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A Shaw Media Publication | Get To Know Us: Amboy | 2026-27
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AMBOY
FOOD, LIQUOR & DELI
Full Service Grocery store offering Liquor department, Meat department, Produce department & Deli department featuring Pizza • Subs • Soup • Salad • Burgers Catering service available: meats, cheese & sub trays
242 E Main St. • Amboy • (815) 857-7020 Monday-Sunday 7am-10pm
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The city of Amboy sprang forth from humble roots. In the mid1800s, the land that now falls within city limits primarily was farmland, dotted with a few shanties and farmhouses, built by settlers who began arriving in 1837. All that changed in 1852, when the Illinois Central Railroad bought the farms owned by Cyrus Davis, Joseph Appleton and Joseph Farwell, with plans to make Amboy its manufacturing and repair shop hub. A survey was done on March 23, 1854, to establish the original portion of town, and bonds for lot deeds were executed that July. The first city lot, on the northeast corner of Main Street and South East Avenue, was bought by John L. Skinner for $600. He built a hotel on the lot, and within a year, there were 100 homes and 1,000 people in Amboy. As the Illinois Central Railroad made progress on its buildings, people settled in Amboy. To accommodate them, the city’s original plat was expanded repeatedly until the city limits encompassed nearly 1,000 acres of land. By July 1856, a 2-year-old Amboy had nearly 2,000 inhabitants, 500 houses, two churches (also used as schoolhouses), a printing office, 16 stores, several groceries, a planning mill, three hotels, two livery stables and other shops, including a carpenter, cabinet, blacksmith, tin, mattress, paint and harness shop. Common storerooms were rented at $150 to $200 a year, homes from $10 to $20 a month.
A town without a name The town continued to grow and prosper, but did not have a name. The residents called a meeting to rectify that situation, and many suggestions were made, including Hornsby, Bolton, Painted Post and Elmira. Finally, the name Bath was chosen.
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Lorenzo D. Wasson was sent to Dixon with the necessary papers to have the town so incorporated, but when the papers were returned, to everyone’s astonishment, it had been incorporated as Amboy. The cause of the change never has been determined.
Some thought the name Amboy came from Perth Amboy, New Jersey, which was named for the Earl of Perth, while others attribute it to the Indian word “em-bo-li,” which means “between the hills.” It may not have been the city’s chosen name, but it stuck, and the city was incorporated as Amboy by popular vote on March 2, 1857. Later that year, Col. John B. Wyman was elected its first mayor.
Mormons at Palestine Grove Among some of the early settlers in the Amboy region were Benjamin and Elizabeth Wasson. The Wassons built a cabin along the Green River in 1837, and later a house in what was then known as Palestine Grove, just outside of present-day Amboy. Elizabeth Wasson’s sister was Emma Smith, wife of Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When the Smiths and other members of the Mormon Church fled religious prosecution in Fayette, New York, they moved to Illinois and settled in Commerce. The village later changed its name to Nauvoo. HISTORY cont’d to page 5
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East Avenue in Amboy, circa 1915. The train depot, which would later become The Amboy Depot Museum, is seen at left.
HISTORY cont’d from page 4 Because Nauvoo and Amboy were not too far apart, the Smiths would travel to Amboy to visit the Wassons and helped establish Mormonism within the community, making Amboy one of the first settlements of the Mormon Church. Just outside of Amboy on Mormon Road, the Mormon Church established the Mormon Cemetery. One of Brigham Young’s wives is buried there. After Joseph Smith died and the church was moved to Plano, members of the Mormon Church began attending some of the other churches in Amboy. By 1854, there were nine churches in Amboy.
