Vintage Greenview....Against Today's World

Old Tyme G'View Was Hot and .... Now Too
When I look at all of this history books, Greenview of old was a ripping town.  It had lots of businesses, was self-sufficient and was considered a "hot town".  In today's world, this old town is still a "hot town" by all means.....but today it's because it's so dang "heat hot" here, it makes a person want to stay indoors all day.  It's not even 9 am and it's 85 degrees, with 70% humidity, a dewpoint of 75 (yikes!) and feels like 95 degrees.  The air is heavy with humidity and those with breathing problems, you definitely need to stay indoors.  It's supposed to reach 95 degrees later today.  That will be torture.  And my electric meter will be spinning a zillion miles per hour today.  Oh well....this is called spending your children's inheritance!

This old "hot town" seems hotter than it used to be when I was a kid.....maybe it's been too many years for me to remember.  But I know that we didn't have air conditioners for years and we survived.  I just couldn't do that now.  Spoiled rotten I guess.  So anyway, if you live in this area, stay cool and collected.  Don't do strenuous things outside..... and if you have to be outside,  be careful of heatstroke....drink gatorade or powerade to help replenish the electrolytes.

St. John's Church 50 Year History Continued.

The Re. Th. Krueger came to serve the Greenview-Petersburg Charges in October, 1906. Diligently he labored to build two strong churches, introducing into St. John's the English language for the Sunday School. In 1910 the two congregations were separated and Rev. Krueger continued to serve at Petersburg, while the Rev. C. Fritsch came to Greenview as pastor on September 1, 1910. Because of the need of a parsonage for their first full-time minister, in January, 1911, St. John's purchased the present parsonage site for a sum of $2050.00. The Parsonage building committee was composed of John Behrends, Garrett Deverman, Richard Ever, Carl Weidhuner, and Oltman Wilken. Rev. Fritsch suddenly terminated his work with us and on May 1, 1911, the Rev. R. Mernitz moved to Greenview.
In October of that year the new parsonage was dedicated and now with a minister to lead them continuously St. John's made rapid and joyful progress. Under Rev. Mernitz's leadership the Sunday School was completely reorganized and departmentalized. On Nov. 6, 1913, the Ladies Aid, now the Women's Union, was organized with eight charter members. This organization is to this day the strongest and most faithful organization of the church, making many valuable contributions to the spiritual and financial welfare of the congregation.

The Rev. Benjamin Buehler began his ministry at St. John's on November 6, 1914 and under difficult conditions lead the church safely through the war years. It was at this time that the first English confirmation class was instructed. In 1915 the high tower on the church was struck by lightning and was subsequently removed to the present level and further repairs were made to the church. A water system was installed in the parsonage and other general repairs were made.

Upon the reignation of Rev. Buehler in April, 1919, the Rev. B. Freese was called and he moved to Greenview on February 1, 1920. During the interim students of Eden Seminary conducted the services. Soon after the arrival of Rev. Freese it became evident that the feeling was developing that something would have to be done about the church building. Repairs were made to the art glass windows and other repairs were made, but still the structure seemed inadequate to the needs of the growing congregation and a decision was reached that a building fund be created. With the presence of more young people, it was also decided that the German and English services should be equally divided and that additional Evangelical Hymnals be purchased.
As a sign of the spiritual as well as of the numerical growth of the congregation, special emphasis was placed upon the payment of St. John's quota to the Synodical Budget.

The local pastorate of Rev. Freese was brought to a close on March 1, 1924 and on July 1, 1924, the Rev. George Hildebrand began his ministry. To meet changing conditions a new constitution was adopted. It being the one that guides us today. The name of the congregation, hitherto known as the German Evangelical Lutheran Church and as the Greenview Evangelical Church, was changed to our present name the St. John's Evangelical Church of Greenview, Illinois.
In 1929 it was decided that a new church ediface should be erected within the next ten years and contributions to the building fund were encouraged.

Re. Hildebrand left St. John's on Nov. 7, 1931 and the Rev. Theo. Hoefer was called; he beginning his pastorate in January, 1932. A statement from the church minutes will well state the existing conditions: "All monies are now in our closed bank." Trying times indeed, and Rev. Hoefer sought another charge, leaving St. John's in October, 1932.

After a period of almost a year, during which time St. John's was again served by student pastors, and by Rev. F. Schnathorst of St. Paul's Petersburg, who rendered much faithful service, the Rev. C. J. Beehler was called. As economic conditions improved, the resolution was adopted that our church building should be remodeled and repainted. To meet the needs of the growing congregation, and especially of the Sunday School, after due consideration it was decided that our church building be turned and a basement built. The building committee was composed of Mrs. Anna Wilken, Mrs. Gertie Wilhelm, John Behrens, and Karl Deverman. The contract was let to A. H. Stamm of Peoria and Ralph Lockhart of Greenview for a sum of $2365.00. The entire church was subsequently remodeled and redecorated to the beautiful edifice we have today.

At this same time a sum of $200.00 was given to the Bensenville Orphanage and Old People's Home and as further evidence of the fine spirit of St. John's congregation, the Sunday School continued to grow and an increase was felt in the spiritual life of the people, as evidenced by the larger numbers participating in the services and activities, especially in the attendace at Holy Communion.

As the motto of our Anniversary Year is again repeated, "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go unto the House of the Lord," in faith we feel it is evidence of the spirit of St. John's congregation. May the Lord bless us and keep us as we work together for His Kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven.

Note:  There are a few more paragraphs in the 50th anniversary document which I will post tomorrow.  This old church was a nice church and I remember singing solos in the St. John's church at Easter Sunrise services.  Its doors were open to anyone who wished to come in and sit a while.  I was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was proud when the St. John's church combined with our church.  And I was so saddened to see it demolished to make room for the minister's manse.  The manse, which was built for the minister,  has since been sold to a Greenviewanite.

Old Tyme Marbold Check
Sorry this image isn't the best in the world....this was in a pdf file and I simply took a picture ..... because I couldn't get this computer to let me save the picture from a pdf file.  I love the old train on the check.  This was written in 1878.



Events

Not a whole lot going on in the big city of Greenview these days.  But, do remember that the Menard County Jaycees are holding a Diaper Drive....to raise money for diapers, wipes, formula, etc. for babies in the county.  Containers at Casey's Convenience Stores.  The proceeds will be divided between the county towns.  Or, better yet, I know for a fact that Greenview Food Pantry would love for you to make a donation or drop of a bag or diapers, wipes, formula, etc......these items don't often get distributed to the Greenview Food Pantry.  Find it in your heart to help the community protect its citizens.  Babies go through at least 10 to 12 diapers a day when they are little bitty.  Call Sharon in the mornings at the CIA building, to offer a donation of money.....and tell her it is intended to be spent on diapers, wipes, etc.....call 217-968-5323.

