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This sketch showing the barns at the Academy at St. Mary-of-the-Woods is one of many that were done by Mother Anastasie during her lifetime. Mother Anastasie was born Oct. 13, 1826, as Jane Brown at North Arm and became a good friend with St. Mother Theodore Guerin the founder of the Sisters of Providence at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
Sisters pioneered North Arm
The North Arm Section was the first area of Edgar County to be settled. In 1817, early settlers moved into the area and set up a little town, and little did any of them know that one of their … more
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William Zeckendorf, right, poses with an unknown man for a photo with the iconic Chrysler Building jutting out of the New York skyline in the background. Zeckendorf owned the Chrysler Building at one time as part of his New York City real estate holdings.
Paris’ forgotten mogul
Throughout the existence of Paris many have been born here. Some move on and are forgotten, but others stamp their names into the history books. One such person started life in Paris and rode a … more
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An undated image shows an interurban car at the Paris station. The interurban light rail transit system arrived in Paris in 1907. The sign in the foreground reads: “Notice All Vehicles Are Forbidden to Pass Through These Grounds.”
The amazing interurban
Within the lifetime of some older senior citizens is an era when one could step on an interurban rail car at Paris and travel as far as Cleveland, Ohio, in speed and relative comfort. Jeffrey … more
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The original Paris Hospital on Crawford Street was founded in 1915.
Early medicine in Edgar County
(Editor’s Note: much of the information for this story was gleaned from a 17-page pamphlet written by nurse Edythe Zimmerly Stephens. The pamphlet is titled “A History of Edgar County, Illinois … more
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A Looking for Lincoln display in the Edgar County Historical Society Annex features items typical of the time Lincoln visited Edgar County while riding the Eighth Judicial Circuit. The desk in the display was in the Edgar County Courthouse of Lincoln’s time.
Abe Lincoln revisits Paris
A man resembling “Honest Abe” Lincoln rode horseback into Paris Sept. 14, 1976, as part of the local celebration of the nation’s bicentennial. Richard Blake, a famous portrayer of Lincoln, … more
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Patti McHenry is leading an effort by the Edgar County Historical Society and the Daughters of the American Revolution to raise money for cleaning and repairing this monument to Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Edgar County. Donations may be made in care of the Edgar County Historical Society, 408 N. Main St., Paris Il., 61944. A total of $1,200 is needed and a local monument company is doing the work.
DAR restoring markers
A large stone on the Edgar County Courthouse lawn has two markers that represent the Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Edgar County. One plaque was placed on the stone in 1921 and the other in … more
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This house on state Route 1 looks different than when it served as the Buckeye School, but it has been the Carwell family home since 1958.
Second life of Buckeye School
The old one-room schools that were so prevalent in Edgar County are almost lost to the memories of those who taught in them or were students. During the early 20th Century, there were 142 … more
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The burning of the Yule log during the winter solstice is a practice that pre-dates Christmas by centuries but became an important part of the Christian celebration, especially in northern Europe. This wood cut depicts the placing of a Yule log in a hearth during the Elizabethan period.
Christmas’ older brother
Pagan Scandinavians, in a centuries old tradition, burned a large log or tree as part of the winter solstice festival. This particular celebration was named Jol and pronounced Yule. It was named … more
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Historical re-enactors from the George Rogers Clark Museum at Vincennes, Ind., contributed to the Dec. 2 Illinois Bicentennial event at the Edgar County Historical Society Museum. Left to right, Frank Doughan portrayed a U.S. Army rifleman who fought at the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe, Chuck Valentine is a French marine from the time Vincennes was a French outpost and George Sanquenetti portrays a French trapper and explorer.
Bicentennial birthday bash
The Edgar County Historical Society celebrated the state bicentennial Sunday, Dec. 2, with a presentation by Roger Stanley highlighting key points of state history, with assistance of some historical … more
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Sugar Creek Point School started as a one-room, rural school. It was later converted into a private home on 1200th Road.
The one-room legacy
“When September comes each year and the first school bells ring there always awakens within us to get our books out and follow their summons.” Mabel Swain Estes Mabel Swain Estes and her … more
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This facsimile recreates the signatory section of the 1818 Illinois constitution.
In a state of transition
An important first step for a territory to become a state was laying out the groundwork for a constitution. The effort to move Illinois from territory status to state began in early 1818 after the … more
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This is the House of Representatives Chamber in the Illinois capitol. The photo was taken from the fourth floor gallery.
A capitol undertaking
A groundbreaking ceremony in 1868 started the sixth capitol building for Illinois. The Illinois legislature authorized a new capitol building at Springfield in 1867 on a nine-acre plot of land in … more
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The Old State Capitol in Springfield was the state house from 1840 until 1876 and was completely restored in the 1960s. It is a National Historic site and can be visited today to see the place where Abraham Lincoln served as a legislator.
A view Lincoln knew
Even though the citizens of Vandalia built a new capitol building in 1837 it was not enough to prevent Springfield becoming the state’s capital city. Some legislators wanted to move the capital … more
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The stage setting for “Uncle Jimmy” taken at the Paris High School auditorium in November 1934 The people on stage in no certain order are Pauline Thompson, Mrs. James Bolin, Mrs. Walter Morris, Emmajean Means, Lois Ann Morris, Mrs. Archie Morris, John Stanley and Walter Kimble representing the Pine Grove Community Club. (Special to The Prairie Press)
Dramatic showdown
A three-day, first-of-its-kind event was Nov. 22 through Nov. 24, 1934, at the Paris High School auditorium. The Edgar County Farm Bureau sponsored a drama and music tournament to bring together … more
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This gravestone in St. Aloysius Cemetery is testament to the effort Dan Pigg put into saving old markers. He used a special epoxy to put the stone back together after finding it broken into four pieces. (Roger Stanley/ The Prairie Press)
Amazing life unearthed
There is a gravestone in the St. Aloysius Cemetery indicating that John Barry was interred there at the advanced age of 117.  Dates on the stone show he was born March 27, 1768, in County … more
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Farm dealerships gone
When the tractor and the combine replaced the horse and the binder some businessmen saw opportunity in the new horsepower generated by machines. New businesses started that eventually replaced … more
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On the edge of statehood
In an ongoing effort to bring information about Illinois’ 200-year celebration for becoming a state in 1818, let’s review some of the steps necessary for that to happen. There was a … more
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A star shines from Hume
Many children grow up watching television. They pick one, or in some cases, several favorite shows and perhaps a character whose persona sparks dreams of growing up to be an … more
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Baldwinsville was a stop
A Colonel Baldwin built a large house and store that included a post office on an intersection of two trails in Hunter Township. This was a little after the failed city of Cambridge was … more
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Historic Tiger team honored
The Paris Tiger baseball team put the bow on yet another record-breaking season with an awards banquet Thursday (May 30) at Step Station.The season officially ended with a 2-1 loss to Mattoon in the … more
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