Jane, I'd forgotten all about Fairview Park and feeding the ducks ... did it many-a-time! Wasn't there an Abe Lincoln cabin there too? Also, can still "see" the old Piggly-Wiggly (we did our Saturday shopping there every week.) My Great Aunt & Uncle (Frank & Nellie GREEN) owned/ran the Boody Post Office where they also had a little gas station and grocery store. Wasn't that across the road from the restaurant you write about? I loved going to the Colonial Restaurant. It was a place where we went for those "special occasions." Marsha Email: marsha.mcw@mchsi.com -----Original Message----- From: JJJSG@aol.com [mailto:JJJSG@aol.com] The ice skating rink used to be in Fairview Park where we fed the ducks and visit our grandparents after we went to Piggly Wiggly. He lived on our family farm 2 miles west of Boody. Mother then bought and ran the Mayview Cafe in Boody after Dad died. . Then moved up in the world to the Colonial Restaurant. Thanks for the memories everyone. Jane Meisenhelter Griffin jjjsg@aol.com

I don't know if this will help in any way. There were MCWILLIAM related to GREER in Fayette Co, IL I believe. There were MCWILLIAMS related to FUNK in Macon Co, IL I believe. Beverly (HIMES) BARGER in TX

Are your POTTER any relation to POTTER & BROWN of Ramsey, Fayette Co, IL? POTTER of Wayne Co, IL? POTTER & MOSE of Shelby & Jefferson Co, IL.? POTTER & MAXSON of Marion Co, IL? POTTER & BANNING of Shelby & Christian Co, IL? Beverly (HIMES) BARGER in TX

Does anyone remember the old Inter-Urban train. I rode it as a child from Decatur to Maroa, IL and loved it. The tracks were still in Maroa for many years. When my dad was in the service my mother Ella Mae (MARSH) HIMES, my sister Patricia Rose HIMES(we lost her to a car accident in Michigan in 1975 a drunk teenage driver hit her car) and I would got to Maroa on it then go to the little brick Telephone operator building and have her call my grandparents Herb & Janie Mae(STOGSDILL) MARSH to come into Maroa and get us. I loved grandma's old oak wall telephone & party line. What I wouldn't give for that old oak wall phone now. I spent all my holidays and summer vacations with my grandparents on the old farm. I was the oldest grandchild by 6 years. My mother married at 16 so my grandparents were still young when I was a child. I was almost 50 when I lost the last grandparent. I remember and cherish those memories of my grandparents. The scent of Roses and Lilacs remind me of grandmother's yard and gardens. She had wonderful strawberries from one of her two big gardens everyyear. How I loved those juicy strawberry biscuit shortcakes. Strawberries from the store have no juice anymore. I had an uncles and aunts on both sides not much older than I. There were 7 children in my mother's family and 10 in my dads. I only had one sibling Patrica Rose HIMES. I miss her to this day. Its been nearly 29 years since we lost her. I have loved family history since very young child entertaining myself in grandpa MARSH's old storeroom upstairs with all the photos and old books. Being 6 years older than my sister or any other grandchildren I played alone and entertained myself with history. I remember tiptoeing past storeroom hallway wall with the large old framed hand drawn charcoal picture of my 2nd great grandfather John MARSH,(son of Jesse MARSH I & Ann (SLOAN) MARSH), as an old man with those starring eyes and his little starry eyed dog. I loved the old tin-type color picture of my great-grandfather,son of John MARSH & Henrietta Jane (SHERMAN) MARSH), Jesse MARSH II with his blue eyes when he was young. Jesse MARSH I 's grandmother Ann SLOAN was born in Ireland. Beverly (HIMES) BARGER in TX P. S. Searching- HIMES, MARSH, SHERMAN, FRAZEE, SLOAN, STOGSDILL, LEATHERS, MCCORMACK, MCCORMICK, MCCOMMACK, MELTON, MONTGALL, MASSY, BESS, BEST, ELMORE, ELAM, ELMORE, WALKERand many related & allied surnames. My ancestors were in central & south central Illinois early. Some by 1820. They came to PIATT, MACON, DEWITT, MCLEAN, CHAMPAIGN, SHELBY, CHRISTIAN, BOND, FAYETTE, MONTGOMERY, WAYNE, CLAY and other counties in Illinois.

