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MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission of this site is educational; to preserve our local history through
photographs etc. This site would not be possible without people who contributed from their collections. We
can all be grateful to them.
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I am a historical
preservationist. I love history, and art too. I like to collect historic images to get a deeper understanding of our past.
To me it's like traveling back in time. I collect all this and organize it to share it with you. I
have thought it would be nice if La Salle County can come up with a place to focus on the railroading history of the
area. What is going to happen to all this history if we don't act now?
I thought the best place to start is with an online museum showing a fine sample of images. I hope others will
do the same with their collections of images of their own towns, cities, businesses etc., and we can become linked and
thus preserve the rich history we all have in our towns and cities. We should not let this history be hidden in
just people's personal collections or in drawers in libraries alone because most will never see them. There is no reason we
all can't become involved and share, contribute and build online museums to complement the fantastic museums in our counties.
For instance, the Mendota IL Railroad Museum, the Cherry Public library and museum, the LaSalle County Historical Museum,
and Paxton ICRR Museum to name a few where there are great collections people should see.
These
images on this website could not be possible if not for quite a few number of people and historical societies, libraries etc.,whom
we should be ever grateful to. Let us share our history and interests with these images because they are for our education, research,
commentary and discussion, and for our future generations. With pictures we can step into the past and learn. They
are a time machine into the past.
But, I still would like to have a place in La Salle the city could donate because there is a great
deal more to see. The Mendota Museums are filled with nice displays and so is the LaSalle County Historical Museum in
Utica. We can work together in realizing this dream, and I play a very small, small part. It would be nice
to be able to get the old Rock Island Depot in LaSalle (too late, taken) I am open to ideas. I would love to see
the grounds cleaned up around the Rock Island depot and make it the spectacle it once was. (updated: The depot was sold and
bought in 2014. We'll hope for something interesting to happen there.) I am always dreaming! Oh well,
the worst case scenario is having this little online museum in which it still allows me to share with you these
classic images many photographers captured that help tell our history. These images are vital to our history and we learn
from them.
The other idea I have given great thought is having my house as
a museum centered around railroading in the area. If I am in control then it simply is done up right. I recently visited
the La Salle County Historical Society's new building in Utica on the south side of the canal. It was very nice and had numerous
interesting displays about various things. I recommend people to see it. BUT, the railroading section was small, since
they don't have the room. An idea for them is to use my CD disc of images I gave to them years ago and at least enlarge
some of the images for display. Or, they can buy a digital display monitor which can do slide shows of the images of local
history. When a person walks near it, then it can be set to turn on.
I believe my house museum
could be an extension to these area museums. The interesting thing is I would have more local railroading images hanging
on my walls etc., then they could dream of. That's just the way it is, so far. If the Utica Museum could use the
upstairs for a vast railroading display of enlarged images or the digital slide show, that would be very nice. Anyway,
if someone has an idea or suggestion about my house museum let me know. I am thinking about having it open for small groups
of visitors once a month. Not sure what I am going to do yet. What do you think? I have made a handful of documentaries I
could show a few times a year too.
Thanks to all those who have shared their images! Thanks
to all the volunteers at local museums, we need you, I need you.
Historically Yours,
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