Columnist

The 1890's continued, an old resident dies

Published by admin on Tue, 01/31/2023 - 10:40am

We are continuing our look at Braidwood in the 1890's through the eyes of the Joliet papers. The next news concerns Thomas Miller Beach alias Dr Henry LeCaron, the famous doctor, pharmacist, politician and British spy.
From April 2, 1894 issue of the Joliet Republican: The spy, Le Caron, who was prominently identified with the charges against the last Charles Stewart Parnell, died Sunday from a painful malady from which he had long suffered.”

February 1923, autos, roads, frog and a king

Published by admin on Tue, 01/31/2023 - 10:29am

The above headline might make you think that I had gone slightly mad. But 100 years ago there were so many things going on, it's hard to put them together. You will see what I mean.
The first week a strange ad appeared in the Advocate. It said, “Who is the frog?” and “It's worth $1,000 to a woman or girl.”
I find no other mention of this in succeeding papers. It could be some sort of ad campaign, but just for females. I have no clues.

Celebrate Mardi Gras with a Hurricane cocktail

Published by admin on Mon, 01/30/2023 - 12:59pm

Mardi Gras season’s 2023 is about to kick into high gear, officially beginning on February 17 and running through Fat Tuesday on February 22.
The Mardi Gras parade schedule will pick up in the coming weeks, and you will need a few accessories if you plan on attending the festivities. You will need a brightly colored mask, beads, perhaps a funny hat, and the quintessential Mardi Gras cocktail: The Hurricane.
I love a cocktail with a good back story, this is one of my favorites. The Hurricane is a “problem solver”

Here’s why carmakers are leaving Illinois

Published by admin on Sun, 01/29/2023 - 11:20am

The Rockford Register-Star reported last week that the state of Illinois “has submitted what could be its best offer to keep the Belvidere Assembly Plant operating and save what could be thousands of jobs.”
Stellantis announced in December it would idle its Jeep Cherokee assembly plant in February. So, there appears to be a glimmer of hope that the state can finally notch a victory with a carmaker after years of trying.

1862, what and who was coming and going

Published by admin on Tue, 01/24/2023 - 10:11am

We are still on the river in 1862. The canal boats were constantly coming in and out. But what were they bringing in and out? And who was doing it? Let's find out.
The marine list for May and June showed just one kind of cargo coming in, and that was lumber. The demand for lumber was incredible. Why? Because we live on the prairie, or we did back then.
Large trees had already been harvested by that time, and the smaller trees were now falling to the axe. Wood was gold for a farmer, think house, heat for cooking, heat for home, fencing, barn, chicken coop, etc.

Packed with a punch, try this Derby Daiquiri

Published by admin on Mon, 01/23/2023 - 12:29pm

It has been a rough ride for the bar and restaurant business over the last three years. A shut down during a global pandemic followed by uncertainty around rules and regulations for reopening proved to be too much for many bars.
Fort Lauderdale's legendary Mai Kai Polynesian Restaurant and Tiki Bar has been closed since late 2020 for a myriad of reasons, and its future was in doubt until a South Florida-based investment group teamed up with the Thornton family to save one of the world's greatest bars.

1890's, a scattering here and there

Published by admin on Mon, 01/23/2023 - 12:18pm

We have been looking at typical weeks in the life of the Braidwood community. I would like to do the same for the 1890's, but I can't. My information mostly comes from the Wilmington newspapers.
At one time the editor and publisher of the Wilmington Advocate also had a newspaper called the Braidwood Republican. He often used some of the same stories in both papers. Hmmm, this sort of sounds familiar to me, oh well, on with the story.

Lawmakers fired up over sheriffs’ dissent to assault weapons ban

Published by admin on Sun, 01/22/2023 - 10:07am

“All they are saying,” claimed Illinois Sheriff’s Association executive director Jim Kaitschuk about dozens of his members, “is ‘We’re not going to knock on people's doors to ask whether they have registered their firearms. And if they're arrested solely on that charge, we will not house them in our jails until ordered to do so by a competent authority.”

1862, prosperity floated high hopes

Published by admin on Tue, 01/17/2023 - 10:39am

What can I say about the summer of 1862? Yes, there was a war going on, but at home there was gladness everywhere because Alden's improvements on the Kankakee opened Wilmington up to the world and its money.
We have a first hand account of what it was like in May 1862 from the Wilmington Independent.
Our River Improvement - The arrival of six Canal Boats at this port since our last issue, has not only given a pleasing commercial appearance to our town, but has in a degree, demonstrated that practical advantages we are to derive from the construction of this work.

A week in the life of Braidwood, June 12, 1885

Published by admin on Tue, 01/17/2023 - 9:37am

Today we jump a decade from last week to 1885. Let's see what has changed. All of these items came from the Braidwood column in the Wilmington Advocate.
The Braidwood schools well probably close on the 26th inst. It's interesting that the closing date of the schools is not definite.