A city at war
In 1942, Amboy was selected as the site for the Green River Ordnance Plant, one of four munitions assembly facilities built in Illinois during World War II. The Stewart-Warner Corp. operated the 8,342-acre facility for the Army Ordnance Corp., which had seven munitions lines. The types of ammunition manufactured at Green River ranged from rifle grenades to armor-piercing shells to
bombs. The bazooka rocket was developed and produced there. By Dec. 15, 1942, Green River employed 4,419 people on 3 shifts, 6 days a week. More than half of these workers were women, who were entering the work force in significant numbers for the first time. Worker turnover was constant, especially on the loading lines where explosive powder in the air caused skin infections and inhaling the powder caused respiratory problems. Despite the constant need for new workers, Green River was awarded an Army-Navy “E” flag for efficiency in production and won two more stars by the end of the war. Only 5 percent of the nation’s war production plants received this award. By the time the plant ceased production on Aug. 20, 1945, Green River had produced 25 million rifle grenades, 10 million 75-mm projectiles and 10,921 1,600-pound bombs. Starting life in the heart of American’s farmland, and staying rooted in the ideals that helped it grow and prosper, Amboy is just like the train engine of storybook fame: It’s the little city that could. n
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ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM
A ribbon cutting was held Aug. 27, 2026, for the new stage, located next to the Amboy Depot Museum. “We wanted to build something significant, that is visible, for the town,” said Bill Gerdes, chairman of the Amboy Depot Days car show committee.
Things really get rolling in Amboy each August. Thousands of people roll into town to enjoy four days jam packed with things to do and people to see, hundreds of vehicles roll into town for one of the area’s biggest car shows, and winners of a raffle that sells tons of tickets will be rolling in the dough. The event is Amboy Depot Days and people near and far meet in streets downtown for the city’s biggest event, where they’ll enjoy four days of family fun during the annual celebration of all things Amboy in this city of 2,500 people. And recently, Amboy Depot Days entered a new stage in its 30-plus
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years of history. Construction began in 2026 on a new raised and roofed stage next to the Amboy Depot museum, where bands and other acts can perform in style. That means no more renting a stage that has to be put up and torn down every year. The project, spearheaded by the Amboy Depot Days Car Show Committee, is expected to cost around $90,000 and was paid for with the portion of the 50/50 drawing that goes back to the car show and committee. The stage, constructed on a raised concrete 24-foot-by-32-foot foundation and made of weather-resistant cedar with a tin roof, made its debut during the 2026 festival. DEPOT DAYS cont’d to page 7
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DEPOT DAYS cont’d from page 6 classics, muscle cars, street rods, modified vehicles and unique/special “We wanted to build something interest vehicles. Participants also significant that is visible for the town,” compete for “Best Of” honors in sevsaid Bill Gerdes, chairman of the car eral categories. Tractors also rumble show committee, adding: “When we into town for the show. have visitors to Amboy, whether they Then, of course, there’s that are coming to Depot Days or to visit the tempting tumbler full of tickets — Depot Museum or to the Long Branch, thousands and thousands of them, I want them to turn that corner and say each one with the potential to turn a ‘Wow, these people are really working dollar into a windfall in the Depot Days to improve their town,’” he said. 50/50 Drawing. The centerpiece of the The town won’t be the only thing they say “Wow” about. People will find city-wide celebration is a drawing that draws thousands of people from near plenty to enjoy during the 35th annual and far and sends one home with a big Depot Days: carnival rides and cars, check and a big smile. In recent years, crafts and camaraderie, food the grand prize jackpot has and fun, bargains and beer, boasted a six-figure sum music and more. for some lucky winner. Some who come The winner of are bargain hunters 2026’s jackpot was Go to depotdays.com, with cash in hand Henry Johnson of depotdayscarshow.com, or and their sights set Coleta, who went find “Amboy Depot Days on bagging a good home with $125,366 50/50 Drawing” or “Amdeal at a garage of the $250,732 boy Depot Days” on sale, some enjoy the jackpot. That’s up from Facebook pageantry, while others 2025’s jackpot