March 11, 2026 | WALLS 102 - Part 2

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No place like home: Searching for the oldest of the Illinois Valley’s historic homes

The Illinois Valley is full of historic homes, each with a story. Finding the oldest, however, leads to no clear conclusion. In fact, finding a home built before the Civil War in the Illinois Valley is tougher than many might think.Abbie Krafft, chief assessment officer for La Salle County, said recordkeeping would make it challenging to find the oldest home in the area. “The dates in our system, especially on some of the much older homes, are not entirely accurate,” Krafft said. “The information acquired many years ago was often given to the assessor by the homeowners. Some of that information provided back then, along with difficulties reading handwriting on old property record cards or simple typos, makes it hard to say with certainty.” Some notable historic homes in the region include the Hegeler Carus Mansion in La Salle, the Reddick Mansion in Ottawa, the Spring Valley House (Halfway House) near Utica, and the Lovejoy Homestead in Princeton.The oldest of these is the Lovejoy Homestead, built in 1838. For many years, it was the home of Owen Lovejoy, a prominent abolitionist and member of Congress. The house also served as a station on the Underground Railroad.La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties were hubs along the Underground Railroad, with routes running throughout the region.In Ottawa, the Underground Railroad served as a vital and active hub. The John Hossack House, built in 1854, was a key station where abolitionist John Hossack hid freedom seekers. The city’s location along the Illinois and Michigan Canal and nearby rail lines helped move those escaping slavery northward toward freedom.Property owners in La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties can find out more information of their homes by visiting their county assessor’s websites. Each county offers GIS mapping software that allows residents to search for their parcel and view property details, including the year their home was built.

IV Alzheimer’s Support Group meets March 16 at Peru library

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March is Self-Harm Awareness Month

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There are countless ways that people deal with pain, trauma, mental illness, and the challenges of life. One way that people, especially adolescents and young adults, try to regain control and find release is through physical self-harm.

IV Alzheimer’s Support Group meets March 16 at Peru library

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No place like home: Searching for the oldest of the Illinois Valley’s historic homes

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Fulton Historical Society will visit native habitat restoration site March 15, public invited to attend

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Dean Huisingh, founder, developer and director, will present a PowerPoint slide show about the Huisingh Family Foundation, which is dedicated to saving Illinois plant and animal species through conservation, restoration and education.

2026 IHSA softball preview: A look at our teams of the Little Ten, WFC, Dwight, Fieldcrest and Sandwich

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2026 IHSA softball preview: A look at our teams of the Little Ten, WFC, Dwight, Fieldcrest and Sandwich

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2026 IHSA softball preview: A look at our teams of the Little Ten, WFC, Dwight, Fieldcrest and Sandwich

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2026 IHSA softball preview: A look at our teams of the Little Ten, WFC, Dwight, Fieldcrest and Sandwich

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