 

What's To Eat At Our House Tonight

Tonight it's pork chops again.  Hit each chop a few times with a meat mallet/tenderizer utensil.  Then flour, salt and pepper and brown lightly in about 2 tablespoons of olive oil.  I use an electric skillet to cook these to help reduce the heat in the house.   After browning, mix a couple of packages of chicken gravy (from dollar general) or brown gravy with water specified on the package and cover the chops.  Cover with a lid and slowly cook on simmer for about 45 - 60 minutes.  Mashed potatoes and corn on the cob are also on the menu.  And cookies made from a carrot cake mix....recipe below.

 

Carrot Cake Mix Cookies

1 (18.25 oz) carrot cake mix
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs

1/2 - 3/4 cup chopped nuts

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly spray cookie sheets.  Mix all ingredients with a mixer on medium speed .... about 1 to 2 minutes.   Drop the dough by teaspoonsful 2 inches apart on the cookie sheets.  Bake for 10 to 14 minutes.  Ovens vary so maybe take off a cookie and break into 2 parts to see if it's done.  Cool the cookies on the cookie sheet for 1 to 2 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack or a sheet of newspaper.    Frost with cream cheese frosting if desired or leave plain.  Can add 1/2 cup of shredded carrot or shredded coconut if you like.

Stupid Things

Monday mornings can be more enjoyable if you're laughing at things or at someone else....or at least the things people say.  Here's a couple of things to start off your Monday morning.

   

Maybe this should be the new universal restroom sign.

 

A person asks if they can borrow a kleenex....that is stupid.....if someone borrows a kleenex from me I definitely don't want it back....!!

 

If someone says "almost exactly the same".  What??? How can something be almost exactly???

Thought For The Day 

Be happy for this moment.

This moment is your life.

--Omar Khayyam





Sometimes you only have one chance if life to win the lottery, get better from a disease, find a hundred dollar bill on the floor or even be able to sing a song before 100 people.  I say anytime you get a chance to do something wonderful....or find something, seize the moment and take the chance and live it up.  Tomorrow is yet to come....it may be wonderful, but it could be horrible....so today, enjoy the day...it's a gift...which we call the present.  Later my friends.

Shirley Temple from 1937 saying hello from Greenview.

One Two Three....All In Unison....It's Friday

All of you out there .... it's Friday.
I know you all read my article about what do older folks do on Fridays and the weekends.....but this time I'd like to know what you younger folks do on Fridays and on into the weekend!!  Not being too young any longer, I just don't know what is "in" and what isn't.  I know "bar hopping" might be one answer.  Taking the kids to the park for a picnic might be another....or swimming in our pool.....or going out to eat.  These are similar to what we used to do when we were younger and then had kids.  Tell us what you do.  Maybe some of us older folks might think you have cool ideas and want to do the same thing.

Old Tyme Greenview
I hope you are enjoying this section on Old Tyme Greenview.  Our town is rich in history but most of us never took the time to learn a whole lot about our town.  That's understandable......you might not have known where to go to find out this information; or you might not have had time to sit and learn; or you might not have been interested at the time.  But now that there is a source, why not pull up a chair and take a moment to read all about dear old Greenview each weekday.  I don't mind giving the history....in fact it makes me think about the days of old.  Thanks for reading this section each day!  The following is a story about St. John's Evangelical Church (commonly called the German Church) which used to stand directly west of the old Greenview Grade School...and for those who were too young to know where that was.....stand at the elevator....go directly south until you are in the front yard of a huge old house (my old house, Englands lived there, Aaron Barbee lived there).  The old St. John's church was on the west side across from the huge old house.....it was where the minister's manse now stands.....Pastor Bob Hanson used to live there.  The story I will be posting about the church is from the Fifty Year History......it is long so I will do it in a few posts.  Happy reading. 

St. John's Church

Evangelilcal and Reformed

A History of 50 Years

(Note...this is the church I remember and which was torn down to build a minister's manse) 



St. John's Evangelical Church

Greenview, Illinois

"A group of persons met together to organize a German Evangelical Church; their object being to promote Christian living and the advancement of the Kingdom of God." Such is the opening statement in the book of records that relates to us the doings of the group of persons who founded St. John's Evangelical Church of Greenview. This group had been meeting for preaching services prior to this time in the Jenison school house and then later in the Wernsing hall, hearing whatever ministers that happened to be available. The plans of this group were advanced to such an extent that early in the year of 1887 an constitution and by-laws was presented for consideration by a committee composed of Henry Wernsing, Harmon Meyer, Garrett Evers, Garrett Deverman, John Ackerman, and Harmon Warnsing. At the same time Harmon Deverman, J. H. Stitchman, Reinhard Onken, Garrett Deverman, Garrett Evers, and John Evers were selected to be responsible for the finding of signers to the constitution and for the raising of funds for the building of a house of worship. As nearly as can be determined 45 men signed as charter members of the new church.

The work of this latter committee progressed rapidly and we find that shortly after, in the presence of Rev. Haehnel, a Lutheran minister, Henry Wernsing, John Ackerman, Harmon Meyer, Harmon Warnsing, J. H. Stitchman, and Frederick Evers were selected to compose the building committee and with money in hand this committee purchased the plot of ground upon which our church now stands for the sum of $250.00. Architects Diedrich Fischer and Robert Carver submitted suitable plans for a church edifice and to the latter was let a contract for the erection of a church structure at a cost of $3,200.00.
On April 2, 1887 the congregation was formally organized and Garrett Evers, Harmon Warnsing and Diedrich Deverman were elected as trustees of the church, with Garrett Evers being elected as the first chairman and Harmon Warnsing as the first secretary. The congregation grew rapidly during that first year and by late summer of 1887 the question most under consideration was that of denominational affiliation. The choice of the majority was that application should be made for membership into the Missouri Lutheran Synod. However, the constitution and by-laws adopted by the new church group were not acceptable to the Lutheran body, unless the Greenview congregation would be willing to be considered as a mission station of the Synod. To this the Greenview congregation was unwilling to agree and the Church Board then invited the Evangelical Synod of North America to send ministers to Greenview to consider the local constitution. Rev. H. J. Schmidt of the Lincoln congregation came to Greenview and found the constitution agreeable to the Evangelical Synod, and in November, 1887, the Greenview Congregation became a member of the Evangelical Synod of North America. The pastors Schmidt of Lincoln, N. Severing of Bloomington, and P. Ott of Minier alternated in conducting services for a short time.

The day of Sunday, December 18, 1887 was a notable day for the Greenview church, and the dreams of the entire congregation were realized, when the new church edifice was dedicated to the services of the Triune God. The morning worship service was conducted by the Pastors Schmidt and Severing in the German language. The afternoon message was delivered in the English language by August Hammer, a student at Eden Seminary, and the service was lead by Rev. Ott. Music was furnished by the choir of St. John's Church of Lincoln. After the services arrangements were made with Mr. Hammer that he come to preach at Greenview for the remainder of his school hear at the Seminary.

