A Kid's Eye View of History
(April 2007)
Sometimes when a child is asked to reflect on “historical” research, we all might gain a whole new perspective on things. What seems still “new, modern, and recent” to many of us adults, has been familiar and constant in that child's entire life, so the "modern" thing becomes a suitable source for their historical investigation. Here are some articles written by Lexington students about places around Lexington that they chose as historically significant. Often they gather information that can be found no where else! Enjoy the view from their perspective………..and watch for more articles to be added later this spring.
Submitted by Jan Heuer
computer teacher at Lexington Elementary
ISU Farm at Lexington
by Clint Derango May 2005
For my historical research I picked the Illinois State University Farm at Lexington because my dad, Russ Derango, is the manager there. The ISU Farm was part of the university for many years. The ISU Farm started in Normal as a dairy farm that gave 160 families milk and got a profit of $18 a day. It then moved in 1961 to Gregory Street on the northwest side of Normal near the ISU President’s new home. Unfortunately, Normal was growing all around the farm. There were complaints from the city folks about the animals and crops, so ISU chose to move the farm. Then came the relocation to Lexington.
They found a farm for sale in Lexington with most of the buildings that were needed. It started out as the FS Research Farm. The farm had been located north of Lexington for many years and FS was closing down. Our family moved into an existing house on the farm and ISU built 5 more buildings right away. We had to tear down a pink silo when we moved in.
The new ISU Farm in Lexington was dedicated in 2002. My dad has at least 10 workers at a time and many students and visitors who come for lessons and tours. We have 130 head of cattle, 200 pigs, 60 sheep, and even a llama. We grow corn, corn silage, soybeans, alfalfa, weed identification plots, and crops of the world. We do research on swine odor. The total acreage of the ISU Farm at Lexington is about 360 acres now.
Source: Russ Derango
Check out the website below to see information about the farm and some pictures of the activities. But note also that the student provides you with more historical information than the website!
http://www.agriculture.ilstu.edu/farm/
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Lexington Community Center
by Michelle Carmack May 2005
The Lexington Community Center, located at 207 West Main Street in Lexington, Illinois, was built in 1991 on the corner that at one time or another used to be a barbershop, tavern, welding shop, plumber's shop or a parking lot.
Catherine Keller, a well-known citizen of the Lexington community, was one of the people that donated most of the money to design and build the Lexington Community Center. On the wall in the entrance is a plaque picturing Catherine Keller because the community is so thankful for her generous donation. The entire community now owns and supports the Community Center. Many Lexington citizens work hard to take good care of their fine building.
The Community Center is used for parties, proms and dances, dinners, benefits, art shows, peace meals for senior citizens, wedding receptions, meetings, and gatherings. In recent years there have also been church Christmas programs, concerts, and the annual High School Baccalaureate and awards ceremony at the community center.
A good way to find the building on Main Street is to look for the giant clock at the top of the building over the front door. Also the outside is covered with red bricks and has green decorative poles. It is a striking design. Many people have commented on its beauty.
Sources: We interviewed local citizen Sally Whaley, community center board member Linda Cheever, and Doris Baker, the community center's daily manager, to get information for this report.
The Community Center in downtown Lexington is a community gathering place.