of $121,701, stop by to see hot rods and won by David Shipman of Dixon. cool cars — but regardless of their That’s a pretty good return on investreason for going, they all come for ment, with tickets going for a buck a one thing: a good time, and Depot piece or six for $5. Days delivers. In addition, four others took home The event features food stands, a prizes of $2,500 each: Lyn Cruise of beer garden, car show, 5K run/walk, Beloit, Wisconsin; Shannon Dickey carnival, music and entertainment, of Rochelle; Jon Fritz of Sterling; and the Miss Amboy and Little Miss AmDoug McCoy of Amboy. boy pageants, a pancake breakfast, Depot Days raffle proceeds benefit craft and vendor booths, city-wide a wide array of community organizagarage sales, and more. tions, including the historic Amboy The car show is one of the largest Depot Museum, local food pantries, in Illinois and often attracts more Teen Turf, soccer program, school than 450 vehicles downtown in more library and Girl Scouts, to name a few. n than 35 classes, including restored
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The Amboy Depot Museum offers guests a whistle-stop tour of local history. Located in a former depot and divia freight house with additional artision headquarters of the Illinois Central facts, a fully restored one-room country Railroad, the museum is an architecturschoolhouse, a retired steam engine ally unique two-story building and a caboose. built of brick and cut Joliet The museum is open April limestone, and is listed through October from on the National Regis10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday Amboy Depot Museum 227 ter of Historic Places. and Saturday, and 1-4 E. Main St. Contact: 815-857It has been p.m. Sunday (closed 4700, 815-857-3814 or amboycompletely restored on holidays). Museum depotmuseum@gmail.com inside and out, and doors close 30 minutes Online: amboydepotmuseum. includes the original before closing time. Adorg or find Amboy Depot brick tarmac surroundmission is by donation. Museum on Faceing the depot and the Museum membership book. grounds of the former railis open to anyone interested yard, now preserved as a city park. in preserving the museum’s buildWithin the museum are artifacts of ings, the history of the Amboy area and the history of Amboy and the Illinois the railroad’s role in the city’s history. Central Railroad. Annual membership fees go toward The museum complex also contains preserving the museum. n
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Amboy Veterinary Clinic & Trego Veterinary Service
Toni L. Trego DVM *Please Call For Appointment*
815-857-2215 or 815-857-3121 Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri 8-5 Tues & Sat 8-12
315 S. Mason Ave. (On Hwy 52)
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Amboy Conference plaque 9 S. East Ave. Amboy was one of the first Mormon Church settlements. The Amboy Conference was the settling of the official “reorganization” of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints into the Latter Day Saint denomination now known as the Community of Christ. The conference was held April 6, 1860.
Amboy Depot Museum East Main Street and South East Avenue 815-857-4700 amboydepotmuseum.org and on Facebook Hours: Open April through October from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Closed holidays. Museum doors close 30 minutes before closing time. This Illinois Central Railroad depot, built in 1876, has been completely renovated and now is a 19-room museum reflecting the history of the Amboy area. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. Other attractions adjoining the museum include a steam locomotive, a one-room schoolhouse, the Illinois Central Freight House, and a 1920s era Norfolk & Western caboose all open to tour; free admission, donations welcomed.
Carson Pirie Scott store plaque 55 S. East Ave. Samuel Carson and John Pirie
opened Carson Pirie & Company, a dry goods store in Amboy, on the site of what is today the Long Branch Saloon, 55 S. East Ave., in 1855. They left for Chicago after about 10 years, added business partner Robert Scott’s name to the firm in 1891, and Carson Pirie Scott would become one of northern Illinois’ leading retail chain stores. Business acquisitions came and went — including a 1989 sale to Bergner’s, which was bought by The Bon-Ton Stores a few years later — but the Carson name stuck around until 2018 when Bon-Ton announced it would close all of its stores, including Carson’s. Carson’s was the oldest chain under the Bon-Ton umbrella, which also included the Bon-Ton parent stores, Boston Store, Elder-Beerman, Herberger’s, and Younker’s. The Pirie and Scott names were dropped from the Carson’s banner upon Bergner’s sale to Bon-Ton. A plaque commemorates the site of the first store.
