Sign of the Times

Because Illinois (like other states) is having financial problems, our Illinois elected officials close seven historical sites, for several months, last year. Among them were Fort Des Chartres, The Pierre Maynard home, Kaskaskia, Apple River Fort and the Thomas Lincoln log cabin home.

Three of these historic sites are featured in this blog. They are all really interesting sites that are visited by hordes of families, hundreds of reenactors, herds of happy school children and many others. The films, volunteers and staff are informative and enthusiastic. But, because the state does not charge the public an admission fee, the sites are an expense that can not be justified.

Perhaps Illinois will consider funding these important historical sites by charging the public a small admission fee. . . like other states do . . . . soon!

Event from the French and Indian War

A few years ago, a lady from West Virginia called to ordered a Franklin cabin kit. She said the photo of the miniature log cabin kit looked exactly like the old cabin on her farm. She said her log cabin dated to the French and Indian War. Her pioneer ancestors had built their log cabin home in a hollow, deep in the Appalachian mountains. While her family was carving their farm from the wilderness,France and England,Holland and Spain were again at war in Europe. The war (called the Seven Year War in Europe) soon spilled over into North America. British and Colonial troops started attacking French Canadian forts in the Ohio Valley. The French retaliated by sending war parties into New England and the South. On one of these raids, the woman told me, a war party came to her ancestors' cabin. The father was away on business. The indians quickly killed the hired hand and ransacked the cabin. The mother and her children were taken captive and led off to Canada. The father, returning home a few hours later, learned what had happened.Swiftly, he recruited a few neighbors to help him track the war party north. When his wife and children arrived in Canada, a French family paid a randsom for their release and welcomed them into their home. When the father arrived in Canada,he learned that his family was safe and sound. He gathered them up and led them back to their mountain home in West Virginia. Here, the family has continued to reside for over 250 years.