CARTER: One Day in Downtown Springfield
Jun 14th
In one of my last posts, I suggested that one of the must-see places around Quincy was the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. I wanted to expand on that a little bit, and suggest a day trip to Springfield instead. Rather than driving all over the place trying to find things, the following spots are within a short distance, either on foot or by car. Everything is in downtown Springfield, not out on the periphery among the shopping malls and subdivisions.
This trip will give you a couple of different spending options. If you want to visit Springfield on the cheap, some of the locations in this post will work better than others. I have tried to give you several options to choose from.
Don’t leave Quincy without breakfast. I have yet to visit Springfield and find a place that makes me scream “I have to eat breakfast there again!” Powered up with a
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good breakfast, hit the road. Aim for downtown Springfield at one of several exits and watch for directional signs on the telephone poles and lamp posts.
Stop 1: If you feel like spending some money, make your first stop the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The admission fee is $12.00, and there is also a cost to use the museum parking garage. Even if you don’t visit the museum, I highly recommend using the parking garage anyway for some choice parking.
Stop 2: If you wish to avoid the cost of the presidential museum, swing through the old state capitol square area instead. Feel free to leave the car in the parking garage, since the square is only two blocks south of the garage on the same street. Make sure to tour the old capitol building and no matter what, do not miss the Lincoln Law Office historic site. For one, this is the place where Lincoln saw his first successes. In addition, there is a great, if morbid, photo opportunity right out front, and I don’t mean the statues of Lincoln and his family. If you are standing in front of the law office, turn 90 degrees to your right and look for a small building, which is the entrance to the old capitol underground parking garage. On the north face of the building is a bronze plaque you must read. I am not going to give it away, so you will have to read it, comment on this article, and I will happily tell you if you are correct.
Once you are done with the first two sites, stop by the Illinois Korean War Museum, located on the same block as the law office. If you want a bit of shopping fun, swing through Prairie Archives, an exceptional antique book shop located in between the Korean War museum and the law office. Now it should be time for lunch! After all that walking, you must be starving! Conveniently located… you guessed it… on the same block, is The Feed Store. Don’t bother looking at the menu, just walk back to the counter and ask for the “No Choice.” No matter what you get, you will be satisfied. Save room, however, for dessert.
After lunch, you have to have dessert! However, you have to walk back towards the car to get it. Diagonally across the Square is Pease’s, a fine chocolate and candy maker. Don’t visit Springfield without a stop in this place.
Having had dessert, you are off to stop 3: The Lincoln Home. Illinois’ only national park, the home of Abraham Lincoln and the surrounding four square city blocks remain locked in the year 1865, when President Lincoln was shot. An exceptional place to stroll, learn and take pictures, the Lincoln home is well worth a visit, and like most national parks, is free. If you are full of Abraham Lincoln, however, walk across the street and just down to the block to the Telephone Museum for a change of pace.
Now you just have one last thing to do: dinner! You have just one last stop to make, and that is the Springfield Police Department. Nervous? Don’t be! Right across the street is a fine, family-owned Italian restaurant called Saputo’s. If I had to choose one place in Springfield to have dinner, this place, hands down, is it.
Well, at the end of the day you will have seen a wide swath of downtown Springfield, eaten yourselves full, and had what I hope was an excellent time and learning experience. If you complete this day trip, comment on the article. I always love improvements and finding new places on the advice of other people, not search engines.
CARTER: The Big 50, Part 5
Jun 12th
Finally, the end of the “big 50” list! Instead of places, this article focuses on people. Each of the people listed has played a significant role in the community and in the nation, and all have ties to Quincy. Rather than numbering, I have grouped these people together, so in reality, the list extends beyond 50 in number. Although I knew of a few of the people on this list before I moved to Quincy, I knew very little about most of them, and definitely did not understand their connection to Quincy. Do you have additions to my list? Make sure to comment on this article and make the list grow.
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John Wood. He was a crafty land speculator, soldier, politician, and governor of Illinois. His life was a roller coaster of boom and bust. He came to Quincy with nothing, eventually built the largest house in Illinois, yet died in poverty in the care of his son. He served in the Civil War, served in local and state politics, and his very specific recruiting of new settlers to Quincy was directly responsible for creating the community we live in today. There’s more, but you will have to learn it on your own. Start with a visit to his home, located at 12th and State.
The Civil Warriors. Although Quincy is tied in numerous ways to the American Civil War, there are a few key players everyone should know. Samuel Everett was the first medical officer to be killed in the Civil War. He was killed at Shiloh while serving under General Benjamin Prentiss, another Quincy native. Prentiss’ command played a decisive role at the Battle of Shiloh, in a portion of the field today known as the “Hornet’s Nest.” The next two men fought each other. The first, General James Dada Morgan, commanded the 12th Illinois Cavalry at Gettysburg in 1863. Across the field was the other man — General George Pickett. Yes, I mean the Confederate general whose name is forever associated with the Battle of Gettysburg. Unable to secure an appointment to West Point in Virginia, Pickett received his appointment through an uncle, Quincy’s representative to congress in 1839.