Jerry, Didn't Gay Kintner actually have a stroke while coaching and died later from it? Gaylen Kintner (if memory serves me correctly) eventually moved to Arizona. My Dad (Kenny MULLIS) use to referee some of the "B" basketball games. Gay Kintner's granddaughter (also Gay Kintner) and I were friends. How time does fly! Marsha Email: marsha.mcw@mchsi.com -----Original Message----- From: Jerryblay@aol.com [mailto:Jerryblay@aol.com] Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2004 6:37 AM To: ILMACON-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [ILMACON] Coach Kintner In a message dated 1/17/2004 6:26:39 AM Central Standard Time, Bcookiegma@cs.com writes: Was that ccoach KINTNER any relation to the John Ray KINTNER I graduated Maroa class of 1957 with? Reply: I don't know. His name was Gay A. Kintner. His son, Galen D. Kintner, replaced him as basketball coach when he retired. Jerry Blaylock ==== ILMACON Mailing List ==== Visit the Macon County ILGenWeb page at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilmacon/

In case this helps there were many BURKE in Wayne Co, IL early. Beverly (HIMES) BARGER in TX

In case this helps there were MOREY related to ELAM in Bond Co, IL early. I have two direct lines of ELAM from my 2nd great-grandmother Sabra Charlotte (ELAM) ELMORE's (both) parents Thomas ELAM & Elizabeth (ELAM) ELAM my 3rd greats from BOND, Fayette and Montgomery Co, IL early. Beverly (HIMES) BARGER in TX

In case this helps there were PRICE in Fayette and Marion Co, IL early. Beverly (HIMES) BARGER in TX

There were KNAPP in Fayette Co, IL early. I believe there are some buried west of Vandalia in Shafter twp.(was originally Sharon Twp), in Browning Cemetery next to my great-grandmother Rachel Lee (CHESSHIRE) HIMES farm. Rachel donated more land to the old cemetery from her orchard. Many of my relatives are buried there. Beverly (HIMES) BARGER in TX

Were any of your FRY any relation to the MCMILLEN of Christian & Shelby Co, IL Area. A sister of my grandfather Ernest William HIMES named Laura Lavina HIMES married Willard Bently MCMILLEN. They had a daughter named Angie Pauline MCMILLEN married Donald Richard FRY. I believe they are buried in Pana, IL in Linwood cemetery. I believe they had 4 children. Neverly (HIMES) BARGER in TX

In a message dated 1/17/2004 6:26:39 AM Central Standard Time, Bcookiegma@cs.com writes: Was that ccoach KINTNER any relation to the John Ray KINTNER I graduated Maroa class of 1957 with? Reply: I don't know. His name was Gay A. Kintner. His son, Galen D. Kintner, replaced him as basketball coach when he retired. Jerry Blaylock

My grandmother Janie (STOGSILL) MARSH of Argenta, IL favorite place to eat was the STEAK n SHAKE in Decatur until the day she died in 1988. I loved the dimestore resturants and counters. The Walgreens resturant was good, I loved their ice cream and chocolate sundaes. I think the Kreske(can't remember how to spell it) dimestore had a counter also. I can still remember those dimestore hot dogs with relish and mustard. It's a wonder we didn't get food poisoning. We loved to get our pictures taken in those photo booths with curtains in the dimestores. I still have photos of me as a child and older from those old photo booths. Beverly (HIMES) BARGER in TX

Jerry, Hello, Was that ccoach KINTNER any relation to the John Ray KINTNER I graduated Maroa class of 1957 with? beverly (HIMES) BARGER in TX

Jane, I get homesick for Illinois sometimes, especially in the autumn when all those beautiful Illinois fall colors appear. Our children could not believe the black soil when we took them to Illinois for the first time. They were used to red dirt. My uncle Bob & aunt Carol WOODCOCK lived in Boody, IL for until a few years ago. I loved riding the buses and to the transfer house as a child. I was born in my 2nd great-grandpa John MARSH red brick two-story homestead farmhouse east of Maroa, IL. that he built in the 1860s. He built a log cabin there first. My uncle found traces of the old log cabin when planting trees there. He helps his son with a landscaping business part time. My grandparents MARSH moved to Argenta, IL when they retired and uncle Pete moved to the farm. An uncle lives in the brick home now. My folks moved to 345 N. 25th St. in Decatur, IL.and then to Vandalia, IL. then Maroa, IL again then to Albuquerque, New Mexico. I graduated form Maroa High 1957. Do you know anyone from Maroa, Argenta or Vandalia, IL? My husband and I moved in 2002 from New Mexico to Wichita Falls, Texas which is not far from Walters, Oklahoma. Our son-in-law's family live in Waurika, Oklahoma. One of our daughter went to Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OK and the other to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. One is a teacher here in Texas. Beverly Jane (HIMES) BARGER

