Algonquin celebrates history, fall season

From the Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Algonquin celebrates history, fall season
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

ALGONQUIN – If a wagon box is 2 feet deep, 10 feet long and 3 feet wide, how many bushels of wheat can it hold?

Most eight grade students – or adults, for that matter – can't answer that question. But in 1895, every eighth-grader who wanted a diploma from an Algonquin public school knew the answer.

The material on the eight-grade final exam, how the Algonquin State Bank survived a tumultuous economy during World War I, and where original school houses are in Algonquin were among the historical facts that residents learned Saturday while on the Algonquin Cemetery Walk.

Hundreds of residents came to the sixth annual walk, sponsored by the Algonquin Historic Commission. More than 20 volunteers with the commission played characters from the town's history and guided tours for eager residents.

"[Our] past has a lot of interesting events and people," said Lori Cole, a commission member.

Cole played Mrs. Grace Keyes during the cemetery walk, a school teacher during the late 1800s who was married to one of the residents who used personal money to bail out the Algonquin State Bank during tough economic times during World War I.

The cemetery walk was especially popular with children.

"Just walking around looking at symbols [on the grave stones], told a lot about that person's history," said 10-year-old Samantha Eidl of Algonquin.

Meanwhile, near the downtown area, residents enjoyed the last Farmers Market of the season and Harvest Fest activities.

"It's always nice to have something in the area to go to," said Jen Yonamine of Algonquin. She came with her husband, Doug, and their three children, David, Rachel and Sarah.

For the Yonamine children as well as many others, the biggest attraction was pumpkin decorating.

Others enjoyed baked goods, children's games and a costume parade at Algonquin State Bank.