Old Abe and Friends-- Part 1: Eating Mexican Where Bill Murray Tred in Woodstock, Illinois

The McHenry County Civil War Round Table opened its speaker series for 2020 this past Tuesday, March 10 at the Woodstock, Illinois Public Library.

I got to Woodstock early and ate at the Taqueria La Placita Mexican restaurant on the famous Woodstock Square dating to the 1840s.  Tuesdays they have $1 tacos and I sure enjoyed those buck tacos.  Plus, this place is the site of the Tip Top Cafe from the movie "Groundhog Day."  This is where Bill Murray stuffed his face and where he stepped into that puddle was right outside it.  I sat in the very spot Bill was sitting in while stuffing.

"Groundhog Day" is my third all-time favorite movie and a whole lot of that movie was filmed in Woodstock.  They even have a walking tour of sites.  Bill Murray returned to Woodstock this past fall to film the Jeep commercial that showed during Super Bowl.

In case you're wondering about my top two movies, they are "Animal House" #1 and "Blues Brothers" #2.

Eating, A Movie And History.  Three of My Favorite Things.  --Old Groundhog

McHenry County Civil War Round Table Meets Tuesday, March 10: Of Birds and Dogs

The McHenry County (Illinois)  Civil War Round Table (MCCWRT) meets this Tuesday at the Woodstock Public Library, 414 West Judd Street, a couple blocks off the famous Woodstock Square where much of the famous "Groundhog Day" movie was filmed.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m..

This month's speaker is Jan Rasmussen, who will speak about the Birds and the Dogs of War, "Old Abe and Friends:  Civil War Mascots."

Everyone with an interest in history is invited.

Bark, Bark.  --Old Secesh

Learn All About Yankee Buzzards at MCCWRT Meeting Tuesday

This Tuesday, September 10, the McHenry County Civil War Round Table (MCCWRT) will find out all there is to know about "The Yankee Buzzard Regiment."

The meeting takes place at 7 p.m. at the Woodstock Library in Woodstock, Illinois.  Our speaker will be Jerry Allen.  Everyone invited.

The library is located at 414 West Judd Street, just a couple blocks off the historic 1850s Woodstock square where much of the movie "Groundhog Day" was filmed.

Some of the members will be meeting at 5:30 p.m. at 3 Brothers Restaurant on Illinois Highway 47.  Grab a bite to eat and talk about whatever (not just Civil War).

Then Saturday, September 28, the MCCWRT Discussion group meets at Panera Bread in Crystal Lake, Illinois, 6000 Northwest Highway (US-14) at 10:00 a.m..  This month's discussion is about the Chickamauga/Chattanooga Campaign."

Come see  how long we stay on topic.

I Couldn't Find Anything About a Yankee "Buzzard Regiment" So This Will Be Interesting.--Old Secesh

Confederate Statues Unmoved in Richmond-- Part 3: A List of Dishonored Cities

Continued from July 7, 2017.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney's signage approach to Confederate statues could set his city apart from other Southern cities with their treatment of symbols.

In (s)t. (l)ouis the city's decision to remove a Confederate monument prompted scuffles last month between supporters and opponents of the plan. In (n)ew (o)rleans city workers took down three Confederate statues and other one.

In (c)halottesville, Virginia, torch-wielding opponents to the statue removal marched through downtown.  The KKK plans a rally there in July.

But even with signage on the six monuments, many are still not happy.

I Can Live With Signage So Long As the Monuments Remain.  Like I Said, If You Don't Like It, Don't look At It.  --Old Secesh

Civil War II-- 498: Keep the Confederate Statues in Richmond, But Add Context

From the June 24, 2017, Google Alerts for Confederate.

**  Richmond mayor:  Keep Confederate statues, but add context.  (Virginia)  (I'll Call This a Win)  And Mayor Levar Stoney is Black.  From what he said, he has no love at all for the Confederacy, but at least he proposes to allow the statues along the famous Monument Avenue to remain, just add context markers to them.

I can definitely go along with the mayor on this one.  As if there is anyone now who doesn't know that the Confederacy was fighting to keep slavery.

This is an amazing statement, especially coming from a black person.  We need more like him.

To me it would be a reasonable compromise.  At least our monuments would not be desecrated as they were in (l)ouisville, (n)ew (o)rleans and (o)rlando.

The Chicago Tribune had an article on this story which I will write about in the next few days.

Thanks, Mayor!  --Old Secesh

Mayor (m)itch Completes His Ugly Mission, (n)ew (o)rleans Must Now Bear His Guilt The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 458

I am angry.  I am hurt to the core.

I read this morning that the last of the three Confederate statues in new orleans, Robert E. Lee, was taken down yesterday, evidently done in the daylight this time and not undercover of the night as were the others.

I hope the Blacks are happy as they got their way. I am sure Mayor mitch is happy as he being a Democrat in a city with a lot of Blacks, he has assured himself of getting reelected as many times as he wants the job.  If he has any national aspirations, he surely won't get my vote and I'll certainly work for and support his opponents.