On July 8, 1888, at a meeting of the congregation, Rev. Hammer, now an ordained minister, was called as Pastor of the congregation at a salary of $250.00 a year. Rev. Hammer also served St. Paul's Church at Petersburg, living at Petersburg, and dividing his time between the two churches. Within one month after beginning his active work here, Re. Hammer organized a Sunday School, which has been faithfully maintained ever since and which has grown with the congregation. During the summer months he also conducted "German School" in which the German Language and catechism were taught.

Rev. Hammer resigned after ten years of faithful service to accept a new charge, and the Rev. P. Weil began his pastorate on March 1, 1899. Alternating his time between the Greenview and Petersburg charges, Rev. Weil conducted services and the German school until the time of his leaving in January, 1906. In 1901 the church was somewhat damaged by fire, but not seriously enough to make it necessary to suspend services.

The story of the History of St. John's Church, Greenview, IL will be continued in next Monday's post.  Be here to read it!!

What's to Eat At Our House Tonight
Once before, I told you about Hotel Steaks which we buy at Alwan & Sons Meat in Peoria.  These steaks are wonderfully tender, and have a the best flavor.    There are huge and thick and cost $6.49 per pound.  A single steak of medium size in length can be cut in two pieces and will satisfy even a person with a large sized appetite when served with a baked potato and a salad.  We will be enjoying these steaks tonight, cooked to perfection on the grill.

If you haven't made the trip to Alwan & Sons Meats in Peoria, you need to make this a "thing to do" on your list.  The big meat shop is on War Memorial Drive, in Peoria Heights.  It's worth the trip....take your cooler....they have ice there.  But, take a big cooler....you will be tempted to fill it up when you see everything they have!!  If you go this weekend, you might see me.....our freezer supply of steaks is almost deminished.  Happy eating!

http://www.alwanandsons.com/

Events
Menard County Fair  - Runs 6 days, July 19 through July 24.  A pie baking contest will be held on July 21.  Fair office is open now for entries in all classes.

Classic Car Cruise in Cantrall Park, Sunday, July 10, 2pm to 5 pm.

Vacation Bible School, Greeview Baptist Church.  One day VBS on July 30 10am....Prince and Princess with a Purpose.  Filled with fun, food and fellowship.

Paul Kollmann named to Dean's LIst at Olivet Nazarene University for spring semester.  Son of Kendell and Karen Kollman.  2008 Graduate of GHS.

Zadok Graff placed second in swine amd sixth overal in the livestock judging , senior questions division.  He is a member of the Greenview Boosters 4-H club.

Isabella Graff won Reserve Champion Percentage Heifer Bred & Owned with Elvira at te American Junior Simental ASsoc. NOrth Central Regional held in Wausau, WI.  Theo Graff won his class and placed 7th in the junior stock judging.

Farmer's Market in Petersburg - This sunday at the courthouse parking lot 10am to 2pm.

Thought Of the Day

If God created us in his own image,

we have more than reciprocated.

--Voltaire

Note:  If you are having problems making comments, be sure to check anonymous if you don't have a blogger id, and then at the bottom check Preview....after is comes up then hit Post.  This is what works for me.

This afternoon starts the weekend which looks like it will be free of rain.....just hot and humid.  This morning had a huge veil of moisture hanging around my trees.  I call that stationery rain....it just hangs there and doesn't fall to the ground.  Enjoy your weekend, but be sure to come back next week to read about your old town of Greenview.  Later my friends.....

Today Is Today Until Tomorrow

I posted a notice this morning that I had to go with my dear old 81 year old aunt to the hospital to assure she had someone with her during her hip replacement surgery this morning.  She came through surgery better than I did....and is sitting up and wanting to eat.  What a person!!  In my post I said I would edit the post and re-post later today....here is my re-post.  Some persons are having problems posting comments on the blog.....email me at: carlaslittlemoms@yahoo.com if you are also having problems....I will see if I can find an answer from blogger.com.  Thanks.

More Old Tyme Greenview
Note:  The following is a passage from a History of Menard and Mason counties written in 1879....it is in present time in 1879.  This passage is about the early Greenview.  Enjoy!!

"The first dwelling-house erected in the village was put up by
Robert McReynolds, soon after it was laid out, and very soon after this, James Stone erected a dwelling. The first brick house was built by John Wilkinson, and is now used as a hotel. One of the first business houses of importance was built by McReynolds, and afterward occupied by him as a store. There is some question at the present day as to whether McReynolds was the first merchant in the place, or whether Emanuel Meyer & Bro. deserve the honor. These were, probably, the two first stores in the village. Silas Beekman had a store here the fall the railroad was completed through the town.

 The first tavern was kept by John Wilkinson, and is still in existence (in the brick house mentioned above), but is now conducted by the widow of Mr. Wilkinson and their son. It is an excellent hotel for a village of the size of Greenview. The first blacksmith was Jacob Propst, who opened a shop soon after the laying-out of the village. The first physicians were Drs. Davis and Galloway. At present, the practitioners of the place are Drs. S. T. Hurst and W. A. Mudd.

A mill was built some years ago (the exact date we could not obtain), by McCormick Brothers. In January of the present year, it was burned to the ground. It was a frame building, two stories high, with two run of buhrs originally, but a third run was added at a later day,, and the entire structure was erected at a cost of about $10,000. It has not been rebuilt, which leaves quite a large scope of country between Petersburg and Mason City without a mill.  Harvey Yeaman was the first man who handled grain at this point. He built a part of the present grain elevator, and then sold out to Morse & Co., who raised the elevator and built another story under it. This seems to have been on the principle of the Irishman's mode of building a chimney, viz. r "Laying down a brick and putting some others under it." While it is quite* common to build another story on a house, it is rarely we hear of one having a story built under it. They also added cribs, machinery and all modern improvements. It is now owned by Petrie & Co., who are the only grain-buyers in the village."

........ "The village of Greenview is a flourishing place, containing some 500 or 600 inhabitants, and, considering its proximity to Petersburg on one side and Mason City on the other, enjoys quite a large trade. Its business is about as follows: Two dry-goods stores with groceries added, one store of groceries exclusively, one drug store, one store of hardware and stoves, two blacksmith and wagon shops, one harness shop, one shoe shop, two saloons, two carpenter
shops, one undertaker, one livery stable, one jeweler, one bank, two lumber yards, two physicians, one hotel, one butcher shop and one grain elevator.


Marbold, Alkire & Co., carry on the banking business in all its details. A very handsome public square has been set apart in the center of the village and inclosed with a substantial fence. It is well set in trees and grass, and it is intended, we learn, to lay it out in walks, plant shrubbery and arrange rustic seats. When this is done, it will be a spot of which the citizens of Greenview may well feel proud.

