Columnist

December 1879, by the week

Published by admin on Tue, 12/05/2023 - 11:51am

One hundred and forty-four years ago Braidwood was a village in turmoil and for the usual reason - the threat of strikes. It hung over the head of everyone like a menacing cloud. Set the way back machine for the first week of December, 1879.

December 1923, good food, good times

Published by admin on Tue, 12/05/2023 - 11:18am

If you are expecting hard news from one hundred years ago, you will be disappointed. December 1923 was all about shopping and making merry. Take one giant step backward in time to see what I mean.

Belt-tightening needed for next year’s expected deficit

Published by admin on Sun, 12/03/2023 - 1:06pm

The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget released a revised state revenue and spending forecast last month for the current fiscal year and it’s pretty good. Its projections for next fiscal year, however, was not nearly as strong.
Projected Fiscal Year 2024 revenues have been revised upward by $1.4 billion, according to GOMB. However, “most of this fiscal year 2024 revenue forecast revision is assumed to be one-time in nature,” the budget office warned.
Spending has also been revised upward by $969 million, leaving a $422 million net surplus.

Commerce, it's what a town is all about

Published by admin on Tue, 11/28/2023 - 10:29am

All towns have one thing in common. It is the place where people in the surrounding area go to purchase the goods they need to survive. It is still big news when a new business comes to town. So, what kind of businesses were in Wilmington early on? Let's look at the newspapers and find out.

Mining not the only game in town, snapshot 1870's

Published by admin on Tue, 11/28/2023 - 10:26am

Of course, when the history of Braidwood and vicinity is talked about, the subject is mining, mining and mining. Yet we know that Braidwood was not a one-trick pony. Today we look at the other occupations and businesses that rounded out the community of miners.
Let's first look at H. W. Blood, manufacturer of soda and mineral water. Mr. Blood came to Will County in 1863, farming for two years, He then entered the bottling house of J. D. Page, of Joliet, and remained there some 2 years. He then moved to Wilmington where he purchased a half interest in

Thanksgiving tradition in the coal fields

Published by admin on Mon, 11/20/2023 - 2:18pm

Today images of the Thanksgiving holiday include turkeys, pilgrims and many other things that were never included in the first Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. The pilgrims did indeed have a three-day feast at Plymouth, but it was not repeated the following year. The first national day of Thanksgiving was declared in 1789 by President George Washington, but it was a one-time only event as well.

Thanksgiving in peace and war

Published by admin on Mon, 11/20/2023 - 10:06am

Thanksgiving is almost here. It's a wonderful American tradition that has caught on around the world. It started with harvest festivals in the 1600's in New England.
The first official government mention of an official Thanksgiving Day was the charter given to a group of English settlers in 1619. That charter required the day of their arrival, December 4th, be put aside every year as a day of thanksgiving to God.

Compromise was missing from the Invest in Kids Act

Published by admin on Sat, 11/18/2023 - 10:41am

I don’t know whether or not the legislative Democratic leadership would’ve allowed a vote, but it is puzzling to me that the people behind the extension of the state’s Invest in Kids Act program didn’t at least try to run a bill that would’ve wound the program down over a period of years.

November 1874, the final week

Published by admin on Mon, 11/13/2023 - 11:46am

Last week we looked at the first three weeks of the month. Today the fourth week of the month is our topic. Set the way back machine for November 1874.

What is your favorite subject? Back to school

Published by admin on Mon, 11/13/2023 - 11:42am

If there is one institution that has to keep up with the times it is the schools. I remember taking shorthand and typing that, I was told, would further any career I chose. I am grateful for the typing but I never did get the hang of all those squiggles. Today we look at some of the history of what we learned in school.