Columnist

    Was a war ever fought where we are living right now? If your answer is no, you would be wrong.
    Many wars were fought on the soil beneath our feet. But those wars occurred many moons ago, among people who have been lost to our memories. There were hundreds of wars fought on our soil between native tribes, many we know nothing about.
    However, I will start with the first wars that involved white people at the start of the 19th century. At the time our area was home to the Pottawatomie with villages scattered all over the northern part of what is now Illinois.

    Technology has the power to transform lives. Just look at the changes made in all our lives since the computer revolution.
    In Braidwood technology, at first, was limited to the coal and railroad industry. It was not until the 1880's that technology came into the lives of the average guy, bringing Braidwood out of the dark and into a new world.

    Over half a century ago a young James Marshall Hendrix and his band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, released their debut album “Are You Experienced.” The album was an instant critical and commercial success thanks in large part to the opening track of the album, “Purple Haze.” Most bartending schools teach some form of a Purple Haze cocktail. This week we will serve up two of the most popular versions.

    Reed Township was a rural place in 1855. Although it was known there was coal in the area, no one had yet harvested it. Wilmington was the closest place to sell farm produce and to shop for the early farming community that lived for the most part in Custer Township.
    But to get to Wilmington one had to ford the Kankakee River at what is now Baltimore Stree, a dangerous proposition during times of high water.