A strange feature in the history of the village is the fact that it has no cemetery. Its dead are taken mostly to Petersburg for burial. There are also several burying-grounds in the immediate vicinity, where repose many of the early dead, and these cemeteries receive additions, now and then, from the village ; but, as we said, most of its dead are taken to the cemetery at Petersburg. But the village, in our mind, should have a cemetery of its own. Such a place, kept as it should be, adds much to the interest of a town."

What's To Eat At Our House Tonight
Did you ever have one of those days where you have done so much in one day, to heck with cooking??!!  Well tonight is one of those day/nights.  So the refrigerator door is open....find whatever you can find and don't bother me!  HA HA HA  Seriously it's leftovers tonight.  And maybe grilled cheese sandwiches.

But for kicks, I will give you the recipe that someone gave me long ago which is supposed to copy the Strawberry Pie which was served at Tops Big Boy.  I only had the pie at Tops Big Boy one time and that was when I was in high school,  so I can't guarantee that it's the same but it tastes like I remember....but this recipe is good so here it is.

Tops Big Boy Strawberry Pie

1 quart strawberries cleaned and stemmed
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon lemon juice

9-inch baked pie shell

Whipping cream
 
Take 1 cup of the strawberries (the smaller or broken ones), and add the sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice and cook until thick. Cool.  Arrange the whole berries in a cooked and cooled pie crust and pour the homemade glaze over berries. Top with whipped cream and refrigerate.  Serves 8.
 
Double Entendres
If you saw these headlines, I think you would start laughing....the writer meant to say one thing, but what they said wasn't what they wanted to say... you got that didn't you???
 
1.  Include Your Children When Baking Cookies.
2.  Iraqi Head Seeks Arms.
3.  Drunks Get Nine Months In Violin Case.
4.  Teacher Strikes Idle Kids.
5.  Stolen Painting Found By Tree.
6.  Miners Refuse To Work After Death.
7.  Kids Make Nutritious Snacks.
8.  Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over.
 
As you can see, it's important that we say what we really mean.  I bet that Veterinarian sure had fun!
 
Thought For The Day

Silence is one of the

 great arts of conversation.

--Cicero

Today is just one more day exhausted in this month of July.  Already it is the 7th day of this month.....where do the days and the months go?  Certainly, time passes faster when one gets older and of course, when one is younger time never passes fast enough.  Does this mean that if we stayed young forever, we would never age.  Well.....since we can't stay young forever, we will never know.  But I know I sure get older each day.  Don't we all!!  Have a good evening.  Later.....

Old Tyme Menard County....Some Indians Were Here

Old Tyme Menard County Info
I was doing some scouting for history information and came across some interesting information about the Indians which were in Menard County.  This info came from a book called The History of Menard and Mason Counties.  Here's some of what I found:

"On the highest bluff along the Sangamon River, there are to be seen, remains of the works of that strange people called the "Mound Builders".  Many of these mounds have been opened, but no relics of any value have been found.  Stone axes, arrow-heads and spear-heads of flint have been found on the surface ..... and down to 12 foot below the ground .....  When the first settlements were made in the limits of the county, the Indians had almost all been removed; a few still remained in the timber on Indian Creek, in the neighborhood of Indian Point; and two old men with 10 or a dozen relatives remained for some time.  These were Shick-shack and Shambolee .... they moved to a high hill to within a mile of Chandlerville.  Here Shick-shack died and was buried and the hill is still called Shick-shack's Hill.  After he died the rest of the little band left the haunts of pale face and were heard of no more."

Note:  If you have ever gone to Chandlerville using the blacktop out the back side of Oakford, on the left you will see many Indian mounds.  Maybe Shick-shack and Shambolee made these.

Another section described the period clothing.  Here's some of the description:

"Among the early pioneers, everything was plain, simple and in conformity with the strictest economy.  In the very early day the men wore pants and hunting shirts made of buckskin, and caps of coon or fox skin, while both sexes clothed their feet in moccasins.  Cotton goods were extremely hard to get because of the distance ....the greater part was manufactured in Europe. .... Cotton couldn't really grow here due to the climate and short growing season .....  So, after the first year or two, the people began to sow crops of flax or hemp, and this the women spun and wove into a course but substantial and pleasant linen.  Of this underwear was made, dresses for the ladies, towels, table-cloths, etc.  .... Until the crops were ready .... wild nettles..... thousands of yards of linen were made from the nettles by the pioneer settlers in Illinois.  In the year after James Meadows settled in Sugar Grove, his wife spun and wove no less than thirty yards of this nettle linen.  It was strong, serviceable and bleached to an almost snowy whiteness."

Hope this gives you an idea of how much work our early settlers had to do to accomplish clothing themselves.  I'm glad we can go to the store and buy what we need in our period of time.  When the Greenview area was settled, there were many different precincts.....with the primary ones being Greenview, Sugar Grove and Indian Creek.  Those precincts still exist in today in determining precinct voting for elections.  In coming posts, I will be using passages from this very old history book to show you the life of the settlers in the various precincts.

Death
A longtime resident and former teacher, Linda Korte, died Sunday.  Our condolences to the family.

Don't Forget
Don't forget Daisy's Angels Golf Outing, Friday, July 8,  9:30am, Country Hills Golf Course.  This is such a worthwhile effort to raise money to purchase school items for underprivileged kids.  In memory of a longtime resident, Daisy Duncan.

What's To Eat At Our House Tonight
It's back to the car dealership for the third round of warranty work today (hmpfffff).  So.....I had to come up with something easy and quick.  Tuna Noodle Casserole is my answer.  Boil about 3/4 of a sack of dried noodles and drain.  Mix these noodles with 1 can of Mushroom Soup and 2 cans of Undrained Tuna and 1/2 can of drained peas.....mix it up and put it in a Pam sprayed casserole dish and sprinkle some crushed potato chips on top for crunch.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 30-45 minutes or until it begins to get brown.  Serve with a lettuce salad with tomatoes and any other veggies you have.  Heat up the rest of the peas and use as a side dish.  (I don't like peas much so I only use a 1/2 can in the casserole....you can use a whole can if you like them and want lots of peas).  This is a cheap and easy meal if you like tuna.  And, if you use lower sodium mushroom soup and omit the potato chips, it's fairly healthy.  Happy Eating.

Continuing Story......

The first post relative to this "continuing story" was made on July 4, 2011.  This is a true story, using mostly journals and diaries from my younger years.  The subject is the fear of death that I had as a child.

