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Volunteers to reproduce Rockton history book
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| From left, Macktown Living History volunteer Linda Sonneson, Balsley Printing owner Jim Balsley and Rockton Township Historical Society volunteer Marilyn Mohring hold copies of “The History of Rockton Illinois 1820-1898.” Staff photo by Hillary Gavan |
By Hillary Gavan
Daily News staff writer
ROCKTON - It has tales ranging from a dog being offered up as a sacrifice to conspiracy theories on the second wife of settler Stephen Mack.
It's “The History of Rockton Illinois 1820-1898” and it soon will be reproduced and available for all to enjoy. Jim Balsley, owner of Balsley Printing, is partnering with the Rockton Township Historical Society and Macktown Living History to reproduce the book at a discounted rate.
Anywhere from 250-500 books will be available for sale by April, the time of The Gathering at Macktown.
The book was written by Edson Carr and published in 1898. Carr was the publisher of the Rockton Herald and used all the newspapers he had archived to research Rockton's history.
The book not only gives detailed historical accounts, but it also describes the minutiae of day-to-day life.
“If they thought somebody did something, they said it. If they thought someone was borrowing horses from somebody's corral they said it,” said Macktown Living History Volunteer Linda Sonneson. “Carr had the foresight to think that what he had in the newspaper was something that should be put together and shared with the people.”
For many years copies of the book were available for sale at the Talcott Free Library and the Rockton Chamber of Commerce. Over the years, however, the number of copies has been dwindling. Although a few of them are turning up in used book stores, the last known copies for sale sold out about six months ago.
Treasurer of Rockton Township Historical Society Marilyn Mohring said she often gets calls from people wanting to buy a copy.
“Rockton is a unique town. I think it has more than average interest in its history and its background,” Sonneson said.
Sonneson said people traveling through the area often will call up wanting a copy to learn about their relatives who were originally from Rockton.
“Every so often someone calls up and they are panicking. They have 30 minutes and want to research everyone. We also get inquiries from people in other states whose grandparents or great-grandparents lived in Rockton. People really get into genealogy,” Sonneson said.
In order to make the book available for sale, the Rockton Township Historical Society and Macktown Living History need to raise $2,800.
To make a donation, one can send a check to Rockton Township Historical Society at P.O. Box 37, Rockton, IL 61072 or to Macktown Living History at P.O. Box 566, Rockton, IL 61072.
Daily News staff writer
ROCKTON - It has tales ranging from a dog being offered up as a sacrifice to conspiracy theories on the second wife of settler Stephen Mack.
It's “The History of Rockton Illinois 1820-1898” and it soon will be reproduced and available for all to enjoy. Jim Balsley, owner of Balsley Printing, is partnering with the Rockton Township Historical Society and Macktown Living History to reproduce the book at a discounted rate.
Anywhere from 250-500 books will be available for sale by April, the time of The Gathering at Macktown.
The book was written by Edson Carr and published in 1898. Carr was the publisher of the Rockton Herald and used all the newspapers he had archived to research Rockton's history.
The book not only gives detailed historical accounts, but it also describes the minutiae of day-to-day life.
“If they thought somebody did something, they said it. If they thought someone was borrowing horses from somebody's corral they said it,” said Macktown Living History Volunteer Linda Sonneson. “Carr had the foresight to think that what he had in the newspaper was something that should be put together and shared with the people.”
For many years copies of the book were available for sale at the Talcott Free Library and the Rockton Chamber of Commerce. Over the years, however, the number of copies has been dwindling. Although a few of them are turning up in used book stores, the last known copies for sale sold out about six months ago.
Treasurer of Rockton Township Historical Society Marilyn Mohring said she often gets calls from people wanting to buy a copy.
“Rockton is a unique town. I think it has more than average interest in its history and its background,” Sonneson said.
Sonneson said people traveling through the area often will call up wanting a copy to learn about their relatives who were originally from Rockton.
“Every so often someone calls up and they are panicking. They have 30 minutes and want to research everyone. We also get inquiries from people in other states whose grandparents or great-grandparents lived in Rockton. People really get into genealogy,” Sonneson said.
In order to make the book available for sale, the Rockton Township Historical Society and Macktown Living History need to raise $2,800.
To make a donation, one can send a check to Rockton Township Historical Society at P.O. Box 37, Rockton, IL 61072 or to Macktown Living History at P.O. Box 566, Rockton, IL 61072.
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