The Lincoln Men. It is no secret that the history of Quincy is tied to Abraham Lincoln. It is also tied to his former rival, Stephen Douglas, and to his close friends John Wood and Orville Browning. Douglas came to Quincy in 1841, and left for Springfield as the youngest Supreme Court justice in Illinois history. The debates between Douglas and Lincoln are legendary, and one occurred in Quincy at Washington Park. Although Lincoln lost the debate series, they established him as an orator and politician with national potential. Orville H. Browning, the developer of Quincy’s north side, was in Congress during the American Civil War, and served as a close confidant of the president during his terms in the White House.
The Abolitionists. The destruction of slavery was of paramount to two particular men in the Quincy area that I know of. One, Dr. Richard Eels, used his home as a stop for the Underground Railroad, and paid the price with time in jail. You can visit this home, located on Jersey Street right next to the Herald-Whig office. The second man, Pike County resident “Free” Frank McWhorter, occupies a unique place in American history. McWhorter came to Illinois in 1836 after buying his own freedom for $800, equivalent to over $16,000 today. He established the community of New Philadelphia in Pike County, and used his earnings to buy the freedom of his entire extended family and other slaves. He was the first black man in American history to incorporate a town. Today, New Philadelphia is an archaeological site under development.
The Theologians. Two people of Quincy that have left an historic mark on religion were Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon faith, and Augustine Tolton, the first black man to become a Catholic priest in the history of the United States. When the citizens of Missouri forcefully expelled Joseph Smith’s Mormon band, they turned to Quincy for support, and were not turned away, creating a permanent place in the hearts of the Mormon Church for the city of Quincy. Although Smith was later murdered north of Quincy in Carthage, Ill., Mormons today still view Quincy as a place of acceptance and refuge. Tolton, a former slave, was educated in Quincy, attended what is now Quincy University, and was ordained in Rome on Easter Sunday, 1886.
Extraordinary Women. Although there are more, I want to focus on two in particular. The first is Mary Astor, the Academy Award-winning actress who starred opposite Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese Falcon, and opposite Clark Gable in Red Dust. Although plagued by scandal and alcoholism, Astor played various roles in over 120 films. The second woman (and artist) connected to Quincy is Neysa McMein, the talented portrait artist responsible for creating the advertising faces for Palmolive, Lucky Strike, Cadillac and Betty Crocker brands in the 1920s and 1930s, as well as designing the cover art for McCalls, McClures, Collier’s, and Woman’s Home Companion magazines. Her portrait of President Warren Harding hangs in the White House today and her magazine covers are sought after by collectors.
There you have it: My “big 50,” plus change. I hope this series has been informative for you, and as always I encourage you to comment and add your valued input to my remarks. I look forward to expanding on several of the points from the list.
Finally, the end of the “big 50” list! Instead of places, this article focuses on people. Each of the people listed has played a significant role in the community and in the nation, and all have ties to Quincy. Rather than numbering, I have grouped these people together, so in reality, the list extends beyond 50 in number. Although I knew of a few of the people on this list before I moved to Quincy, I knew very little about most of them, and definitely did not understand their connection to Quincy. Do you have additions to my list? Make sure to comment on this article and make the list grow.
John Wood. He was a crafty land speculator, soldier, politician, and governor of Illinois. His life was a roller coaster of boom and bust. He came to Quincy with nothing, eventually built the largest house in Illinois, yet died in poverty in the care of his son. He served in the Civil War, served in local and state politics, and his very specific recruiting of new settlers to Quincy was directly responsible for creating the community we live in today. There’s more, but you will have to learn it on your own. Start with a visit to his home, located at 12th and State.
The Civil Warriors. Although Quincy is tied in numerous ways to the American Civil War, there are a few key players everyone should know. Samuel Everett was the first medical officer to be killed in the Civil War. He was killed at Shiloh while serving under General Benjamin Prentiss, another Quincy native. Prentiss’ command played a decisive role at the Battle of Shiloh, in a portion of the field today known as the “Hornet’s Nest.” The next two men fought each other. The first, General James Dada Morgan, commanded the 12th Illinois Cavalry at Gettysburg in 1863. Across the field was the other man — General George Pickett. Yes, I mean the Confederate general whose name is forever associated with the Battle of Gettysburg. Unable to secure an appointment to West Point in Virginia, Pickett received his appointment through an uncle, Quincy’s representative to congress in 1839.
The Lincoln Men. It is no secret that the history of Quincy is tied to Abraham Lincoln. It is also tied to his former rival, Stephen Douglas, and to his close friends John Wood and Orville Browning. Douglas came to Quincy in 1841, and left for Springfield as the youngest Supreme Court justice in Illinois history. The debates between Douglas and Lincoln are legendary, and one occurred in Quincy at Washington Park. Although Lincoln lost the debate series, they established him as an orator and politician with national potential. Orville H. Browning, the developer of Quincy’s north side, was in Congress during the American Civil War, and served as a close confidant of the president during his terms in the White House.
