Member
profiles | Related
links | Home page
Events 2004
Stephen Decatur |
On Saturday April
17, 2004, the Heritage Network of Decatur-Macon County, in cooperation
with Local History Club of Decatur, Illinois and Environs, and the City
of Decatur, sponsored a celebration of the 175th
anniversary of the creation of Macon County and the incorporation of Decatur
as its seat of government.
The Central Park (downtown Decatur) festivities started with an 1829-style parade at 11:30 a.m. on April 17, featuring portrayers (costumed re-enactors) of characters from the city's beginnings including an infantry regimen and Native Americans, and also horse-drawn wagons of that time period along with oxen and donkeys. The festivities continued with music by the Decatur Municipal Band, the Cahokia Mounds Dancers, and some singing groups, an oration about Decatur's history by local historian Bob Sampson, and free covered wagon rides. The culmination of this celebration was free food: ham and baked beans and apple cobbler and other goodies, all served by Cafe Bagel & Deli (usually in the Village Mall, near the public library, but in Central Park for this occasion). The only thing anyone was asked to pay for all day was pony rides for children. In September 2004, a calendar of pictures from this event was published with Heritage Network sponsorship. The calendar was compiled and designed by Jack Aldrich, local historian, using photos by Karl Moore, supervisor of the Illinois Regional Archives Depository System. (Information from Herald & Review, Sept. 28, 2004, page D2) |
Excerpts
from "History of Macon County, Illinois": 1800's
acts of establishment (including of Decatur)
Abe
Lincoln in Macon CountyLincoln
Log Courthouse (1830)The
courthouse used as a church
A
few early Decatur pictures Early
(1900's) Decatur pictures from Herald & Review archives (not available
online except as index)
| During the Summer of 2004, the Heritage Network will once again sponsor a Passport Program, its 8th, for Decatur school students in grades 3 through 8. With a Passport, students accompanied by a paying adult will gain free admission to most of the Heritage Network members' events, this while collecting points towards a personalized certificate of accomplishment. The Passport booklets will be available at all member sites. A flyer explaining the program more in depth will be available at the 175th Anniversary celebration on April 17th. (above) |
| In past years, the Heritage
Network has presented one or more awards to "a person or organization that
has made a significant contribution to the [Decatur] community by collecting,
preserving, or interpreting the heritage of the area for at least 10 years."
These Heritage Network awards are part of the Historical
& Architectural Sites Commission (HASC) awards program that is
"designed to honor outstanding individuals or organizations who have contributed
to historic preservation. This is a [Decatur]-wide award with the City
Manager and the [Decatur] Mayor's endorsement."
In 2004, the Heritage Network will again make an award, this time to the Decatur Genealogical Society. The award was voted by the Heritage Network Board at its March 1, 2004 meeting. |
1996: Linda Arends, Richard
P. Stair, and Joyce Weedon
1995: Bob Sampson
1994: Florence White
1993: Jane Rule Lee
1992: Cheri Hunter and Ed
Huntley
1991: Lee Slider and The
Decatur Tribune (Paul Osborn)
1990: Charlotte Meyer and
Martha Montgomery
As it has for several years, the Heritage Network is again supporting the provision of daily copies of the Herald & Review to a Decatur school classroom during the 2003/2004 school year.