Spotlight on Murphysboro

Murphysboro is welllocated to enjoy all thatSouthern Illinois has to

offer. Withthe ShawneeNationalForest allaround us,the greatoutdoors iseasilyaccessed. We

proudly present LakeKinkaid and LakeMurphysboro asrecreation areas for all toenjoy. Lake Kinkaid is alsothe source of municipalwater for much of thearea, providing bothquality and abundance.

Murphysboro is also atthe north end of theShawnee Hills Wine Trail.The wine trail continues toprogress, developing newwines, as growersconstantly expand theirvarieties of grapes andexperience with otherfruits from local harveststo provide delicious newtastes for their customers.

The wine trail bringspeople from all over thecountry and abroad intoour area.

Many of the vineyardshave developedentertainment facilities inconjunction with theirvineyards, providing newand exciting venues for allto visit. With the winetrail, we have seen uniquebed-and-breakfastfacilities open, affording

those visiting us a truetaste of our hospitality.

Many events highlightthe hospitality ofMurphysboro. Summerand fall are exciting timesfor our city.

This year the winefestival at Riverside Parkwas well presented andwell attended. Manypeople attended ourannual Fourth of Julycelebration at the park,which marked its 100thbirthday.

Next we will have theMurphysboro AppleFestival, which is Sept. 13through Sept. 19. Thisyear, the theme is OnceUpon an Appletime. TheApple Festival is one of thefew street festivals stilloperating and presents thelargest parade in SouthernIllinois. After AppleFestival will be the annualMurphysboro BBQ Cook-

Off, Sept. 23-25. Thecompetition is a truestreet celebration withteams set up on 17thStreet. We expect a largenumber of teams, as thiscontest is a step towardthe Memphis in Maynational cook-off. InDecember, our TourismCommission will have anumber of eventshighlighting localbusinesses and residents,with our streets andbusinesses decorated forthe season.

Murphysboro is proud ofall the volunteers andorganizations that makeevents happen in ourcommunity. We supportall efforts to improve ourcity and expose visitorsfrom near and far to thebest of Southern Illinois.

RON WILLIAMS is mayor ofMurphysboro.

Page 22 Friday, August 6, 2010 The Southern Illinoisan

SPOTLIGHT ON MURPHYSBORO

TThhee SSoouutthheerrnn IIlllliinnooiissaann (USPS 258-908)is published daily at a yearly subscriptionrate of $178. It is published at 710 N. IllinoisAve., Carbondale, IL 62901. It is owned byLee Enterprises of Davenport, Iowa.

BBoobb WWiilllliiaammss,, [email protected]

TToo ssuubbssccrriibbee:: Call 618-351-5000 from Carbondale,Murphysboro and De Soto; 618-997-3356, option 2, fromWilliamson County; or 800-228-0429, option 2, between6 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday

TToo ppllaaccee aa ddiissppllaayy aadd:: Call 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays,618-529-5454, option 6; from Williamson County,618-997-3356; or 800-228-0429, option 6

Williams

THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTOThe Apple Festival parade draws marching bands from acrossthe state and beyond. Here, the Waterloo High School bandmarches past the Jackson County Courthouse in 2009.

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BY CHRIS WALLSFOR THE SOUTHERN

As the executive director ofMurphysboro Chamber of Commerce, Iwas asked why Murphysboro was such a

remarkable community.My initial reply was

excellent schools, friendlyresidents, world-classbarbecue, unbelievablefishing and the greatnessthat is the Apple Festival.

The above can be said ofmany other communities in

Southern Illinois, except for the AppleFestival.

After further thinking on the matterwhile I was sitting on the couch oneevening with my wife, Lyndsey, I realizedMurphysboro is a great deal more thanmy instantaneous responses.

Murphysboro has a deeply rootedhistory. The visionary who created what

is known as Memorial Day, Gen. John A.Logan, is one of Murphysboro’s proudestsons, and his legacy is exhibited at hisnamesake museum.

Many of the homes downtown arehistoric Gothic Revivals, Bungalows, orVictorians.

