Camping on the Mississippi and the legend of Grand Tower, Illinois

When I was an 11-year-old-scout we lived in Illinois.  My dad was the scoutmaster, so I participated in both the 11-year-old program and the regular program.  As such I went with my dad to scout camps.  It was because our group  was small, just one patrol, so my dad needed every scout he could get.  One of our camps was to a camp ground by Grand Tower, Illinois.  Grand Tower is between  St. Louis and Cape Girardeau which are both on the Missouri side of the river, while Grand Tower is on the Illinois side.  Grand Tower takes its name from Tower Rock, which is an island on the Missouri side of the river.  Out in the river was this rock tower, which was covered with trees.  We sleep where we could see the rock, and where we could walk along the banks of the river.  It was  an experience to remember for a life time.  Rock Tower isn't the only island in the river.  In fact there was a larger island close by.  However it is the prettiest.  I thought it could be its only little National Park.
However what made this trip even more special, was the legend of the Rock Tower.  Somehow we became familiar with this story, and in its way it kept us from swimming too vigorously in the river  Wading was about as far as we got.  We hadn't come prepared for swimming anyway.
I was recently reading a book, set in grand Tower, which reminded my of this story.  In fact I told the story to my daughter; and then I read the actual story in the book.  I am taking the liberty to share the story from the book, "The River Between Us'  by Richard Peck.  This is an early Civil War book.  In the book it explains one of the character's  visions.  It must be written on a plaque someplace in the town, as the story is what I remembered:

The wedding party was Grand Tower's oldest story.  It went back to 1839, and people talked about it yet.  It seemed there was a young couple who took a notion to get married across the river on top of Tower Rock.  She was Miss Penelope Pike.  He was John Randolph Davis, both of them shirttail kin to half the county.  They set forth in an open boat with the bride's parents and  sister, the groom's mother, and three slaves.  The Reverend Josiah Maxwell went too, to tie the know for them.
Well, they got married on the rock.  Don't ask me how they got up to the top of the thing.  That's never part of the story.  On their way back, their  boat got caught crossways in the current and pulled down by the whirlpool.  They disappeared without a trace, though a moment before they were visible from both shores.  That was the story of the wedding party.
That story played with my imagination when I was a scout.  You could see small whirlpools int he water.  I could imagine them bigger, pulling  down boats and swimmers and whatever else might venture out there.

Carbondale: Summer Reading Program

I was required to do a summer reading program because of my poor reading skills.  The problem was not that I didn't comprehend what I was reading, but I read so slowly I didn't get a chance to answer all the questions on the timed tests they kept giving us.  I don't know if it helped much, I still read slowly.  However at the end of the course the instructor offered my a choice of two books--a Civil War Book or a Yogi Bera how to play baseball book.  I selected the latter, and used it considerably playing and coaching baseball  However I always had some regrets that I didn't get the Civil War book.  I had told the instructor those were the two subjects I was interested in.

The Elevator by: Charlie Wardle

The Elevator by: Charlie Wardle
The first couple of days that we were in Carbondale, we stayed in a big sky-scraper hotel.
Connie, Weldon, Billy, Charlie and Dianna were in the love downstairs looking around in the gift shop.  After awhile, we decided to go upstairs to our room.  Weldon stuck Dianna on the elevator and pushed our floor number and jumped out.  You could hear Dianna screaming while the door on the elevator closed.  Luckily, Dad was waiting for the elevator on our floor.

[This would have been after our first year in Carbondale.  We were moving from a rented house to university apartments.  However the apartments were not ready on time, as they were being newly constructed.  The high-rise hotels were actually on campus.  I think they were used both as a hotel and as student housing.  However we had to stay there a couple weeks while waiting for our apartment to be finished.   Dianna would have been two years old.]

A Moving Experience by: Connie Fornoff

A Moving Experience by: Connie Fornoff   
Our family made a move my sophomore year of school from Utah to Illinois.  We were all in the car with my dad towing a U-Haul behind the pick-up he was driving.  We were crowded and after a few hundred miles, the trip became very boring.  My brother and I kept asking my dad if we could get in the U-Haul trailer and ride.  He said we really shouldn’t because it was against the law.  But after a few hundred more miles he could take us no longer and let us get in the trailer.  We took the cat with us.  The three of us got up on the top of a mattress.  We laid there and talked.  We really enjoyed ourselves, traveling with the furniture, boxes, dishes and what not.  Dad must have enjoyed us gone as well because he let us stay there for quite awhile.  Once when he topped for gas he even opened the door and threw us in a couple of packages of Twinkies.

