Kendall County's 185th anniversary highlights its formation, early challenges, and the significance of local governance in shaping community identity.
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Roger Matile is the author of the website 'historyonthefox', where he explores local history through his posts.
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The post chronicles the transcription of the Oswego Ledger, revealing the community's significant growth and changes during the late 1940s and early 1950s.
The post examines the impact of radio ownership and the evolution of electricity in Oswego Township, linking technology to informed citizenship and community development.
The author recounts their experience of undergoing prostate cancer treatment while reflecting on the decline of manufacturing in Oswego, Illinois. They describe the historical significance of various factories that once thrived in...
The blog post recounts the life of Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Wheeler, a member of a prominent farming family in Kendall County, Illinois, during the 19th century. It details her father's contributions to the local sheep farming industry ...
The blog post reflects on the summer of 1925 in Kendall County, highlighting the challenges faced by residents during a hot season. It discusses the agricultural activities, particularly the harvesting of crops like oats, wheat, a...
The author reflects on nearly 50 years of volunteering at the Little White School Museum in Oswego, Illinois, detailing the efforts to save and restore the building from demolition. He recounts the establishment of the Oswegoland ...
The blog post discusses the history of the grain elevator in Oswego, Illinois, detailing its construction in the early 1870s after the arrival of the Oswego, Ottawa & Fox River Valley Railroad. It highlights the evolution of grain...
The blog post celebrates the historical milestones of Oswego, Illinois, highlighting its 190th anniversary since being platted in 1835. It discusses the arrival of the first settlers, the establishment of the village by Lewis Brin...
The blog post reflects on the significant changes in Oswego and Kendall County over the past 75 years, particularly in terms of population growth and the evolution of agriculture. The author, who has lived through these changes, n...
The author reflects on the evolution of vacationing in the Oswegoland area, particularly trips to Wisconsin, from the 19th century to the present. He shares personal anecdotes about family vacations, the challenges of travel in ea...
The blog post recounts a panel discussion titled 'Conversations with Farm Kids' held at the Little White School Museum, where former farm children shared their experiences growing up on farms in the Oswego area from the 1940s to t...
The blog post discusses the history and significance of county fairs in Illinois, particularly focusing on the Kendall County Fair. It highlights the fairs' role in community gathering, education for farmers, and entertainment. Th...
0The horror of World War II ended 80 years ago this spring and summer
2025-06-10 • japan military pacific war united states germany high school south korea navy manhattan project nuclear weapons harry s. truman surrender ceremony franklin d. roosevelt europe kendall county oswego ledger victory day paratroopers world war ii ve day vietnam discharge petition sinclair gas station
The text discusses the muted reaction to V-E Day in Great Britain and the U.S. 80 years ago. It also highlights the impact of the war on the local community, including the loss of young men and women, the return of soldiers, and t...
The text is a brief history of Boulder Hill, the first big post-World War II housing development in the Oswego area, and its creator, Don L. Dise. It includes an exclusive interview with Dise, who began the area's transition from ...
In 1955, Kendall County was on the cusp of change. The Salk polio vaccine was administered to children, a new Pony League baseball organization was started, and new housing was being built to accommodate returning service members....
The Oswegoland Park District is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The roots of the park district go back to the Great Depression, and it was officially established in 1950. The district has grown significantly over the years, now ...
The text discusses the history of Kendall County, focusing on the first white child born in the county, George M. Hollenback, and his twin sister, Amelia. It also highlights the role of women in the county's history, particularly ...
Dr. Willis Danforth was a prominent physician who treated Mary Todd Lincoln for a variety of maladies. He was one of her doctors and a confidant for several years. He testified that Mary had exhibited behavior that was clearly unb...
The text discusses the concept of inflection points in history, focusing on the impact of three specific inflection points on the history of Oswego and Kendall County. These inflection points include the settlement era, the Civil ...
The text discusses the history of one-horse open sleighs and the tradition of jingling harness bells. It also explores the song 'Jingle Bells' and its lyrics, providing historical context and explanations for the phrases used in t...
The text describes the evolution of farmsteads and how they have become obsolete in modern agriculture. The author reminisces about the farm his parents rented and how the buildings and layout were typical of diversified farms of ...
The month of November 2024 marks two important milestones in the history of Oswego's newspapers. The Oswego Ledger was first published on November 17, 1949, and the Fox Valley Sentinel on November 28, 1974. The history of newspape...
The text discusses the legal ownership of land in Oswego, Illinois, and the challenges faced by the Oswego Public Library District and the Illinois Department of Transportation in proving legal ownership of the land. The land was ...