Curiosity In The Corn

Waterman is a railroad town. It began as a railroad station. It was named after a railroad employee. It still sees several freight trains pass through each day. But it also has its own unique railroad: The Waterman & Western. Located in Waterman’s Lions Community Park, The Waterman & Western (also known as The Waterman Train, The Holiday Train, or simply Pete’s Train) has been bringing joy to visitors for 25 years. It is the brainchild of railroad enthusiast Pete Robinson, who knew from the age of five that he would someday run his own train. Join hosts Clint Cargile and Connie Kuntz as they explore Waterman’s most well-known attraction and get to know the man who built it. Curiosity Seekers! If you have questions about the history, people, places, objects, or events unique to your area, and you’d like us to investigate, visit WNIJ.org and fill out our handy submission form, or email us at corn@niu.edu . Show Notes Waterman & Western Railroad (Facebook) Village of Waterman

By the mid-1800s, white immigrants had spread across northern Illinois -- Irish, Scottish, German, Swedish -- and in community after community, their contributions are well documented. But there is another group that came here that we know little about: the Welsh. Join hosts Clint Cargile and Connie Kuntz as they explore northern Illinois’ forgotten Welsh heritage. Travel with them to the village of Big Rock, which was settled by Welsh colonists from the "land of the leek." Curiosity Seekers! If you have questions about the history, people, places, objects, or events unique to your area, and you’d like us to investigate, visit WNIJ.org and fill out our handy submission form, or email us at corn@niu.edu . Show Notes Big Rock Historical Society Big Rock Plowing Match Village of Big Rock The Past and Present of Kane County, Illinois (1878) Interview with Tom Jones (1987) Theme Song Dan Whitaker & the Shinebenders (performed live on WNIJ’s own Sessions from Studio A )

This is not your father’s baseball; it’s your great-great grandfather’s base ball. For our first episode of Curiosity in the Corn , we venture into the fields of southern DeKalb County to the town of Somonauk, where base ball enthusiasts play the game as it was played in 1858. No gloves, no fast pitch, no swearing (but the occasional drink is allowed). Join hosts Clint Cargile and Connie Kuntz as they explore Vintage Base Ball. Learn the rules, meet the players, find out why they love this game so much. If you have questions about the history, people, places, objects, or events unique to your area, and you’d like us to investigate, visit WNIJ.org and fill out our handy submission form, or email us at corn@niu.edu . Show Notes Vintage Base Ball Association Somonauk Blue Stockings (Facebook) Somonauk Blue Stockings (website) Creston Regulators Somonauk Community Park Theme Song Dan Whitaker & the Shinebenders