouse that has attracted a large immigrant population. Home to the famous Almanac Trial defense where …
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CALHOUN COUNTY POPULATION: 5,089 INTERESTING FACTS: 3rd least populated county in Illinois. Often called “The Island” because the course of the IL and MS rivers form the county into a peninsula. Named after former VP John C. Calhoun. Home to Two Rivers National Park featuring several migrating birds as well as its summer peaches. The …
Continue reading "History of all 16 Counties: #3 Calhoun County"
BROWN COUNTY POPULATION: 6,937 INTERESTING FACTS: Named for US General Jakob Brown who defeated the British at the Battle of Sackett's Harbor in 1813. Home to Western IL Corrections Center. Home to Siloam Springs National Park. MAJOR CITIES: Mount Sterling - Population 2,025, serves as the county seat. The railroad during the 1860s increased the …
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ADAMS COUNTY POPULATION: 67,103 INTERESTING FACTS: Westernmost county in state. Most populated county in Forgottonia. Named for 6th president John Quincy Adams. Includes part of the Great River National Wildlife Refuge. MAJOR CITIES: Quincy - population 40,366. Also named for 6th president John Quincy Adams. Was once the 2nd largest city in IL in 1870. …
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The Forgottonia Project 