Temperance Hill Cemetery and Prairie Preserve Off U.S. Route 52 north of Amboy, west of U.S. Route 52 and Inlet Road junction This cemetery, started in 1846, is situated on a fragment of virgin prairie and is an Illinois Nature Preserve. Three crosses at the end of the cemetery drive mark the site. n
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Amboy, with its abundant natural beauty, has long been a popular destination for campers. On an average summer weekend, 35,000 people come to stay at one of the many campgrounds in the Amboy area. On holiday weekends, that number increases to more than 50,000 campers. The campgrounds are ... Green River Oaks Camping Resort Offers RV campsites, tent campsites, rental units, seasonal campsites, swimming pools, fishing, playgrounds, planned activities and more. 1442 Sleepy Hollow Road Contact: 815-857-2815 or greenriveroaks@yahoo.com Online: greenriveroaks.com, or find “Green River Oaks Resort” on Facebook
Mendota Hills Campground Offers RV campsites, tent campsites (both primitive and sites with water & electric), swimming pool, rental units, and seasonal campsites, and more. 642 U.S. Route 52 Contact: 815-849-5930 or mendotahillscamp@aol.com Online: mendotahillscampground.com and on Facebook CAMPING cont’d to page 11
oric Amboy t s i H t i Vis
City of
Amboy 227 East Main St., Amboy, Illinois 61310
815-857-3814
www.cityofamboy.org SM-ST2346059
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Frank Stenzel, Mayor
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CAMPING cont’d from page 10 Online: mendotahillscampground. com and on Facebook
O’Connell’s RV Campground
(formerly O’Connell’s Yogi Bear Jellystone Park) Offers cabin rentals, RV sites, tent sites, whirlpool/spa/hot tub, fishing, restaurant, store, trails, mini-golf, restroom/shower facilities, laundry facilities, playground, volleyball, basketball 970 Green Wing Road Contact: 815-857-3860 or thousandtrails.com/about-us/contact-us Online: thousandtrails.com/illinois/ oconnells-rv-campground, or find “Thousand Trails” on Facebook
Pine View Campgrounds Offers RV campsites, tent campsites,
seasonal camping, fishing pond, swimming pond, playground, and more. 1273 Sleepy Hollow Road Contact: 815-857-3964 or Pineviewcampgrounds@gmail.com Online: pineviewcampgrounds. com or find “Pine View Campground” on Facebook
Woodhaven Lakes A members-only, private resort, Woodhaven offers fishing, trails, lakes, swimming pools, canoeing, sport courts, nature center, an amphitheater, general store, and more. 507 LaMoille Road, Sublette (3 miles west of U.S. Route 52) Contact: 815-849-5209 or woodhavenassociation.com/contact-us/ Online: woodhavenassociation. com and on Facebook n
Make Your Event
...An Affair to Remember. ~ Accommodates 250+ People ~ ~ Great for Wedding Receptions ~ ~ Anniversaries and More ~
AMBOY COMMUNITY CENTER 280 W. Wasson Rd., Amboy 815-857-3814 Holly Wittenauer, Manager
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Our Family Protectin Your Family.
Local Agents Serving You for Generations & Will be for Generations to Come!
• Auto • Home • Vacation Home • Farm
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AMBOY SUBLETTE 815-857-2125 815-849-5219
LAMOILLE
ly Protecting r Family.
815-638-2171
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East Grove Union Church 449 Reuter Road; 815-376-6661; online: Find it on Facebook
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church 960 U.S. Route 52; 815-857-2225; online: facebook.com/ImmanuelLutheranAmboy/
First Baptist Church 24 N. Mason Ave.; 815-857-2682; online: find “First Baptist Church of Amboy” on Facebook
St. Patrick Catholic Church 32 N. Jones Ave.; 815-857-2315; online: stpatrickamboy.org or find “Saints Patrick, Mary, and Flannen” on Facebook.
Grace Fellowship Church 500 W. Main St., Sublette (formerly located in Amboy); 815-910-0195; online: graceisforyou.com or find “Grace Fellowship Church Sublette” on Facebook
United First Church of Amboy 326 E. Main St.; 815-440-0745; online: find it on Facebook
WOODHAVEN LAKES Private Recreational Camp Resort
Sublette IL | 815-849-5209
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www.woodhavenassociation.com
Call us for a tour!
