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You a Member? If you are a member, thank you. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to improve the membership experience. Send eNews to a Friend Help us build our mailing list and increase the number of people who receive Canal Passages eNews. If you have a friend who would enjoy receiving Canal Passages eNews, please send them this issue. If you received this message from a friend and like what you see, subscribe today! Volunteers
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Us Your News! Canal Corridor Association is a membership organization that preserves history, protects nature and open space, and creates destinations where people can learn and have fun in the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor, from Lake Michigan in Chicago to the Illinois River in LaSalle/Peru. It enhances, raises awareness of and expands the parks, trails, landscape and historic sites that make the I&M Canal region a special place. CCA manages the Gaylord Building, a National Trust Historic Site, in Lockport, Illinois. One of the oldest industrial buildings in the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor, the Gaylord Building is a model of adaptive reuse, featuring the Public Landing restaurant, canal exhibits and more. |
CCA President's Note Hello Everyone, Thank you to the 300+ people who joined us Monday for our annual Canal Boat Captain's luncheon in Chicago. We honored former Congressman William O. Lipinski for his contributions to the heritage corridor. He was a most gracious recipient and challenged all of us there to learn about the history of the I&M Canal, of Illinois and of the U.S.
His challenge included a quiz in six months, so please continue reading Ron Vasile's articles in the eNews, come to the dinner/lectures at the Gaylord Building, read Prairie Passage, watch the film Prairie Tides. The next time you see Mr. Lipinski, wow him with your knowledge of I&M Canal history! Hope to see you on the trail , Ana B. Koval President & CEO A Historical Sketch of I&M Canal Boat Captains --by Ron Vasile, CCA Historian Hundreds of men captained canal boats on the I&M Canal, but we know surprising little about most of them. Many freight boats were captained by their owner, while other captains were hired to pilot others' boats. In the early years of the I&M Canal, experienced boat captains came to Chicago after having worked on various eastern canals. Many captains were of a rather rough sort, known for drinking, gambling and fighting. Locktenders often had to break up fight between captains arguing over whose boat would enter a lock first.
On I&M Canal packet boats, an attentive and accommodating boat captain could make an uncomfortable passage more tolerable for harried passengers, and some people tried to travel on a favorite skipper's boat. Alson Woodruff, known locally for his role in putting down a riot by canal workers in 1838, was called a “prince of a Captain” by one grateful traveler. Other captains were frequently referred to in newspaper accounts as “gentlemanly.” When the packet boat trade ended, many boat captains ended up working for the canal's rival, the railroads. Ironically, the conductor of the first train from Chicago to LaSalle was Fred Reed. “He had been a packet-boat Captain, on the canal, and when the railroad bought up the boats and fixtures, most of the captains were given positions,” explained a nineteenth century local history. Yet another packet boat captain who switched to the railroads, George M. Gray, would go on to work for the Pullman Palace Car Line. |
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Spring Dinner-Lecture Series Wraps Up With Dynamite Presentation The University of Chicago's Dr. Michael P. Conzen will wrap up the spring Dinner-Lecture series with a presentation on the connection between I&M Canal Commissioners and the development of Lockport. Anyone interested in urban, political or I&M Canal history will be sure to find Dr. Conzen's presentation informative. Best of all he's an engaging and dynamic speaker. For dinner you have the choice of herb crusted pork tenderloin with tequila-lime sauce or Chipotle BBQ glazed salmon, both served with saffron risotto and vegetable medley. For desert you'll enjoy apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. The cost is $25 for CCA members, $30 for non-members. A cash bar opens at 6 pm; dinner is at 6:45 with the lecture to follow. For required reservations or further information contact Pat Chinderle, 815.588.1100 or pchinderle@canalcor.org. Tell Us About Canal Town Farmers' Markets Here's your chance to help us write a feature for an upcoming issue of Canal Passages eNews. We want to highlight the bounty of Farmers' Markets in the Heritage Corridor but don't know when and where they all are. If you know the details on the market in your community please let us know. We must have the beginning and ending dates for this year, the day(s) of the week the market takes place, the location and a contact phone number for more information. Feel free to include any unique characteristics of your market and photos if you have them. Send all the information to enews@canalcor.org as soon as possible. |
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| Upcoming Events Here is a sampling of events happening in the corridor. For a more complete listing of winter and spring events, visit the eNews Calendar. Don't see your event listed here? Please send it to enews@canalcor.org. Saturday, April 30--Chicago Portage Walk & Work Day, Willow Springs Head to the Little Red School House Nature Center between 9 am and noon to enjoy a walk that reveals the historic secrets of this site. Then, help restore biodiversity by removing invasive plants. Groups welcome! This is a great way to fulfill community service requirements. For further information call 708.839.6897. Saturday, April 30--Bike & Brake for Wildflowers, Channahon Enjoy a ride through McKinley Woods and along the I&M Canal between 1 and 4 pm and catch the spring bloom of wildflowers. Bring your own bike, helmet and weather appropriate clothing and meet in the Frederick's Grove Parking lot. For ages 12 and up. For further information call 815.727.8700. Sunday, May 1--15th Annual Illinois Marble Show, Ottawa A marble collector's paradise! Displays and marble swapping take place at the Knights of Columbus Hall 10 am to 3 pm. In-room trading will take place at the Super 8 Motel, Ottawa, beginning April 28. For further information call Dan Tonielli, 815.433.4632. Sunday, May 1--Explore Joliet Bikefest, Joliet Head to Rialto Square Theatre in downtown Joliet, where registration for bikefest begins at 8 am. From there, riders will bike to the Chicagoland Speedway for a 1.5 mile ride around the racetrack prior to following their regularly scheduled course. For further information call 815.774.6066 or visit www.jolietdowntown.com. Sunday, May 1--Free Trees for Arbor Day, Cook County To celebrate Arbor Day all Forest Preserve District of Cook County Nature Centers (including Little Red School House in Willow Springs and Camp Sagawau in Lemont) are giving away native seedling trees. For further information call 630.257.2045 or 708.839.6897. Saturday, May 7--Green Technology Tour, Sugar Creek Administration Center, Joliet Through the use of select materials and the latest design and technology, Will County Forest Preserve's new Sugar Creek Administration Center serves as a model of environmentally-friendly architecture. On the tour you'll view innovative technologies used in the building, understand why "green" is better for humans and the rest of the world, and take home practical tips on how to be more environmentally-friendly in your house. 10 am to noon. For further information call 815.727.8700. Saturday & Sunday, May 7-8--Wildflower Pilgrimage, Starved Rock State Park, Utica Enjoy the great variety of wildflowers at Starved Rock. Hikes leave from the Visitors' Center at 9 am and 1 pm. For further information call 815.667.4906. Sunday, May 8--"Super Sunday Program", Joliet Area Historical Museum Bring mom to the Museum on Mother’s Day and make her a special gift. The program is included with the cost of admission to the museum (see website for details). For further information call 815.723.5201, ext. 235, or visit the Museum’s website. Sunday, May 8--"Second Sundays" Lecture Series, LaSalle In May the "Second Sundays" series features “The I&M Canal: Waterway to Prosperity” from 4 to 5:30 pm at the Hegler Carus Mansion. Admission is free and includes refreshments and a brief mansion tour after a one-hour talk. For further information call 815.224.5892. |
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