Pictured above is the county alms house west of Sullivan. The year that this photo was taken is unknown. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.
Pictured above is Pifer’s Park was located in E. Nelson Twp. It began in the early 1900s and operated until the lated 1950s. Pictured is an early photo of the lake with a wooden bridge that spanned the lake. The white buildings are bath houses. Log cabins could be rented for $1 per day The Park was a favorite escape, for town people, from the heat on hot summer days. For several years they hosted a 4th of July celebrations that cost 10 cents per person to attend. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.
Pictured above is Billy Bryant’s garage which was located on the south side of E. State St. in Lovington. This photo was taken in the 1920’s. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.
Pictured above is the construction of the Brown Shoe factory in Sullivan in 1929. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.
Pictured above is Bruce School around 1942. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.
Pictured above is the drive-in movie theater that was located in Sullivan. The year this photo was taken is unknown. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.
Pictured above is the East Water Street grain elevator in Sullivan. This photo was taken in the late 1930’s. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.
•August 23, 2017•
By Jim Nowlan
NP Guest Columnist
I gave a talk this past week about the future of rural Illinois to a gathering of presidents of Illinois community foundations.
Never above getting a twofer out of a talk, I penned this column. I write because I believe rural communities have contributed much to the development of America and of Americans.
I think presidents from Eisenhower to Reagan and Carter reached the pinnacle of public life in good part because they learned in their small towns that we’re all in this together, and that working together makes sense.
After decades away, I moved back a few years ago to my rural hometown of Toulon in central Illinois (pop. 1,300, if you include the nursing home, in Stark County, pop. 5,900). I found more vitality than I expected, as parents and grandparents rally round the schools and their young’uns.
Yet the population and economic decline of rural Illinois has been relentless over the decades. For example, in 1890 my farmland county of Stark had twice as many people as today! Read More
Pictured above is a very old photo taken of Wyman lake in its early days. The occasion is unknown, but it could possibly be the opening of it in 1915. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.
Pictured above is East and West Stringtown School which was located in Lovington Township near Stringtown bridge on the Old Springfield Road. West Stringtown was located south of Lake City on the intersection. This photo was take in 1969. Please submit photos to the News Progress for future consideration. Originals will be saved for return or forwarded to Moultrie County Historical Society. If you have any other information, please contact the Moultrie County Historical Society at 217-728- 4085.