Douglas County, Illinois - Newman, Illinois, Tuscola, Illinois, Villa Grove, Illinois, Hindsboro, Illinois, Arcola, Illinois, Arthur, Illinois (Paperback)

Chapters: Newman, Illinois, Tuscola, Illinois, Villa Grove, Illinois, Hindsboro, Illinois, Arcola, Illinois, Arthur, Illinois, Camargo, Illinois, Garrett, Illinois, Atwood, Illinois, Kemp, Illinois, Murdock, Illinois, Fairland, Illinois, Walnut Point State Park, Arcola Carnegie Public Library, Streibich Blacksmith Shop. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 52. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Arcola, Illinois - Arcola is somewhat famous for the Lawn Rangers, a "precision lawn mower drill team" that marches in formation with brooms and lawn mowers while wearing cowboy hats. Every year since 1980, the Lawn Rangers have marched in the Arcola Broomcorn Festival Parade. The event, held the weekend after Labor Day, honors Arcola's position in the late nineteenth century as a center of broom corn production. This unique custom was publicized by humor columnist Dave Barry, who marched with the Lawn Rangers in 1995 and has written columns about them. Arcola was the birthplace in 1880 of John Barton Gruelle, or "Johnny" Gruelle, who is famous for creating Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy, the loveable American dolls and storybook characters. Gruelle used artistic skills learned from his painter father Richard Buckner Gruelle combined with his self-taught writing skills to create stories expressing regional values and aesthetic images. His artistic granddaughter, Joni Gruelle Wannamaker, manages the Raggedy Ann Museum in Arcola. A nationally known tourist attraction, Rockome Gardens, which features large formal gardens, concrete fencing and architecture, buggy rides, and many special events from May through October is conveniently located just outside of the town of Arcola. Detail from Bob Morrow's Hippie MemorialArcola is also known for housing the world's only Hippie Memorial, created by Bob Mooma...More: http: //booksllc.net/?id=111105