The downtown is also home to thehistoric Liberty Theater and theMurphysboro Event Center. Both aregrand historic venues that give guests thefeeling of stepping back into history.

Murphysboro is dotted with manyunique businesses.

Historically, Murphysboro was once abrew town via the Rudolph StecherBrewing Co., and now has thatreputation again through the Big MuddyBrewery, which makes the locally famousSaluki Dunkel Dog and Kinkaid Wheatproducts.

Murphysboro has many shops that youcannot find anywhere else in SouthernIllinois. Some of these unique, downtown

businesses are The Atomic Home,Angarola Stained Glass, Splattered Inkand numerous antique stores.

Murphysboro has a unique placementon this earth.

Geographically, Murphysboro is at thedoorstep of the scenic Shawnee Hills

Wine Trail, the expansive ShawneeNational Forest and picturesqueMurphysboro Lake State Park andKinkaid Lake. Additionally, there areother fascinating places to visit such asLittle Grand Canyon, Pomona NaturalBridge, Cedar Lake and 100-year oldRiverside Park and its Works ProgressAdministration-era band shell.

Murphysboro is a strong and resilientcommunity. Over the years some prettyterrific storms have passed through theseparts, destroying vast sections of thetown. More than 230 people were killedwhen an F5 tornado batteredMurphysboro on March 18, 1925. Thewhole downtown was almost completelydestroyed. Another F5 tornado hit thetown Dec. 18, 1957. On May 8, 2009, aderecho storm destroyed many houses,brought down hundreds of power linesand left the town without power foralmost a week. These types of severe

The Southern Illinoisan Friday, August 6, 2010 Page 33


At the heart of Murphysboro: Strong, resilient, caring residents

THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTOLast year, Landess Mills of Murphysborowatched the Apple fest parade.

SEE PEOPLE / PAGE 4

THHEE SSTOORYY OOFTHHEE BANKK && THHEE TOOWWN

Once upon a time, back in 1889, a group of influential

community leaders decided Murphysboro needed a bank.

In 1889, you could buy a loaf of bread for about three

cents, and there were over 3,700 people who called

Murphysboro home. That bank eventually became today’s

First Bank and Trust, and it is our only home owned and

operated bank.

Just as Murphysboro grew, so did The Bank.

Sometimes there were good times and sometimes not so

good. We sent a lot of our youngsters off to battles,

sometimes crops failed or tornadoes devastated The

Town. There was something called a Depression, but all

those 121 years, The Bank has been deeply involved in the

growth and stability of The Town.

You can still walk in The Bank and talk to the

President. (He’d rather you called him Mike). When

the Scouts have a car wash or the Church has a

Festival or somebody comes up with an idea to

celebrate the apple harvest, The Bank is always there

to help The Town.

The Bank is still home-owned and operated, still

growing, still strong, still deeply rooted in its heritage of

service, responsibility to those it serves, and still looking

forward to doing its job.

And First Bank and Trust is still investing in The

Town. Loans for people and families, for business, for

vehicles, for homes, for any sensible need, The Loan

Department is ready to serve you. And that is no fable.

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BY BARBARA DALLASFOR THE SOUTHERN

Whether you’re lookingfor apples or zucchinis,Murphysboro has it all!

Longknown for itsapple andpeachorchards, thearea is ripewith aseasonalbounty of

fruit and vegetables, mostof which is available everyTuesday afternoon at theFarmer’s Market.Surrounded in alldirections by wineries,vineyards and lodgingaccommodations, theadjoining terrain consistsof rolling hills andsandstone bluffs.

The community is wellknown for its unique anddiverse cuisine and localflavors and traditions,including deliciousbarbecue, and is famousfor being the home of theoriginal 17th Street Bar &Grill. It is also thebirthplace of Civil WarGen. John A. Logan, bestknown for his GeneralOrder No. 11, whichestablished Memorial Dayas a national holiday, andthe site of the onlymuseum in the countrydevoted exclusively toLogan and his times.

