Columnist

Thanksgiving here and there

Published by admin on Mon, 11/10/2025 - 10:40am

Can you feel it already? The stores are getting more crowded than usual; the streets are more congested than usual. And you don't need to be inebriated to see turkeys everywhere you look. To interpret these strange phenomena we will look at the origins of Thanksgiving.
First let's look at the holiday itself. Days set aside for giving thanks for bountiful harvests go back into the Stone Age. The traditions vary from huge elaborate celebrations with food and drink, to ceremonies where human sacrifices were made. Luckily for us the latter tradition has become unpopular.

Thanksgiving traditions and entertainments

Published by admin on Mon, 11/10/2025 - 10:33am

In the popular book Lies My Teacher Told Me, James Loewen debunks the Thanksgiving myth. The idea of pilgrims sitting at the table the first year in Plymouth with a band of happy Indians, simply just did not happen. But regardless, Thanksgiving is now a tradition. Let's look at that tradition and see if just how traditional Braidwood was.

When Springfield talks behind closed doors

Published by admin on Sat, 11/08/2025 - 11:52am

House Democratic legislators received a stern lecture during the second week of veto session about leaks from their private party caucus meetings.
During the first week of veto session in October, I posted a photo on my blog of a caucus PowerPoint presentation showing the range of revenue ideas under consideration in the House to fund mass transit… while the caucus was still meeting. That apparently caused quite a stir.

Steinhart & Whitmore, they had it all

Published by admin on Mon, 11/03/2025 - 10:32am

It doesn't take much imagination to turn down town Wilmington into a thriving business area. I do it in my mind all the time. Just look at the buildings, some even have the names of long-gone merchants on them. One of the most solid buildings on Water Street is the old Steinhart & Whitmore store built of stone two stories high. During the first decade of the 20th century it was the place to go for all the most modern upgrades for home and more.

The City of Coal, a baby picture

Published by admin on Mon, 11/03/2025 - 10:27am

“With the onward march of time the vast coal fields adjacent to this city are being developed. Mother Earth is being disemboweled on all sides, and among the jewels of her existence, few are more sought for than the precious black diamonds that adorn the crown of King Coal.”

Toll and tax increase to bailout transit

Published by admin on Sat, 11/01/2025 - 12:16pm

Last May, several Illinois House Democrats complained bitterly that their mass transit negotiators were ignored and even shut-out by the Senate Democratic mass transit negotiators.
The House members had a point. The Senate passed a bill which was an almost purely Senate Democratic creation. They literally gave the House a “take it or leave it, but you have to decide right now” moment during the final minutes of the spring legislative session.

Dr. James Backus, left his mark in Braidwood

Published by admin on Mon, 10/27/2025 - 10:51am

Frequently we have spoken about the brave miners who were injured in the mines. Many a miner had to fight for his life against the odds. But he was not alone; fighting on his side was a doctor. One of the most successful doctors in early Braidwood was Dr. John Backus.
Backus was born in 1845 at Ontario, Canada to wealthy parents. His father is described like this, “He was educated as a lawyer, but was a retired gentleman.” John got his first medical degree at McGill University at Montreal and a second medical degree at College of Physicians and Surgeons at Ontario.

Making way for the 20th century

Published by admin on Mon, 10/27/2025 - 10:47am

As the 20th century dawned in Wilmington, it found the citizens up for the challenge. They embraced all the newest technologies such as the automobile and the telephone exchange. And now, electricity, once just a toy for entertainment, was being called for by forward thinking people. But change is never easy.

Lawmakers apprehensive about new union pick

Published by admin on Sun, 10/26/2025 - 2:59pm

At the end of the 2024 spring state legislative session, the Illinois Federation of Teachers issued a decidedly diplomatic press release.
IFT President Dan Montgomery praised the new state budget as “crucial for our state's success,” and applauded increases in K-12 and early childhood education funding.
Montgomery did criticize the “meager” increase in higher education funding and called on the state to “ensure full funding for PreK-12, higher education, and early childhood” programs now.

Temperance in Braidwood, the other side of the coin

Published by admin on Mon, 10/20/2025 - 10:57am

Those who know a bit about early Braidwood history, know that saloons play a large role. But today we flip the coin over and look at the early temperance (no alcohol) societies that rarely get mentioned or notice.