From the President’s pen

Discovering a hidden gem of history

While touring the Bureau County Historical Society’s excellent new exhibit on the life of Grace Clark Norris, I expected to find out more about her, which I did.

What I didn’t expect to find was a photo taken of a famous World War I general during his visit to Princeton. But there it was, hanging on the wall of the Clark-Norris House as part of our Getting to Know Grace display that opened in March.

Looking out from that photo is none other than Gen. John J. Pershing, the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces that deployed to France to fight the Germans. The date was May 30, 1921. Pershing, dressed uncharacteristically in a suit, tie and straw hat, poses with several local residents next to a vintage automobile.

I’d heard several times previously that Pershing once visited Princeton, but I didn’t know the date. Now I did. Later that day, while visiting Newspapers.com, I found a story in the Bureau County Tribune from June 3, 1921, that described Pershing’s visit. Here’s the gist of it.

Pershing wanted to visit the grave of his sister, Grace Pershing Paddock, in Princeton to lay flowers on it for Memorial Day. However, he didn’t want to make a big splash, so he traveled in civilian clothing, accompanied by his brother, James, and an orderly.

What foiled the planned secrecy was the fact that he ordered flowers ahead of time through his sister-in-law by marriage, and she spilled the beans.

Arriving by train, Pershing graciously acceded to the request of a local delegation to ride in a parade, give a speech, and attend a dinner. During all the hubbub,

BUREAU COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OFFICERS

President – Jim Dunn

Vice President – Dan Martinkus

Treasurer – Lexi Mecum

Secretary – Eliott Wolfe

Pershing accomplished his original goal of seeing that his sister’s grave was decorated with red Milady roses supplied by Trimble’s Greenhouse.

Addressing a crowd in the thousands at the courthouse square, Pershing said he was glad for the privilege of speaking there.

“Memorial Day comes at a time of the year when nature is in full bloom and our hearts are filled with kindly sentiments. In such surroundings we recall to mind our loved ones and do honor to those who made the supreme sacrifice for our country,” he said.

Pershing finished his short remarks to great applause. He was then honored at a dinner at the Bureau Valley

Unexpected excitement ensued when on the way back

Pershing and his companions were safely delivered to

What a story! And I’d never have known this hidden gem

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Steve Bouslog

Bill Bouxsein

N. Dana Collins

Stephanie Foes

Curt Johnson

Becky Kramer

Ann Lasson

Jon McCutchan

Herb Rhees

Tori Yepsen

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Lex Poppens

MUSEUM ASSOCIATES

Jessica Gray – Curator

Mike Hult – Research

Pam Pratt – Sales/Sponsorships

Executive Director’s letter

Fulfilling our mission as a historical society

Over the past year, I’ve been asked a lot about the purpose of the Bureau County Historical Society. Our mission is fairly straightforward—to educate the public on the history of Bureau County and the surrounding area through the collection, preservation and interpretation and exhibit of artifacts and related materials.

It really is much more than that. Recently, a couple drove in from Lone Tree, IA to visit the gentleman’s grandmother. Prior to seeing her, they stopped in to see the “Getting to Know Grace” exhibit. They also wanted to see a display of pocket knives they had viewed several years ago.

When the gentleman saw that the pocket knife display was no longer out, he asked if I knew where the knives were. After a couple minutes of description and timing, I was able to find this knife and learned the significance of it to him.

This simple knife was an artifact from the American Civil War and belonged to his Second Great Grandfather, who placed the knife in the foundation of his Bureau County home. In later years, the gentleman’s grandparents searched and found the knife after hours of dismantling a portion of the home’s foundation.