The Big Move by: Ileen Wardle

The Big Move by : Mother
After graduating from the University of Denver with a Master’s Degree in Library Science my husband, Jim, returned to our home in Hyrum, Utah where we had been living for the last three years.  Jim proudly announced we would be moving to Carbondale, Illinois where he would be a cataloger at the University of Illinois Library.  My first reaction is where is Carbondale?  He gathered all the family together, got out the Atlas and showed us a map of the State of Illinois; Carbondale was at the southern tip of Illinois.  Everyone exclaimed, “It is so far away—halfway across the United States.”  We were all glad that Jim had a new job, but hated to leave our beautiful home and many friends.
The day of the big move came on the 28th of August 1967.  “Boy,” what a lot of work; we had so much stuff to move—things to sort and throw away—trips to the Deseret Industries.  A moving van came and loaded up all the furniture, but we also had a wagon full, the back of the pick-up and the car.  I drove the car with sixteen year old Sara, fourteen year old Connie and 18 month old Dianna.  We also had with us our Siamese cat Fifi.  Jim drove the pick-up with the wagon behind him.  He had with him, eleven year old Weldon, nine year old Bill, six year old Charles and the dog. 
After going through Denver, I began to get a sick feeling as we were leaving behind the beautiful mountains.  We seemed to travel for miles and miles.  We started through Kansas as the sun was coming up in the morning and were just leaving the state of Kansas as the sun was going down.  The children were very restless all through Kansas as all they could see was farm land and windmills.  They made a game out of who could count the most windmills. 
When we arrived in St. Louis, Missouri we took a wrong road and ended up on the east side where all the colored people lived.  We were all very scared as this was a different color of people than we were used to seeing.  All the homes and buildings were so run down and poor looking.  We were still 120 miles from Carbondale.  We were three days and two nights on the road. 
Carbondale was a beautiful place; the trees were so green and moss was growing up the trunks.  Squirrels would run from one tree to another and were everywhere.  The humidity was very high and something we were not used to.  We all felt so sticky and hot.  My hair and the girls wouldn’t hold a curl so we all had our hair cut short.
You never needed to water your lawns or gardens because of the high humidity and when it rained it really poured.  The most beautiful time of all in Carbondale was in the spring when the red bud and dogwood trees would all com in bloom, with their beautiful red and white blossoms.
It was a new adjustment for all of us.  The children met colored boys and girls in their schools for the first time and it was frightening for them and we were there at the time of the civil rights movement.
We were in Carbondale for two years and when it was time to leave we left many choice people and were all grateful for the choice time we had while we were in Carbondale.

Sail Boating by: Charlie Wardle

Crab Orchard Lake

Sail Boating by: Charlie Wardle
One Saturday, one of Dad’s friends from the University [Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill] took us boys and Dad sailing.
It was a lot of fun and the boat went pretty fast along the water.
After we were out for about an hour, we stopped to eat lunch.  After lunch I told Dad that Ididn’t want to go back out, and that I just wanted to play along the beach.  Dad made Bill stay with me to watch over me.  Billy was pretty upset about this.
They went back out in the boat.  They were out there quite far and the boat tipped over.  A guy in a row boat had to row out there from the shore to help them.  Everyone was alright.  I was really glad that I didn’t go out with them, because I couldn’t swim at that time.

Billy’s addition:  I don’t remember being mad, but I remember getting pretty bored because it took them forever to get back.  At first there were things to keep my interest along the shore, but after a few hours there wasn’t much new to do.  I don’t remember if I had much sense of what was going on, other than thinking maybe they tipped over.  I have the idea that they had to hold onto the boat until they could get help to get it righted.  I know I had bad dreams about holding onto a boat waiting for someone to save me for a while.  Weldon would be able to give more insight on that because he went with them.

My Dad, the Scoutmaster.