Chapter 2

I remember my mama so well. I found my secret diary from my middle and high school years. On one of the pages, I had written the following paragraphs about my mama:

“When I was a younger child, I remember crawling up on this lady’s lap and hugging for all I was worth. She had short curly hair and the clean smell of soap. She would always hug me and pat my hair and rock her body while I was lying in her lap. She was a jokester and a comedian and would laugh and laugh. I wish you could have seen her when she played her ukulele and danced the jig. And when my grandpa played his harmonica or fiddle, she stood beside him while grandma plunked on the piano. As the years passed, she became ill and couldn’t do much of anything but she could still hug and pat my hair or braid my hair as I sat beside her on her bed. And, the smile never left her face until the day she died. She never complained much either, but I know she was sad because she couldn’t get up and do lots of things with us kids. This grand lady was my mama. But when I was age 12 I had to say goodbye. But I still remember her smell and can sometimes feel her arms abound me, especially when I sit at her place at the kitchen table. I now ride my bike to visit her at her grave and sit and talk a while and take flowers to her grave. What peace she must enjoy being among the trees, with the sky above where she can watch the hummingbirds and the butterflies. She hasn’t been gone a long while so I still miss her, but I sit and admire her nameplate upon her door to heaven and tell her I miss you mama.”

I had questions in my mind about how my mom felt in the years, months, days and hours before she died. Did she know that she was going to die. Did something tell her or was she oblivious to the fact that death was approaching at an early date in her life. I would never know because I never really talked to her about dying except for asking her if she was going to die. I was too young. Even when people get older, most people don’t want to and don’t talk to their parents about death these days, unless the parents are diagnosed with a terminal illness or unless they are getting really old. Then the talk is to learn the parent’s desire about which funeral home, cremation or burial, etc. The talk doesn’t center around how do you really feel about death mom and dad. And the questions don’t ask “do you know you are dying”.

"My name is really not important because I know my own name. I live in a very small town in central Illinois situated on a state highway or “hard road“ as we all call this highway. I guess we call it “hard road” because it’s made out of concrete. I know what it’s made from and how they did it, because I watched those fellows build this road back a ways. When that building was going on, I loved going to my dad’s tenant house to sit in the yard to watch those huge machines dig the earth for the bed of the “hard road”.
 
"Today is my first day in the 7th grade. I am officially a big shot middle school kid in the middle of the corn belt. The town is about as small as a town could get. In fact, I don’t think it really qualifies as a town, as it’s called a village. Now that is small. The village is surrounded by corn and bean fields with pigs and cows thrown in for good measure. My dad is a farmer on the south side of town but we don‘t live in the country. I know my dad’s southtown fields well as I have walked everyone of those buggers, either cutting weeds out of beans or picking up orphaned ears of corn after the field was harvested. I’ve been driving a tractor since I was about 8 years old and I learned to drive a stick shift grain truck when I was age 10. My dad wanted me to learn to drive his trucks so he took me to the pasture and said "I’m going home on that tractor and if you want to get home, you drive this truck home. You’ve seen me drive this so you should know how to do it.” It took me about 2 hours to learn how to drive around that pasture and to get brave enough to drive home, but I did it and have been driving ever since. Hauling grain to the elevator is a way of life for a farmer’s kid long before becoming license eligible. But there isn’t a town cop and the sheriff is a family friend, so he turns his head to farmers’ kids driving because it is the way of life here in Podunk Illinois."

"Home is where everyone drives pick-up trucks because they want to. Sure a four wheel drive truck helps in the middle of winter when there is snow on the ground, but even though we complain that we’ve had a bad winter, it usually means it’s been cold and not that we had 4 feet of snow. A pick-up is a fun thing because you can go mudding down at the “crick” or you can haul some bricks for a fireplace or maybe haul the big dog around in the back. And once the local sixteen year olds get their license, the rest of the kids can hop in the back for a fun night of cruising the streets of the old hometown. But they don’t let little kids like me in the back. I always hear “get away kid”, you’re too little. I always say, “But I can drive a big grain truck with a dual low gear, now you tell me I’m too young”. I always hear “Shoo-fly, go away”.

"I don’t have a big brother because mine died before I was born. Something to do with a water head and maybe something named leukemia, whatever that is. But I could be wrong, because that was many years before I came along. His name was Bobby and he was 3 years old. That isn’t fair that I couldn’t know my brother. Thinking about Bobby makes it comes to mind, that I wanted to be there to hold his hand and ask him if he knew that he was going to die. I wonder if he cried at night knowing that our mama wouldn’t be there to hold him when he was sick or when he was hungry or when he just wanted to be held. Did he feel that desire to have his mama once he was dead? Or, maybe dead people don’t have that feeling that they want to be held. Does anyone know the answer about feeling things after you die, or, do people only feel things before they die. At my ripe age of 12, I have lots of questions about this. Those people who read the Bible say it’s fun to be dead, but I say, if you haven’t died, you can’t know."


....Please come back to see a new post under the Continuing Story ....  Be sure to read the blog each day so that you don't miss any episode in the life of the young Greenview girl who was afraid of death.  This story is a true story.

Thought For The Day

To find yourself,

think for yourself.

--Socrates

The answer to the mystery of life is sought by every living person.  Can you unlock this mystery?  What happens if you do solve the answer....is that the time your life ceases?   I certainly don't know.  But I know I sure have lots of questions about a lot of things.  But for this day I must be in the midst of my living soul.  Each day I will get up from bed and cook, eat, clean and do millions of little things, then at night and after I have refreshed my body and soul,  I will once again start the clock in the next day in the chain of evolution ... I will do things over again and the very next day after that I will also do the same thing.  Small things change....my life cycle doesn't.  From a Greenviewanite to another....have a good day.  Keep on smiling!

Tuesday again....

Just Askin....
Just in case you didn't come to the blog yesterday, I wanted to call attention to the first chapter of the new continuing story in yesterday's blog post.  If you didn't read it, could you go and give it a quick read.  If you have problems or concerns with this kind of posts in my blog, please tell me.  It will help me to develop ideas for future posts/articles, etc.  In fact any comments will be appreciated.

This is your blog, tell me your thoughts because I can't read your mind........ I lost my mind reading abilities a few years ago when they took my brain out....and forgot to reinsert it!  At least some days I feel like that's what happened.

Did You Know
I'm not superstitious but according to Chinese Feng Shui, this year's month of July has something special because it only happens once every 823years.  According to Chinese Feng Shui, that's called money bags and you should notify everyone about it.....and if you do money will come to you.  So I'm putting this in my blog in hopes that my mailbox will soon be so full of money that I'll never have to worry again.   Anyhow....here's the lucky information about July.

This month of July has 5 Fridays.  This month has 5 Saturdays.  This month has 5 Sundays.  Happens once in every 823 years

Old Tyme Greenview
I was hunting through some old books and found a paragraph about a person with the last name Gaddie.   This book was written in real time many many years ago. One of my readers was a Gaddie, so I decided to use that paragraph so you can become familiar with a long ago resident of the Greenview/Sweetwater area.  As I find other articles which I feel might be an ancestor of one of my readers, I will include these in my posts.