The Lincoln Theater was been mentioned as our list members have been discussing Decatur and their memories there. The Friday night reception for the 45th reunion of DHS Class of 1956 was held at the old Lincoln Theater 2½ years ago. The theater has been cleaned up after being closed for many years. The back stage and under the stage areas were the most interesting to visit. The trap door in the stage floor constructed for Houdini when he played the theater is still there. I remember attending a Halloween show at the theater when I was in high school and being chosen to be on stage during the magic act. I use to ride the bus downtown and attend the matinee double feathers at the Lincoln. The spire metal stairs in the back corner of the back stage area is still there. It leads to the catwalk above the stage. Legend has it that a stage hand named "Red" fell from the catwalk, 75 feet to the floor below, and died moments later. He always joked that when he died, he hoped to spend eternity in the Lincoln Theater. His ghost has been seen and heard in the theater. I climbed part-way up the stairs at the class reunion, but not to the top for fear of falling like "Red." I didn't care to join him. The projection booth is also reported to be haunted. At the reunion, I attempted to enter it, but the metal ladder to it is blocked and the door is locked. I enjoyed freshly popped popcorn at the concession stand and meeting my classmates in the lobby during the reunion. BTW, the Avon Theater still exists and is also reported to be haunted. There are many haunted places in Decatur, the whole town having been built on an old Indian burial ground. Jerry Blaylock Houston, Texas DHS Class of 1956

No HENSLEY photos in my database. Beverly (HIMES) BARGER

I am looking for the following names: McWILLIAMS, KEITH, and POTTER. They were located in Decatur and the surrounding area during the early 1900's. Some of these people worked for the railroad. George McWILLIAMS worked for a grocery warehouse, after he was in an accident working on the trains. My grandmother told the story of him (her father) bringing home stalks of bananas and storing them in the basement. But, before bringing any of them up into the house, the kids had to go check for "banana" spiders. Thank you, Meri Schoof Britton, MI

Wow...small world...I live in Comanche Oklahoma just 15 miles up the road from Waurika and my daughter graduated from OBU Joyce Oklahoma ----- Original Message ----- From: <Bcookiegma@cs.com> To: <ILMACON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2004 6:23 AM Subject: Re: [ILMACON] Jane in OK > Jane, > I get homesick for Illinois sometimes, especially in the autumn when all > those beautiful Illinois fall colors appear. Our children could not believe the > black soil when we took them to Illinois for the first time. They were used to > red dirt. > My uncle Bob & aunt Carol WOODCOCK lived in Boody, IL for until a few years > ago. > I loved riding the buses and to the transfer house as a child. > I was born in my 2nd great-grandpa John MARSH red brick two-story homestead > farmhouse east of Maroa, IL. that he built in the 1860s. He built a log cabin > there first. My uncle found traces of the old log cabin when planting trees > there. > He helps his son with a landscaping business part time. My grandparents MARSH > moved to Argenta, IL when they retired and uncle Pete moved to the farm. > An uncle lives in the brick home now. My folks moved to 345 N. 25th St. in > Decatur, IL.and then to Vandalia, IL. then Maroa, IL again then to Albuquerque, > New Mexico. > I graduated form Maroa High 1957. > Do you know anyone from Maroa, Argenta or Vandalia, IL? > My husband and I moved in 2002 from New Mexico to Wichita Falls, Texas which > is not far from Walters, Oklahoma. > Our son-in-law's family live in Waurika, Oklahoma. One of our daughter went > to Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OK and the other to Oklahoma State > University in Stillwater, OK. One is a teacher here in Texas. > Beverly Jane (HIMES) BARGER > > > ==== ILMACON Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the list send a message to: ILMACON-L-request@rootsweb.com with unsubscribe as the subject. > To unsubscribe from the digest send a message to: ILMACON-D-request@rootsweb.com with unsubscribe as the subject. > >

