New Salem, Illinois 10.9.13

Randy Robins our guide.  New Salem.



P Day Group at New Salem



Lincoln Statue.  New Salem.  Avard Fairbanks.

Big Purchase.  Postcards.  New Salem.

A real ox in New Salem.

We went to New Salem the same day we went to Dickson Mounds.  They were only about an hour apart.  Our guide was a member of the Church who lives in nearby Petersborg.  He is a docent in New Salem and took personal time to show us around the restored village.

Abraham Lincoln spent six years in New Salem from the ages of 22-28.  Here he defined what he would later become.  He tried being a store keeper without much success.  He did physical labor.  He and a friend took products on a flatboat on the rivers all the way to New Orleans where they sold their wares.

Abe was self taught.  He loved to read and read everything he could get his hands on.  He decided to read law and become a lawyer.  In those days that was all you had to do and then pass the test.

New Salem reminded me of what old Nauvoo may have looked like with the log cabins, dirt roads, fences for horses, cattle, and oxen.  They had some “interpreters” showing the early crafts like weaving and the home of Samuel Hill who was the richest man in New Salem.

Randy was an excellent guide.  It was obvious that he has studied much about Lincoln and has a great love for the man.  We were glad to learn more about Lincoln’s earlier life after being in Springfield  in June.

Dickson Mounds - October 9 2013

Temple Mound at right 10.9.13

John and Pat at Dickson Mounds 10.9.13



Aleen Harms at Dickson Mounds

Nine Couples from our P day group went to Dickson Mounds --- about a two hour drive from Nauvoo.  We were met by the archeologist Allen Harms.  He gave us interesting insights into the mounds which were discovered by Dr. Don Dickson on his property in 1927.  Mr. Harms has been employed there for 52 years since 1960.  He took us into the lab where he showed us how they label and classify all of their finds.  They have displayed the bones of two huge bison that were found nearby.

The Native Americans lived in this area about 1200 A.D.  They have an excellent museum which shows the type of culture, homes, and activities of these people – from gatherers to farmers.  They found the rich soil of Middle America was conducive to growing corn, beans, and other crops.

The mounds were used for burials.  Many of the communities had a large “temple” mound where they had a temple and/or the home of the chief on top.  The displays also showed large open areas for people to gather for sports and important occasions.

We liked the enthusiasm and attitude of Mr. Harms.  He said that he wakes up excited every morning thinking, “What am I going to find today?”



Quincy - September 18 2013



Washington Park in the City Square




The Band at O'Griff's - Sister Gentry



LDS ward chapel - Stained glass

 

Washington Park Plaque

Brother and Sister Gentry are our Saturday PM shift coordinators.  They are from Quincy and invited us to come when they could be our guides and to hear Sister Gentry play in the band at O’Griff’s bar and grill.

It was soon obvious to us that Brother Gentry loves the home town where he was born and raised.  He was a convert to the Church in 1980 when he was in the service in Italy.  He spent 21 years in the army.

We first went past a stadium which had limestone rock walls – a WPA project during the depression.  We also passed Al Capone’s home which had basement escape tunnels.

Next we went on the large, impressive grounds of the Veterans Hospital, Home and Cemetery.  There is a nursing home, an Alzheimer’s unit, a library, museum.  There are bison on the grounds and the commandant’s home.

Quincy is known as a city of trees, churches and taverns.  We went to Washington Park in the City Square where the Saints camped when they came across the river from Missouri in 1838 following Governor Boggs’s extermination order.  The people of Quincy welcomed the struggling, destitute Saints .  They took them into their homes, fed, clothed, and nursed them back to health.  We also saw Riverside Park and Madison Park where some of the Saints are buried.

We also saw the plaque the Church put up a few years ago acknowledging the citizens of Quincy for their kind treatment of Church members in 1838.  When the Tabernacle Choir performed in Quincy the year the Nauvoo Temple was dedicated, President Hinckley presented the mayor a check for $75,000 to thank the people of Quincy for their goodness.

We drove in the Park Place area of lovely large old homes.  We also went to the lovely LDS ward chapel.  When they built the building, the members insisted that they move the stained glass window that was in the building they had been using.  It makes a very unique and beautiful chapel.

We had a good meal at O’Griff’s and enjoyed the band.  It was fun to meet Gentrys when they were not dressed in white.

Brother and Sister Gentry are planning to drive a truck and trailer to Salt Lake City the second week of November and are taking boxes for many of the returning home missionaries, including us.  It’s a great service for us and a way for them to visit their grandchildren in Utah.



Bevan Family Reunion




Nauvoo 2013

 

Family History (Mormons) a YouTube clip...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ5zeG87q7E#t=214

St. Louis Adventure - August 13-14 2013

Score board in the 9th inning

Cardinals Stadium

We had a nice P-day adventure this week.  President Condie gave us permission to go to St. Louis to a Cardinals game.  We left after our morning shift at the temple and drove straight to the parking lot we had reserved.  We had less than an hour before the game.  We weren't sure how we we're going to get to the stadium, which is right in the downtown area.  Some young people we had asked spotted a three-wheeled bicycle taxi for us, and we paid the driver $10 to take us to the stadium.  We noticed the strong calf muscles as he pedaled his way throught the downtown streets, not even stopping for red lights.

The Cardinals stadium is relatively new - about 5 or 6 years old.  It is spectacular, especially full of red - clad enthusiastic fans.  We found our seats, and John went and bought us hot dofs - didn't find any Cracker Jacks.  We wore our missionary badges, and I didn't think many people noticed until tow women came and accused us of being in their seats.  Apparently we were in the wrong section.  The couple on the end told us they had four seats, and the other people weren't coming.  She said, "Just move over here and use these seats; then you won't have to move."  She was so kind - don't know if it was because we were missionaries or because we are so old.  We visited a littel and told her we were from Utah and serving in Nauvoo.  Her husband had been a truck driver and had been in Utah.

The game was fun to watch with a lot of hits but few runs.  Pittsburgh was leading 3- 0 until the 9th inning when the Cardinals were able to tie the game, partly due to a fielder's error.  We stayed until the 11th inning and left and found our motel - a nice Comfort Inn on the outskirts of town.  We were able to watch the rest of the game on TV, and the Cardinals finally won 4 -3 in the 14th inning!  We picked a good game becuaset they lost the games before and after that one. 

August 2013

Our friends the Warrs have a tandem bike, which they ride often for exercise.  Another couple bought one online after seeing the Warr’s.  We told them we wanted to try it out so they were kind to give us a few instructions and send us on our way.  We rode around on the “flats” where the restored sites are and managed fine.  It’s a great way to see Nauvoo.  We’ll try it again soon, and maybe Pat won’t be quite so nervous.