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Story Subject Category: Historical Landmarks
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Nestled along the bluffs of the Mississippi River, Collinsville, Ill., is home to the world’s largest catsup bottle. The bottle, formerly a water tower for a local catsup bottling plant, had become a bit of an eyesore by the late 1990s. The company that owned it was reluctant to do upkeep and maintenance. By 1993, the plant and the bottle were up for sale. After a community outcry, the town saved the famous bottle.
Segment duration: 05:03
Story links:
Producer: Virginia Steffen
This segment is filed in these categories: Historical Landmarks • Illinois Culture/History • Collinsville • Villa Grove
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Segment duration: 06:12
Producer: Eleanore Stasheff
This segment is filed in these categories: Historical Landmarks • Parks/Outdoor Recreation
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Allerton Park is truly an oasis on the prairie. When you walk through the shaded canopy on a hot summer day, it is incredible to think that Robert Allerton built the entire park out of nothing. The place was the vision of one man and we are lucky that he chose to let us all enjoy it. Eleanore Stasheff’s story does a wonderful job of explaining the history of the park and lets people in on the behind the scenes stories of its creation. My favorite is that the Sun Singer Statue was to originally sit on the patio. But when it arrived from the sculptor, it was quite a bit larger than expected. If placed on the patio, guests would gaze out the parlor windows to be greeted by the Sun Singer’s private parts! I hope this story looking back at the history of the park helps people appreciate this wonderful gift to central Illinois and that all will help to keep the park around for future generation.
Segment duration: 05:41
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Producer: Alison Davis Wood
This segment is filed in these categories: Arts/Culture • Historical Landmarks • Horticulture • Illinois Culture/History • Parks/Outdoor Recreation • University of Illinois • Champaign County • University of Illinois
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The Cahokia Mounds story grabbed my interest immediately because I had never heard that there was once a prosperous Native American city in the Americas. Growing up, the TV shows and movies I had seen always portrayed Native Americans as loose collections of people who were constantly on the move. I had never considered that the ancient residents of America had built long-standing, sedentary communities with complex social structures, sprawling community squares, and ceremonial earthen mounds.
Once we arrived in Cahokia for the video shoot, I was shocked to see that the highway ran right through the middle of this historic site. I was also saddened to learn that many of the mounds in the area have been leveled because of farming, construction, or landscaping efforts over the decades. I’m glad that the site is now recognized for its cultural importance and hope that continued research at the site helps increase the general public’s understanding and appreciation for this unique bit of America’s past. The Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site has a great Web site (http://www.cahokiamounds.com) detailing the history of this ancient city in the middle of Illinois.
Segment duration: 02:56
Story links:
Producer: Alison Davis Wood
This segment is filed in these categories: Ethnicity/Culture • Historical Landmarks • History • Landscape • Illinois Culture/History • Libraries/Museums/Cultural Centers • Native Americana • Parks/Outdoor Recreation
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In the summer of 2006 I got a call from Will Stone. He was asking when we could come down to do a story on his museum in Taylorville. I was a bit confused since I had just returned from maternity leave and could not remember talking to him. But over the conversation I learned that he was a former miner that was dedicated to preserving the history of mining in Illinois. He told me he used to work in the Peabody number 10 mine. My father had friends that worked in that mine and he even had the chance to go visit them underground. My Dad had said it was an incredible experience since the place was so huge, It was an underground city. Then that same week I was in the car with my family and my husband turned on a CD. The first same was “Dark as a Dungeon” by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. The powerful words reminded me of Will and I knew I had to do the story on the Christian County Coal Mining Museum. When Julius, Virginia and I showed up to tape the story, Will had invited some of his friends to the museum. The stories they shared with us about working in the mines were incredible. Will was a very gracious host. I brought with me some mining artifacts that belonged to my husband’s grandfather who had worked in the mines in southern Illinois. Will explained what they were small lanterns that used to hang on the miners hats. He even gave me an extra “soft hat” that he had at the museum so that I could display them properly at home. I encourage anyone who is interested in Illinois history to visit this unique museum in Taylorville. And tell Will that I said hello.
Segment duration: 07:58
Producer: Alison Davis Wood
This segment is filed in these categories: Historical Landmarks • History • Illinois Culture/History • Parks/Outdoor Recreation • Taylorville
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What if we could hop on electric train that could take us home even if we lived in rural Champaign County? Or we could ride that train into town to do grocery shopping? ... Is this a glimpse of the future?… No, it is a look back to the days of the Illinois traction system. This electric train system connected central Illinois with the Midwest. We were lucky to have Illinois Traction Historian Dale Jenkins to tell us the history of the transportation system that was also responsible for bringing electricity to many rural communities. Ian Mitchell produced this story because he had tales of the inter-urban as he was growing up in Tolono. His grandmother is featured in the segment. ... written by Alison Davis Wood
Segment duration: 07:28
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Producer: Ian Mitchell
This segment is filed in these categories: Historical Landmarks • History • Illinois Culture/History • Railroads • Champaign County
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Many towns around central Illinois are trying or have tried to save their major downtown theater. Champaign is succeeding. The Virginia has been serving the community for 80 years. Thankfully local people thought enough of this historic landmark to keep it open. It remains a place to catch local theater, national acts and film festivals. This story produced by longtime Champaign-Urbana theater person Chris Stasheff examines the history of this beautiful building, but also reveals how much is left to be done.