The Abolitionists. The destruction of slavery was of paramount to two particular men in the Quincy area that I know of. One, Dr. Richard Eels, used his home as a stop for the Underground Railroad, and paid the price with time in jail. You can visit this home, located on Jersey Street right next to the Herald-Whig office. The second man, Pike County resident “Free” Frank McWhorter, occupies a unique place in American history. McWhorter came to Illinois in 1836 after buying his own freedom for $800, equivalent to over $16,000 today. He established the community of New Philadelphia in Pike County, and used his earnings to buy the freedom of his entire extended family and other slaves. He was the first black man in American history to incorporate a town. Today, New Philadelphia is an archaeological site under development.
The Theologians. Two people of Quincy that have left an historic mark on religion were Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon faith, and Augustine Tolton, the first black man to become a Catholic priest in the history of the United States. When the citizens of Missouri forcefully expelled Joseph Smith’s Mormon band, they turned to Quincy for support, and were not turned away, creating a permanent place in the hearts of the Mormon Church for the city of Quincy. Although Smith was later murdered north of Quincy in Carthage, Ill., Mormons today still view Quincy as a place of acceptance and refuge. Tolton, a former slave, was educated in Quincy, attended what is now Quincy University, and was ordained in Rome on Easter Sunday, 1886.
Extraordinary Women. Although there are more, I want to focus on two in particular. The first is Mary Astor, the Academy Award-winning actress who starred opposite Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese Falcon, and opposite Clark Gable in Red Dust. Although plagued by scandal and alcoholism, Astor played various roles in over 120 films. The second woman (and artist) connected to Quincy is Neysa McMein, the talented portrait artist responsible for creating the advertising faces for Palmolive, Lucky Strike, Cadillac and Betty Crocker brands in the 1920s and 1930s, as well as designing the cover art for McCalls, McClures, Collier’s, and Woman’s Home Companion magazines. Her portrait of President Warren Harding hangs in the White House today and her magazine covers are sought after by collectors.
There you have it: My “big 50,” plus change. I hope this series has been informative for you, and as always I encourage you to comment and add your valued input to my remarks. I look forward to expanding on several of the points from the list.
CARTER: The Big 50, Part 4
Jun 4th
Lincoln’s New Salem
Well, we are on to the final portions of my Big 50 list. In this section, I want to suggest some “must see” things in the communities around Quincy. The following 10 items represent my favorite places within a 2-hour radius of Quincy that I personally think everyone in Quincy should visit. I have been to almost all of them, but a few remain on the “bucket list” for the immediate future. Do you have additions to this list? Let me know. I am always looking for new places to go and new things to see and learn. Enjoy!
Dickson Mounds and Cahokia. Ok, so this is a double. These two sites, located in Lewistown and Collinsville, Ill., are fantastic links to Illinois’ ancient past. The Mississippian cultures of the Midwest were once as powerful as the Aztecs, and possibly may have been related to them. They built strongly defended cities centered around huge geometric earth mounds, few of which remain today. Two of the best sites are Dickson Mounds and Cahokia, the largest Mississippian site in North America. Bring a camera and your inner Indiana Jones for an archaeological expedition into the distant past.
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Lincoln’s New Salem. Located just south of Petersburg, Illinois, New Salem was the site of a number of Abraham Lincoln’s famous failures before he became the 16th President. He ran two stores, a post office and a shipping venture into the ground before turning his attention to land surveying, a job he had a talent for. While living at New Salem, Lincoln also completed military service in the local militia, serving for 90 days during the Sauk War of 1832. He also met his future law partner and his first love. This historic village was rebuilt during the Great Depression by the CCC and is a living history village, so the exhibits actually interact with you.
Griggsville. Admittedly, there is not much to see in Griggsville, however, it has one distinct and unique feature. It is the summer home to the largest population of Purple Martins in the world. These migratory songbirds frequent Griggsville in the spring and summer by the thousands. The small community is covered with birdhouses, and is a must-visit.
Athens Battlefield. One of my newer favorites on this list, Athens, Mo., is a once-booming railroad and barge community located on the Iowa-Missouri border northeast of Kahoka, Missouri. On Aug. 5, 1861, approximately 400 pro-Union soldiers took on approximately 2,000 pro-Confederate militiamen, fighting literally through the town. Neighbor fought against neighbor and the town suffered as a result. After the war, old animosities, the re-routing of the railroad and a reduction in river traffic ensured the town’s demise. Today, Athens is a ghost town, with holes from cannonballs in the buildings. Having a real Civil War battlefield so close is a priceless opportunity. The most popular battlefields of the American Civil War are at least a full-day’s journey from Quincy. This one is just over an hour away.
