The building that houses the Western Illinois Museum is surrounded by concrete, yet our community’s history started in a prairie. The publication, “1886 History of McDonough County” describes it as,
“… this bright land was a vast, unbroken wilderness, whose only inhabitants were the birds and beasts… The time was soon to come when all nature must be changed; when the fair prairies with their gorgeous flowers and emerald sod must be broken up by the husbandman, and grain fit for the uses of civilized man sown therein.” (page 52)
The museum’s collection has corn planters, plows, and other agricultural implements that reflects the history of cultivating the land. We are working to find new ways to experience and deepen our understanding of our agricultural history while at the same time enhance the area surrounding the building. This spring we began by building a small patch of prairie located on the southeast corner of the building.
Thanks to a team of volunteers, as well as support from community organizations and business, we have built raised beds that create an enclosure and safety barrier from the adjacent parking lot.
Taking the lead on building the beds was Kevin Breheny who translated a rough drawing into reality while helping to find the best solution for the complex site. The construction team included Michael Thompson and Jeff Moore whose experience was invaluable in getting the beds constructed in short order.
Local businesses supported the project with materials as well as financial support. A Walmart Community Grant provided funds to purchase the materials. West Side Lumber offered the lumber at a reduced cost to ensure we had what we needed. Jeff Moore of The Lawn Moores and Wally Elsnler of Ornamental Midwest Nursery provided soil and compost to fill the beds. Macomb Beautiful provided financial support for the project as well as sharing their knowledge of growing plants in containers. University of Illinois Extension’s Master Gardners consulted on native plants and how best to care for them. This impressive lineup is another example of community support for the museum.
This is the first step to create programs around our agricultural history. We are exploring ideas for workshops in partnership with our supporters about native plants, grandma’s cooking, and even how to attract wildlife in your garden. Our agricultural artifacts will play a role, too, as we consider how some things change and others stay the same! This project is one example of something that thankfully has stayed the same -our region is rich with generous people who are willing to work together to improve our community.