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Sickness and death, St. Rose's struggles in 1875

Published by admin on Wed, 09/27/2017 - 9:00am

    Last time we talked about the earliest history of St. Rose of Lima, and took you through the building of the brick church. For those who wondered where this church was, we have determined that it was on Chicago Street one block west of the old train depot on the north side of the street.
    We also believe that the church plus rectory would probably have taken up more than one lot.

Celebrate Halloween with a Candy Corn Martini or shot

Published by admin on Wed, 09/27/2017 - 9:00am

    About this time of year our local supermarkets remind us that Halloween is coming. Yes, this advance notice seems to come earlier with each passing year. I'm willing to overlook the untimely Halloween displays in mid-September (summer) if those displays include the heart and soul of Halloween. Of course I'm talking about candy corn.
    Ah, yes, candy corn. It's not Halloween without it, and as we will find out this week it's not just for the kids. Reintroduce candy corn to your guests this year with the official cocktail of Halloween, The Candy Corn Martini.

This canister not as old as the original Quaker

Published by admin on Wed, 09/27/2017 - 9:00am

 

Do you have a vintage tin canister as part of your home decorating? While it may appear to be authentic, you’d be surprised how many are false reproductions of the real thing.

From riverbank to hill, 150 years of faith

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2017 - 9:00am

There is no doubt; the history of Will County is intertwined with history of the Catholic community, and the history of Wilmington and the surrounding communities, no less so.
Consider that the first white man in Wilmington was Father Marquette, a Catholic missionary and explorer who passed through in 1673 and Father Hennepin a few years later.
The French voyageurs that plied the rivers also brought the Catholic religion with them as they traded with the tribes of the Plains. But the story of the organized church probably begins with the I&M Canal.

For variety, try Nell's Hall, but watch out for the Mrs.

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2017 - 9:00am

    Gathering places for events, especially entertainment oriented can be hard to find in a small town. Not so in the 19th century, when folks with an eye to make money built “halls” to accommodate all kinds of gatherings.
    We have written about Music Hall in Braidwood, but there was another public hall built earlier. High class it wasn't; but the variety of events that took place there couldn't be beat. And apparently neither could Mrs. Nell.

Summer cocktails you might have missed

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2017 - 9:00am

    The beaches are empty, it's baseball and football season, and depending on where you live, fall may or may not be in the air.
    The change of seasons is officially upon us as we mark the end of summer on Sept. 22. Does your drink of choice change with seasons? Mine certainly does.
    My summer is mostly rum and tequila cocktails while cool fall and winter nights are made for bourbon, Scotch and Irish whiskey.

The more albums sold, the less they are worth

Published by admin on Wed, 09/20/2017 - 8:00am

 

A vintage country album featuring a take-it-or- leave-it love song struck a chord with The White Glove last week at a Bourbonnais antique store.

Everyone’s leaving office but Madigan

Published by admin on Mon, 09/18/2017 - 1:12pm

    Late last Thursday night I was chasing a story about the rumored retirement of state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, Illinois’ first ever female House Majority Leader, when I got a text message from a high-level employee of Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
    She asked if she could call me Friday morning about something her boss was doing that day. I said of course, and went back to work.
    A few minutes later, Leader Currie finally returned my repeated calls and texts and I forgot all about the AG Madigan request.

What's in a name, popular remedies in 1877

Published by admin on Wed, 09/13/2017 - 9:00am

    Of all the businesses that came and went in Braidwood, we have never mentioned the druggists. It is an oversight that I am correcting.
    Surely the druggist was one of the most necessary businesses in an era where manual labor in dangerous environments, and wretched health conditions existed.
    However, the drugs that were sold were not exactly like the kind we get over the counter now. Set the way-back machine for 1877.
    The first mention of any druggists that I can find is a Mr. Allison, Barr & Watson and Dr. Henri LeCaron in 1877.

Soda from tree bark had healing powers

Published by admin on Wed, 09/13/2017 - 9:00am

 

A rarely seen effervescent flavor popped out at The White Glove last week while meandering through a downtown Wilmington antique shop.