This is the sleeve from my dad's scout uniform when he was the scoutmaster in Carbondale, Ill.  We had some pretty good times.  I was actually in two scout groups at the same time; Blazer Scouts and the regular troop.  We had a total of 10 boys in the regular troop.  At scout camp we were the only troop with just one patrol.  We did a week long summer camp, but were the most unprepared scouts in the world.  We forgot matches, so had to keep the fire going just enough all night so it would lite in the morning from the embers.  My dad couldn't get off work some of the days, so we were on our own during the day.  That was usually OK because we were very busy.  However one day a couple of the boys got into a fight.  It was pretty touch and go for a time.  Someone from the camp office visited us that day.  

We would hold our regular meetings in the primary room at our church.  It was a small church which didn't have a gym like some churches have. 

The set up was to my benefit.  I was able to get my basic scout requirements done in the Blazer patrol.  While in the regular troop I completed four required merit badges; two at summer camp--swimming and conservation of natural resources.  We also finished personal fitness and first aid.  There were members of the branch that taught these two courses.

Dr. Martin Luther King

This is a story written by my brother.  It is very good

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
By Charlie Wardle

In spring of 2001, I had a great opportunity to attend the National Industrial Technology Education conference in Atlanta Georgia. At the conference I was able to learn many new and exciting technology lessons for my tech classes. The big high light of the conference came one evening when my wife and I took a 5-mile walk to Martin Luther King Jr. grave site. We began our walk among the high rise buildings in downtown Atlanta. As we tool our walk down “black” Main Street of Atlanta we soon noticed that we had left behind all the new high rise building and were walking by a lot of older run down buildings. It was almost like we were going back in to the time of Dr. King, the man who had fought so hard for equal rights for all Americans.

When we arrived at Dr. King’s memorial I was very impressed with the sacredness of the gravesite and how well the memorial was put together. The grave site with an eternal flame burning was in the middle of a small man-made pond. Written on his tomb were the words from his famous speeches “Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty I’m free at last” As I stood there looking at his tomb I wondered. “Why did it take the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for him to become free?”

            I remember when Dr. King was shot on April 4,1968. I was only living about 100 miles from Memphis, Tennessee in Carbondale, Illinois. School was let out early that day. My second grade teacher told us to stay home, because the Civil War might be starting all over again. I went home and stayed inside, wondering if something might happen. No violence or anything like that ever happened, because Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was not about violence. He was a man of peace, and his goal was to bring freedom equal rights to everyone, regardless of their race. School was let out for his funeral, which I watched the funeral on T.V. It was a very sad time for America, to have a strong leader lose his life trying to bring equality to all. His work has been carried on, since his death, and a lot of improvements have been made.


            After we had visited Dr. King’s grave site, on the long walk back to our hotel, I kept thinking of all the great things he had done, and how much work still needed to be done to help bring equal rights to everyone.

            As we got close to our hotel a black man approached us and asked how we had like Dr. King’s gravesite. I asked him how do you know we have been there. He replied, “I can always tell when someone has just visited Dr. King.” He then asked us “How will your visit with Dr. King change your life”?

            I have thought of this question many times since. I really hope I am treating everyone fairly, especially my students. I hope they feel welcome in my technology classes. Even though I do have to discipline some students sometimes I do really care about them. I want each of them to know this. I want them to do the best they can in their school work. I hope all of my students feel that I have given my very best to make their Technology Education classes a great learning experience.

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    Billy Wardle that is a good story
    
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    Billy Wardle Don't you remember the riots in Carbondale after Dr. King was murdered? I remember lots of fires, and a fire engine going around the train trestle one time to get to a fire. But it seems most of the burning took place in black neighborhoods, which I didn't understand.
    

Carbondale Homes and Schools

These pictures were added to our family group by my brother.  He got the pictures from Google Maps or the internet.

We lived in a couple different homes.  The first year we lived on Emerald Lane and I attended Parrish Elementary.  During this time there was not a direct road to the elementary school.  If you went by bus you had to go around  However it was possible to cut through walking, and get their relatively quickly.  You had to cut through a field, cross a creek, and then walk across the back property of the school.  I remember the school had white brick.  We had reduced lunch, and had to help clean the cafeteria every once in a while.

The next year we lived in Sunshine Terrace, a new University housing project.  It was next to a park and a small reservoir.  We played at the park, and would spend time b the lake.  Onetime someone found a copperhead  by the lake and was teasing it.  I didn't want anything to do with it.  I've always been scared of snakes.   I attended Unity Point.  The school was a little out of town.

We attended the Carbondale Branch.    The building was small.  It had a tall steeple.  The building is no longer used as a church, and the steeple is no longer there. 