Bordering the ShawneeNational Forest,Murphysboro issurrounded by well-stocked lakes on theMississippi Flyway.Kinkaid Lake is gaining anational reputation as oneof the better Musky lakes,attracting manytournaments, and LakeMurphysboro State Parkcontinues to draw campersfrom across the country.

There’s boating, waterskiing, hiking, birdwatching, archery, biking,and, of course, golf closeby.

Murphysboro boaststhree city parks, and oneof them — Riverside Park— just celebrated itscentennial anniversary,making it the eighth oldestpark in Illinois. Thislandmark has seen manychanges over its 100 yearsbut still holds a very activeball field and concretegrandstand, band shell(the first of its kind inIllinois and one of the fewstill standing), a veterans’memorial and 65 acres ofgentle slopes and valleysreaching down to the BigMuddy River that offer aplayground and plenty ofpicnic shelters.

In addition to thenatural beauty, richheritage and historicbuildings, Murphysboronurtures collaborativeworking relationshipsamong its many groupsand entities. Appointed byMayor Ron Williams, theTourism Commission’smission is to promote,support, and developthose entities thatcontribute to and enhanceMurphysboro’s ability toattract visitors.

The Tourism Center islocated in the historic 1885Sheley House in the LoganNeighborhood on EdithStreet between South 16thand 17th streets and servesas a community meetinglocation, including themonthly TourismCommission meetings,which are open to thepublic. A tourismcommissioner serves onthe Chamber ofCommerce’s board ofdirectors and also on theCarbondale Convention

and Tourism Bureauboard.

The only community inthe country with the nameof Murphysboro, the townis probably best known forits many festivals,celebrations and proactiveactivities. In February,there’s the Logan BirthdayBreakfast. Marchwelcomes spring with theSt. Patrick’s DayCelebration and Irish StewCook Off, and in April,there’s the Easter egghunt. May is busy withLogan Days, the ShawneeHills Wine and ArtsFestival and the Loganwreath-laying ceremonyand Memorial Day service.

There’s a vintage baseball team, the Clarkes,with a busy home andaway schedule. In Juneand July, we celebrate ourflag and our independencewith special services and afireworks display. FromApril through September,Cruise Nights are held thefirst Saturday evening ofeach month, and the July“Ladies Night Out” getsbigger and better eachyear. In August, we enjoythe Saint Andrew SchoolFestival and celebrateCommunity Day with theMiners at Rent One Park inMarion.

September brings two ofour largest events — theApple Festival and theMurphysboro BarbecueCook-Off. The AppleFestival is the region’soldest alcohol-free festivaland attracts some 50,000visitors. The fall is alwaysfull of events, includingmusic and lunch atSmysor Plaza on Fridays, aVeterans’ Day service, andthe communityThanksgiving dinner. Andmaybe this year Octoberwill offer the Big Muddy



Dallas

THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTOGlass artist Jan Thomas sculptsa human hand from hot glassMay 24, 2010 at DouglassSchool Art Place.

PEOPLE: Make Murphysboroa great community to live inFROM PAGE 3

storms can leave communities in ruins, but suchwas not the case in this durable community.Through neighbors helping neighbors, thesetragedies have only made this tight-knitcommunity even stronger.

Here is one last note about the wonderful peopleof Murphysboro, which, in my opinion, is probablythe biggest reason I feel Murphysboro is such animpressive community.

My father passed away May 19 of this year at St.Joseph Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro, and as aresult, many kind and caring citizens showed theirutmost compassion with cards, food and prayers.Many of the people my family did not even knowpersonally. My family thanks all who helped usthrough that trying time.

These are the reasons I feel Murphysboro is agreat place.

CHRIS WALLS is executive director of MurphysboroChamber of Commerce.

Nothing to do? Look to us!

Monster Brewfest, whichwill highlight the newbrews being made inMurphysboro. The firstweekend in Decemberkicks off the holidayseason with a home tour,the Festival of Trees andWreathes, One-StopHoliday Shop, a Christmascookie contest, and an artgallery. The LoganNeighborhood is lightedand Captain Applesauce,the Apple Festival Queenand Mr. and Mrs. Clausstroll and visit with goodlittle boys and girls.

