Arlington

Arlington was named by an early superintendant of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, Michael Kennedy. The town name comes from a city in New York state in which Kennedy lived prior to coming to Illinois. Civic pride still resides in Arlington. The town proudly displays the American flag in a way that is impossible to miss.

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Bradford

Although technically Bradford is in Stark County it is included here because of its proximity to the Shallowbrook Farm Retreat & Conference Center. Shallowbrook sits just inside the Bureau County border but is closer to the town of Bradford. An exceptional facility, Shallowbrook is both functional and picturesque. A stable of horses is present and there are numerous places to climb and for children (and adults) to engage in outside activities.

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Buda

Formerly named French Grove. Although there were early settlers of French extraction, there are no records of land purchases.

On the north side of Buda on Route 40 sits the expansive Bunker Hill Church, serving parishioners from southwest Bureau County and beyond. A vital part of the area, Bunker Hill is a shining example of what can be done with small town participation–it even has its own gymnasium!

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Bureau Junction

Two railroads met and incorporated the town as Bureau Junction in 1874. Today the depot is abandoned though trains still pass through. For the fishermen, try your luck at the Hormel Ponds just north of Children’s Memorial Park and Playground. Some great catfishing awaits. Just south of town there is easy access to the Hennepin Canal Parkway bike and hiking path. Follow it east to the Canal beginnings. Check out the bridge along the way.

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Cherry

The scale model of the Cherry Mine showing the above ground portion.

Cherry is where the tragic Cherry Mine Disaster occurred on November 13, 1909. A load of hay intended for mules at the bottom of the mine caught fire from a kerosene lamp and spread quickly. A total of 259 miners and rescuers were lost. This mine disaster was one of the worst in U.S. history but resulted in stricter regulations for mine safety. A beautiful stone monument in memory of the lost miners and a miner cemetery are both on the south side of town. Donations toward the mine memorial can be made at the Cherry State Bank. Visit the mine website http://guitarjourney.tripod.com/cherrycoalminedisaster/id7.html.

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Dalzell

The largely Italian population of Dalzell served a mining industry that is no longer in existence. The mines are long gone but some great Italian dining remains at the Geno V's. This fine eating establishment is located off the beaten path but well worth the extra effort. Take the frontage road (sign indicating Dalzell) south of I-80. Go west and south 2.3 miles to the Geno V's.

Just off Rt. 6 West lies the St. Bede Abbey, a prominent local educational facility. The Abbey Orchard has over 30 varieties of apples along with delicious award winning fall apple cider for sale. Call 815-223-3140 for more information.

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DePue

DePue, originally built on a coal mining operation in the area, is now home to the fast paced A.P.B.A. Pro National Championship Boat Races on Lake Depue. The DePue Mens Club does a great job of coordinating this event. There are numerous family activities and a chance to visit with drivers, view the pits, and experience the thrill of the racing action. Bring some blankets, chairs, and a cooler. And maybe an umbrella although there are shade trees along the banks for early arrivers. Ample food and beverage stands are available. There is more information relating to the Lake DePue races at the website http://www.depuemensclub.org.

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Dover

One of the first villages in Bureau County, Dover was, at one time, an important center in the county. A hotel was built in Dover in 1839 and served as a stopping point for immigrants heading to points west. The Big Sugar Camp was an area near town where Indians camped for 42 years prior to 1830. A large educational academy was also built here. Elmore Electric has quite a few pictures from Dover’s earlier days. Stop in and see what this town has been home to in the past.

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Hollowayville

Settled initially by a group of 40 German immigrants in 1846, the town is heralded as one of the earliest in Bureau County. Between the city of Princeton and Hollowayville is a shallow valley that was once the site of 13 coal mines. Named Coal Hollow, the community, formed after the Civil War, supplied Princeton and other towns with coal. The community had 50 homes, a church, a general store—all are gone now save for a few houses and a marker on the side of a hill heading into Coal Hollow from the west.

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Kasbeer

Kasbeer is unincorporated with an agricultural history. The Kasbeer Congregational Church was an important part of the early settlers’ lives–a place to practice their faith and maintain weekly fellowship with their neighbors. West of Kasbeer in the Fall is the Midwest Rocketry Power Launches. Visit http://www.tripoliquadcities39.com.

