Illinois
Department of Natural Resources
Colleen
Callahan, Director
One
Natural Resources Way, Springfield, Illinois 62702-1271
Dear
Director Callahan,
I am a fan of the Bishop Hill State Historic Site. I lived
next door to the Bishop Hill Museum for over twenty years. My kids grew up
volunteering for the annual harvest festival and waiting their turns for the fourth-grade
Live-in experience. When the king and queen of Sweden came to visit Bishop Hill,
we walked through the back yard to meet them, much to the surprise of the
secret service agents. That’s why when it came time to write my first book, I relied
on my Bishop Hill memories and experiences.
My book, Clouds Over Bishop Hill, may be fiction but
the major themes of preservation, the artwork of Olof Krans, and the character
of Bishop Hill are not. I take them very seriously, especially that of
preservation. Colony buildings shouldn’t be going without the repairs and
maintenance they need to maintain structural stability. Such as the time when there
was a hole in the Colony Church’s roof so big that daylight, as well as rain,
poured in. People, visitors, stopped me on Bishop Hill’s main street to
complain. That was very shocking. I hope the present situation isn’t as
dire as that.
The Colony-era buildings of Bishop
Hill and its immigrant history are cultural gems for state, national, and
international pride. Therefore, I’m asking the DNR to do all that it can to
preserve this legacy. Increasing funding for the Bishop Hill State Historic Site
is a vital first step for preserving it for present and future generations.
Thank you for your time,
Mary
Davidsaver
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