I live in the same community in which I was born and raised. I only moved away for a time for college but still called this small town in southern Illinois home. Although I often bemoan the fact that I still live here I have to say that overall it's been a good place for me and I do love my life here. There are certain disadvantages such as Illinois taxes, slim job opportunities, and being 2 1/2 hours from the nearest major airport or city of any size. But it has been nice to raise my children where I was raised and allow them to be close to their grandparents, to know the history of the place from a personal perspective, and to belong to and participate in the community. Now my parents are gone but all my children have chosen to call this small community home and I have grandchildren close to enjoy and be a part of their lives. My glass has always been the one that's half full.
One of my favorite things in town is Fort Massac State Park. I was raised only a few blocks from the park and have so many wonderful memories of time spent there. The Park was like my backyard playground. That was in the day when it was safe to let your (older) children wander miles from home looking for fun and adventure. The Park was where we had Girl Scout Day camp, birthday parties, bicycle rides, school picnics and even foxhunting with my Dad. Regardless of the season we always had something to do.
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| Girl Scout Camp around 1970 |
Fort Massac was the first state park in Illinois and is the site of Fort Massac or Massiac which was the last French fort built in New France in the 18th century. The Fort is the site where George Rogers Clark came ashore to begin his trip overland to Kaskaskia during the Revolutionary War. It was also a stopping place for the Lewis and Clark Expedition and where Aaron Burr visited when he was hatching his treasonous plot. There were never any battles at the Fort and it fell into disrepair several times. Eventually the timbers were taken for other uses. Now the Park has over 1000 acres of woods with boating, fishing, camping, picnicing and hiking. The Visitor Center has historical artifacts and details as well as an extensive collection of stone tools from a much earlier time period. There is a reproduction of the Fort from the very early 1800s but sadly this reproduction fort has also fallen into disrepair and the buildings are unsafe. Thankfully funding has finally been approved for repair or reconstruction.
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| Fort Massac |
Today I took a drive through Fort Massac State Park after church to check on the flooding. The water is high but the campground, visitor center and other areas are still open. This happens every year. Another gift from the north! Plus we have had record rainfalls this month too. Flooding affects the city and county also but so far nothing is shut down. But spring isn't even here yet and this will not be the last of the high water we see. Spring flooding is the normal for this community like so many small towns on the Ohio River with some years much harder than others. The community never fails to band together to fight the rising waters with sandbagging efforts throughout town.
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| the boat ramp under water |
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| Grandkids at the Park |
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