Seeing groups of high school students at Midway Airport on March 23 gave me a feeling that the March for Our Lives event the next day in Washington, D.C., would be big. Indeed, as I took the Metro train to the event, I soon found myself with thousands of others making our way to the […]
Walt Zyznieuski
Walt Zyznieuski is a Springfield-based freelance writer. As a child he used to ride the “Rocket” — the now-defunct Rock Island — from his home in Peoria to Chicago, as well as electric buses in Chicago.
Posted inSpecial Issues
Exploring French Colonial Ste. Genevieve
The Bolduc House, circa 1792. It was a weekend getaway for me as I decided to make my way down to southwestern Illinois and southeastern Missouri to get a little French history lesson. I didn’t know what to expect as I started driving south toward my destinations along and near the Mississippi River. My stops […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Visit the home of Lincoln’s folks
A replica of the Thomas Lincoln log cabin, eight miles south of Charleston. Abraham Lincoln’s legacy is found not just in Springfield but throughout central Illinois, where he practiced law and traveled to many locations, including Coles County. While he was in Coles County, Lincoln was able to occasionally stop by and visit his father, […]
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Tackling bush honeysuckle, one plant at a time
More than 180 years ago, a young Abraham Lincoln was working in various capacities at New Salem. One of his duties was splitting wood, such as white and red oaks found on the rolling hills, and walnuts, burr oaks and pecans down in the floodplain. The hard tasks Lincoln undertook slowly switched toward less manual-related […]
Posted inNews
Exploring the Shawnee National Forest
It’s the only national forest in our predominantly agricultural/urban state, and it offers a great escape from our daily routines. Located down in the southern tip of the state, the Shawnee National Forest (SNF) offers unlimited recreational possibilities, ranging from day hikes, camping, nature photography, horseback riding, backpacking, fishing, boating, bike riding, exploring, or just […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Walking with ghosts
Untitled Document “We soon found ourselves on the grand prairies of Illinois, under a burning sun and without shade from one camp to another. They are vast as the ocean, and the eye seeks in vain for a tree. Not a drop of water can be found there — it was a veritable torture for […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
The trails of Madison County
Untitled Document Having two sons, I’ve done my share of driving around the state on weekends — attending swim meets, soccer games, or cross-country meets over the years. As a spectator rather than a participant at these sporting events limited my cardiovascular activities. Other than carrying the lawn chairs and coolers from the car to […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Float your boat
Untitled Document Just a few hours from Springfield are hundreds of miles of floatable streams that offer an ideal natural playground for exploration, fishing, and relaxation. Many are crystal-clear, spring-fed, and surrounded by breathtaking scenery, including towering limestone bluffs and undisturbed forests. I was first exposed to some of Missouri’s Ozark streams nearly 30 years […]
Posted inNews
Recycle city
Untitled Document Twenty-eight years ago, fresh out of college, I arrived in Springfield to begin my professional career. Living by myself, I didn’t really generate much trash, and the three R’s — reduce, reuse, and recycle — weren’t common or trendy around town then or, for that matter, around the country. In fact, the only […]
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The nation’s treasure
“It is my belief that what is being accomplished will conserve our natural resources, create future national wealth, and prove of moral and spiritual value not only to those of you who are taking part but to the rest of the country as well.” — President Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Greetings to the Civilian Conservation Corps,” […]
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Shawnee’s stone forts
Southern Illinois was inhabited as early as 10,000 years ago by people attracted to the region’s abundant natural resources, plentiful game, and numerous shelter bluffs that offered refuge from the elements. Chert, used to fashion stone tools and weapons, was also prevalent in the region. Back in the Woodland period of American Indian history, about […]
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A ride through time
“The interurban was an American transportation phenomenon. Evolved from the urban streetcar, the interurban appeared shortly before the dawn of the 20th century, grew to a vast network of over 18,000 miles in two decades of excellent growth, and then but vanished after barely three decades of usefulness.” — William D. Middleton, The Interurban Era […]