Helen, May I ask the names and time period of you BURKEs in that area? Carl ----- Original Message ----- From: <heartsweetnana@adelphia.net> To: <ILMACON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2004 12:37 AM Subject: Re: Re: [ILMACON] Durfee School > While we have so much interest going on with the site maybe we should have a roll call of names we are researching in Macon Co. I have SMITH, BURKE, WEAVER, FULK/FOULK, PASLEY, HILL, MOREY, EDWARDS. AND ANYONE WHO LIVED IN BOODY AS I HAVE FOUND I AM RELATED TO ALL OF THEM WHO LIVED THERE BETWEEN 1880 AND 1950'S. > Helen in Idaho > > > > From: "Marymartha Sterling" <mms274@midwest.net> > > Date: 2004/01/16 Fri PM 10:04:43 PST > > To: ILMACON-L@rootsweb.com > > Subject: Re: [ILMACON] Durfee School > > > > The school that was next to Roosevelt Jr. High was called Gasman. Don't know > > went they torn it down tho. > > Frances > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Gail Driggs" <gddriggs@cox.net> > > To: <ILMACON-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2004 9:51 PM > > Subject: Re: [ILMACON] Durfee School > > > > > > > Call the Durfee school at it's listed number and ask them what the > > situation > > > is. Was the old Durfee next to Roosevelt Jr. High? I went to Garfield and > > > Roosevelt.. If it is that schoold I think it was torn down because it > > > wasn't up to safety codes. I remember the fire escape being a slide in a > > > tube at the side of the building. It looked like fun but not terribly > > safe. > > > > > > Gail Dorsey Driggs > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: <TSQAIR@aol.com> > > > To: <ILMACON-L@rootsweb.com> > > > Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2004 6:34 PM > > > Subject: Re: [ILMACON] Durfee School > > > > > > > > > > Well I'm confused after watching this dialog. H. B. Durfee Grade School > > > was > > > > where I went to K thru 6 in the 50's. It's address was 1222 E. Grand > > Ave. > > > The > > > > school and it's playgrounds occupied an entire city block at the corner > > of > > > E. > > > > Grand Ave. and N. Jasper St. I have a 2000-2001 Decatur telephone book > > > which > > > > gives this address. However, the Decatur Public Schools web-site gives a > > > Durfee > > > > Magnate School at 1000 W. Grand Ave.which is way out west and a long way > > > from > > > > the H. B. Durfee Elementary School that I attended. They don't list any > > > school > > > > on E. Grand. My guess is that they abandoned the old school recently and > > > > moved the name to a newer facility out west. I think the old school is > > > still > > > > standing but maybe not in use. In the 2001 telephone book the school at > > > 1000 W. > > > > Grand was Garfield El. School. I recall Garfield as being a much newer > > > than > > > > Durfee, like maybe the 40's as opposed to Durfee being built in probably > > > the 1900's > > > > or the teens. Interesting conversation. > > > > > > > > Gary Lamb > > > > Plano,TX > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== ILMACON Mailing List ==== > > > > Visit the Macon County ILGenWeb page at: > > > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilmacon/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== ILMACON Mailing List ==== > > > To unsubscribe from the list send a message to: > > ILMACON-L-request@rootsweb.com with unsubscribe as the subject. > > > To unsubscribe from the digest send a message to: > > ILMACON-D-request@rootsweb.com with unsubscribe as the subject. > > > > > > > > > ==== ILMACON Mailing List ==== > > Visit the Macon County ILGenWeb page at: > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilmacon/ > > > > > > > ==== ILMACON Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the list send a message to: ILMACON-L-request@rootsweb.com with unsubscribe as the subject. > To unsubscribe from the digest send a message to: ILMACON-D-request@rootsweb.com with unsubscribe as the subject. >

The School on the 1200 East Orchard was called St. Johanna Lutheran School. Frances ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marsha McWilliams" <marsha.mcw@mchsi.com> To: <ILMACON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 6:10 PM Subject: RE: RE: [ILMACON] Durfee School > There was a school across the street from where my grandparents lived (1200 > block of East Orchard, Decatur.) They bought this house in 1942 <memory > here.> Any ideas what the name of this school was? I believe it was closed > by 1950. > > I, too, well remember when Lakeview High was first built! I also remember > when the "new" Oak Grove School was built and remember going to Kindergarten > in the original, old Oak Grove School (on the Grand Ave. "curve.") Now, > that's REALLY getting old! <g> > > Anyone remember Decatur High's basketball Coach Kentner? > > Marsha > > From: Glenda Deal [mailto:jgdealjim@sbcglobal.net] > Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 5:18 PM > To: ILMACON-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: RE: RE: [ILMACON] Durfee School > > There was another roller rink on the east edge of downtown, at least in the > first half of the 40's. Having birthday parties at that rink was very > popular---easy on parents. Refreshments were pop and those marvelous > squishy bread donuts. > > Included are a couple of pictures of the "New" Lakeview High. > > Now I really feel old! > > > > > > > > > ==== ILMACON Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the list send a message to: ILMACON-L-request@rootsweb.com with unsubscribe as the subject. > To unsubscribe from the digest send a message to: ILMACON-D-request@rootsweb.com with unsubscribe as the subject. >