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Amboy Education Foundation — 815-857-2856 or aef@amboy.net; Online: https://sites.google.com/a/amboy. net/amboy-education-foundation/ or find it on Facebook Amboy Lions Club — 280 W. Wasson Road; meets second and fourth Mondays of each month at 7 p.m.; 815-6775288; Online: Find “Amboy Illinois Lions Club” on Facebook American Legion & Auxiliary Post 453 — P.O. Box 112; meets the third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m.; 815499-5903 or lmgibbs64@gmail.com Depot Museum Commission — 815-857-4700 or 815-857-3814; Online: amboydepotmuseum.org or find Amboy Depot Museum on Facebook Future Farmers of America — 11 E. Hawley St.; 815-857-3632; Online: ffa. org or find “Amboy FFA Chapter” on
Jones Funeral Homes Ask Us About Our Guaranteed Prearrangement Contracts DIXON 204 S. Ottawa Ave. 815-288-2241 Christopher Jones
AMBOY 303 E. Main St. 815-857-2611 Patrick R. Jones, Jr.
www.thejonesfh.com
Facebook Girl Scouts — 1-844-476-4463 or customercare@girlscoutsni. org; Online: https://www. girlscoutsni.org/ or find Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois on Facebook Green River Saddle Club — 1580 Morman Road; 815-440-5749 or Greenriversaddleclubamboy@ gmail.com; Online: Find it on Facebook Lee County Master Gardeners — Lee County Extension Office, 280 W. Wasson Road; 815-8573525 or uiemg-lee@illinois.edu; Online: https://extension.illinois. edu/clw/master-gardeners Illinois Central Masonic Lodge — Friendship Lodge No. 7; 1409 N. Galena, Dixon; meets second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.; https://ilmason.org/ Knights of Columbus Council 8277 — St. Patrick Catholic Church, 32 N. Jones Ave.; 815857-2315; Online: Find “Amboy Knights of Columbus” on Facebook Lee County 4-H — Lee County Extension Office, 280 W. Wasson Road; 815-857-3525; Online: extension.illinois.edu/clw/4-h-leecounty or find “Lee County 4-H” on Facebook St. Patrick’s Women’s Organization, St. Patrick Catholic Church — 32 N. Jones Ave., 815857-2315; Online: stpatrickamboy.org/womens-organization Teen Turf Inc. – 235 W. Main St.; 815-857-4800; Online: facebook.com/teenturf/ n
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Amboy Family Restaurant & Pizza Junction – 211 E. Main St.; 815857-3985; online: find “Amboy Family Restaurant & Pizza” on Facebook Casey’s General Store (carryout pizza) – 308 E. Main St.; 815-358-3992 Depot Tap – 49 S. East Ave.; 815857-3555; online: Find “The Depot Tap” on Facebook Long Branch Saloon – 55 S. East Ave.; 815-857-3486; find “Longbranch Saloon” on Facebook Maria’s Pizza – 110 E. Main St.; 815-857-2200; online: mariaspizzainamboy.com or find “Maria’s Pizza
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Amboy” on Facebook Meusel’s Dairy Delite – 303 S. Mason Ave.; 815-857-2050; online: meuselsdairydelite.com or find “Meusel’s Dairy Delite” on Facebook Revolution Wellness (health food restaurant) – 205 E. Main St.; 815-857-7021; online: facebook. com/RevolutionWellnessAmboy Sunset Inn Restaurant – 1578 U.S. Route 30; 815857-3482; online: facebook. com/SunsetInnRestaurant Uncle B’s Bar and Grill — 310 E. Joe Drive, 815-857-7097; online: Find “Uncle B’s Bar and Grill” on Facebook n
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Amboy residents are served by OSF Saint Paul Medical Center, with a clinic in Amboy, and hospitals and facilities in Dixon and Mendota. OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center in Dixon has been serving the community since 1897. Formerly known as Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital (KSB Hospital), the medical center was founded with a generous gift from Judge Solomon Bethea in honor of his late wife, Katherine. In 2025, OSF Saint Katharine became part of the OSF HealthCare Ministry, a 17-hospital Catholic health network serving Illinois and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Over the years, what began as KSB has evolved into an 80-bed acute care facility serving the Sauk Valley and offering a wide range of services, including emergency medicine, obstetrics,
inpatient psychiatry, cardiovascular care, outpatient surgery, intensive care, and more. The healthcare system also includes eight clinics offering primary and specialty care services. In addition to the hospital, OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center has developed a regional network of primary care clinics and a multi-specialty physician group. Each year, it invests in advanced technology, modern facilities, and its employees to ensure its continues to meet the ever-changing healthcare needs of the people we serve. OSF Saint Paul Medical Center in Mendota, formerly Mendota Community Hospital, opened its doors in June 1951. HEALTH CARE cont’d to page 18
“GREAT DEALS - GREAT SERVICE SINCE 1926” VAESSEN BROTHERS CHEVROLET, INC.
