Princeton IL-Reenactment

Reenactments are colorful,active,nostalgic and historical events,we like to attend them ,learn the history,feel and see the conditions of the soldiers ,smell the smoke of the camp fires and the black powder after the shooting.

The event took place in the beautiful Princeton town park,there was a camp,music ,costumes and shows.

We took the time to walk around ,ask questions and learn about the life in those days.

  

Life was tough especially during the war,the sleeping arrangement were nothing like we are used today,food was not always enough and harsh weather surly did not help lift the moral.

Many people died during the civil war from bullets,canons but more died from sickness and infections.

         

                                                                                                 

The “actors”  took it seriously by playing all the way ,using the right costume,growing  beards and behaving accordingly to that period.

        

One thing is sure, you DO NOT want to be wounded ,remind you that in 1863 sterilization was not yet discovered,doctors did not wash hands, bandages were used again and again and limbs were cut of easily  rather than treated-from this respect I am sure happy not to be around then.

         

“President” Lincoln & Mrs. Lincoln gave a speech and explained some actions taken at those difficult times ,following the Presidential appearance a band played old tunes like “The Rose Of Texas”

                

We really had a great time watching and talking with the “characters” ,it was a very interesting historical event it should be told from one generation to another and we are sorry to say that no to many young people were there-“if you do not know the past you can not live the future”.

Chillicothe IL area

We settled in Chillicothe Recreation area C.G for 4 days,the C.G is run by a very friendly couple ,it has full hookups,WiFi,clean and private bath rooms,it is located on the upper Peonia Lake and just an hour North from the Capitol.

The views and the sunsets were just perfect.

     

We planed to do some side trips among them to see an reenactment ,drive to Dewitt & Pontiac that are located on the Old Hwy 66  and watch barges coming up the river using the locks.

The trip to Dewitt & Pontiac was like steeping back in time  , the old gas stations

 

,museums and the murals  in these small beautiful towns were outstanding,we even found out that a passenger train stops in the old train stations  on the way from Michigan to Springfield and back.

It was a colorful nostalgic day although there are stretches along the Hwy 66 Illinois that are long and boring with views of nothing but huge fields but stops in the small villages are not to be missed, the day did not end before we had a great home made ice cream in a local creamery that was recommended to us by the locals.

Matthiessen S.P IL

Last night at dusk just before dinner there was a fantastic sunset,the sky was clear except a few aircrafts leaving  bright feather shape traces along the flight trail, a magnificent sight that surly deserves to be here.

  

The last day in Utica IL was dedicated to  hike in Matthiessen S.P that is close to Starved Rock S.P and to our C.G,the State Park is a smaller version of its “big brother” Starved Rock S.P ,only 5 miles of hiking and 7 miles for horse rides-but evenly beautiful.

Here again there is no water in the falls in this dry season what means that we have to come again after the snow melts in the Spring.

   

              

                      

We loved the Rock colors,bridges and the vegetation in this small natural paradise.

Ottawa IL Murals

After 3 days of hiking in Starved Rock S.P we decided to take a break before hiking in Matthiessen S.P and drove to the beautiful town of Ottawa IL to see the famous murals and if we were lucky to watch a  barge go through the locks.

The volunteer in the information center was very helpful and surprised to see 4 visitors at this time of the year ,but was happy to be busy for a while instead of being by himself.

The murals decorated huge walls mainly in the center of downtown  mostly “telling” the history of the place and were beautifully painted,here is just a sample of the murals decorating the town.

A brush with history public art program was developed to help revitalize Ottawa’s downtown and create a cultural attraction for tourists and residents of the community. The program is sponsored by the Ottawa Visitors Center and overseen by a committee of citizens devoted to public arts.
The painting program began in 2002. As of early 2005, five murals have been completed, and more are scheduled to begin! The murals thus far have focused on figures or events that have been important to our history, including local industry, prominent citizens, or the creation of a major internal improvements project.

    

 

    

Ottawa was the site of the first of the Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858.

 

All this did not disturb this busy squirrel from getting his tommy full  to be ready for the winter.

After a short beak in the local colorful coffee shop we walked the river trail and watched the barge getting to the locks ,it is a long procedure but sure worth watching.

  

A great day ,with a great weather with great friends….