.....Advertisement.....
.....Advertisement.....

Columns

  • P.G. Donaldson was county storyteller

    I enjoy reading first-hand accounts of what life was like for early Fayette County settlers.
    Presley Garner Donaldson, who was born in Hurricane Township in 1839, is one of my favorite Fayette County storytellers. P.G., as he was called, self-published his down-home stories in 1908 under the title, “Life and Adventures of P.G. Donaldson.” The book was printed at the Jewett Printery in Cowden.
    Following is one of his tales.

    Click here to read more...
  • The Way We Were

    15 Years Ago

    1997 – Rachel Engel of Farina was crowned Miss Fayette County Fair. Jaida Etcheson won the Little Miss Fayette County competition.
    Brad Horner of Vandalia received a state proficiency award in sheep production.

    20 Years Ago

    1992 – The Vandalia City Council approved a plan to extend Sunset Drive south from Jefferson Street to Randolph Street. The project estimate was $183,000.

    Click here to read more...
  • Banks of the Okaw

    This week’s Mystery Banks Photo: This picture, taken 64 years ago in 1948, shows five brothers who grew up in Ramsey.

    Click here to read more...
  • Gov. Reynolds' book recorded state's history

    As a volunteer interpreter at the Vandalia Statehouse, it is my job to relate the story of Vandalia during the years it served as Illinois’ capital, 1819-1839, and of Vandalia's current capitol building, built in 1836.

    Click here to read more...
  • Banks of the Okaw

    This week’s Mystery Banks Photo: This picture was taken several decades ago in front of the former Steinhauer Grocery Store on Sixth Street in Vandalia.

    Click here to read more...
  • The Way We Were

    15 Years Ago

    1997 – The city of Vandalia held a reception to welcome its first city administrator, Ron Niebert. The reception gave residents a chance to meet Neibert and his family.
    The Illinois legislature approved a new law dropping the legal intoxication limit for drivers from 1.0 to 0.8.
    The country band BR5-49 was the main attraction at the Fayette County Fair in Brownstown.

    20 Years Ago

    Click here to read more...
  • Ramsey still has a Lustron home

    Considered an icon of the post-World War II conception of the American Dream, the Lustron home has its place on the National Register.

    Click here to read more...
  • Banks of the Okaw

    This week’s Mystery Banks Photo: These friends, pictured in the early 1950s at a 4-H camp in Monticello, all grew up in the Loogootee area. The one on the left now lives in Springfield, the rest still live in the area.  

    Click here to read more...
  • The Way We Were

    15 Years Ago

    1997 –  A month after convicted murderer Stuart Heaton had his petition for a new trial denied, his attorney argued that a ruling on his request for new DNA testing should be granted.
    Kelly McGinnis, a Greenville man charged with shooting up the office of Vandalia attorney Larry LeFevre, argued that because he will be in shackles for his trial, so should Fayette County State’s Attorney James Overholt.

    Click here to read more...
  • Article describes Vandalia's second capitol

    The first capitol in Vandalia was a frame two-story building erected on the northwest corner of Fifth and Johnson streets – at the current site of The Leader-Union.  Construction began in the spring of 1820, and records show it was built at a cost of around $4,000.
    A fire, discovered around 2 a.m. on the morning of Dec. 9, 1823, totally destroyed the building, along with some state papers.

    Click here to read more...

Copyright © 2013

The Leader Union is your source for local news, sports, events and information in Vandalia, Il, and the surrounding area.