Last Day - Staying Local

 Left camper around 7:30 to go to  Betty and Mark's for breakfast....Carol's favorite of biscuits and gravy.  Since this part of Southern Illinois is famously known as "Bloody Williamson County" we decided to visit  couple of museums with information as to

why it was known as this.  Of course, breakfast was delicious.

Our first stop was the George Harrison Mural on Interstate I-57.  Every time we pass by the mural, I am never ready with my camera to get a good picture.  This time, Mark drove us right to the mural for an excellent picture.  I am even in this one!

Our first stop was the 1910 Garage Museum.  This building was originally the first Ford dealership in Franklin County and then became a repair garage for automobiles.  The final owner retired and walked out of the building leaving everything inside as he had used them.  The historical society purchased the building and put on display the items left behind plus several antique cars.

The automobile museum was mainly focused on antique automobiles and it included a car owned by Charlie Birger.  The manager of the museum often displays antiques and automobiles at outside venues and when she does she used large cardboard boxes like the one she is holding to carry the display items.  The boxes she uses are very unusual...cremation boxes.  The person to be cremated is placed in the cardboard box and then put into the crematory.  None of us had ever thought that a cardboard box would be used.  Notice the box displays which end goes where.  You just never know what bit of knowledge you will find when in a museum.  The manager said the box is the perfect size and she is friends with the owner of the crematory who gives them to her to use.

One of Charlie Birger's cars.

On display was an old Firestone sign.

This is a picture of Charlie Birger taken in the Franklin County Jail where he was held for nearly a year before hanging.  Charlie was a Russian immigrant the head of a gang that controlled gambling enterprises and bootlegging in Franklin and Williamson Counties.  Although he killed several people some people said he was like Robin Hood in that he would also make sure people in need received food and money.  Unfortunately for him there was also another gang doing the same types of things called the Shelton Gang.  They clashed many times in wild shootouts.  Charlie's downfall was murdering a local mayor who was an ally of the Shelton Gang.  He was arrested, found guilty, and sentenced to death by hanging.  Nearly 500 people attended the public hanging.  He was the last person to be hung in Illinois.  The Birger and Shelton Gangs caused Williamson County to become known as "Bloody Williamson County."

This was a recreation of the local radio station that played the Beatles song "Please, Please Me" while George Harrison was visiting his sister, Louise in 1963.  

George was interviewed by a local high school girl.  This was before the Beatles were well-known in the United States and George was the first Beatle to visit the United States.  While visiting his sister, George camped and visited the Garden of the Gods.  The local residents who met George thought he was no more than an amusing curiosity.  During the visit, he visited a local music shop and purchased a Rickenbacker 425 guitar for $400.  He used it when he played in several of the Beatles hits.  That guitar sold at auction in 2014 for $657,000.

Monument to honor General John Logan.  He fought in the Battle of Fort Donelson,  the Vicksburg Campaign and with General Sherman in the Atlanta Campaign.    He helped nationalize a multiregional grave-decorating ceremony of soldiers' graves into Decoration Day (later renamed Memorial Day) celebrated May 30 from 1868 until 1971 when it was changed to be observed on the last Monday in May.  He is one of only three surnames mentioned in the state song of Illinois, and a museum and college wee named for him in Southern Illinois.

This pavilion was erected to honor Billy Grammer, a country singer born in Franklin County.

  The actor born in this county is John Malkovich.

This is the house where George Harrison stayed with his sister Louise.

Franklin and Williamson Counties had it's share of famous people... a Civil War General, a gangster, an actor, a rock star, and a country singer.  What a large variety.  

The last four days have been wonderful.  Mark is an excellent tour guide.  He had spent a lot of time organizing a agenda for each of the last four days.  We learned so much about this part of Southern Illinois.  We certainly learned so much (unfortunately at our age we will probably forget it but at least we did know it).  Betty prepared delicious picnic lunches for two of the days we were "on the road."  One day we ate at Walt's Pizza, a local restaurant with great pizza and another day we ate at the lodge at Giant City State Park.   The best part of the week was being with Betty and Mark.  We shared memories, talked about our families, and our lives.   It was definitely quality time that I hope won't be the last time.    Mark said he has so much more he can show us, so we look forward to a repeat of these last few days.

P.S.  I will not post a separate entry for Friday.  We got back to camp around mid-afternoon and relaxed with another campfire.  At bedtime, the rain began but by morning, it had slowed down.  The rain was remnants of a hurricane.  We packed up and were on the road by7:30 a.m. and home by 11:00 a.m.  We unpacked only what we needed because we will be leaving for Iowa, Wednesday, September 18 for another 12-day trip.  We will be "on the road again."