A new and growingidentity for Murphysborois the development of theLogan Neighborhood andparticularly the HughesGallery. This is a naturalgrowth that will enhancethe Douglass Schoolbuilding, the Gallery Spaceand the many otherartisans already spread outaround town. This, likemany of Murphysboro’sother gems, offers greatpotential for ourcommunity and theSouthern Illinois region asa whole.

Murphysboro is truly“Ripe with Possibility.”

There is great optimismover the potential ofseveral enhancements —aleash-free dog park, aremembrance walk to theveterans’ monument, andthe bocce ball park — justto name a few. Movies arebeing shown in a couple ofvery different venues,including the almost 100-year old Liberty Theateron Walnut Street and theRiverside band shell, andthe number of attendees isgrowing in both locations.Meanwhile, our severalantique shops are beingscoured for that specialcollectable, clubs andorganizations are holdingfish fries and dances, artgalleries are havingreceptions, and all this isspurring tourism.

We were proud to havebeen selected by SouthernIllinois UniversityCarbondaleto participatein a project documenting“A Weekend inMurphysboro,” and it ishoped the resultingwebsite and travelingexhibit, used incombination withwww.murphysboro.com,have called and will

continue to call attentionto our community as adestination (and one that

is willing to get involved inan educationalexperience). To learn more

about “A Weekend inMurphysboro,” visitwww.southof64.com.

But our best tourism toolis our people. We are ourbest ambassadors. That’sobvious in the above-referenced production. Wehave a lot to offer visitors

and ourselves.Murphysboro is ripe

with possibilities, and youcan make it riper!

BARBARA DALLAS is aMurphysboro native andmember of theMurphysboro Tourism



THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTOThe Liberty Theater in downtown Murphysboro has undergonerenovations and is becoming one of the region’s coolestvenues for movies, theater, live performances and weddings.

THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTOBoaters and swimmers surround a group of luxury houseboats on Kinkaid Lake north of Murphysboro.

BY ADAM TESTATHE SOUTHERN

Located at the heart of Murphysboro,historic Riverside Park captures theessence and spirit of the town.

From a veterans’ memorial honoringthe community’s soldiers to a baseballfield shared by teams of new and old tothe new playground equipment installedby local residents, the park truly hassomething to offer everyone.

And 2010 has been a milestone year forRiverside, which at 100 years, is theeighth oldest park in Illinois.

On the Fourth of July, the city hostedits largest fireworks display in recentyears as part of the birthday celebration,and patrons of the event enjoyed cakewhile it lasted. The event may not havedrawn the crowds of the 1930s, whenmore than 15,000 people gathered on thepark’s lawn for a fireworks showcase, butorganizers were pleased with the results,as were those in attendance.

Each Memorial Day weekend, not-for-profit Friends of Murphysboro hosts theShawnee Hills Wine Trail Wine and ArtFestival. This event highlights thewineries and vineyards of the ShawneeHills Wine Trail and the local artcommunity. Music booms from thehistoric band shell.

Friends of Murphysboro hasundertaken the mission of promotingand improving Riverside Park, and, inthree years, the group has made stronginroads with further plans in the works.Among the major ongoing projects is aneffort to sell bricks for a memorial walkleading to the veterans’ memorial, whichis the second marking of its kind to adornRiverside.

After World War I, a group of soldiersbelonging to the organization LegionWay petitioned the park board to allowthem to install a veterans monument.They brought in a 150-millimeterGerman field cannon from the war andnicknamed it Big Bertha. That marking

stood until World War II, when it wasremoved, melted down and used forcopper in the war effort.

In the years between those wars, theface of Riverside Park was changed forthe better; two of its most iconicmonuments were constructed. The localebecame home to a Civilian ConservationCorps encampment, and workers fromthe Works Progress Administration builtthe baseball field and grandstand, whichtoday is used primarily for AmericanLegion baseball in the summer, and theaforementioned band shell, used for avariety of events through the years. In1948, the New York Yankees held tryoutsat the stadium, and the St. LouisCardinals have also done so in the past.