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Ladd

Restoration has been completed on this WWI soldier statue in Veterans Park, a Ladd civic project.

Ladd's first trading center was established in the 1880s. Mining, farming, and the railroad were important industries in the early days.

Ladd recently won two Governor's Hometown Awards for the renovations to their World War I Soldier war memorial in Veteran's Park.

Ladd offers great chicken at Rip's (and don't mind the usual line, it moves quickly). Although Rip's has been an area favorite for 70 years, they have also received noteworthy acclaim twice from the Chicago Sun-TimesTorri's takes you back to the good old days of soda fountains, burgers, and ice cream delights. A real period piece well worth a visit.

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LaMoille

South of the intersection of Rts. 92 and 34 sits the village of LaMoille, most famous for its Buffalo Days celebration in June. Buffalo days, initiated by buying some buffalos and holding a festival, has grown over the years. Today, the festival has three days of family oriented activities including a parade, 3-on-3 basketball, buffalo burgers (with burgers from Grubbsteaks in Buda), Baby Buff contest, Talent Show, Hired Hand Auction, Tractor Show, car show, games, and live bands.

The Allen School, built in 1887, is still in use today as a Junior High School and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Malden

Home to the famous Malden Balloon water tower, Malden is a quiet town with a local restaurant of some renown, the Feed Store. Malden is also home of Bureau County’s well drillers, Lutes H2O Well Drilling. Lute’s owner, Jet Hall, is from a Bureau County family going back to the 1800s that was originally from New Bedford. He is currently doing research on an important learning academy once located in Dover.

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Manlius

Contains the home office of the Michlig AgriCenter company and the historic Manlius First State Bank Building. The bank is a rare existing example of the work of the architect Parker Barry, a chief designer for Louis Sullivan. No longer a functioning bank, the Manlius Historical Society holds their meetings there. The bank can be viewed by contacting one of the Manlius Historical Society members or make it to one of their monthly meetings held in the bank. The Society is in the process of restoring the lobby and exterior. They can give you a full background, point out things to see, and answer your questions about the building and Parker Berry. Visit http://www.manliushistoricalsociety.org/index.html. In warm weather head to Tillies Bar & Grill.

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Mineral

A jump off place for travelers on the Hennepin Canal Parkway and Grand Illinois Trail, Mineral is also home to the Cozy Country Cottage. Trail users will find the cottage a great place to stay for a day, weekend, or longer. With its close proxinimity to the canal, one can return for lunch or an afternoon snooze. Best of all is evening time when soaking in the jacuzzi with candles and refreshments takes care of any muscle strains from the day.

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Neponset

The road between Neponset and Mineral passes through land formerly part of a strip mining operation and now part of the land reclamation process. Portions of the fence lines along the road have blue bird houses affixed to the fence posts, providing homes to some of Bureau County's more colorful feathered friends.

The road also passes the Witness Tree, so named as a reference point, or "witness" for railroad surveyors.

Neponset is the world headquarters for Martin Engineering, the world leader in the problem solving of bulk material handling.

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New Bedford

New Bedford is near a narrow portion of the Green River is where Winnebago Indians lived during their winter hunts. Drainage of a nearby former swamp area (given to Bureau County in 1850s) resulted in the creation of fine and fertile farmland. In 1836 Henry Thomas entered 80 acres of land. Mary Thomas, the second daughter of Henry Thomas, was said to be the first white child born in Bureau County. Cyrus Watson (the first actual settler) built a cabin on the Thomas holdings believing it to be vacant land. He moved when he discovered otherwise.

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Normandy

The Atherton Grain Company’s elevator in Normandy has been serving the farmers of Bureau County since 1925. Take the road on the east side of the elevator and go south to the exciting Sunset Ridge Motocross complex. Professional and amateur riders take advantage of the biker and ATV trail for a day or weekend of dirt track action between February and November.

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Ohio

The village of Ohio, at the corner of Rts. 26 and 92, lies along the Reagan Trail, running from Dixon to Eureka, Illinois and was a place where Ronald Reagan and his brother Neil thumbed rides north when commuting from Eureka college to Reagan's boyhood home in Dixon. There are signs to Reagan's birthplace (Tampico) and boyhood home (Dixon).

