Historical Society of Brooklyn Illinois

There has been an increase of vandalism by school students in our village that has caused considerable damage to private and public properties. HSOBI has noted trespassers at Mother Priscilla Baltimore's Memorial Walkway and recent damage to the fence. Several of the vandals responsible for the vandalidm in our village have been identified. Let us hope proper legal proceedings are followed so that they can be charges and their parents held responsible.

The vandalism and trespassing activities are of particular concern at this time for HSOBI. As you know, the inscribed bricks have arrived and the landscapers are on schedule to have them installed before this years reunion (weekend of June 25-27). If these trespassing and vandalism issues are not addressed, it will affect our efforts to continue this project.

Greetings my fellow Brooklynites. Let me be clear about my dilgence in researching, preserving and promoting our village's history and heritage. I have read the writings of many academics, media, and grant vultures who exploit our history and heritage for their own finacial gain. Most fail to do the research for themselves and just plagiarize the research that HSOBI freely offers to the public. They take liberties and play in our faces with inaccurate dates, names, numbers and historical facts.
Manipulating our history and heritage will not be tolerated. I will challenge every inaccuracy and correct it. I have the time.

This is why Brooklyn desperately needs a space of our own to display our history and heritage. A space where our descendants can use tools to research their family history and ties to Brooklyn. Visitors can stop wasting their time researching what has already been found and preserved. You all are aware of the book America's First Black Town. We thank the author for his interest and writing the book. But did you know it is full of inaccuracies pertaining to our history and the work of Mother Priscilla Baltimore? It's time we take control of how our history and heritage is presented to the world. No one can write our story but us.

Im asking all of you to support HSOBI's efforts in making this space a reality and not just a thought. See you at the reunion.

Had HSOBI not notified the National Trust of Dr Nolan Stolz findings, Brooklyn would not be included and celebrating this Rt66 100 year celebration. We will remain true to our mission whick is to promote Brooklyn's history and heritage.

EP102b: Getting to the Overlooked Route 66 Town of Brooklyn, Illinois This video shows the westbound Route 66 traveler how to get to Brooklyn, Illinois, which, unfortunately, is overlooked in the Route 66 literature. Not only i...

Thank you Dr Nolan Stolz

EP102: The overlooked Route 66 town of Brooklyn, IL Route 66 went through Brooklyn, IL (a.k.a. Lovejoy) from 1929-36. B...

Mother Priscilla Baltimore's Memorial Walkway will be open. The inscribed bricks will be installed. Everyone is invited to visit and take pictures beside Brooklyn's historic monument and inscribed bricks.

Celebrate history in Brooklyn! Join us for the official unveiling of our new Route 66 brown signs. Experience a historic moment as we honor the Mother Road's enduring legacy, and help us kick off the "There's No Place Like Brooklyn" reunion weekend!

Hear from an inspiring lineup of speakers representing our partnering organizations, enjoy an incredible live musical performance by the talented House of Miles Youth Ensemble, and take a tour of the historic Underground Railroad site at Quinn Chapel AME Church. Do not miss this unforgettable milestone celebration!

I'm told there was a recent article in a local newspaper listing 7 of Brooklyn's founding families, according to their research. The family names listed are familiar. Ive seen them on the U.S. census (1840-1860). This is misleading. Oral tradition (handed down through Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church) states that Priscilla Baltimore led 11 families, some free some enslaved from Missouri (crossing the Mississippi River) to the free shores of Illinois. This oral tradition does not identify the names of these families. HSOBI's extensive research over the years, identified Reverend John Anderson (who founded Antioch Baptist Church) and his wife Matilda among the 11 families in the crossing.

The U.S. census can not be relied on to identify the original 11 families in the crossing nor all the families whom are considered among Brooklyn's founding families because many families were unable to pay the bond required by the state of Illinois, so they didn't allow census takers into their homes. If you view the 1840 census, 11 families are not listed, only 4.

It is imperative that we properly research, preserve and defend our history for future generations. Taking liberties with our history will be challenged and corrected. We owe it to our ancestors.

Mother Priscilla Baltimore's Memorial Walkway Garden will be open. The inscribed bricks will be installed for your viewing. Everyone is welcome.