But, be assured, there will not be riots, looting and burning because we did not get our way.  Our heritage was severely disregarded and dragged through the mud.  No one should have this happen to their heritage.

Lee, Beauregard and Davis all served their country, the United States, long and faithfully until events in the North forced them to take a hard decision and cast their lot with a new country, just as our Founding Fathers found themselves back in 1775.

And, we don't know what the mayor and his council intend to do with the statues.  My guess it will be something else dishonorable.

Well, at least this ugly affair is over and I can start getting over it.

This Whole Thing Is Shameful and Dishonorable.  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 67: Taking "Racist" Money-- Part 2: The "Unlikely Scholarship"

EMILY ZOFFE'S REPLY:

She agreed that college is expensive and that scholarships help.  "However, I agree that this money is tainted, especially as it comes with the strings of requiring some kind of promotion of the grandness of the Confederacy from its recipients.

"Surely to apply, you have to do more than just give genealogical proof that you are related to someone who fought to keep slavery intact.  You would likely have to write an exam about how you will use your scholarship funds toward the glory of it.

"That would be fraud and you should not engage in it.  Your letter is a reminder of just how many unlikely scholarships there are out there.

"So you and your parents should start researching whether you are eligible for financial help from a source that you can honestly embrace."

I definitely agree with the last sentence and the high school student might further write the organization that was offering the scholarship a letter explaining why she didn't want their money.

Just Goes to Show How Far Our Anti-Confederate Friends Will Go.  The Keeper of the "Unlikely Scholarships."  --Old Secesh

The Confederacy Under Attack-- Part 44

From the September 9, 2015 Google Alerts.

California lawmakers vote to ban Confederate names from public buildings,

Alexandria City Council Votes to Ban Flying of Confederate Flags.  (Virginia)

Lawmaker seeks to replace statue of Confederate general (Florida)  This would be the statue of Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith in the U.S. Capitol since 1922.)

Dowd YMCA plans to remove monument with Confederate battle flag carving.  (Charlotte, N.C.)

Lorain County Fair Board unanimously votes to permit Confederate Flag.  (Ohio)

Judge orders Confederate memorabilia removed from Pittsylvania County courtroom.  (Chatham, Virginia)

Ploice Argument over Confederate Flag led to Rock Hill assault.  (Either Ga. or S.C.)

Lawsuit challenges Gov. Bentley's authority to remove Confederate Flags from Capitol grounds dismissed.  (Alabama)

LSU students plan 'Confederate barbecue' as protest against Daughters of Confederacy meeting.  (Louisiana)

--Old Secesh

Killing Time and Researching-- Part 2: Apparently This Is the House

From the December 19, 1901, Woodstock (Il) Sentinel.

And, it has a Civil War connection, albeit, not a direct one.  I did some more researching (but not in my RoadLog Blog) and found out that Charles P. Barnes was born in the town of Don (wherever that might be) on Feb. 14, 1862.  That would definitely be too young to have fought.

However, his father was killed in the Civil War  a year after his birth.

The article went on to mention that he was married three times and lived "in the most beautiful residence in Woodstock, situated on Fremont Street at the south end of Madison Street."  I.m not sure about the Fremont Street, but I know the "Groundhog Day" house sits at the end of Madison Street, which is shown whenever Bill wakes up and looks out the window.  It is also at the end of the movie.

Madison Street is also the site of the piano teacher's house and where the boy fell out of the tree.

Another source mentioned that Charles P. Barnes was once owner of the current Royal Victorian B&B which was called Cherry Hill Inn in the movie "Groundhog Day."

I'll have to go back to the library to research more on Mr. Barnes.

My Eyes Didn't Deceive Me.  Old Secesh

Killing Time and Researching-- Part 1: The "Groundhog Day" Movie B&B

Yesterday, I went to Woodstock, Illinois, to attend the McHenry County Civil War Round Table and arrived an hour early at the library where Charlie Banks was to make his power point presentation on "Lincoln's Final Journey."

I have always loved libraries.  It is like a treasure hunt in them.  You never know what you're going to find.

After reading the Chicago Tribune and McHenry County's Northwest Herald (you can't beat the price), I still had time so went to the local history collection and started perusing some of their holdings.  I came across the two volume Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Biography of McHenry County Citizens from 1903.

I decided to look for Civil War veterans in the remaining time before the meeting began.  Unfortunately, there was no index, so I had to page through it.

Of interest, I came across the name Charles P. Barnes who was a prominent lawyer and judge in Woodstock, the name didn't do anything for me, but there was also a picture of his house and it really appears to me to be the one used as the Bed & Breakfast where Bill Murray stayed in the movie "Groundhog Day."

I seem to remember from my RoadDog's RoadLog blog that the home had been owned by a judge.  Is it possible that this is the house used in the movie, and, did it have a Civil War connection?

Is This the Home?  --Old Secesh