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Although the
one-room schoolhouse, once a common feature of the rural landscape,
has all but disappeared, the lovingly restored Lincoln School in
rural Clark County continues to be used for education. Students
travel to the rural schoolhouse for field trips to learn what it was
like to attend school a hundred years ago. Local preservationists
restored the building in 1988, replacing desks and blackboards, and
they found a coal-burning stove similar to the one that originally
rested at the back of the classroom. The related article was written
by Keith A. Sculle, head of research and education for Illinois
Historic Preservation Agency. The Vachel Lindsay Home State
Historic Site in Springfield is the subject of another article.
Lindsay was and continues to be well-known throughout the world for
his poetry and art, but he was dismissed as an eccentric by his
fellow Springfield residents. While much of his fame was achieved
away from Springfield, he always longed to return to the home at 603
S. Fifth St. where he was born. Lindsay did eventually return to the
home and died there in 1931. This year Lindsay's 125th birthday is
being celebrated at the fully restored home, where several original
pieces of his art are displayed and where visitors may see the
rather ordinary surroundings that nurtured his creative genius. The
related article was written by Cynthia A. Fuener, publications
editor for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
[Click
here for information about a local program Thursday on the life
and career of Vachel Lindsay.]
A Japanese jackpot discovered during the restoration of a LaSalle
mansion is described in an article written by Hegeler-Carus
Foundation consultant Christine Esposito. During the $12 million
restoration of the Hegeler-Carus Mansion, caretaker Dan Irvin went
to clean the attic and found two shipping crates containing 27
original Japanese silk paintings that had been stored there for 128
years. The paintings by artist Keichu Yamada were apparently done to
illustrate a book written by Dr. Paul Carus.
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top of second column in this article]
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Carus and zinc magnate Edward Hegeler, who built the home,
operated Open Court Publishing from the mansion. The publishing
company produced works that encouraged open discussion about
philosophy, science and religion. Carus committed himself to
bridging Eastern and Western thought by popularizing Buddhism in the
United States and wrote the 1894 book "The Gospel of Buddha
According to Old Records."
Although Carus held Yamada's work in high regard, he apparently
chose other illustrations for his book. Open Court Publishing has
just issued its eighth edition of "The Gospel of Buddha," this one
featuring Yamada's long-lost work.
Historic
Illinois, a bimonthly publication of the Historic Preservation
Agency, features historically significant sites in Illinois.
"Historic Illinois showcases the state's marvelous variety of
buildings, infrastructure and people," said Fuener, publications
editor with the agency. "Readers get to know the old Illinois in new
and fascinating ways."
Subscriptions are $10 per year, which includes six issues of
Historic Illinois and a full-color "Historic Illinois" calendar.
For more information, call (217) 524-6045, visit
www.Illinois-History.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]
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