800-227-5203 HIGHWAY 52, SUBLETTE, IL 61367
WWW.VAESSENBROTHERS.COM
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HEALTH CARE cont’d from page 17 The 25-bed critical access hospital has a 24/7, physician-staffed emergency room and an intensive care unit, as well as other services, including: cardiopulmonary care, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology, oncology, podiatry, pulmonology, rheumatology, and surgery. A community health services department provides occupational health services, drug testing, and a variety of public programming and screenings to promote public awareness and offer early detection or warning for certain diseases. It also offers home health services, magnetic resonance imaging, a CT scanner, and it has its own rehabilitation services department. OSF HealthCare is an integrated health system founded by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. Headquartered in Peoria it employs almost 26,000 Mission Partners in 171 locations, including 17 hospitals, 200 primary care and specialty care clinics, 41 urgent care locations, and two colleges of nursing in Illinois and Michigan. The OSF HealthCare physician network employs more than 2,215 primary care, specialist and advanced practice providers. n — Source: osfhealthcare.org/
More info
OSF HealthCare Saint Katharine Medical Center 403 E. First St., Dixon 815-288-5531 osfsaintkatharine. org and facebook.com/ OSFSaintKatharine OSF Saint Katharine Center for Health 305 E. Joe Drive, Amboy 815-857-3044 OSF Saint Paul Medical Center 1401 E. 12th St. (U.S. Route 34), Mendota 815-539-7461 osfhealthcare.org/ saint-paul and facebook.com/ OSFSaintPaul/
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344 US RT 52, Sublette, IL 61367
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PHOTO: /VISITLEECOUNTYIL.COM/
Amboy Marsh Nature Reserve Trails
Amboy City Park East Main Street, five blocks east of U.S. Route 52; picnic areas, shelters, charcoal grills, playground equipment, lighted ball diamonds, tennis courts, bathrooms, water and electricity, plus 30 sculptured trees; closed Nov. 1 through April 1.
Amboy Marsh Nature Reserve Trails 1701 Mormon Road, 217-544-2473; hike or bike trails through the 302acre wetland with black oak sand savannas, sedge meadows and dry sand prairie. PARKS cont’d to page 20
Get the primary care you deserve in Amboy When it comes to your health, you need a primary care provider who is looking out for you, guiding you and encouraging you through every stage of life. That’s who you’ll find at OSF Saint Katharine – Center for Health. To learn about our team and schedule an appointment, scan here or call (815) 857-3044.
OSF Saint Katharine – Center for Health 305 E. Joe Drive | Amboy, Illinois
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PARKS cont’d from page 19
restorations, timberlands and a camping area.
Amboy Sports Park
corner of Appleton Avenue and Shady Oaks Golf Course Main Street; soccer, football and 577 U.S. Route 52, Sublette, 815baseball fields, plus a play849-5424; shadyoakscc.com/ — ground, concession A fun, 18-hole course with stand and bathrooms. tricky greens and a short Clinton C. Conway course, clubhouse with Historical Park Call 815-857-3814 or cocktail bar, food and Main Street, two go to cityofamboy.com/ pro shop. blocks west of U.S. parks/ for more inforSen. David C. Route 52; site of the mation on Amboy Shapiro Park Amboy Depot Museparks U.S. Route 52, next to the um, railroad engine and Green River; picnic shelter picnic shelter. and tables, bathrooms, and fishing.
