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BEMENT: PIATT COUNTY
Bement: Historic Sites Welcome Visitors
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he Village of Bement, situated in the heart of Illinois between Champaign and Decatur, owes its birth to the steel plow and the spread of railroading in the Midwest. The John Deere plow allowed farmers to churn the fertile soil near Bement at a time when tall prairie grasses hampered traditional tilling. On Christmas Day, 1853, three men on horseback, L.B. Wing, Joseph Bodman, and Henry Little, rode through the area. Inspired by what they saw, the three returned in 1854 to purchase as much land as they could afford, paying $1.25 an acre. The gentlemen worked closely with representatives of the Great Western Railroad to bring a railway linking Danville with Quincy through their land. In 1855 the site was surveyed, and a deed for the land was signed. Edward Bement, of New York City and secretary of the Great Western Railroad, offered to donate a bell to the first church built in the area if the villagers agreed to choose “Bement” as its name. Mr. Bement fell ill and died before he
B E M E N T A GOOD PLACE TO CALL HOME
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS - BEMENT - 2012 March 24 Spring Extravaganza - Lions Club
April 1-8 Easter Egg Lane – Community Council/ Bryant Cottage April 7 Easter Egg Hunt – Lions Club/Bement Health Care
JUNE - JULY: SUNDAY BAND CONCERTS VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK June 9 Old Glory Festival – Bement Area Chamber of Commerce
Bryant Cottage State Historic Site could follow through with his offer. One hundred years later, however, in 1955 during the town’s centennial celebration, the Wabash Railroad, which inherited the lines of the Great Western RR presented the Village of Bement with a bell from a retired locomotive. The bell is displayed in the foyer of the Bement Township Library. Today, visitors are greeted by patriotic banners as well as American flags waving in the breeze. Veterans Memorial Park is located near the center of town. Here are found state-of-the-art play equipment, a pavilion for band concerts, picnic tables and a memorial dedicated to area veterans. It is inspiring to read the names of those local residents who served the country over the years. Directly south of the park are two houses. The first is the home of Francis E. Bryant, built in 1880, and the other is the single-story structure built for Bryant and his family upon their arrival to Bement in 1856. Although the 1880 structure, known as the Bryant House, remains a private residence, the owner invites people inside for a visit when convenient. The 1856 structure is now called the Bryant Cottage State Historic
July 4 Freedom Celebration – Community Council July 7 Civil War Event – Bryant Cottage/Bryant House July 8 Heritage Sunday/Ice Cream Social – Bryant Cottage Sept 28-29 Bement High School Homecoming & Alumni Banquet Nov 11 Veterans Remembrance – Albert Parker Post of American Legion Dec 8 Christmas in Bement – Community Council/ Bryant Cottage/Bement Area Chamber of Commerce
Visit Us Soon! Log on to www.bement.com or call 217-678-8184 for more information. PAGE 72 | 2012 Discover Visitor & Vacation Guide To Central Illinois
www.bement.com
Historic Site, Looking for Lincoln Wayside Exhibits, beautiful parks, Veterans’ Memorial, shopping, and restaurants. More information and maps available at www.bement.com. Located just 7 miles South of Monticello on Highway 105.