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Letters to the Editor
Dear Jon:
I enjoyed reading the last issue of Illinois Heritage: varied and interesting articles
and zesty book reviews.
A couple of errors related to the article on French Illinois should be corrected.
The photograph on the cover does not show a "French colonial home in Kaskaskia,
Illinois." It represents the Bequette-Ribault house located in St. Genevieve, Missouri.
Built towards the end of the 18th century in the style of the Mississippi Valley Creole
architecture with posts-in-the-ground (poteaux en terre), a gallery around the house and
a roof supported by oak trusses as found in old buildings in Normandy. The house is
typical of homes that would have been found in Kaskaskia during the French period.
The meaning of the Des Moines River is not "place of the monks" as indicated in
the article by Charles Balesi, page 4. Originally, the river was named after an Indian
tribe that lived there, the Moingouena. The French who liked to abbreviate words,
called it riviere des Moings. It later became riviere des Moines through folk etymology.
Looking forward to the next issue of Illinois Heritage.
B. Pierre Lebeau, President
Center for French Colonial Studies
North Central College
Naperville
The editor responds:
Thanks to the careful reading and response by Professor Lebeau, my knowledge of
French, Colonial history and architecture has grown. As a result of the ongoing work and
publications by members of the Center for French Colonial Studies, this important, but
overlooked, period in American and Illinois history is receiving renewed attention. Rarely
taught with sufficient depth, except at the post-secondary level, a firm understanding of
the period provides a solid foundation upon which to build one's knowledge of the State's
rich heritage.
Editor:
A personal reminiscence by Delbert E. Wylder in the Fall-Winter issue enabled
me to have a long conversation with a new friend at Eden Village Retirement
Community. We shared our experiences from 1910 - 1935 in southwestern Illinois.
I have lived over five years in Jersey, Madison, St. Clair, and Randolph counties and
did ethnic studies at SIU—Edwardsville.
The picture on page 13 of Delbert looks like myself...Such materials help keep me
alive.
Edward H. Fresen
Glen Carbon
The Editor Responds:
Mr. Fresen's comments echo the sentiments of many of our members. Illinois
Heritage was conceived to reach a grassroots audience in order to encourage discussion
and study and to heighten an awareness of Illinois history. It is extremely gratifying to the
editor that Mr. Fresen and his new acquaintance used our publication as a means of initiating a conversation that led to their recollection of their experiences growing up in
Southern Illinois. It is my hope that similar discussions took place elsewhere and will continue to grow from future articles that we print.
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Contributors
Myron J. Fogde retired in 1999 as a professor of religion at Augustana College in Rock Island, having taught there since 1964. He recieved a Master of Arts degree and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. He also recieved a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Olaf College and a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Luther Thoelogical Seminary. His research interests have been in nineteenth century religion in America with an increasing focus on nineteenth century western Illinois.
William G. Stratton, a native of Ingleside, served two terms as Illinois congressman-at-large from 1941 to 1943 and from 1947 to 1949. He served as State treasurer 1943 to 1953. He was elected governor of Illinois twice - serving 1953 to 1961. His political career was interrupted briefly during W.W. II when he served in the South Pacific as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. The governor is a life member of the Society and currently lives in Chicago.
Paul E. Stroble, a Vandalia native whose ancestors were early settlers in Fayette County, is the author of High on the Okaw's Western Bank: Vandalia Illinois, 1819-1839, which grew from 1979 Youth Grant from the National Endowement for the Humanities. His book also recieved a certificate of excellence in 1993 from the Society. He is the author of six other books, including the novel Adams Street Antiques (1998), and Paul and the Galatians (2000). He has taught college courses in history, philosophy, and religion fir a number of years. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky.
Mary Emma Thompson is a retired elementary school teacher and administrator with a Ph.D. from Indiana State University. She first learned about Depression era art in 1992 when she attended the Delta Kappa Gamma Leadership Management Seminer in Austin, Texas. Her interest in federal art projects lead her to visit more than seventy U.S. post offices in Illinois. Her research formed the basis for a published guide to Depression era art in Illinois post offices. She has appeared as a guest on public television's WILL-TV, and she has collaborated with WEIU-TV to produce a documentary on Depression era art. She lives in Westfield.
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