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Green River State Wildlife Area 375 Game Road, Harmon, 15 miles southwest of Amboy; this wildlife restoration area is popular with hunters, hikers and birders. The 2,565-acre area includes prairie
Veterans Park Corner of East Avenue and Division Street; the Amboy Women’s Club dedicated the park in fall 1919 to the veterans of World War I. n
We bring life to products.™
25 E. Main St., Amboy, IL
815-857-3691
SM-ST2346097
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In 1875, a library association was formed to create a new library. It was housed in various locations until 1910, when the Amboy Women’s Club rented rooms on the second floor of the Green Building for use as a public library. Today, about a third of Amboy resWithin a year, though, the library idents have a library card, and the lioutgrew its space, so it moved brary has more than 23,500 volumes. again to the Vaughan Building over Its mission, according to its website, Whonke’s Drug Store. To maintain is “to select, acquire, organize and the library, an annual fee of $1 was charged to each adult and 25 cents to preserve books and other materials of contemporary interest and permaeach child patron. nent value for the education, enjoyBy 1922, the library had 2,800 ment and intellectual stimulation of volumes. the entire community. The In 1928, James W. Library also strives to Pankhurst, a prominent guide young people farmer in the area, MORE INFO toward a love of donated money Pankhurst Memorial Library reading and an for the city’s first 3 S. Jefferson Ave. awareness of new library, to Contact: 815-857-3925 or books and other serve as a lastpmlamboy@gmail.com library materials ing memorial Online: amboy.lib.il.us and on Facebook as a means of to himself, and Hours: 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday & satisfying their W.F. Remsburg Wednesday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday & needs and interwas hired to Thursday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday & ests.” build it. Pankhurst Saturday; Closed Sunday Library cards are Memorial Library free for people who live was dedicated May 27, within the city limits and are 1929, with the Women’s good for 3 years. For those outside Club presenting all of the books from the city limits, cards are $50 for 1 year. the old library to the new one. The Women’s Club now is the The first borrower’s card went to Amboy Civic Organization, but it conPankhurst when the library opened tinues to support the library through July 6, 1929. That day, 93 people regfundraising efforts. istered for cards and 115 books were The library has a ramp and checked out. elevator to make it accessible to the By the end of the library’s first disabled. fiscal year on May 9, 1930, the library Services to patrons include interlihad 508 registered borrowers and a brary loans, online e-book loans, procollection of 2,756 volumes, includgrams and events for all ages, a copier ing 2,061 adult books, 695 children’s and fax machine, DVD’s, a meeting books and nine newspapers and room, and computer workstations. n magazines.
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Through data-driven decisions, teamwork, community involvement and visionary leadership, the Amboy Board of Education is striving for “excellence, every day” — the district’s vision statement. Amboy Community Unit School District No. 272 11 E. Hawley St. | 815-857-2164 Online: amboy.net and on Facebook The district of consists of approximately 700 students in three schools. The Amboy Board of Education meets once a month, generally the third Thursday of the month, at 7 p.m. in the high school gym. A calendar of dates, which can vary based on holidays and other school activities, is available on the district website.
Amboy High School 11 E. Hawley St. | 815-857-3632 Online: ahs.amboy.net/ Principal: Janet Crownhart Amboy High School was formed as part of Amboy CUSD 272 in 1949 in Lee County. This district replaced the former Amboy Township High School District. The 205-square-mile district encompasses Amboy, Sublette, Maytown, Harmon, Eldena and Walton. In September 1969, the new building at Metcalf and Hawley streets opened, replacing the former school building, which now houses Amboy Junior High School. Amboy High School is the home of the Clippers. School activities include Academic Bowl, FFA, Key Club, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Student Council, yearbook, band, chorus and athletics.
