The Atlanta Public Library, located in Atlanta, Illinois

 The Atlanta Public Library, located in Atlanta, Illinois, is a notable example of small-town architectural charm and civic pride. Established in the early 1900s, the building is a cornerstone of the community and reflects the town’s historical roots and dedication to public service.

Designed in a distinctive octagonal shape, the library stands out both structurally and culturally. Its unique design is one of the few remaining examples of octagon-style architecture used in public buildings. This layout not only provides a sense of symmetry and openness but also showcases the innovative thinking of the era in which it was built.

Over the years, the library has evolved beyond its traditional role of lending books. It serves as a hub for local events, educational programs, and community gatherings. The interior, while updated to accommodate modern needs, still retains much of its original character, preserving the historical essence that makes the building special.

Adjacent to the library is a restored octagonal-shaped telephone booth, adding another layer of historical interest and charm to the site. Together, they highlight the community’s ongoing efforts to honor and maintain its heritage.

The Atlanta Public Library continues to be a place where history, learning, and community intersect. It remains a treasured landmark in the heart of Illinois, bridging the past with the present in both form and function.

This Day in History - March 17, 2018: Sharin of the Green

 

On March 17, 2018, the quaint town of Normal, Illinois, came alive with the spirited revelry of its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a cherished tradition that painted the streets with hues of emerald and echoes of jubilation. As the calendar aligned with the feast day of Ireland’s patron saint, the community gathered under a crisp spring sky to celebrate heritage, unity, and the promise of renewal that the season whispers.

The parade, a vibrant procession through the heart of Normal, wove its way along familiar avenues, drawing families, friends, and visitors into a shared tapestry of festivity. Floats adorned with shamrocks and streamers rolled gracefully by, while local bands filled the air with lively tunes that stirred the soul and quickened the pulse. Marchers, clad in green regalia, waved to the onlookers, their smiles as bright as the sun that occasionally peeked through the clouds, casting a golden glow on the scene.

This was more than a mere spectacle; it was a testament to Normal’s enduring spirit—a small town with a big heart, where history and modernity dance in harmony. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade of 2018 stood as a beacon of camaraderie, inviting all to partake in the “Sharin’ of the Green,” as the event is fondly known. Children scampered along the sidewalks, clutching treasures tossed from passing floats, while elders reminisced about parades past, their tales weaving a thread of continuity through generations.

In a world often hurried and divided, the Normal, IL, St. Patrick’s Day Parade on that March day offered a pause—a moment to revel in simplicity, to honor roots both Irish and otherwise, and to embrace the collective joy that binds a community. As the last notes of the pipers faded and the crowds dispersed, the memory of that celebration lingered, a verdant promise of spring and togetherness etched into the town’s story.

American White Pelican Migration - Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge

  

The vast expanse of the sky shimmered with the soft glow of dawn as the great white pelicans set their course northward. Their long, broad wings stretched wide, catching the spring thermals that carried them effortlessly over rivers, fields, and wetlands. With each beat of their powerful wings, they followed an ancient route, one that had guided their ancestors for generations.

As they soared over the Mississippi River, the waters below teemed with fish, a promise of the abundance that lay ahead.

Their destination was Emiquon, a vast floodplain in central Illinois, where nature had reclaimed the land and restored it to its former glory. Once a drained agricultural field, Emiquon had been revived into a wetland haven, rich with life and sustenance for the migrating flocks. It was a sanctuary, a place where they could rest, feed, and gather strength for the journeys still to come.

As they descended, the pelicans were met with the scent of fresh water and the symphony of life that thrived in the marshes. Swirling eddies of fish glimmered beneath the surface, while reeds swayed in the gentle breeze. Other birds—egrets, herons, and ducks—greeted their arrival, sharing in the wealth of the wetland.

They would spend weeks here, regaining their strength before continuing farther north to their breeding grounds in the upper Midwest and Canada.

For now, Emiquon was home—a place where the rhythm of migration paused, where the wild heart of the wetlands pulsed strong, and where the white pelicans found peace under the wide, open sky.

Image from March 20, 2019.