Andrew Gaddie:  Farmer and stock raiser.  P. O. Sweetwater.  Was born in the Orkney Islands, May 31, 1837; when about age 13 he went to sea; he followed the sea until about age 19 years of age when he came to the United States.  He was in the late war, served a little over two years and was discharged on account of sickness;  he was in the Co. K, 106th I.V.I.  In 1867, Mr. Gaddie bought 200 acres of land in Sugar Grove Precinct upon which he has since resided.  He was united in marriage with Sarah Keen, November 20 1866; she was born in England October 8, 1848.  Mrs. Gaddie's parents came to this country when she was about 2 years of age.  From this union, there are six children - John T.,   Cora N., Katie G., Charles H., Mary E., and Jessie A.  Mr Gaddie came to Illinois a poor boy and is emphatically a self-made man.  He has held the responsible position of County Commissioner three years and well and faithfully has served the county; he is a democrat.

What's To Eat Tonight At Our House
Tonight we're having Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo.  I have to watch fat grams and sodium content so I buy the Alfredo sauce in a jar.  I have tried making homemade Alfredo sauce with lower fat milk and it tastes flat and terrible to the taste buds.   Ragu brand has a Light Parmesan which has 5 fat grams and lower sodium and really tastes good.

I actually like linguine noodles better than I do Fettuccine .... I simply boil about 3/4 box for 2 people and for the Ragu jar contents.  Drain and place on a plate.  Heat the Ragu Alfredo sauce and cover the noodles on your plate.  Top with cooked shrimp.  Sometimes I cover large uncooked shrimp in blackened fish spice and then grill .... cut in pieces and place on top of the Alfredo.

Greenview Today
This weekend I took a ride through Greenview, pondering how much it has changed from many years ago.  Buildings don't make the town, but when they are gone, the old town seems strange.  The park is still maintained very well.  The grass is well cut and the pavilion stands strong.  I still remember the old pavilion made of wood and very small and where a large screen was hung from the side and movies shown in the park for the kids.

On my way through town, at Rolf's machinery, I saw a Kubota runabout type vehicle which will be given away at the Menard County fair.  Tickets are $25. 

On the main street (Adams) which runs on the south side of the park, I saw furled flags on every light post from the highway to the cemetery.  This display of flags In Greenview brought a proud feeling to my heart that the village of Greenview still holds dear our Freedom and  remembers the soldiers who gave their lives so that we could remain independent.  

Most houses in Greenview appear to be well kept unlike some small towns in this area.  There are a lot of houses which have been foreclosed upon during the horribly devastating recession so sometimes the yards of these houses look a little rough.  I would estimate there are between 5 to 10 empty foreclosed homes.

All in all, the town still looks good.  If you haven't visited in a while, you should do so.  Be sure to take a look at the pristinely kept Elmwood Cemetery.

Daisy's Angels Golf Outing
For those of you who remember a lovely Greenview resident, Daisy Duncan.....as a memorial, a golf outing is held to raise money to purchase school items for underprivileged kids.  To date this memorial has raised about $65,000.  It's a good thing!!  The outing is being held Friday, July 8, 9:30 at Country Hills Golf Course. 

A Funny Thing Happened To Us.....
We had to go to Peoria on Saturday.  We travelled Route 29 and were on our way back home.  Driving through Creve Couer and then Marquette Heights nothing unusual.  All at once we look up and there is a huge speed boat sitting in the middle of the right hand lane in which we were driving.  We could see the white skid marks on the highway where the boat had skidded on the pavement.  No truck or trailer was around at the nearby gas station or in any open lot next to the road.  The boat was all alone.  No police were there. People were simply going to the other lane and gawking at a strange sight.  This boat was HUGE!  How could someone not know they lost their boat!!!  We felt the owner may have left to go get another trailer....if the boat fell off, something must have been wrong with the trailer tie downs.....we chuckled a lot about this on our way home.

Thought For The Day

Ever tried.  Ever Failed.  No Matter. 

Try Again.  Fail Again.  Fail Better.

--Samuel Beckett

Today is another day.  I must strive to be a more avid fan of housework. I tend to let the dust bunnies climb aboard for a long visit.  Perhaps today will be the day those dang bunnies see the end of my long handled duster.  Never fear, that day will come....but is today the day....who knows.  This Greenview house may not be the cleanest, but it's home!  Later my friends....

Happy Independence Day 2011....The Land Of the Free

July 4, 2011
Once again we're celebrating an Independence Day.  Freedom still rings throughout our land.  We call it the Land of the Free and the Home Of The Brave.  Our star bangled banner still waves in triumph..."oh say can you see by the dawn's early light"!

We are lucky to have this independence and freedom.  Think about some of the Arab countries or the African countries.....freedom doesn't exist. 

When you think about it, there are limitations on our freedom and this bothers and concerns some persons.  Women don't always get paid the same as men, so does this violate our Civil Rights granted under the Bill of Rights?  Children can't pray in school.  A lot of assemblies of persons  result in arrests so has freedom been lost.  People are arrested for voicing their opinions, so does this violate our rights?  If a person believes in Islam, they are considered a terrorist.  There is racial profiling.  The constitution gives you the assurance that you can be safe in your house, yet a Supreme Court decision was made to allow police into your house without a warrant if they hear what they call suspicious sounds in your house.   The Federal Government can use videos and wire tapping when a person hasn't been convicted of anything.  A Chicago women made a choice of an alternative treatment for her child who had behavorial mental problems....a Chicago Swat team broke in and took the child because DHS didn't like the treatment decision.   Police seize computers and cell phones to obtain information about you.   In one Chicago school, children are banned from bringing their lunch from home.  If you have a bank account or a security lock box at a bank and don't use it for a period of time, it's seized and kept for a while then sold or used. If you deposit $10,000 or more in a bank account. you are reported to the IRS and investigated and if you write a check over $5,000 it's put on the suspicious activity list and if you write several this size, you may be in trouble because they probably think you are money laundering.   Sometimes I even feel that Big Brother Is Watching me.   HA HA

 All of these things are not necessarily something I agree with, but could these be violations of our constitutional rights?  But, all in all, this country sure isn't as bad as Iraq or Afghanistan, etc.  As Americans, we must always stand United on the home front.  We must strive to assure the country operates with our constitutional rights guaranteed and awarded.  Each person is given the right to elect Congressional and Judiciary persons who will assure that.....and if they don't it's time to elect another who will.

Enjoy the day whether you have a planned family outing or cookout.  Or, maybe you have to work.  Or, maybe you will just sit back and enjoy a day of freedom.  Kick off the shoes, recline the chair and watch the television and by all means relax.  But ..... enjoy the day.  And think of our town Greenview, Illinois.....which was organized by our forefathers, to remain forever, in the land of freedom.  A fine old town which still stands proud, bedecked today with our star spangled banner, waving strong and proud.  It's a good thing!

