Betty’s Column

LOCAL COLUMN

A day of Polo-area history for seventh, eighth g raders

The weather held out with no rain on the day 90 seventh a n d e i g h t h g r a d e r s w e r e given a history tour of Buffalo Grove and Polo.

It was cold but a good jacket takes care of that. Fifteen Polo Historical Society docents enjoyed giving the early history at six sites.

Three sites were on the Peoria-Galena trail: Henry School, Buffalo Grove Cemetery and the Polo Lime Kiln. In town we had Polo History Museum, Aplington House and the Presbyterian Church. All played a part in the early history of Polo.

Kids were attentive and asked good questions. One student was interested in finding out that her Aunt Lucille Woodin had made the Underground Railroad Quilt at Aplington House.

The quilt made by Audrey Plum’s room mothers many years ago brought forth a number of comments. Students found names of family members on the quilt when those relatives were in first grade.

At the Polo History Museum they found out about the Native American villages, the buffalo in the area, our military part of the museum, what Central Stamping made in Polo, and early farming. Carla Singly and I had handled the tour for many years and this year Carla did the Henry School herself.

Ted Boddiger did the Buffalo Grove Cemetery himself and Mike Scholl told about the Polo Lime Kiln.

We missed having Ed and Karen Olsen, Joan and Ed Raley and Lucille Woodin. But we added new people to our tour such as Beth Wiegmann, David Poole, Cynthia Reynolds, Bob Heath, Gail Carrillo, Linda Poole, Linda Gall and Susan Zook.

Joe Bleistein has been the mainstay for the Schryver collection and I did tell briefly about the abolitionists that were part of the early Presbyterian Church.

J o e h a s t o l d p e o p l e a b o u t t h e Schryver Native American collection for a number of years and he also was there last week to talk to the school students.

Eventually he will be putting the Blough arrow heads together when the cabinet is ready.

Glass still needs to be put back into the cabinet and lights into it. It takes time to get all of that accomplished.

I can no longer do much talking since I just do not have the physical stamina and I appreciated all the help.

The students I believe walked back to the Polo Lime Kiln and no doubt enjoyed the hike back along the woods. I did not get out there to see the blue bells in that area but had some of my own as they bloomed in my yard.

The students also enjoyed ringing the church bell after Susan Zook had told about the building of the church.

I think Polo Historical Society gave them a wonderful history tour and they now know a little more about where they live.

Thanks to all those who helped and students were told they can come back during Town and Country Days for more information if they so desire. It was a great day for everyone.

POLO HISTORY Betty Obendorf

• Betty Obendorf is a retired teacher and a volunteer for the Polo Historical Society.

NOTICE OF GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that at the General Primary Election to be held on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, the following proposition will be submitted to the voters of the Buffalo Township, Ogle County, Illinois:

Public Question BUFFALO TOWNSHIP ROAD DISTRICT PROPOSITION TO INCREASE THE EQUIPMENT AND BUILDING FUND Shall the maximum allowable tax rate for the "Equipment and Building Fund” of the Buffalo Township Road District be increased from 0.035% to 0.10% of the value of all taxable property within the District as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue? YES NO The polls at the election will be open at 6:00 a.m. and will continue to stay open until 7:00 p.m. on June 28, 2022. Dated this 19th day of May, 2022. Laura J. Cook, Ogle County Clerk and Recorder

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