“Canopy defined: A canopy is a type of overhead roof or else a structure over which a fabric or metal covering is attached, able to provide shade or shelter from weather conditions such as sun, hail, snow and rain." Place: Braidwood Recreation Club (BRC) Date: Summer, 1954 People: Tommy Ray (age 13) and Carole Ann Kennedy (age 11) … Continue reading The Humanity Canopy
Tag: writing
Braidwood News 1871-1872
August 19, 1871 – People’s Advocate We are reliably informed that surveys have been made for a canal from the Kankakee River to the Braidwood coal fields. The stakes are driven at a point on the west side of the river near the “Camp place”, about one mile above the guard lock and upper dam. The … Continue reading Braidwood News 1871-1872
A Story of My Mom’s Garden Legacy
by John Kalec In the heart of the South Side of Chicago in 1935, on a narrow street lined with brick homes and the hum of distant streetcars, lived a little girl named Evelyn. Her home at 5246 Hermitage was modest and often bustling with the sounds of her older brother Fritz, her younger brother Rich, … Continue reading A Story of My Mom’s Garden Legacy
Who/What is Your Competition
"It's amazing what can be accomplished when nobody cares who gets the credit." Harry Truman It seems as though people are always competing. Automobile drivers race ahead of the car ahead only to stop at the same stoplight down the street. Line too long in this lane, maybe I can move to the right and … Continue reading Who/What is Your Competition
Conversing with a Baseball Card
From the age of 13, I collected baseball cards because I was a baseball fan. I did not collect and trade cards for any other reason. At age 85, my reason remains the same. My most poignant memory at that age involved a quick stop at Floyd Nielsen’s local drug store on Main Street on my 45-minute … Continue reading Conversing with a Baseball Card
My Nerdy Side: Theater
Although education and coaching dominated much of my professional life, the persistent backdrop of my journey has been in the arts: music, theater, literature, and poetry. Much of my writing has focused on life’s transitions from childhood to adulthood to old age without appropriating justice to the arts’ roles in those transitions. This piece is about theater. … Continue reading My Nerdy Side: Theater
“My Greatest Work Hasn’t Happened Yet”
Ken Kennedy I asked my brother, Kenny, to trace some of his work history while growing up in Braidwood. He responded with this story, a story that I hadn’t completely known about. He still conducts his business along Route 53 in Braidwood, adjacent to the Polka Dot restaurant. Along with the opinion of many others, I … Continue reading “My Greatest Work Hasn’t Happened Yet”
Elena’s View of Braidwood
Elena Bergman Hibler I attended the East School and Murray Scott was the principal. I also had Josephine Donna (wonderful teacher) in the 5th and 6th grades. In 3rd and 4th grades I had Kate Fallon. She was remembered as wearing long dresses all the way to the floor. We moved to Braidwood from South … Continue reading Elena’s View of Braidwood
Braidwood from Another Perspective
Richard Shaw Richard had read some of my blog articles on Braidwoodguy.com and informed me that as a couple of years my senior, he could add some insights and respectfully offer some differences as he saw things. I completely accept these opinions, perspectives, and insights. Aside from formatting the following letter, I didn’t make any … Continue reading Braidwood from Another Perspective
My Braidwood Memories
Dee King DeGroh I recently asked Dee (King) deGroh about her strong affiliation with Braidwood. Dee’s grandfather, MJ Donna, documented significant historical facts about our town, in “The Braidwood Story.” She cherishes the time she has spent in Braidwood where she actually lived from 2005 to 2016. But then Dee returned to Naperville to be … Continue reading My Braidwood Memories
Braidwood Beginnings 