Time Was

Summer time and circuses, a kid's dream

Published by admin on Tue, 07/28/2020 - 12:21pm

When I was very young, 4 years old I think, I went to see Barnum & Bailey's circus under the big top. It wasn't long after that they abandoned tents for large stadiums. It was magic. I got to ride on a real elephant, pet beautiful horses and gawk in the side show exhibits. I still remember some of that day after all these years. Circuses are passé these days, cruelty to animals and such. But time was when the circus was what a kid waited for all year long.

The age of the auto, the roaring 20s

Published by admin on Tue, 07/21/2020 - 10:08am

When I think of the roaring 20s the image that comes to mind usually includes the automobile. Whether it's gangsters gunning down other gangsters from a speeding car, to Zelda with her long flowing scarf tooling around too fast for conditions. Today we look at the beginning of the age of the auto in Wilmington.

Shoving the queer, or how to defraud your neighbors

Published by admin on Tue, 07/21/2020 - 10:04am

I hope no one is thinking that the above phrase has anything to do with homophobia. In the 19th century “shoving the queer” meant passing counterfeit money. According to Wikipedia, people have been counterfeiting money since 500 years before Christ. It has even been known as the “second oldest profession.” Today we are following the money, the bad money.

Not a roar, but a whimper, the 1920s

Published by admin on Tue, 07/14/2020 - 10:02am

The roaring 1920s has a reputation as wild as Braidwood herself used to be. Prohibition notwithstanding, it was a time for parties. Was it like that in Braidwood? Today we look at the beginning of the decade to see if it truly came in like a lion.

No vaccine for this disease; base ball fever

Published by admin on Tue, 07/14/2020 - 9:52am

I know I have it, and I also know there is no cure. There is only one thing that will alleviate the symptoms, but at this time it is totally unavailable. Yes, I am talking about base ball fever. I long to see a live game, in person or on a screen. Reruns of old games don't cut it. I always know how it's going to turn out, unlike a live game where anything can happen and usually does.
So, in the spirit of the moment, let's take a virtual tour of baseball in Wilmington through the ages. Also note that I spell the name of the game with two words, as was done up until the 1920s.

Reading photos, draw your own conclusions

Published by admin on Tue, 07/07/2020 - 10:52am

I can hear the music in my head, from PBS's TV show The History Detectives. It happens to me every time I feel like I have a puzzle to figure out. I'm putting on my Sherlock Holmes hat, come Watson the game is afoot.
I recently reviewed the photos I have of people and organizations in Braidwood history. Two photos caught my interest, and I realized that they represented the very violent history of Braidwood. We know little about who these people were, but we do know they were “packing.”

Save the speeches, it's the 4th of July

Published by admin on Tue, 07/07/2020 - 10:28am

As far as I can see the 4th of July is for having fun with friends, fireworks and feasting. We wear red, white and blue, watch patriotic movies and exercise our many freedoms. I am not sure how the 4th was celebrated before the Civil War, but after, it was a solemn occasion indeed. Let's go back to see the evolution of our most patriotic of all holidays.

Prosperity and problems went hand in hand

Published by admin on Tue, 06/30/2020 - 9:21am

We have seen the nation's economy tank, all due to the coronavirus. How it will get better is not obvious. Braidwood in 1877 was a small version of this. Coal had not been mined for over a year. Businesses moved to other towns, or closed entirely. When the strike was over, and men were ready to get back to work, things moved slowly at first. Let's see how Braidwood got back on its feet.

Summer festivals 1870s style

Published by admin on Tue, 06/30/2020 - 9:21am

Good weather is finally here, and in normal times thousands of Will County citizens would be going to the County Fair, or Catfish Days, or one of the many town festivals near us. But almost everything has been cancelled. So today we will attend virtual festivals. There was no more popular decade for festivities than the 1870s, set the way-back and bring your appetite.

A night on the town, let's take in a show

Published by admin on Tue, 06/23/2020 - 2:29pm

I miss going out for an evening or afternoon of entertainment. Even just going to a movie; it's not the same experience at home. So I looked at what kind of entertainment the 1800s had in Braidwood. Weirdly enough we are going to start with an entertainment that was occasioned by the unfortunate shooting of City Marshal Muldowney.