Another key element of Murphysborolore emanates from Riverside Park, wherepeople in the past have reported seeingthe Big Muddy Monster lurking in thenearby woods. This Bigfoot-like legendhas been engrained in Murphysboroculture for years, and Riverside has a role

to play in that continued storytelling.This park truly serves an important

role in the lives of many Murphysbororesidents and in the town’s culture andpersonality. In the past 100 years, thepark has undergone many changes, and ifthe efforts of interested parties aresuccessful, they hope to see many morepositive improvements through the nextcentury of Murphysboro history.

[email protected] / 618-351-5031



A birthday and a rebirth for Riverside Park

THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTOJane Butcher of Murphysboro takes a closerlook at a local artist’s work at Shawnee HillsWine Trail Wine and Art Festival in May 2009.

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BY MIKE JONESFOR THE SOUTHERN

A lot has happened at the General JohnA. Logan Museum since turning 20 inMay 2009. Last year’s Logan Days’

activities were, for the mostpart, “gone with the wind.”As a result of the May 8storm, all of museum’sschool programs werecanceled, and our annualwreath-laying ceremony atthe Logan Statue wasmoved to Memorial Day.

The electricity came back on just in timefor General and Mrs. Logan’s annual CivilWar Ball. Luckily, the museum receivedonly minor property damage, but it was ashame to lose those beautiful shade trees.

Last year’s greatest accomplishment,with the help of a grant from the IllinoisHumanities Council, was the “Lincoln,Egypt and the Civil War” exhibit andprogramming. This major exhibit kicked

off at Apple Festival, then moved to themuseum and University Mall inCarbondale. It will travel to locationsthroughout Illinois in 2010 and 2011.

The museum’s operations are guidedby a strategic plan developed by themuseum’s board of directors. Themuseum received a $5,000 grant fromthe American Association of Museums toconduct a Museum Assessment ProgramPublic Dimension Assessment. As a partof the assessument process, staff andvolunteers spent four months gatheringinformation. The AAM grant providedfor a museum professional who produceda report with 23 prioritizedrecommendations, which are being usedas a guide to improve future operations.

The museum has also enrolled in theAmerican Association of State and LoganHistory’s Standards and ExcellenceProgram for History Organizations. Thisself-paced, self-study program assessesthe organization’s policies and practices.The museum is applying for three grants

to improve the handling of itscollections, and an on-site research areafor historians will be created.

Logan Days 2010 was on schedule,and new programming for studentsresulted in more than 700 studentsattending. The wreath-laying ceremonyat the Logan Statue, which turned 80,was on Memorial Day. It was co-sponsored with American Legion PaulStout Post 127.

Of great pride was the Logan reunionhosted by the museum and theCarbondale Convention and TourismBureau for Logan descendants from thearea and across the United States. As apart of the reunion, the museumcoordinated Memorial Day programmingwith those at Woodlawn Cemetery.

The fifth annual Flag Day service in theLogan Neighborhood attracted manymuseum visitors. Work continues onraising money for the fundraisingcampaign, “Preserving the Legacy.”

The current exhibit is “Gone But Not

Forgotten” and focuses on rural SouthernIllinois cemeteries and the part two localcemeteries played in the story of creatinga national Memorial Day. This exhibittraces the evolution of grave markersthroughout the 19th century, restates thepromise of Logan’s Memorial Day Orderand encourages the restoration of morethan 4,000 abandoned cemeteries.

If you have never visited the onlymuseum in the country exclusivelydedicated to Gen. Logan and his times orif it’s been a while, drop by. You will beimpressed.

MIKE JONES is executive director of theGeneral John A. Logan Museum.



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General John A. Logan Museum: Growing legacy DETAILSWhat: General John A. Logan MuseumWhere: 1613 Edith St., MurphysboroHours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday,

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More info: Call 618-684-3455 or visitwww.loganmuseum.com.

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Spotlight on Murphysboro