#54 FORT KASKASKIA ILLINOIS

On the bluff above the Menard House are the remains of Fort Kaskaskia. The Menard house is located about 1/2 mile below the fort.This fortification was planned by King Louis XV of France when they owned and occupied the land.

Nancy is standing on the fort grounds but in actuality it is the Menard family cemetery,

In pictures four and five you see only ground fortifications of where the fort was planned to be built.

Picture six is looking north and seeing the Mississippi river below the bluff. [When fort was planned you would be seeing the Kaskaskia river coming into the Mississippi river.

Photo of Nancy is looking northwest and out in the Mississippi river is Beaver Island.

#53 PIERRE MENARD HOUSE
The former home of the first Lieutenant Governor of the state of Illinois. Served from 1818 to 1822. He served in Kaskaskia the first Illinois Capitol and was near this house. Population in 1818 was about 7,000.The 2000 census lists Kaskaskia with a population of five.








What really made this event is photo three.Right behind Nancy and the trees is the Mississippi river however when Menard sat on his front porch in 1820 the river he viewed was the Kaskaskia river.This photo taken from east bank of Mississippi looking toward the west.



A flood in 1881 changed both rivers course and the city of Kaskaskia moved from the east bank in Illinois to the west bank in Missouri yet is considered part of Illinois.




Since the flood of 1881 the only way to Kaskaskia Illinois is through St Mary Missouri on the west side of Mississippi river.The Menard home is on the east bank of the Mississippi.














The kitchen of course is detached from the main part of the home.





Nancy grew up with a well [not functioning} similar look as this one at the Menard house.

TWO SPORT STAR!!!


{in the same day}


Saturday started with my watching grandson Paul play a great game of soccer. I guess the grandpa should not use the word great but he made a pass from the right forward corner to the front of goal that a high school player would be proud of. His team mate did make the goal.






I finished the day by watching Paul and his team mates come from behind in the last inning to win a well played game by both teams.


This is what grand parenting is all about.

HAPPY 17TH BIRTHDAY KELSEY
Sunday the family gathered at Terri's to help Kelsey celebrate her 17TH birthday.
Wow!!! When I was 17
*** I did not know Nancy McCoy {Tritschler}
*** I drove my parents 1954 Buick LaSabre
*** Gas was .19 per. gallon {you could actually get lots of gas for $1.00.}
*** I was a Roosevelt Rough Rider
*** I worked for Davis Photo Supplies
*** Possibly had a girl friend
My world was certainly different but your opportunites are endless.

Can you believe she lit and blew out 17 candles.


Sorry you missed out on the infamous baby pictures but I am not using my computer. Really sorry you missed the famous grandparent duet singing "Happy Birthday" on the 19TH.
Kelsey,Grandma and I are so proud of you.
Love
Grandpa and Grandma.

#52 Is a visit to the Lewis and Clark visitor Center.

The center is near Hartford Illinois across from the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

Lewis and Clark built Camp Dubois the french name for "Wood River" They needed a place to spend the winter of 1804 with their troops while finishing the preparations for the journey to the Pacific ocean.







Nancy's cousin Norma with her husband John visiting from Michigan.







A replica of the keel boat "Discovery"



Nancy and I with Lewis, Clark, and their dog.









a replica of a bunk house that slept eight in two bunk beds.


Replica of Fort Dubois

The visit included the museum,a video of the journey to the Pacific ocean and a guided tour of the fort.We plan to return

as they are building a 150" ft. tower to better view the actual confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

#51 IS HISTORY!!!!!!


We visited Cahokia Mounds Museum and Park on Thursday.


I am pretty sure I was at the Cahokia Mounds when Edward was in Indian guides.{thirty years ago}


My memory does not recall climbing to the top of Monks mound and there certainly was no museum there as the museum appears to be less than ten years old.


The museum includes an outstanding film about the history of the Cahokia Indians and the displays bring their history to life.




158 steps later I stand at the top of Monks Mound






Nancy's cousin Norma and her husband John from Detroit Mi










A view looking south from the top of Monks Mound


Obviously if you climbed up 158 steps to return you have to go down 158 steps.

#50 IS UNIQUE AS I TRAVEL TEN MINUTES FROM HOME TO

JEFFERSON BARRACKS NAT. CEMETERY

Even thought I have maybe been to Jefferson Barracks Cemetery it has always been as part of a funeral procession.Sunday evening we went to the cemetery for the following reasons.

*** Photo number two as my friend James wanted to see the Civil War burial section. {I had no idea the cemetery dated back that far}

*** Photo one finds Nancy and I standing next to the grave site of my Uncle Wilbur.

{First time I visited his actual burial site}


*** I had no idea deer were so prevalent. {see photos 3 through 10}

I shot 49 photos of the deer,then cropped 24, and finally chose 8 to share.We will be returning if for no other reason than to take the grandchildren to see the deer.

SEPTEMBER 8 1998

The most ELECTRIFYING night at the stadium that Nancy and I so far have experienced.

I believe it was the ANTICIPATION that we had tickets and possibly Mark McGwire would hit #62.

I know that the record has now been tainted by steroids but on that night ELECTRICITY was in the air!!!.

Mark did hit #62 on 9-8-98

*** We stayed at least an hour after the game.

*** I was offered $50. for our ticket stubs.

*** I was offered $100. for my score card.

*** I still have them [never have been known for my smarts]

I do not have the words that can describe the build up for me for that game. Two games prior I began to root against Mark hitting a home run so I would have the experience of witnessing the event.

Our seats were right behind first base about at the top of the the first level when Mark hit the line drive that became HOME RUN #62!!!!!!!

ONE of MY FAVORITE DAYS

GRANDPARENTS DAY at SCHOOL

The first four pictures feature the junior princess and her class singing a cute little grandparent song written to the tune of "Take me out to the ball game."

Then the grandparents had to show and tell about their school days.


















Karen's mother Edna and today was her birthday.

To our family { yes her show and tell is the picture of the Queen and her court on the float.]

It was a GREAT DAY!!!!!!!!!