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My mom first taught me about Vachel Lindsay. On the wall in her bedroom she had autographed copy of one of his poems. It originally belonged to my grandmother. It was a present from her teacher upon her 8th grade graduation. The teacher had asked Lindsay to sign poems for the entire class and he had graciously obliged. It was a treasured possession in our house and a reminder of another famous man from my hometown. It inspired me to learn more about Lindsay’s poetry and his life in central Illinois. I learned that my grandmother had another connection to Lindsay. She had Susan Wilcox as an English teacher at Springfield High School, the same teacher who was a great influence on Lindsay’s life.
When the state beautifully restored Lindsay’s home, I knew it was time to put my interest in Lindsay to tape and produce a story on him for Prairie Fire. The story was even more fun to do because I got to interview Jennie Battles. I first met Jennie when I was planning my wedding and she worked at the Old State Capitol. Her love of Springfield and Illinois history is infectious. Her tours of the Lindsay home are so incredible that you feel the Lindsay family’s presence in every room. It is something you have to experience for yourself.
Segment duration: 08:46
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Producer: Alison Davis Wood
This segment is filed in these categories: Arts/Culture • Illinois Culture/History • Literature • Springfield
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