In Illinois as elsewhere, Civil War troops came from a wide variety of occupations. In one regiment, many men were future teachers. The 33rd Illinois Infantry, which originated at Illinois State University in Normal, was famously known as the “Teacher’s Regiment” since a high number of the men were students. The nickname was a nod […]
Myths on Macoupin County history abound
What is Fact and What is Fiction? Like most places, myths abound when it comes to the history of Macoupin County. Many of those legends are easily answered with facts. Myth Number 1. Macoupin County was Lincoln country. Fact: Only in a geographic sense. Macoupin County actually voted against Lincoln both times that he ran […]
Macoupin soldier left letters from Civil War
A surprising number of letters and diaries from Civil War soldiers exist today, particularly from Illinois troops. An example is Duncan Ingraham, who lived in Macoupin County before the war. Ingraham, who served in the 33rd Illinois, penned a number of letters to relatives that are cited by some Civil War scholars today. The letters […]
SamJam event has another successful year, donates $8,000 to NF Midwest
CARLINVILLE – Once again, SamJam has been deemed a success. The 2022 SamJam Music & Brewfest, which was held on September 24 at the Macoupin County Fairgrounds, generated a donation of $8,000 to Neurofibromatosis (NF) Midwest. The event was created in 2014 in honor of Sam Oswald, a Carlinville resident who has battled NF since […]
Library in Uganda honors Macoupin County man
CARLINVILLE – The legacy of a late Macoupin County man is now felt all the way to eastern Africa. The Jacob Library in Katovu, Uganda honors the memory of Jacob Glenn, a Carlinville resident who died at age 22 in October 2013. Construction of the library was spearheaded by Jacob’s mother, Becky Miller Root. The […]
Area teams to compete in T. Todt Shootout vs Cancer tourney on Dec. 10
HILLSBORO – Several area high school basketball teams will participate in a sixteen-team shootout to honor the legacy of a beloved area broadcaster. The fourth annual T. Todt Shootout vs. Cancer event will be held Saturday, Dec. 10 at Hillsboro High School, and will feature five boys’ and three girls’ games. Tickets are good all […]
Jackie Robinson’s UCLA team played at Illinois State in 1940
Monday Marked 50 Years Since Robinson’s Death Monday, Oct. 24 marked the 50th anniversary of the death of Jackie Robinson, who broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947. Before his decade of excellence with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Robinson was a college sports star and in one notable moment, his UCLA basketball squad played at […]
County soldier left letters from Civil War
A surprising number of letters and diaries from Civil War soldiers exist today, particularly from area troops. An example is Duncan Ingraham, who lived in Macoupin County before the war. Ingraham, who served in the 33rd Illinois, penned a number of letters to relatives that are cited by some Civil War scholars today. The letters […]
SamJam keeps going for a great cause
Popular Music Festival Will Feature Array of Musical Genres CARLINVILLE – One of the larger music festivals in small-town Illinois music festival returns this year with an array of musical genres. The 2022 SamJam Music and Brewfest will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24 from noon until 10 p.m. at the Macoupin County Fairgrounds, just […]
Carlinville Library to host sidewalk book sale on June 4
A wide selection of good-quality reading materials will be available at low prices during a sidewalk book sale at the Carlinville Public Library on Saturday, June 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Books will be on sale for $1 each at this outdoor event, which offers gently-used materials in all genres, including fiction, biography, […]
Macoupin County’s most famous citizen
Macoupin County’s most famous citizen has plenty of places named in his honor. John M. Palmer, who served as governor of Illinois, U.S. Senator, and Civil War major general, left a formidable legacy in state political history. Palmer lived in Carlinville from 1838-1867 and while many locals know little of him, his memory lingers in various […]
103rd year of Macoupin County Basketball tournament tips off Monday in Gillespie
Starting Monday, January 17, the Macoupin County Boys Basketball Tournament will be played for the 103rd time. It is one of the oldest high school sports events in the state. The first Macoupin County basketball tournament, in March 1919, was a five-team affair in Carlinville at the local Nathan Hall, which was owned by a […]
Gillespie Library to join library crawl
The Gillespie Public Library is one of four libraries from Macoupin County to welcome new visitors with a program sponsored by the region’s library system. The 3rd Annual Library Crawl invites patrons to explore new libraries throughout the Illinois Heartland Library System, which comprises the southern half of the state. The crawl also demonstrates the […]
Retired Illinois State Policeman releases second novel
Much of Book is Set in Macoupin County Towns During a long career in law enforcement, Ed Traylor never thought he would become a novelist. “It never crossed my mind,” laughed Traylor, who spent twenty-nine years with the Illinois State Police. “I had too many other things to think about.” Traylor, who lives near Waggoner, […]
SamJam returns with new format on Saturday, August 28
CARLINVILLE – After a one-year hiatus, a popular central Illinois music festival returns with a new format and many additional features. SamJam’s End of Summer Bash is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 28 from noon until 11 p.m. at the Macoupin County Fairgrounds, just north of Carlinville. The event will feature five acclaimed tribute bands playing […]
New book on Lincoln in Macoupin County now available
A full-length history of Abraham Lincoln’s experiences and connections in Macoupin County is now available for readers of all ages. Writer Tom Emery of Carlinville has released Lincoln in Macoupin, which covers the many stories of the sixteenth President in Macoupin County, many of which will surprise readers. This compact work analyzes the ties of Lincoln to Macoupin County, including friendships such as John M. Palmer and Joseph Gillespie, his […]
First Blackburn Commencement held 150 years ago on June 9
Though this year’s Commencement was altered by the COVID-19 crisis, the ceremony is usually a visual spectacle on the Blackburn campus. The first Commencement, though, was quite different from those of today. June 9 marks the 150th anniversary of the first graduation ceremony in Blackburn history, held at the still-unfinished Macoupin County courthouse on that […]
Family fun events planned at Carlinville library
The Carlinville Public Library is planning activities for several upcoming early dismissal school days, as well as many other activities for youngsters. The first event will be a special Game Day on Friday, Feb. 28 from 1-4 p.m. Guardians are invited to bring their children into the library to play board and card games. The […]
New photohistory examines impact of CCC in rural Midwest
A new edition of a compact photohistory examines the impact of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the rural Midwest. Tom Emery, a historical researcher from Carlinville, Ill., is the author of Soldiers with Picks and Shovels, which tells the story of the CCC, a wildly successful and popular program of the Depression-era New Deal, […]
Robertson Hall fire was 60 years ago Sunday
The history of Blackburn College has been defined by destructive fires, including the blaze that destroyed Robertson Hall in 1959. The loss of Robertson severed a remaining link to Blackburn’s past. Sunday, November 10, marks the 60th anniversary of the fire, which claimed much of the biology and art departments at Blackburn, as well as […]