Lewis and Clark Historic Site. Located in Alton, Ill., this historic site is located near the origins of one of, if not the most, important expedition of discovery in the history of America. From Alton, the Lewis and Clark Expedition set its sights on finding a water route directly to the pacific. While this discovery was never achieved, the scientific and topographic knowledge gained by the expedition remains legendary. For the most fun visit this site in May, the anniversary of the launch of the expedition. Stand on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River and look west. Close your eyes and put yourself back to May 14, 1804. West of where you are, every inch of the American continent was a mystery to be uncovered. That feeling is hard to beat.
Carthage and Nauvoo. Ok, here’s a second double. If you are any student of history, you recognize exactly where I am going with this one: Mormon history. The Mormons occupy a unique place in history as one of America’s first “native” religious sects. The extremely hostile reaction to Mormon presence was personified in the murder of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum at Carthage, and the destruction of the temple at Nauvoo. Both of these sites are important places to visit to understand our local connection to the origins of this faith.
The Holocaust Museum and Learning Center. Located in St. Louis, this is one of the most educational and thought-provoking places to visit near Quincy. The Holocaust was the most terrible historical moments in the history of mankind, and to have this museum so close to Quincy is a blessing. You can visit this museum almost every day of the year, and if you plan ahead, you will get a chance not just to visit the museum, but meet a survivor of the Holocaust while you are there. Prepare yourself in advance: this museum is hard on you. Many of the displays provoke thoughts and emotions of anger and sadness, and some of the images are not suited for young children to view. If you want to maximize your experience, contact my friend Dan Reich at the museum and he will go out of his way to make sure you meet a survivor and get the most out of your tour.
Bishop Hill. Originally established as an all-Scandinavian utopian commune, Bishop hill is now an arts colony located just over an hour north of Quincy. Bring a camera to this beautiful village, take in the sights, and learn about its significance in Illinois history. There is a dramatic story that goes along with this place, but I won’t spoil it for you.
The Big Boy. Located at the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, the Big Boy is Union Pacific steam engine No. 4006, the largest model of steam engine ever to pull rail freight. Only four of these humongous locomotives still exist, and one is in St. Louis. If you are a fan of powerful engines, nothing, and I mean nothing, tops this one. Think monster trucks are cool? You can stand in the rims of the drive wheels on this locomotive just the same way. It’s huge! Every steam railroad fan knows what a “big boy” is. Back home, my railfan friend Terry used to daydream about them. As a child he actually saw one that still ran, and never forgot it. Just the name sparks a far-off glint in his eye and a smile on his face. Take a look, and you will understand.
The Illinois Military Museum. Located in Springfield, this museum highlights the contributions of Illinois veterans to world military affairs. Go see my friend Colonel Mark Whitlock, and ask him for a tour. Make sure to ask about Santa Anna’s wooden leg, one of the prize pieces of the collection. What’s the story, you say? Well, you will have to visit and find out for yourself.
Well, I guess that wraps up part four. One more to go, so come back for the final installment later this week!
WINFIELD: JuJu Cup
May 31st
JuJu Cup is one of Quincy’s newest places to grab a frozen treat. They have entered a market that is not without competition from both new and time-tested dessert businesses. Despite the competition, I believe that JuJu Cup can become a popular hangout.
Winfield
Self serve frozen yogurt shops are popping up across the nation; nearby cities like St. Louis and Chicago are full of them. Quincy now has two of their own such froyo shops, Qyo which opened last summer under the Brenner Library on the Quincy University campus and now JuJu Cup on 3714 Broadway.
The location of JuJu Cup, near Panera Bread and in the same strip mall as Hy-Vee puts it in a very visible high traffic area. Even on a busy day, finding a parking spot will be painless. Inside, the restaurant is brightly painted and has a very friendly atmosphere. JuJu Cup offers a surprisingly vast amount of froyo flavor choices. Each self-serve machine contains three flavors with two distinct flavors and a mix that creates a third. For example, chocolate flavor frozen yogurt mixed with marshmallow creates smores.
On my first visit, I tried the raspberry truffles flavor, made up of chocolate and raspberry pomegranate.
I topped it with Reeses Pieces, white chocolate and Andes mints. The cups are charged by weight, I paid about $4.
My experience at JuJu Cup was positive, my only complaint was with the seating. The tables are small. Not even one person would be able to comfortably eat over those tables. A group of three or more people sitting together would have to fight for knee room. Also, froyo is popular with families so it could get loud with the sound of crying babies inside the restaurant. None of those details are deal breakers for me. They don’t take away from the quality of the product.
JuJu Cup is open until 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and until 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. I see it as a great place to stop after work or class, and a good place to hang out after dark with friends.
— Matthew Winfield
CARTER: The Big 50, Part 3
May 28th
Thank you for following the progress of my “Big 50” so far! These are the last local “must-do’s” that I have found around Quincy. Parts four and five of this series will be a bit different than they have been so far, but I hope you find them equally interesting. Read on!
Go antiquing. Between the antique malls in Quincy and the surrounding area, the determined hunter can find wonderful bargains and amazing pieces of the past. It may seem unusual or dramatically old-fashioned, but I like to give a gift of old, often very old books for special occasions. If I need to find them, I start right here in Quincy at Everything But The Kitchen Sink, located down on Main Street. Another great location is the antique store north of Quincy in Good Hope, Illinois. I could list more and more, but I would rather have you find them for yourself. If you want some insider tips, however, contact me and I will be happy to lend a hand.