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Princeton

Located at the heart of Bureau County, Princeton, the county seat, is an active and growing community of 7600. A visit to historic Princeton offers something for everyone. Map of Princeton.

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Seatonville

Lying just east of Hollowayville, Seatonville is home to Seatonville Greenhouse in the south part of town. The greenhouse offers a seasonal selection of varied plantings.

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Sheffield

The discovery of coal in 1832 spurred the establishment of the village of Sheffield. In 1852 the land was platted, creating the town of Sheffield, named after Joseph E. Sheffield, one of the partners in the Sheffield Mining and Transportation Company. The mining company produced coal for the Rock Island railroad for 50 years. As coal production waned, agriculture took over as the mainstay of the economy of the town.

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Spring Valley

Spring Valley was founded on the banks of the Illinois River in the heart of the coal fields of northern Illinois. It was incorporated in 1886 and became a thriving coal community. Immigrants from Poland, Italy, Lithuania, and Ireland settled here to work in the mines. John Mitchell, 5th President of the United Mine Workers of America and known as the "Father of the 8 Hour Day," called Spring Valley home. Find out more at http://www.spring-valley.il.us.

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Thomas

A few miles south of Thomas and the Green River lies the McCune Sand Prairie conservation area. The result of over-grazing livestock, the grounds with footpath trails are mostly sand with prickly pear cactus and sparse vegetation. Keep your eyes open because the wood sign noting the area is easy to miss if your mind is elsewhere.

CAUTION: Don't put your knees on the ground to get a close up picture of the cacti or you will be picking out tiny needles for a week after! More than a few people have found this out after it was too late!

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Tiskilwa

The Plow Creek Mennonite community resides near Tiskilwa (the "Gem of the Valley"). Spring is the time for picking your own strawberries and raspberries at Plow Creek during season or at the annual Strawberry Festival and Town-wide Garage Sales, a popular local activity, especially for children. Canal Day is back again, so they didn't all get caught last year. Bring that special child for a fun-filled day of fishing on the Hennepin Canal, a family activity the kids will be sure to love. 

Note that access to Bureau Creek and the Hennepin Canal recreational areas are just north of town. One can park and fish Bureau Creek or Lock 11. There are some nice sized bluegills that are easily caught by the young ones just learning how to fish.

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Van Orin

Van Orin is a farming community dating back to 1800s. Just to the northwest of Van Orin along Route 92 is the Bache Memorial Chapel. A lovely  non-sectarian structure for hosting weddings, reunions and other social functions. The expansive downstairs includes a complete kitchen. Outside there is ample room for other activities or use as a space for children to let off steam. The chapel itself affords soft natural lighting through colored window panels. A lectern sits at the front as an aide in services with seating on wooden pews.

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Walnut

Walnut was incorporated in 1872, and quickly grew into a bustling, thriving progressive community.

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Wyanet

Wyanet's Henry Thomas Museum contains displays of Indian artifacts, Thomas family heirlooms, primitives including cheese boxes, and wooden tools. The museum is one of those undiscovered jewels. The Wyanet Historical Society, up the street, has a number of rooms filled with local historical items.

The Canal is great place to relax, read a book, catch some rays . . . it's all good. The old lift bridge at Lock 21 is a popular place to have a picnic and take a leisurely stroll along the Grand Illinois Trail. A Hundred Acres Farm and Market is newly open between Princeton and Wyanet on Rt. 6. Check it out!

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Yorktown

Located in the northwest corner of Bureau County. Yorktown sill contains the General Store building built in 1853. The nearby access to the Hennepin Canal Parkway Feeder Canal is a great place to launch a quiet picnic or begin and end a biking or hiking adventure. The Canal is a great place to walk a dog or ride a bike. The path is well cushioned so there is no knee shock like there would be on an asphalt path. There always seems to be an abundance of wildlife or aspects of the natural world you wouldn’t encounter otherwise. And the best part is that you often have the trail all to yourself. Its an undiscovered, or at least underused, Illinois gem.

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Zearing

Zearing sits at the confluence of a number of rail lines heading to points north. In 2005, the Illinois Railway company acquired the former Burlington Northern/Sante Fe (BNSF) line that runs from Zearing to LaSalle, Illinois.

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