Sign of the Times

The Governor of Illinois has become a national, even an international celebrity. His impeachment from office is viewed as a done deal. Our governors' criminal trial will soon start. I'm sure it will be national news too. And who know, maybe a few more well-connected Illinois politicians will find themselves in trouble.

Because of Illinois' problems and a national recession, our elected officials have voted to shut down seven historical sites. Among them are Fort Des Chartres, The Pierre Maynard home, Kaskaskia, Apple River Fort and the Thomas Lincoln log cabin home.

These are really interesting historic sites that have been visited by hordes of families, hundreds of reanactors, herds of happy school children and many others. The films, volunteers and staff were informative and enthusiastic. But because the state does not charge the public an admission charge in Illinois, the sites were deemed an expense that could no longer be justified.

Hopefully, the state will find the funds to reopen these important sites soon . . . but in this economy, it seems doubtful.

Sainte Genevieve Home

Sainte Genevieve, Missouri, is an ancient French village, originally built along side the Mississippi River, about 40 miles south of St. Louis. Here, French merchants lived in the early 1700s. One style of log home they built is the Creole house. It is built of vertical log walls, held in place by a horizontal header and footer . The gaps between the logs are filled with rocks and clay. The hip roof is covered with wood shingles and a wide veranda surrounds the house. The veranda provides plenty of shade and helps keep the inside rooms cool in summer. A stone kitchen was built in the rear of this house. Many homes in the south had a "summer kitchen" that was separate from the main house. Obviously,a separate kitchen helped keep the living quarters cooler and also reduced the risk of a house fire. Just imagine the disastrous consequences of a house fire in the days before fire departments!