Amboy Junior High School 240 N. Metcalf Ave. | 815-857-3528
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Online: ajhs.amboy.net/ Principal: Andrew Full At Amboy Junior High, fifth- through eighth-graders take courses in English, language arts, math, science, social studies, art and computers. Opportunities are available for advanced math, pre-algebra and algebra. All students can participate in beginning band, band, pep band and jazz band. Sixth- through eighth-graders also can join chorus. Extracurricular opportunities include an art club, computer club, academic team, student council, wrestling, volleyball, basketball and track. The school is the home of the Vikings.
Amboy Central Elementary School 30 E. Provost St. | 815-857-3619 Online: central.amboy.net/ Principal: Jessica Meusel Central School includes kindergarten through fourth grade, Smart Start and Early Childhood Education. All classrooms are on the ground floor, and a large playground is behind the school. Central is a progressive elementary school that uses research-based methods of instruction to teach the basics of reading, writing and mathematics. Specialists also are on staff to teach science, music and physical education. The Ogle County Education Cooperative provides special education services in all grades. n
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EDUCATION Amboy Community Unit School District 272 11 E. Hawley St. | 815-857-2164 amboy.net GOVERNMENT/MUNICIPAL Amboy City Hall 227 E. Main St. | 815-857-3814 cityofamboy.com/ City Maintenance Building 1 Water St. | 815-857-2422 Secretary of State (driver/vehicle services) 925 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon | 815-288-6685 Lee County Animal Control 280 E Progress Drive, Dixon | 815-284-3833 leecountyil.com/158/Animal-Control Lee County Circuit Clerk 309 S. Galena Ave., Suite 320, Dixon 815-284-5234 leecountyil.com/183/Circuit-Clerk Lee County Clerk & Recorder 112 E. Second St., Dixon | 815-288-3309 leecountyil.com/204/County-Clerk-Recorder Lee County Treasurer 112 E. Second St., Dixon | 815-288-4477 leecountyil.com/268/Treasurer Lee County Chief of Assessments 112 E. Second St., Dixon | 815-288-4483 leecountyil.com/171/Chief-County-Assessment HEALTH CARE OSF Saint Katharine — Center for Health 305 E. Joe Drive, Amboy | 815-857-3044 http://osfhealthcare.org/ OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center 403 E. First St., Dixon | 815-288-5531 OSF Saint Paul Medical Center 1401 E. 12th St. (U.S. Route 34), Mendota 815-539-7461 INTERNET Comcast (cable/ & nternet) 800-934-6489 | comcast.com HughesNet 1-844-404-2205 | internet.hughesnet.com/ Frontier 1-855-317-2081 | frontier.com
MEDIA The Telegraph/Sauk Valley Media (news outlet)
113 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon | 815-284-2222 saukvalley.com OTHER Pankhurst Memorial Library 3 S. Jefferson Ave. | 815-857-3925 amboy.lib.il.us Post Office 215 E. Division St. | 815-857-2212 tools.usps.com/locations/details/1352932 SERVICE PROVIDERS Republic Services (garbage pickup) 1214 S. Bataan Road, Dixon | 815-723-3200 republicservices.com and on Facebook Amboy Community Building (events venue for rent)
280 W. Wasson Road Contact: 815-558-7058 or cityofamboy@comcast.net Find “Center Amboy Community” on Facebook PUBLIC SAFETY Amboy Police Department 227 E. Main St. | 815-857-3400 Online: Find “Amboy, Illinois Police Department “ on Facebook Fire & ambulance 25 N. East Ave. | 815-857-2325 amboyfd.com/ Lee County Sheriff 240 E Progress Drive, Dixon | 815-284-5217 EMERGENCY? CALL 911 UTILITIES Amboy Water Department 227 E. Main St. | 815-857-3811 ComEd (electricity) 919 W. First St., Dixon | 815-520-5523 comed.com NICOR Gas Customer service, or to report leaks, odors or other emergencies: 1-888-Nicor4U (1-800-642-6748) nicorgas.com/ Call before you dig: Dial 811
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CURRENT RESSIDENTIAL & WOODHAVEN LAKE PROPERTIES Tiffaney Vanous Realtor 815-915-9353
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