Greetings!

Happy Thanksgiving! It’s been quite a while since I sent out my last newsletter and a lot has been happening.

In September we had our 3rd annual KVHS picnic. We had a great time and the weather cooperated enough that we didn’t get wet. The storms just seemed to skirt around us and we had our greatest turnout yet. The best part is that all of those attending were KVHS members and not other groups that joined in with us. Bernadine Goff “Bebe” gave an enlightening presentation on the French-Indian culture of the Kankakee and Jim Lambert returned with his Belgium’s for his wagon ride tours of the area. Bebe is of French-Indian ancestry and explained to us about the French-Indian interaction, dress and even told us about some Native-American recipes.

For the “junior” archaeologists in our group we have a great event coming up in January. The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) has invited Dr. Mark Schurr to give a talk on The Collier Lodge site. This is what the AIA has released on the lecture. Thurs., Jan. 29, 2004, 8:00 PM: Prof. Mark Schurr will give an illustrated lecture about some local archaeology: “Archaeological Surprises at the Collier Lodge: New Perspectives on Prehistorical and Historic Life on the Kankakee.” The lecture will be held in the Great Hall of the Student Union at Valparaiso University. The local AIA President, Richard DeMaris, has generously offered to have a table set up for us to hand out information about KVHS and sell our publications. The lecture is open to the public and I will be sending updates as they become available.

Speaking of Mark Schurr, he’s been busy cataloging and documenting last year’s field school results of the Collier Lodge site. Mark is very excited and is planning a further, more comprehensive study next summer, 2004. Here’s what he’s posted on his website on the plans: KVHS members will have the opportunity to be directly involved with next year’s investigation. He’s even mentioned that some of us may also be invited to help him back at Notre Dame on cataloging material. As more details become available I will be passing them on to you. I also want to mention that, Dr. Schurr has suggested that KVHS host another Artifact Roadshow in Kouts, next spring, 2004. We are hoping to have William Mangold of the Indiana DNR back to assist Mark Schurr in identification. Last year’s “Roadshow’ was a hit and there seems to be enough interest to hold another one.

Some of you may not be aware the KVHS is working on a theatrical production at the Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso on April 4th, 2004. The idea for the production came from Pauline Ahlgrim after reading the “Diary of a Kankakee River Guide-George Wilcox” which was published by KVHS this year. The production of “Yesteryears Kankakee” will be loosely based around the George Wilcox diary and will include music, dance and dramatic vignettes. Jill Steiner is our scriptwriter and Mark Ladd is the director. Some of the cast will include KVHS members and friends of KVHS. This is a work in progress and promises to be very entertaining. This is a major fundraiser for the restoration of the Collier Lodge and I hope that as many of you as possible will be able to attend.

Important news! Mary Hodson wrote a grant application to the Prairie Arts Council to help fund our Yesteryears Kankakee theatrical production. We have been awarded with a partial funding grant and it should cover close to 70% of our anticipated budget. Thanks Mary for your hard work in writing the application. Mary also wrote a grant to Kankakee Valley REMC for a camcorder and we’ve heard that we can expect a small partial funding for it. We still haven’t heard the amount, but anything would help and we really need something to record our activities with.

Since last years stabilization of the Collier Lodge there has not been any new work on the building. Right now we’re at the stage of preparing for grant applications and having the necessary requirements in place. We are in our final stages for our National Register application and Dean Illingworth of Schmidt Associates is working up our feasibility study. Next year, fund raising activities will be our focus.

January 11, 2004 2:00 PM will be out next KVHS general meeting at the Kouts fire station. Edward Krieser will be giving a demonstration on Civil War period attire and Indiana in the Civil war. Ed will be our George Wilcox in Yesteryears Kankakee. It’s clear that Ed is multi talented! Please, try to make the meeting. You won’t be disappointed.

I’m coming to the end of this newsletter and can’t pass up the opportunity to express our need for membership and funding. I’m amazed how far we’ve come in the two and a half years since KVHS incorporation. However, we still have a way to go. Last year KVHS won the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana Affiliate Challenge for the greatest percentage increase in membership. Now we need for our members to keep up their membership and encourage others to join KVHS. As a member of KVHS you’ll also be a member of Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana . Membership is one of the criteria looked at on grant applications. I believe that KVHS is an active organization and has a wide range of interests. We appeal to people interested in building restoration, natural resources, archeology and I can never leave out our Indiana Ghost Tracker contingent. I’m going to include a KVHS membership application. For those that are already members, please keep your membership up to date and of course we hope that you pass an application on to friends and encourage them to join KVHS. Christmas is quickly coming and some of our publications would make a great Christmas gift! Ira Fry’s “The Kankakee River” volume 1 and 2, along with “The Diary of a Kankakee River Guide-George Wilcox” are on sale at he Kouts Town Hall or by contacting me. Each of the “The Kankakee River” goes for $10 or both for $18. George Wilcox’s book goes for $20 or $15 for KVHS members.

On behalf of the KVHS Board and, Mary and I want to wish you and yours all the best over the upcoming holiday season.