A New Concept I Will Be Posting.....A Continuing Story
Throughout my lifetime, I was always writing things in journals and diaries or just on paper.  It was simply a part of my life.  Several years ago, I got all of these out and started reading these.  Some things I had written were dumb, but I was a kid then who had not much else to do as I lived in Greenview, Illinois.  Many of my writings were deep thoughts on various subjects and in my older lifetime, they made sense and were still deep thoughts.  Other writings centered on my fears of certain things.  One of these fears was the subject of death.  It was obvious to me when I re-read my writings that I didn't understand death as a kid.  And when I think about this, I don't think any child understands death and even when that child grows up, the understanding may not get any clearer. 

I decided to write some of my thoughts on the subject of death in a continuing story.  Some things are from my journals and diaries and some from a documentation of my life's story which I completed a couple of years ago.    I don't know exactly how long the story will continue....until I'm done with my story I guess.   I'm not sure if I will post a story chapter each day or if it will be a few a week.  Sometimes it might not follow the timeline and will appear to jump around but that's the way I wrote in my journals. I will try to not make my posts so long that you lose interest.    If I lose readers because of the subject, that's ok, but keep in mind I'm not trying to sway anyone to come around to my way of thinking, I'm just documenting my food for thought.  And maybe this will help me retain readers and gain some more.  I sincerely hope you enjoy reading....keep in mind that some of this is copied from my diaries and is very personal to me.....yet I am willing to let you see the inner me.  Just a humble kid in the beginning and now an old lady who still lives in Greenview, Illinois.  Enjoy!

Death Is Hiding Around The Corner

Chapter One - First Impression

The first person I remember seeing lying in a state of death’s repose was the daughter of my father’s friend. The girl was quite young and looked like she was sleeping but I couldn’t understand why her facial features looked funny.  She was really pale and her face looked like she had painted her face with clown makeup.  That clown makeup really bothered me.   Why did she just lie there and do nothing?  She didn't smile or raise up and tell people hello.  Why were her fingers lying on her belly? Why was she lying in this box with white satin material on the pillow.  Why was her mother and father crying? Why were lots of people crying? Why did my dad shake his friend’s hand and hug his wife? Why did my dad bring me here?

All of these questions would be normal questions for a young child to ask when death is first exposed to the child. I had never seen death before and no one told me what it was or what I should expect because I was too young. But at some time I had to learn, so I suppose my dad felt it was time to show me how death affects those who go on living. I sure didn’t think it was time but my dad apparently wanted me to know that she was dead and gone to heaven. But I still didn’t know what that meant until I thought about the funny facial features and the stuff on her face which looked like my clown makeup. And those fingers on her belly, just lying there, not doing anything.  I didn't like that clown makeup and those fingers lying on the belly.  And when someone said they were putting her in the ground, it felt pretty final to me. That bothered me because I remembered the bird I found not long before that day I went with my dad to see that dead girl.  That bird must have been dead. I picked him up when I found him and shook the bird a bit and when he just laid there, I didn’t want the neighbor’s dog to get him, so I dug a hole for him and buried him. When dad told me the girl was dead then I knew the bird must have been dead. Why didn’t I know that? And why must things die?

After my experience of going to the funeral home with my dad, I knew I didn’t want anyone I knew dying. But time marches on and the so called nasty death began to catch up with my life. A few aunts and uncles died. I remember having to go see them for the last time.  I knew I would never see my aunt/uncle ever again.  It wasn't fair.  And just like the young girl I saw the first time, my aunts and uncles were covered in clown makeup and their fingers were lying on their belly. I began to associate those fingers on the belly and clown makeup with death. Was I going to look like that one of those days. NO! Not me.

During my grade school years we played a lot of baseball at the grade school yard which was across from our house.   There wasn’t a whole lot to do in town, so we made our own fun.  Sometimes it was walking up the spiral fire escape on the old grade school and sliding down it on a piece of waxed paper or forming the baseball teams and playing for hours.  I had to be very observant of my mom as she was sick a lot so I had to stick close to home.  Through the last years, she was in the hospital with a bad heart attack. She took this liquid green medicine for her nerves. The Lithuanian doctor, Stanley Paulaskis, filled her bottle each time she visited the doctor. I don’t think she took other medicine because I can’t remember seeing her take anything else, but I know she felt bad a lot. The doctor’s wife was his nurse. Everyone always says he came from behind the Iron Curtain. That sounded stupid to me as a kid, because if the curtain was iron you couldn’t get through it so how did he come here? I once asked him but his accent was so bad it couldn’t understand what he said. I remember hearing Walter Cronkite say on television that the Iron Curtain meant there was an impenetrable barrier by the Russians. When I heard the word Russians I got scared, because people said the world was going to end because the Russians are going to drop a bomb on us and kill the world. I also remember that Mr. Cronkite talked about this huge stone Berlin wall in Germany. I always wondered why do those people in other countries liked walls and curtains. Here in America, we liked the wide open corn fields and pastures and if my family wanted to go to another state, we could go. I really liked watching Walter Cronkite report the news. Almost as much as I like to watch Lawrence Welk and the Lennon sisters.

I was aging and began to know a bit more about people dying and death. I learned some things at Sunday School from my teachers and from the minister and from my friends at school.  The minister said that death was beautiful but I didn't see it that way with that funny makeup.   I didn’t have a book to use to really explain death, so I had to rely on these people’s knowledge. But I had a lot of unanswered questions. Then the most horrible thing happened. My mom was ill with a terribly ravished heart and in my twelfth year of age, she died one night when I was at a basketball game. My brother ran to the school to get me, but mama was dead. She had peed on the couch and I knew mama must have been really sick to do that. She would have been so embarrassed. But I didn’t know that death caused her urine to be released.

It was the night before Valentine’s Day in 1962, and my brother and I had spent our allowance on a box of Valentine's Day candy for mama. What was I going to do with that candy? We ended up giving it to grandma. The next day I asked my dad if I could call his new wife “Mama” when we were out shopping for a new blue dress for my mama to wear in her casket.   I was age 12 and how did I know that no one could replace my mom. And, how could I know that my childhood had just fallen apart and that in the future the world would be full of mean and hateful persons stepping into my father’s life and trying to capture his heart and his money while alienating this child as well as the rest of the siblings. And these same people my dad seemed to like, hated my baby sister who couldn’t help she was a downs syndrome child. It happened. Why did my mama have to die?  I was so upset with mama dying because just a few weeks before that she told me she wasn’t going to die when I asked her about her being sick and going to die. I remember crying out “Mama how could you do this to me, I’m only 12“.

......STORY TO BE CONTINUED IN A FUTURE POST.....KEEP ON READING PLEASE.....AND THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY STORY.