Carbondale: Sister Fohr

We lived in Carbondale when I was in the fifth and sixth grades.  They were pretty good years.  They were also years I met a new group of people.

            Sister Fohr was a convert to the church.  She was an elderly lady, retired school teacher.  She taught Sunday School.  I remember she had wrinkly skin like my grandmother.  She was much skinnier than my grandmother however.  One time she invited many of us to her house for a Mormon tea. 

I think that was when she introduced me to the world of stamp collecting.  I was 10 at the time, and I must admit I was not a very good collector; at least I was not very good at keeping my stamps pristine. 

            She of course told me about stamp hinges, but they were too expensive and too hard to come by.  As a result, I attached most of my stamps with scotch tape.  That is not a good idea if you are trying to preserve stamps as the acid in scotch tape leaves a greasy stain.

            However Sister Fohr introduced me to First-Day-Covers and she gave me my first.  It was of the Illinois Sesquicentennial.  (I destroyed it by putting scotch tape on it but fortunately I attended a parade and meeting at the time honoring the Sesquicentennial and received a program with another first-day-of-issue.)  She also gave me a lot of stamps from Laos.  I still display them proudly in my album.  I don’t know if she had a son serving in the military there, or how she came to have them.

            I formed a stamp club with some of my friends at the time.  Tim Patterson lived across the street and also went to our church.  He was part of the club.  I also sent for stamps on approval, and with any penny I could spare I purchased extra stamps.

            Stamp collecting has been a hobby that has stayed with me over the years.  I am not an active stamp collector all of the time, but I pick up the hobby and put it down as suits my needs and interests.  I owe the pleasure I have taken from this hobby to Sister Fohr.

Carbondale: Unity Point K-8

Unity Point

I attended Unity Point school for the sixth grade.  Unity Point was a K-8 school.  This was the second year of our two-year stay in Carbondale as I was growing up.  By dad worked for Southern Illinois University in the library, and this year we had moved into university housing so our check would stretch a little farther.  We had eight of us living in a three-bedroom apartment. 

Unity Point was a different experience than a regular elementary school.  For one thing there was basketball.  We had an eighth-grade team, and Weldon played for them.  In fact he was the starting point guard.  Sports trickled down to the other grades, and I played on the sixth-grade team.  We didn't have as many games, and I didn't play a lot, but still had fun.

We had regular school cheer leaders for the eighth grade team, and cheer leaders for our team.  I remember one cheer, "U.P. up and away."  That cheer was to much for a sixth grader.  I guess you had to be a guy to understand the humor.

Unity Point was a different experience, being popular had finally begun to sink in, and this was a big goal of many classmates.   We also had older kids in our class, who had been held back a coupe of times.  Other kids smoked and were pretty rough.

There were separate ares for different age kids.  We sixth graders were with the older kids and stayed on the North end of the building for recess.  This is where the basketball hoops were as well as a place for running or playing games. 

Basketball consumed my life that year.  We lived in Evergreen Terrace, and they had an outdoor basketball court with a rec room.  You could check out basketball if you didn't have your own.  The apartments were brand new, and the grass wasn't in.  Some days, when it rained there was a mud field surrounding the basketball court and you couldn't get to it. 

Bob and Dan McKess lived in Evergreen Terrace as well.  They were big into basketball.  We would play for hours.  Bob was in fifth grade and Dan in fourth.  Even though they were younger, they were each an even match for me.  Dan was taller.  He use to hand from the monkey bars, in the hopes it would stretch out his body, making him taller and more likely to make the team.  Bob played on the sixth grade team with me, and actually played more than I did.

Because we were a branch in our church, I was able to play on the young men's team, even though I was younger.   It was fun, even though I wasn't expected to shoot. 

I also started my Scout career in Illinois.  I did both Blazer Scouts and regular Scouts.  I went to scout camp and earned four Merit badges.  My dad was the scout master.  I worked on basic requirements in Blazer Scouts, and our leader was actually the scout master of troop 66, sponsored by a different church.

After my sixth grade year I played minor league baseball with Bob and Dan's dad coaching.  We won every game that year.  A couple of our players moved on to the majors, so by the end of the year it was a bit harder to win.  We had a big squad, and we would all play half a game.  I caught.  I played only half a game until the last game of the year, the championship game.  I came back in and played first base for the second half of the game.