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Visit the Capitol. Illinois has one of the neatest state capitol buildings in the country, and it is only 2 hours from Quincy. I will certainly be covering a day trip or two to Springfield in future blog articles, but for now, just concentrate on the capitol building. Take the drive over, find some close parking and take a look. Be prepared for an extensive safety search if you go in, but that will be your only real inconvenience.
Ride a horse. This is an odd one, I know. Several of my relatives who fought in the Civil War were cavalrymen, and I have always wanted to learn how to ride. Doing so is on my “bucket list” of things to do before I graduate from Quincy University. Do you know where I can do this? Please reach out. I would love some advice.
Join a club. Quincy has so many! From shooting to fraternal clubs like the Freemasons or Knights of Columbus, reading circles, crafts, art, gardening, hunting and fishing, military, you name it. Clubs are not terribly expensive to belong to, and you gain the opportunity to meet new people, travel, and have fun. Since moving to Quincy I have joined one on the QU campus, two Masonic groups, and the Tri-States Civil War round table, and I haven’t regretted one minute I have spent with the other members. You can find club directories online and in the phone book, or you can just stop by a club meeting place. The likelihood of you being turned away is pretty slim.
Get your picture taken. With all of the historic architecture, beautiful parks and just plain dazzling varieties of landscapes around the Quincy area, not getting in contact with a professional photographer is a terrible mistake. My friend Courtney is a photographer out of Mt. Sterling, and she is always in Quincy on one photo job or another. Any location you choose should be well-suited for providing a perfect background for your heirloom photographs. Do me a favor, however, and stay away from railroad tracks and barges, just for safety’s sake. Once you have some taken, why not throw them in the comments for this article and back up my suggestion?
Art. The art “scene” in Quincy rivals any big city I have ever been to. Between art classes and shows, gallery projects, public displays and private collections, Quincy has amazing collections and talents in a variety of artistic endeavors. I can’t recommend tapping into this creative streak enough!
Libraries. Quincy has three libraries I particularly love: the Quincy Public Library, the Brenner Library at Quincy University, and the library at John Wood Community College. The collections of works on any given subject rival most big-city libraries, the staff members are friendlier, and the atmospheres more conducive to learning. Stop in to one of them and enjoy yourself. Need a project to motivate you? How about your family history? The genealogy labs at Quincy Public Library, Quincy University, and the new lab at Nauvoo contain some of the best historical research tools in the country. Why not stop in and take advantage of them?
Take care of yourself. Quincy has a phenomenal hospital, numerous private physicians and all the opportunities for getting healthy and in shape. For your own health, take advantage of these exceptional resources that are at your fingertips.
Sports. In case you didn’t get the word, Quincy teams on all levels are taking state and regional championships to task. We have all levels of virtually every competitive sport headquartered here in Quincy. I have not been a sports fan since my favorite baseball player, Carlton Fisk, retired. On top of it all, I am a Chicago Cubs fan nested amidst thousands of St. Louis Cardinals fans. Despite those hiccups, I have attended eight sporting events since moving to Quincy. I admit it, I felt the surge of “home team pride” at several of them, and found myself cheering from the crowd and rising out of my seat to yell in triumph. Whether you attend high school, collegiate, or semi-professional events, you will be ensured to have a good time.
Make good friends. I almost hesitated to throw this on the list, but I could not help it. Since moving to Quincy, I have definitely made a few. Do you know Randy Zaerr down at Keller & Sons? He was one of the first people I met here in Quincy outside of the QU campus, and I look forward to seeing him every month at Masonic lodge meetings. I have also enjoyed the company of Brother Terry Santiapillai, the evening librarian at Quincy University, who introduced me to Indian food for the first time, and my dear friends Zach Klein, Richard and Sean Mahnke, fellow students at QU. Richard and Sean grew up only a mile from where I was born, but if we hadn’t all chosen QU for college, would probably would never have met. Zach (pictured above), I’m sorry to say, just graduated and is moving on to graduate school, but he and I have become fast friends and will be for the foreseeable future. This statement may seem like something stolen from a cheap western, but here goes: there are good people here. Quincy is a place for meeting good people and making lifelong connections, one of this city’s most priceless qualities. Take full advantage.
Memorial Day the Old Fashioned Way
May 23rd
This coming Monday, Americans all around the world will stop what they are doing, skip going to work, avoid school, and take advantage of every sale they can! That’s why we have this holiday called Memorial Day, right? To get a car at factory direct prices? Or a drastically marked-down mattress? Where are my car keys? I need to get out and shop.
Wait a minute.
For a moment there I think I was channeling what I have been hearing on the radio and seeing on TV all week long. What is it really about? For that, I must refer to General John A. Logan’s famous document, General Order 11, and I quote:
“The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.”