Segment duration: 04:56
Story links:
Producer: Alison Davis Wood
This segment is filed in these categories: Arts/Culture • Cinema/Theaters/Film • Historical Landmarks • Illinois Culture/History • Champaign • Champaign County
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The shoot took two days and was actually a double feature. Douglas County, my home county, offers more than just corn. It also has two agriculture-based amusement parks. The Great Pumpkin Patch and Rockome Gardens are just two miles apart, as the horse pulls.
A fellow producer, Virginia Steffen and I started at Rockome. With movie magic, we hoped to make the gardens look warm, springy and comfortable. In reality, it was cold, windy and miserable weather. Luckily Sasan Shabrou, a Rockome worker and friend, was able to take us around the grounds in a complimentary golf cart. With our transportation problem solved, the equipment moved quickly and so did we.
Day two was colder and possibly windier. Virginia, new recruit Dave Noreen and I worked well into the night, which was actually pleasant. It was just before Halloween and the weather changed for the best, just after the worst part of the shooting schedule.
Despite poor conditions, the Rockome staff was sunny and eager to answer questions. The evening crowd for their treasure hunt was large and in good spirits. The country charm of the gardens warmed everyone. One lucky treasure team left Rockome with $2,500. We left with a delicious meal and two wrapped segments. The second segment will have to wait for another blog and another episode. Stay tuned for part two of our shoot: The Great Pumpkin Patch.
Segment duration: 08:02
Story links:
Producer: Shane Pangburn
This segment is filed in these categories: Historical Landmarks • Horticulture • Illinois Culture/History • Livestock/Animals/Zoology • Parks/Outdoor Recreation • Science/Nature
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It was very cold, windy and rainy the day we set out to tape Guy Fraker. We had planned to shoot in October to capture some fall color ... we weren’t expecting fall rain and snow! As we were loading the van, I debated cancelling the shoot. Meteorologist Mike Sola warned us that conditions could get worse, but Tim and I were willing to give it a try and see what we could get done. I called Mr. Fraker and he was game, so we set out to meet in Clinton. Although the day was miserable, we got some great footage that never gave away how cold it really was. We kept warm with coffee and had Guy stay in his car as much as possible. It reminded us what Lincoln must have faced as he rode the same trails on horseback.
Mr. Fraker was amazing as he braved the wind and rain and spoke spontaneously about Lincoln at each marker. Tim Hartin’s camera angles made each location just a bit more exciting. Sometimes Tim was foiled by our equipment problems, such as a wireless microphone that refused to work. But he always managed to find creative ways to hide the 20+ feet of audio cable that chained Guy to our camera. Virginia Steffen and Julius Bolton were also a big help on these shoots. Virginia had to use some superhuman strength to help hold up the camera on a precarious perch of apple boxes at the Dewitt County/Piatt county Circuit marker. When Julius ran camera, Tim was free to direct Guy at each marker, but Guy really didn’t need much directing. He was a natural, especially when speaking about a subject that he held so dear.
Segment duration: 09:00
Story links:
- Guide to Lincoln Markers by Guy C. Fraker
- Guy C. Fraker bio and contact information
- Lincoln birthday information from the National Park Service
Producer: Alison Davis Woods
Chief Camera - Segment: Tim Hartin, Julius Bolton
This segment is filed in these categories: Historical Landmarks • Illinois Culture/History
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Growing up in Springfield I attended art classes and community events at this beautiful home. But it wasn’t until I produced this story that I really learned the history of this important place in my hometown. In the summer of 2006, as I was coming up with story ideas for the new season, I got a call from a volunteer at Edwards Place in Springfield. I remembered the home and wondered how much it had changed since I was a child. Soon afterward I was in Springfield to take my infant son to a doctor’s appointment so I decided to stop by. I met with curator Amanda Lampert Gleason and after a quick tour we discussed some ideas of how to do the story. She mentioned their upcoming “ghost tour” when re-enactors bring the Edwards family to life. I thought it would be fun to include them in our production and to help viewers visualize what life must have been like in the home in the 1860s. Luckily the actors were happy to help! They all did a great job and it was fun getting a chance to “meet” the Edwards Family.
As we were shooting the story, it was easy to imagine the tremendous parties that had taken place there. In my story I wanted to convey the beauty and elegance of the place, and the shooting and lighting work of Tim Hartin and Julius Bolton did this impressively. Curator Amanda Lampert Gleason was a fascinating interview subject as she knew the facts of the home inside and out. Her love for the history of this home was obvious.
After the story was edited I was very sad to hear that the actor who portrayed Benjamin Edwards had passed away. John Robertson had made the initial call to me that had reawakend my interest in Edwards Place. I’m very grateful that I had a brief chance to meet him when we were taping the story. And I know that the Art Association is very thankful to all the work he has done at Edwards Place over the years. I hope this story is a fitting tribute to his memory.
Segment duration: 07:33
Story links:
- Springfield Art Association
- Edward Place on Online Springfield
- Map of Edwards Place on Superpages.com
Producer: Alison Davis Wood
Editor: Chris Lukeman
This segment is filed in these categories: Arts/Culture • Historical Landmarks • Illinois Culture/History • Springfield
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