Palestine opera house scenery rescue by eighth-graders, U of I's Morrow Plots and Aurora's cell phone tours featured in latest Historic Illinois         

[NOV. 11, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- Artistic treasures in Palestine's opera house that have been rescued by an eighth-grade class, the University of Illinois' scientific farming plots and historic building tours than can be done by cell phone in Aurora are featured in the latest issue of Historic Illinois, a publication of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

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The Fife Opera House in the Crawford County community of Palestine received assistance from junior high school students whose grandparents weren't even alive when the structure was built between 1898 and 1900. Magnificent wood and canvas scenery flats painted by some of the top theater scenery artists of the early 1900s were rescued by the Palestine Preservation Projects Society and were cleaned and documented by eighth-grade members of the Palestine Grade School History Club. Teacher Carolyn Kelley guided the students as they removed the large, damaged flats from various locations in the theater, carefully cleaned them and meticulously documented their condition. The students' 80 hours of work resulted in a booklet of the scenery that is being sold to raise funds for future restoration. The article was written by Carolyn Kelley.

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For 118 years, the Morrow Plots at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have been at the forefront of scientific farming. Named for the head of the Agriculture College at the U of I in 1876, Dr. George Morrow, the weather stations at the plots have measured soil and air temperature, precipitation and humidity, and the wind to compile an unbroken record of Illinois weather conditions for well over a century. The Morrow Plots were recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1968. The adjacent weather station was named a U.S. Weather Bureau Benchmark Station in 1963 and today is recognized as one of the nation's leading weather stations. The article was written by Stanley A. Changnon, a climatologist for 50 years and chief emeritus of the Illinois State Water Survey.

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Aurora's "City of Lights Cell Tour" uses cell phone and voice-mail technology to take visitors back in time to tell stories about the Kane County community's architectural heritage. Visitors can access an online map at www.enjoyaurora.com or pick up a print version at various locations. The map highlights 12 places in downtown Aurora that are distinctive for their architecture or are associated with the community's history. Visitors dial the main tour telephone number, [phone], and hear an introduction. They are then directed to enter the number corresponding with that stop on the cell phone keypad, and they can hear tales about Mayan-inspired architecture, famous musicians, friendly ghosts and other tales from Aurora's past. The stories can be accessed in any order, and visitors can proceed at their own pace. The tour can be completed on foot or by car. Sue Vos, chairman of the Aurora Downtown marketing committee, patterned the cell phone tour after one in New York City. The article was written by William Gatlin, an intern with the Preservation Services Division of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

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Historic Illinois is a bimonthly publication that features historically significant sites in Illinois. Subscriptions are $10 per year, which includes six issues of Historic Illinois and a full-color Historic Illinois calendar.

For more information, call [phone], visit www.illinoishistory.gov or write to Historic Illinois, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, Springfield, IL 62701-1507.

[Illinois Historic Preservation Agency news release]