In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson saw fit to change the observance to the last Monday in May as part of the Uniformed Holidays Act. What he didn’t grasp, unfortunately, was the significance of May 30, and this I want to share with you.
Decoration Day, now called “Memorial Day,” was picked by General Logan for one reason. During the American Civil War, or the War of the Rebellion, or whatever you choose to call it, 651,000 Americans lost their lives in 10,000 different battles. Americans killed each other around the clock for four years, except on one day: May 30. Every other day of the calendar year featured at least one American death, but not May 30.
Logan was invited to a memorial service in Carbondale on April 30, 1866, and that started his desire to make an observance formal. Two years later, as Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, America’s first formal veteran’s organization, he made it so.
How does that connect to me? Well, nine of my relatives fought in the American Civil War. Four for the north, five for the south. In this situation I was compelled to join the fraternal organizations derived from the Civil War veteran organizations, and while all alone as a member in Quincy, I am still obligated to do something on Memorial Day. Now here is where you come in: I want you to join me.
This is what Civil War veterans from both sides did on Memorial Days from 1865-1959: They came together in every town across the country, in Canada, England and even in Germany, and they celebrated together. They cried over their lost family and friends, told old army stories, laughed and usually ate well. Cemeteries are built like public parks for a reason, and that is recreation. That is where they went. They also had speeches, parades, color guards and all the stuff we do today.
So this Memorial Day, try and skip the sales. Go to a public program to honor our nation’s veterans who gave their lives for our country, past and present. Bring a lunch, bring family, and bring your friends. If you don’t want to go to a public program, go privately. You can do the same things on your own. Do you have a relative who served in the military and is no longer with us? Stop by the headstone and say thanks, and then have a picnic lunch with your family.
If you would care to join me, I will be at the noon program at Woodland Cemetery. Look for the guy wearing the modern suit and Civil War hat.
CARTER: The Big 50, Part 2
May 20th
Playing the part of William Richardson, Reg Ankrom, center, gives the history of the man whose grave is in Woodland Cemetery during a guided historic tour of the cemetery last year. Richardson was a U.S. Senator from 1863-65. The tour highlights 18 prominent and not-so-prominent 19th century Quincy and Adams County citizens at rest in the 165-year-old Woodland Cemetery. (H-W Photo/Steve Bohnstedt)
Are you ready for part 2 in this series? Below is the second part of my “Big 50” that I think everyone around Quincy should do. Enjoy!
11. Connect with history. Within a 90-minute radius of Quincy you can connect to Mississippian Culture, the first inhabitants of this region. You can visit Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War sites close by as well. I recommend a trip to Athens, where one of the earliest battles of the Civil War took place. Located in a state park off Missouri Highway 81 north of Cahoka, Missouri, it is the closest Civil War battlefield to Quincy.
12. Take an architectural walk. Bring your camera and really see Quincy. With literally thousands of nationally-registered historic structures in Quincy, you can’t go 100 yards without seeing a historic building significant to Quincy’s history.
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13. Take a cemetery Tour. I know this seems a bit morbid, but cemeteries are filled with interesting architecture, famous people, and peaceful scener
y. Start with Woodlawn, and then visit Sunset Cemetery behind the Quincy Soldier’s Home. If you want to be especially daring, bring a lunch with you. Cemeteries were originally designed to be places of peace and remembrance, and often families at the turn of the last century would spend the whole day in a cemetery on th
e anniversary of the death of a loved one.
14. Visit the museums. If you live in Quincy and have not visited the John Wood home, the Quincy Museum, or the Military Museum at the Soldier’s Home, you have missed significant connections to local and national history. None of the museums have a high admission fee a
nd all are worth a visit.
15. Look for Lincoln. The connection between Quincy and our 16th President is evident from the numerous “Looking for Lincoln” plaques and the Lincoln-Douglas debate site at Washington Park. Have you been to each plaque or all of the Lincoln-Douglas debate locations around Illinois?
16. Farmer’s markets. Quincy has open farmer’s markets at least four days every week. Take advantage of these sources for fresh vegetables, fruits and o
ther things. Our community will never be a USDA “food desert” where there is not ready access to fresh, healthy and cost-effective access to food. There is almost no need to visit fast food with so much fresh food on hand here.
17. Expand your culinary comfort zone. My largest complaint about Quincy has always been the lack of food variety. I come from a city with over 500 restaurants of every size and shape, ethnic grocery stores, and so on. Variety was never a problem. What I have found since moving to Quincy was that I could take my ab
ility to cook and expand it to make the foods I can’t buy here. I recommend this to everyone. Do you know how to grill or make good barbeque? Then learn
to make Thai or Lebanese. You might be surprised what you can produce with a little elbow grease and creative thinking in the kitchen.
18. Hunt. Quincy is on the outer western edge of what the Illinois Department of Natural Resources refers to as “the golden triangle of hunting.” This area includes Adams, Hancock and Pike Counties, but I have found that Calhoun County should also be included. I have never gone hunting, but this is on my list of things to do while I live here. I don’t know where to go, and I still need to pick up some camouflage pants, but I am otherwise ready. Do you have a favorite hunting spot? Would you care to bring a freelance writer along as a guest? Please let me know!
