Fulton News

The Windmill Volunteer Educators at the Windmill Cultural Center in
Fulton, Il. invite the public to attend the next program of Wild Winter
Wednesday on Jan. 18.
Randy Meier will be providing our program this week, "Wilderness
Volunteering." Randy has enjoyed challenges in the outdoors all his
adult life. Since retiring from full time employment in 2011, he has
participated in many service projects in remote wildlands in the US,
improving trails, building bridge s, and conducting archeological
surveys. These activities have allowed him to sleep under the stars
from Montana to New Mexico, and gain appreciation for wilderness
areas in the US. His spectacular pictures will leave you in awe of this
beautiful country we call home.
The doors open at 9:00 a.m. for coffee, tea, and mill treats. The
program begins about 9:20. The building is disability accessible and the
program is funded through a grant from the D.S. Flikkema Foundation
and a donation from Nelson Corp. The programs are free and open to
the public.
Please note : If Riverbend Schools are closed due to weather - WWW is
cancelled as well!

The Windmill Volunteer Educators at the Windmill Cultural Center in
Fulton, Il. invite the public to attend the next program of Wild Winter
Wednesday on Jan. 25th.
Sandy Bartels from Midwest Pets will entertain us with stories and her
adventures with her pet pig. Sandy was born and raised in Clinton.
She has been involved with animal welfare most of her life. She was
Executive Director of the Clinton Humane Society from 2011 to 2014
and then created the Midwest Pets for Life enterprise. The Midwest
Pets for Life spokes pigs help spread the message. Come meet these
intelligent and comical animals.
The doors open at 9:00 a.m. for coffee, tea, and mill treats. The
program begins about 9:20. The building is disability accessible and the
program is funded through a grant from the D.S. Flikkema Foundation
and a donation from Nelson Corp. The programs are free and open to
the public.
Please note : If Riverbend Schools are closed due to weather - WWW is
cancelled as well!

                            FULTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S NOVEMBER PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT

The November program will be held on Sunday, the 20th at 2:00 p.m. in the Fulton (Martin House) Museum located at 707 10th Avenue.  The program topic is “THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER:  FULTON’S CLOSEST NEIGHBOR.”  The PowerPoint presentation will cover how the Mississippi River and the City of Fulton have interacted with each other since 1835; for one-hundred and eighty-seven years.

The Fulton Museum Archives has been enriched during its twenty - two years of existence with volumes of photos donated by Henry Kramer, publisher and owner of the Fulton Journal, and articles written and donated by historian Wayne Bastian.

 The presentation will be in chronological order.

 The first topic will begin with the history of Fulton’s bustling, commercial businesses on its natural levee (1850-1900’s).  The volume of business activity that transacted in this location is astonishing between the barge and railroad transactions. 

In the next period of activity (1900-1950’s), the citizens of Fulton chose to use the riverfront as a recreational site for community activities and events. It was named “RIVERSIDE PARK” and was the setting for a large Centennial Celebration in 1935.  A tourist camp site was developed as an attraction to Fulton and the Mississippi River when thousands of people every year were traveling the Lincoln Highway which opened in 1913.  The Lock & Dam #13 was erected by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) and opened in 1939.  

(1950-current).  The historic Flood of ’65 created a need for a dike.  This development also created the DIKE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE which brought sweeping changes to our City’s riverfront. The ‘de Immigrant” windmill opened in 2000 as a major tourist attraction. In addition to property protection, the paved walkway atop the dike provided a recreational and exercise location with an awesome view of the river and the wildlife around it.  We, the residents of Fulton, now have developed a more personal relationship with the “MISI-ZIIBI” River; which means “Father of Waters” named by the native American Indians who inhabited this area before 1835.

Currently, our closest neighbor has now presented another first for us as the water level is at an all-time low.  Some adjustments and challenges will be shared as a result of the latest phenomena, such as the supply chain impact.

The last and final topic of the program is on the FUTURE of the Mississippi River as the City of Fulton’s nearest neighbor?  It is our turn!  How will we, current citizens, create an interaction between the great river and the citizens of Fulton going forward?   Please come with your thoughts and ideas to share as the final topic of the presentation.  Take photos and memories to share in this segment of the program.

The north entrance is easily accessible.  Refreshments will be served. 

For more information, please contact Barbara Mask at 563 321-0318.