Illinois - James Krohe Jr | Thursday, February 11,2010

Holy inkwells

Turning Lincoln stuff into sacred relics

Many years ago, I made my first visit to the Illinois State Historical Library in its handsome but cramped new quarters beneath the Old State Capitol. Having time to kill while waiting for the staff t

Illinois - James Krohe Jr | Thursday, February 4,2010

Someone from outside

Springfield’s tradition of Lincoln Scholarship

By James Krohe Jr.

“One thing I don’t like, and Springfield don’t like, is someone to come in from outside and tell us about Lincoln.” That was the late Murray Hanes, talking as only Hanes could

Illinois - James Krohe Jr | Thursday, January 28,2010

Teaching idiots

Is this the golden age of the autodidact?

By James Krohe Jr.

This town has been the theater for the careers of many a self-made man and woman (and nearly as many unmade ones) but the self-taught person is rare among us. Not so a century and more ago. In Illinoi

Illinois - James Krohe Jr | Thursday, January 21,2010

Harvesting electricity

The newest energy crop from Illinois fields

By James Krohe Jr.

The American Wind Energy Corp. in December announced its intention to plant 25,000 acres in western Sangamon County with wind turbines, beginning in 2011. While county officials busy themselves determ

Illinois - James Krohe Jr | Thursday, January 14,2010

Age-inappropriate literature

The rewards of reading books before you are ready

By James Krohe Jr.

I was a bookish boy. I read at school and at home, encouraged by boredom and the summer reading programs at Lincoln Library. I didn’t read to learn; I read to be entertained. (There is no spur t

Illinois - James Krohe Jr | Thursday, January 7,2010

Scared space

De-engineering residential streets to make traffic safer

By James Krohe Jr.

The folks down in Chatham are facing that dilemma so familiar to our migrant middle class families whose second homes consist of minivans or SUVs: As more and more young families with children move to

Illinois - James Krohe Jr | Wednesday, December 30,2009

Why did the children not cross the road?

They no longer enjoy the freedom of their city

By James Krohe Jr.

The setting was breakfast, the mood nostalgic. I and three aging friends sat talking about mobility. No, not our corroded knees or where to buy replacement tips for our canes. We were recalling our yo

Illinois - James Krohe Jr | Wednesday, December 23,2009

Unicorns on the Sangamon

The scarcity of Harvard grads in Springfield

By James Krohe Jr.

When asked by new acquaintances which of my many achievements I am most proud, I do not mention my bird imitations or my role (admittedly peripheral) in the Great Bran Flake Robbery in 1967. I tell th

Illinois - James Krohe Jr | Thursday, December 17,2009

Better boxes

The case against replacing Springfield High School

By James Krohe Jr.

Having resolved to build new high school facilities it can’t pay for, the board of School District 186 is exploring several tax hike proposals that the voters won’t approve. The board&rsqu

Illinois - James Krohe Jr | Thursday, December 3,2009

Going ’round and ’round:

Roundabouts and the accident problem at Lawrence and MacArthur

By James Krohe Jr.

For years the noise of vehicles colliding has been making the cats nervous around the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and Lawrence Avenue. And for years the City of Springfield and residents on Sp