Points of Interest

      Did you know Lake Katherine was named after Eugene Simpson’s mother “Katherine”? Eugene Simpson, former mayor of Palos Heights, was the creator of Lake Katherine.  In 1985, after two thieves tried to hide from police in the dense brush and rocks along the Cal-Sag Channel, the mayor decided to turn this problem area into something wonderful for the community. 
     The  E.G Simpson clubhouse overlooks a waterfall. There is a walkway around Lake Katherine and they used to give tours. They have special events like Winterfest, Earth Day, Monarch Butterfly Festival and a two day Fourth of July celebration. 
     In the 1930’s people used Lake Katherine for a shooting range and hunting. If you go to the learning center which was built in 1994, there is a historical museum downstairs. 
     You can bring your dog to the preserve, but can’t ride your bike.  In 1990 the children’s forest was planted by the children of Palos Heights.   We have to thank Eugene Simpson for Lake Katherine. 

     Did you know that the Sacred Heart church is 129 years old? It was established in 1872 when a group of people gathered at the house of Wilhelm Piffer they were the Jungels who donated land for a cemetery and a church.  Father Antel said the first mass in 1872.  In 1891 the church only had 35 families and they only held one wedding and one burial.  In 1904 they were forced to move the church because they burnt down the church trying to smoke out rabbits. Now in 2001 they have 3500 families they hold 75 weddings and they have 145 funerals.  They diocese and the people who started the church choose the name together.  The names of the people who started the church and the cemetery were the Piffers, Jungels and the Lukases.  They have a cemetery because a long time ago when there was a catholic church there was a cemetery, but unlike most Catholic cemeteries they take care of there own landscape and mowing.  The only people that can get buried there are people from Sacred Heart Parish. 0r you have to be a family member of someone who goes there.  If you want to you can still buy plots.  A plot is a piece of land that you buy before you are berried it is sort of like when you make a reservation for a restaurant.  The oldest recorded grave stone is from 1891 but that might not be true because when the church just started pastors came from all different churches and some of the very early graves might be in different churches record books.  In Nov. 25, 2001, when a new burial site was being prepared, bricks, nails, and pieces of glass from the old church were found in the ground.

Information from: Father McGinnity

     The Cal Sag Rivers are a very interesting sight to see! Not to long ago, The Sags were both the same river! Rumor has it that either fur traders dug the Cal Sag, or erosion did it. Most fur traders do dig rivers for trade routes. Before the year 1800, many traders went from the Illinois River to the Des Plaines River, then to the Little Cal Sag River to reach Lake Michigan.

     When the canal was finally created, Miller, Indiana’s water runs over the canal! Soon enough, Miller, Indiana was filled with sand because of its lack of inlet of water. Miller’s waters were pushing against Cal Sags, and the Cal Sags water was pushed back since then.

An Interesting Theory...
     The Des Plaines River has a low water level. Some historians think that possibly the explorers Jolliet and Marquette traveled up the Des Plaines River. Then, through the Great Saganaskee Swamp to the Grand Cal Sag! From that point, they would go to Lake Michigan using the Little Cal Sag River. This means that Jolliet and Marquette could have been through your own backyard!

Back to History…
     In 1870, the U.S Congress gave money to let Calumet, Chicago Dock, and Dredge Companies started to connect the Cal Sag to Chicago via Lake Michigan. In 1871, after the Chicago Fire, a lot of manufacturing companies relocated to the Cal Sag area. The Cal Sag is very important!

     The Cal Sag Rivers are very pleasant places! You can fish or take a boat through the Cal Sag. The Cal Sags are important rivers to Chicago and Palos. Without the Cal Sags, you wouldn’t have any place to fish! The Cal Sags are very critical to Palos Township.

By: Robby

Bibliography

http://pages.ripco.net/~jwn/calumet.h
 
 

     The Children’s Farm is a big part of Palos Township. Children and adults enjoy visiting the farm animals. Everyone enjoys the children’s Farm. During the fall, families pick pumpkins that are grown in the fields. The Children’s Farm has been around for a very long time. Raising animals and growing cash crops are some of the many things the Children’s farm does. Our class is doing a project on our town. Each student picks a place to study and tries to get as much information as possible.
      Raising animals is the number one attraction at the Children’s Farm. The Children’s Farm holds more then 31 animals including wildlife. These animals were not all bred at the Farm. Actually, the only animal on the Children’s Farm that does bred is the cows. The horses and ducks are donated, and the sheep are bought yearly.
      Cash crops are crops that make you money. Cash crops that grow on the Children’s Farm are oats, hay, corn, and pumpkins. Oats and hay are a big part of the Children’s Farm. They feed the horses, cows, goats, sheep, and pigs. Without growing cash crops the Children’s Farm would have to by these things yearly.
     The Children’s Farm is a big part of our town. Children and adults enjoy the company of the farm animals. Families enjoyed gathering here around Halloween time to pick pumpkins. Everyone enjoys the Children’s Farm. The Children’s Farm grows and blows with the wind. It’s like a cycle. 
 

By Maggie & Jessica