19. Rediscover your faith. Quincy is a wonderful place to do this. Quincy has dozens, yes, dozens, of different denominations of faiths, so no matter whe
re you fall in the spectrum, from Anabaptist to Wicca, you will find a place to connect here.
20. Volunteer. There are no shortages of volunteer opportunities here in Quincy. There is no better time than the present to give some of your time to benefit others in some way. Since moving to Quincy, I have given over 100 hours of time volunteering for service projects. How about you?
This concludes part two of this list. Do you have any additions, suggestions, or sources for some of the things I have listed? Please comment and help me and others broaden our horizons!
CARTER: The Big 50, Part 1
May 15th
This week marked the end of my second full academic year of college, and I am quickly approaching my second anniversary of moving to Quincy. In the spirit of sharing good fun, I thought I might suggest a list of 50 things everyone in the region around Quincy should do at least once, based on my experiences since moving here.
Carter
Some of them you will find suggested elsewhere. For instance, you will find a few listed on the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau website. Others I found through The Local Q or The Herald-Whig. Still a few more are strictly from experience or learned by word of mouth. I have not completed everything on the list, so I need you to comment on this article. Tell me where to find a few of these things. Also, feel free to compare your experiences with mine and share them!
1. Blues in the District. My hometown has a similar program, but Quincy’s Blues in the District music nights are more fun, in a nicer atmosphere, and safer! Spend an evening once, and you will go again and again.
2. Romantic dinners out. I like the Pier, Tiramisu and the Elkton for these, and I recommend them all. Sprout’s burned down before I had a chance to go there, but I am waiting for them to re-open so I can add their restaurant to this list.
3. Trap or skeet shooting. You can shoot trap or skeet in West Quincy or at one of the many leagues in Adams County and the immediate surrounding area. Even if your feelings are on the fence about guns, I recommend giving this a chance. I never tried before coming to Quincy, and now I love the sport.
4. Walk the island from end to end. You know the island I mean: Quinsippi Island. From the north dunes to the flagpole on the south tip, Quinsippi Island has no less than five distinct micro-environments, ranging from swamp to arid brush reminiscent of southern Africa. Bring a hiking stick, sturdy footwear, bug repellent, water, and your camera. Park on the mainland, walk across the bridge, then go whichever way you fancy. You will be out all day and never know a city was just 500 yards to the east.
5. Fish. Quincy is surrounded by water teeming with fish, turtles, and who-knows-what else. Grab a pole (and a license), and head out. I grew up with grandparents who fished for musky, the only fish in the world you never catch. By age 14, I was not interested in fishing anymore. Quincy, however, has changed my mind. This summer I will be out there again. Do you have any recommendations on where I should go or what bait to use? I could really use some advice.
6. Take a class. By this, I mean further your knowledge. Within a 30-minute radius there are five colleges offering higher education. You can also take courses in art at the Quincy Arts Center and attend workshops of all kinds in the area. With this much convenient access to fine higher education, everyone should do this at least once.
7. The big parks. So far I have found two parks in the Quincy area that blow away almost anything in my home area: Siloam Springs State Park in Illinois and the Cannon Dam/Mark Twain Lake recreational areas in Missouri. I know they get a bit “touristy” in the summer and fall, but they are beautiful places to visit.
8. Take in the “must-eats.” My favorites so far, that I recommend to everyone I meet, are simple. You must eat (see how this goes?): the fried chicken at Mr. Bill’s, the onion rings at Elders, the gator eggs at the 18-Wheeler, the lobster mac-and-cheese at the Pier, the biscuits and gravy breakfast at Quincy University’s Hawks Hangout, brisket and beans at Fatback’s, an “egg salad, thick” from Winkings Market, and so on. Everyone in Quincy has a favorite, so compile a list from people you meet and run them down one at a time. Have some favorites you think everyone should try? Post a comment below and let’s exchange restaurant tips.
9. Concerts at the O-LC. Make sure to take in a concert or other event at the Oakley-Lindsay Center. Quincy is very fortunate to have an event venue of this size and quality, and not taking advantage of the variety of events scheduled there is almost criminal!
10. Buy local. Quincy has some of the best locally-owned establishments I have ever seen. No matter what you may need, the chances are you can find it without visiting the chain stores that cover so much of Broadway and the east end of Quincy. You can find bquality jewelry at Sturhan’s, accessories at Premier Diva and Asian food at One Restaurant, and never have your money leave the local area.
Well, I think that is enough for now. More to follow shortly.
‑ Gregory Carter
CARTER: Saturday in St. Louis, Part 2
Apr 15th
Are you planning a relaxing day in the Cherokee-Lemp District after reading my last article? Perhaps you are looking for something equally relaxed, but maybe a little more lively? I hope you are. Read on!