What's To Eat At Our House Tonight
Tonight is meatloaf.  I simply use:  1 teaspoon garlic powder and 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 cup chopped onions, 2 Tablespoons worchestershire sauce, salt, pepper,1/2 cup ketchup,  3/4 cup Italian bread crumbs, parsley flakes, one egg, 1/4 cup water and  2 pounds of ground chuck (may need more bread crumbs....trial and error).   Mix it together, and shape it in a loaf and put it in a sprayed pan.  Before I put it in the pan, I spoon really cold water over it above the sink.....water over the top supposedly makes it so it doesn't fall apart....at least my food sources told me long ago.  I let it cook out the juices and pour off the grease and about 3/4 the way through cooking I spread ketchup over the top and mix 2 cans of tomato soup with a 2 cans of water and put around the meatloaf so we can use this for gravy.  Total cooking time for a 2 pound meatloaf will be about 1 1/2 hours....but test with a thermometer.....170 degrees.  Mashed potatoes taste really good with the tomato soup gravy.  French green bean casserole and hard rolls are also on our firecracker meal.

Thought For The Day
 

Every night I turn my worries over to God.

He's going to be up all night anyway.

--Mary Crowley

I appreciate my readers....more than you can ever realize.  Today is a holiday for which we celebrate our nation.  Tomorrow is a holiday on which we can celebrate life itself.  We should always be thankful for being given yet another day to live in this world.  Be kind to yourself....take a moment to reflect on your life.  And, if you have a few spare moments, think about documenting your life.  Those who are your next generation will appreciate learning about the person who had a small town named Greenview Illinois in their history.  From one Greenviewanite to another.....Have a safe and happy July 4, 2011.  I remain.....your friend. 

Independence Is The Name Of The Game

Why Do We Want Independence
I certainly have never questioned the right of Independence which The United States enjoys.  Back in  1776 the Declaration of Independence gave us the right of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.  In case you didn't know it, the USA is a federal constitutional "Republic", which consists of 50 states and a federal district (District of Columbia).  A lot of US citizens don't know we are a Republic.  The US also has several "territories" in the Pacific and the Carribean.   In the beginning, there were 13 original British colonies.  A group of rebellious states fought for our independence and defeated the British Empire during the American Revolution ...... our first step in a truly single republic with a federal government.  The current constitution was adopted in 1787 and ratified the next year.  The Bill of Rights which gave us fundamental civil rights and freedom, was ratified in 1791.  Our nation was born!

Through the years, we have gone through wars and conflicts and battles, yet we have maintained our Independence.  We've become a super power as compared to other countries.  Sometimes I think that is a good thing, but sometimes it scares the heck out of me.  As a naturally born citizen, I think I take my freedom and independence for granted sometimes.  And, I don't know things about our country that I should know.  Not long ago I saw some of the questions which are contained on the test for US citizenship.  I'm ashamed......I didn't know some of the answers.  Yet those who were not naturally born, know all of this "stuff" about the USA.  To see if you know these, I'm including the website link so you can look at the questions.
http://usgovinfo.about.com/blinstst.htm

I remember when I was a kid in the 1960's, people thought Russia was going to bomb us.  All over America, bomb shelters cropped up.  Subway systems and underground tunnels acted as shelters from crisis.  Remember when 9-11 occurred, our president was whisked away to an underground shelter in Nebraska. There is supposedly a bunker under the Old US Naval Observatory where Dick Cheney stayed after 9-11.   Not long ago one of the major television networks broadcasted from a huge US underground shelter under the Greenbriar resort in West Virginia which was actually self-sufficient.  This bunker was 112,544 square feet, could accommodate 1100 persons and was completed in 1962 and maintained during the Cold War.  Of course the food and supplies are seriously outdated, but it was interesting to see this shelter which I never knew anything about. This was originally designed to shelter the House of Representatives and Senators in the event of a crisis.

http://www.greenbrier.com/staying-here/the-bunker/bunker-history.aspx

Apparently there are 100's of US secret bunkers all across the USA.  At least there is a fighting chance that our Independence could be maintained in the event of a nuclear crisis.  You and I might be gone, but Independence might be saved.

This type of information about bunkers and shelters shows how determined the US is to maintain our Independence.  You and I probably don't think about all of this on the day we celebrate our Independence.  Our thoughts are on taking a mini vacation, or going to a picnic, or seeing the spectacular fireworks at day's end.  Independence is wonderful and let's hope that we maintain this for all of our lifetimes.  Have a wonderful Independence Day Weekend.  Be safe, be smart and most of all be Independent!!

What's To Eat At Our House Tonight
Cooks night off.  YAY!  Hopefully it will be the cook's days off during the entire weekend.  But if you need a wonderful cake to take to a picnic, I'm including my Oatmeal Cake recipe.  I know you will be the center of attention, when they bite into their piece of cake!!!

Carla's Oatmeal Cake

1 cup quick oats
1 stick margarine (cut up)
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/3 cups flour
Stir boiling water over oats and margarine until margarine is melted. Let sit 20 minutes. After 20 minutes add sugars and then add eggs and cinnamon and soda. Add flour a little at a time and stir. Lightly grease/spray 9 x 13 pan (Use Metal As You Must Broil the Icing). Bake 35 minutes at 350 oven.

Use following topping:
Topping:
6 Tablespoons margarine
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 cup coconut
1/4 cup milk
Bring to a boil. Spread on hot cake then broil until slightly brown.

Events
Country Hills Golf Course - Over 50/Under 50 tournament July2/ July 4 Anniversary Celebration...free cake and punch....$1 beer and soda

Tax Payments due by July 7.

Menard Jaycees holding a Diaper Drive  (formula, wipes, diapers, etc or money to purchase these) to distribute to the county food pantries.  Little babies can sometimes go through 12 diapers a day.  Greenview food pantry seldom gets diapers, formula, and other baby supplies.  Please think about a contribution for this worthy cause.  Money cans at county Casey's Convenience Stores and other places.....or call the CIA building weekday mornings and tell them you want to make a contribution. 

 
Next Week
Starting next week I will be posting a continuing story each day.  The subject of the story is death and contains many small stories as well as thoughts about my personal feelings concerning death so you might or might not be interested, but I hope it will keep readers coming back for more.  And of course you will be welcome to post your own feelings on this subject too.
 
Thought For The Day

Success is going from failure to failure

without losing your enthusiasm.

 

--Abraham Lincoln

 

Today is the first of many hot summer days in the Midwest.  The humidity will most likely be intolerable to many and many of our fellow citizens will suffer.   A lot of our fellow Americans are suffering from heat, drought, fires and floods.  At this time, here in Greenview-land it's not so bad when compared to what others are going through.  Thank you dear Lord for that.  As you go through the long weekend, give thanks to God for what you have.  He listens and provides.  Be safe!