The one-room house is small and unprepossessing. With its shuttered windows and the multiple padlocks that used to be inside its door, it's secretive, too _ much like the person who lived in it for some 40 years.
Now, to honor one of Illinois' most unusual Civil War veterans, plans are being made to move the 130-year-old Albert Cashier/Jennie Hodgers house back to its original site in the Livingston County village of Saunemin from a storage site in nearby Pontiac.
The house's secret was that Cashier and Hodgers were the same person.
Saunemin Mayor Mike Stoecklin told the reporter the house will be back in his city by the end of the year, but restoration will likely take longer.
He said a lecture by former Pontiac tourism director Betty Estes convinced him the house should be restored to its original site. Estes personally stepped in to save the house 10 years ago when Saunemin volunteer firefighters wanted to burn the house as a training exercise; she had it dismantled and trucked to Pontiac for safekeeping.
Way to go Betty, and thank you Mayor Mike for your work to preserve history and help figure out a way today's society can find value in it.
1 comment:
I ran a search on Saunemin and found the story of the crossdressing civil war soldier here-very interesting. I am interested in finding information about the Saunemin Giant ghost that reportedly hangs out by 5 Mile Creek where it enters the Vermillion river near Saunemin. Anyone with info should post it at GhostsofAmerica.com
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