Carter
For the second Saturday excursion I want to introduce you to, let me suggest something trendy and a bit more, well, lively. I love quiet strolls, antique neighborhoods and antique books, but I am conflicted. I like hopping, busy neighborhoods. After leaving my hometown a few years ago, I have really missed them.
If your idea of a good time is a neighborhood filled with the newest shops, a wide variety of food and activities, I have the perfect spot. Follow the same directions I gave you in the last article that lead you to the Cherokee-Lemp District, but instead of driving straight through the city, hop off I-64 at McClausland Avenue and head into University City’s Delmar Loop area.
The Delmar Loop is anchored to the north by the Washington University music center and to the south by the old Wabash Railroad terminal. In between there are 140 shops, restaurants and entertainment venues for you to take in. You really read that correctly. In two-thirds of a mile there are 140 different places to go.
Want some exotic cuisine? How about Thai, Lebanese, Vietnamese, or Indian? I love all of the above, but one particular restaurant caught my eye, and that one is described below. For dessert you can have frozen yogurt, Cold Stone ice cream, visit the Ben & Jerry’s outlet or have gelato, the Italian dessert dish I list among the best things I have ever had for a dessert. There are so many choices for food here you could actually eat at a different place for every meal, every day, for a week and never visit the same place.
Do you want live music? How about 10 venues simultaneously? There’s a library and a museum, the Star Clipper comic book store my friend Sean found particularly appealing and dozens of other places to go. Now we must talk about the good part: dinner. Just as with my last article, I am going to recommend one restaurant above all others. It caught my eye as I drove down the street, and I was drawn in as if in a trance. That restaurant served one thing and just one thing only. It was my favorite food: macaroni and cheese.
The restaurant I am talking about is Cheese-Ology, 6602 Delmar Blvd. The service here is not only friendly and fast; the food is prepared as you wait and served in a cast-iron skillet so hot the cheese is still cooking! I have been chasing my favorite food across the country for almost 34 years, and I can say for a fact that my dinner, a dish called the Bacon Bacon, was the best mac meal I have had in my entire life. Macaroni, chopped thick-cut bacon and a mixture of gruyere and mozzarella cheeses, topped with bread crumbs and baked to a perfect golden-brown. I have to say it again: this was the best mac and cheese meal I have had in my entire life. It is, to paraphrase Anthony Bourdain, my official death-row meal, if I ever wind up in that situation.
— Gregory Carter
CARTER: Saturday in St. Louis, Part 1
Apr 12th
If you read one of my last articles, you already know I spent last weekend in St. Louis and had the once-in-a-lifetime honor of meeting a survivor of the Holocaust. In addition to this experience, I had the opportunity to tour the city with a carload of close friends, and I made some discoveries. In the course of this article and my next one, I want to introduce two St. Louis neighborhoods that are well worth a visit.
Carter
Plan two Saturday trips, and try to allocate a whole day to each neighborhood if you can. Set your compass needle to the south and hop on U.S. 61 for the short drive. In just over two hours, you will arrive at each neighborhood.
The first place I recommend spending a day is the Cherokee-Lemp historic district. Located along Cherokee Street between I-55 and Jefferson Avenue, the Cherokee-Lemp district was once home to the Lemp Brewery, now unfortunately defunct. The beautiful neighborhood of preserved brick and brownstone houses and shops extends for the better part of a mile.
I suggest you arrive in this neighborhood early in the day for good parking. Dress casual and wear comfortable footwear. Don’t forget your camera, either. Virtually the entire length of Cherokee Street and several of the side streets are lined with unique shops, restaurants and even the occasional music venue. On Saturday you will be competing with other tourists, however, if you go on Sunday many of the stores are closed.
Three or four particular stores come to mind that you might check out. If you are an old book junkie like I am, I recommend Hammond’s Books, 1939 Cherokee Street. If you like very vintage apparel, swing by Ruth’s at 2001 Cherokee St. and let her walk you through her aisles of clothing styles that range in age from the late 1940s to modern, vintage-inspired pieces.
There are several stores that specialize in architectural salvage. Missing one piece of trim for your home in the German District? Several of the shops on Cherokee Street can help you. Make sure to stop by and see Kristin at the St. Louis Curio Shop, 2301 Cherokee St. She specializes in art, books, music and other things produced by St. Louis artisans. Every penny spent in this store goes directly back to the community.
Somewhere in this trip you should also grab some food. I went to one spot on my trip and I recommend them for breakfast or lunch. Stop at the Mud House at 2101 Cherokee St. Plan on a bit of a wait, as this restaurant is busy all day long. Just place your order, grab some of freshly prepared baked goods and a custom coffee or tea, head out to the patio (unless it is raining!) and relax. This is a great place to put your feet up and soak up some sunshine while you wait for your main course to arrive.
My friend Richard called their American breakfast the best breakfast he has ever had. I thought the gingerbread cake and the Cuban sandwich I had were fantastic.
Stay tuned for day trip No. 2 shortly!
— Gregory Carter
