In the NEWS - Black Hawk State Historic Site

[Cliff Krainik]

IN THE NEWS - in the June 18, 2002 edition of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, columnist Dennis McCann writes of the Hauberg Indian Museum in his article "Black Hawk site honors legacy of Sauk warrior."

You may read the article by going to

www.jsonline.com/dd/destmid/jun02/52156.asp

Enjoy!

Cliff

[Robert Braun]

Great find, Cliff!

Mr. McCann rightly celebrates this site and museum... a place I dearly hope to visit sometime in the near future.

And...true to form... Mr. McCann never lets the facts get in the way of what he considers a good story.

For example:

1. The militia did not ignore the flag of truce sent by either BH or Na-pope at Old Man Creek... as has been discussed elsewhere on this board;

2. Jefferson Davis did NOT serve during the 15 weeks of the Black Hawk War as has been discussed elsewhere on this board;

3. The incident where a truce flag WAS fired upon... August 1 during the "Warrior" incident... occured the day before the massacre on the banks of the Mississippi. Numerous authors find it convenient to lump these incidents together; in fact they are two seperate actions. Had Mr. McCann read Captain Throckmorton's account of the incident, and learned WHY he opened fire, he might be a little less free-wheeling with his prose.

4. "Hundreds" killed at the Mississippi? Best count is approximately 150 killed on August 2-- bad enough in anyone's book.

In the rush to present American troops as the bad guy, the numerous massacres purpetraited by Indian people in reprisal; in the name of Black Hawk and his band; or by Black Hawk and his band are too frequently forgotten. That presents a slanted version of the situation...whether Mr. McCann intended that or not is another matter.

Nevertheless, I fully support the basic premise of the article--that being to highlight a "sleeper" of a cultural treasure.

r.

[Cliff Krainik]

Bob,

Let me count the ways ...

I thought you'd enjoy this little "exercise."

I believe you got 'em all.

Cliff

[Rusty Ayers]

Hmmm.... Bliss is my middle name, my grandmother's maiden name. I haven't done any genealogy on that line of the family yet. Dang, another research project.

And why do you expect newspaper columnists to know anything about anything? Their job is to be entertaining and provocative. If they had any research skills they'd still be reporters.

Rusty
(a former reporter AND newspaper columnist)

[Jeffrey]

Someone sent me the following "news." I'll post it, although I don't know anything about the performers:

"March 5th - Crystal Lake
Black Hawk's Band: A Native View of Illinois History
Presented by Prairie Folktale Theatre
Featuring Storyteller Brian "Fox" Ellis and Singer/Songwriter Barry Cloyd

Imagine sitting around a campfire with Black Hawk and his friends sharing creation myths and history, music both original and traditional and drumming songs. Be present when two pioneer cousins, one part Cherokee / Scots Irish and the other, straight off the boat from Ireland, encounter Black Hawk and his band of warriors. The action and story of Black Hawk's life and times unfold at a crucial juncture in Prairie and Illinois history, the time immediately before the beginning of the so-called Black Hawk War. Be a part of this evening's celebration of an undying spirit that inhabits the land where Black Hawk once roamed and his descendants still thrive.

Singer/Songwriter Barry Cloyd and Storyteller Brian "Fox" Ellis bring this time in Illinois history to life on the stage of the Conference Center at McHenry County Community College at 7:00 PM on March 5th, 2004. McHenry County Community College is located at 8900 U.S. Highway 14, in Crystal Lake, IL. Please call 815.455.8772 for directions and other show information."
--Jeffrey Chown

[Robert Braun]

I've never seen his performance, but I know that Apple River Fort has enagaged him for performances in the last couple years.

His website pretty much says it all www.foxtalesint.com/

Bob.

[Greg Carter]

Oh man and to think I believed Black Hawk's Band to be a new punk rock group my roommate's daughter would be in to.

Prairie Folklore? Perhaps we should charge money and go around telling the "cute and funny pioneer story" of the Indian Creek Massacre, then reenact it using the spectators as the Davis and Pettigrew families! We could alternate the act to such themes as "the funny shooting of George Herclerode" or "the hilarious beheading of Henry Apfel" or "They never saw it coming: The Spafford Farm Folly" depending on where our costume troupe of thespians should happen to appear!

HAR! Nothing beats another tragic tale of a minority being put down by the white man!

One Moc

P.S.- Ok. While I am at it...

I have visited the Hauberg Museum and while it's gigantic exhibit on the CCC and the whopper dining hall are quite nice, the diminutive exhibit on Indians located in a dark, cave-like alcove by the bathrooms does nothing whatsoever to honor Black Hawk. In fact, the only things about him in THE WHOLE PLACE are the statue in the parking lot and the historical marker about G.R. Clark's raid on Saukenuk in 1778, when Black Hawk was 10! (also in the parking lot!) Two-thirds of the display items are pathetic repops from Fall Creek Sutlery or are pieces totally un-related to the Sauk Indian, such as the percussion trade musket from the 1850's that is the only firearm in the collection. There is not one thing at the museum about Black Hawk's War, and the collection of Mississippian and Paleolithic arrowheads is larger than the collection of original Sauk artifacts.

I have to also tack on that when I was there I stood in the doorway admiring the arrowhead collection for 20 minutes before any site employee noticed my presence. Not a good step for a museum! On the bright side, the park and scenery are nice! ;D

Ok enough ranting. For more, I will be at Kellogg's Grove on Thursday and Apple River Fort on Friday afternoon, then I will be appearing at the Red Rooster in Mineral Point Friday evening. Don't forget to tip the waitress!