Author: Tom
President Andrew Johnson
Every February, we celebrate the birthdays of Lincoln and Washington. But what about some of the lesser-known individuals who occupied the White House? Here’s the…
A Different Place to Farm
Midwestern farms experience temperatures that can often range from below zero to over 100 during the course of the year. Phil’s farms sees far less…
Stumps in the Road
Folks in Ramsey, Illinois know that just a few miles to the south, one of the nation’s first roads once linked Illinois with the east…
The National Road
Today, interstate highways allow us to travel from state to state crossing rivers, plains and mountains in a fraction of the time it took a…
Chicago’s Library
Chicago was ready to build a new library in the late 1800s. However, it had two challenges. There was little light by which to read…
Chicago’s Cultural Center
Chicago’s Michigan Avenue has long been a place noted for fine shops, hotels and attractions. Many people though, pass by one of the great gems…
An African Weather Forecast
When we get a weather forecast, we, of course, are most interested in the weather for where we live. But Bryce Anderson takes a look…
Lincoln’s Aide – William Johnson
Few people know that on Abraham Lincoln’s return to the District of Columbia from delivering the Gettysburg Address, he contracted a mild case of smallpox….
Springfield, Illinois’ Train Station
On the surface, this old train station in Springfield, Illinois may not seem to be that important. However, when you consider the bookends it represented…
A President-Elect and a Yard Sale
When people move, they often put some items up for sale and place others in the trash. Now imagine it is the President-Elect of the…