As he held the knife, I could see how much it meant for him to hold an item from a Civil War-era relative and recall the memories of his grandparents. How wonderful it was to witness this moment and to know that despite the time that has passed, this artifact still holds meaning. What I’ve discovered over the past year is that the artifacts and stories associated with them are part of our collective history. Every day at either of our two museums, we discover these cool nuggets of history and the impact they have had locally and, in many cases, nationally. I am so thankful for our past and present donors and members. Their gifts to us, whether physical or financial, give us the opportunity to share our history and treasured memories. We are preparing to launch a new exhibit for our beloved veterans as well as embarking on a planning process to give the Sash/Stalter/Matson Building a new purpose. Donations of any size help keep our doors open and provide historical moments for the present and the future.

There are ten museums in Bureau County representing our past. Take time to visit them especially with young people. Explore your history!

EARHART, from page 1

Biographer Susan Butler writes that Earhart was paid $300 per lecture. In 1935, Earhart earned about $40,000 for 136 lectures given in front of a combined 80,000 people – money she used to finance her aviation exploits.

Earhart, who was introduced by Dr. K.M. Nelson of Princeton, made two key points during her lecture: first, that aviation would and indeed must play an increasingly important role in America’s commercial and social life.

“She states that her flights as well as those of other air explorers all help to build more firmly the foundation on which future aeronautic development rests,” the BCR reported.

Second, Earhart called on women, through aviation and other nontraditional fields, to advance above and beyond society’s limited expectations in the 1930s.

“The speaker declared that twothirds of the success of any expedition depends upon the preparation, and that in all of her major flights she confers with a technical adviser who is usually a pilot in whom she has confidence,” the BCR reported.

“Miss Earhart also maintains that since mental hazards are one of the greatest obstacles, all worrying should be done at least two months before the expedition gets underway, and in the line of worry, it has always been her endeavor to overcome, not overlook, risks.”

For Amelia Earhart, greatness as a pioneering aviator and advocate for women is her lasting legacy. For Princeton, the story of its brush with Earhart’s greatness is worth remembering.

In those days, about 1,000 people could fit into the PHS auditorium –quite ample for a city with a mid1930s population of about 5,000. It had been in use since the school building first opened in September 1926. According to the 1927 PHS Tiger yearbook, “The large stage is inclosed [sic] in gray, with a gorgeous curtain of blue and gold.”

Those fortunate enough to gain admittance heard Earhart, standing on that large stage, tell of her flights “on starlit nights, through billowy clouds, as well as during rain storms, and in daylight over water and landscape.”

Ironically, Earhart drove, not flew, to Princeton for her 8:15 p.m. appearance, having arrived late in the afternoon. She was in the midst of a busy lecture tour. During the previous six months, according to the BCR, she had traveled to 30 states from Massachusetts to California, averaging 4,000 miles of driving a month.

“Women should strive for goals outside of what is ridiculously known as their sphere, if they are to become persons. Women must do for themselves what men have already done for themselves,” she said.

While it was not widely known, Earhart was making plans at the time of her Princeton lecture to fly around the world. On July 24, less than four months later, she took possession of a brand new twin-engine Lockheed Electra 10E airplane in California – the same plane which, the following year, carried her and navigator Fred Noonan more than 22,000 miles on their ill-fated journey. They disappeared over the Pacific en route from New Guinea to Howland Island on July 2, 1937. Separate searches organized by the U.S. Navy and George Putnam, Earhart’s husband, proved fruitless.

Wrapping up her lecture at PHS, Earhart described how she typically got ready for her epic air journeys.

Author’s note: Sources for this article are Bureau County Republican archives; “East to the Dawn: The Life of Amelia Earhart,” by Susan Butler; “The Sound of Wings: The Life of Amelia Earhart” by Mary S. Lovell; the 1927 PHS Tiger yearbook; and Wikipedia. Note to readers: Jim Dunn, a retired editor of the Bureau County Republican, is president of the Bureau County Historical Society Board.

FUN FACT!

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Princeton was built on behalf of the citizens of Bureau County in 1912-1913. When completed, it was dedicated on June 12, 1913, to commemorate the soldiers and sailors who served their country during the Civil War.