Morrison Historical Society members hosted two-time, “award-winning filmstars” Ed Abbott and Orville Goodenough at a presentation honoring Sesquicentennial Farms of Whiteside County, on Sunday, October 13, 2013. The event began at Morrison’s Heritage Museum, 202 E. Lincolnway, Morrison, IL, at 1:30 p.m. before a large audience. Cameo performances included Dorothy Abbott; brother William (Betty) Abbott of Fulton; Kathy and Robert Huizenga; Dale Sterenberg.
Shown left-to-right are Dorothy and Ed Abbott with his brother, Bill, at right. Ed holds the slave counting stick. Its 28 notches represent over two dozen souls the Abbott family helped to freedom.
The highlight of the program was viewing a unique film about the rural Morrison property, which has been in the Abbott family since 1848–165 years. It was filmed during a 2009 Whiteside County Farm Bureau Barn Tour. Topics brought to life
- changes in farming methods, machinery, and rural life across decades
- drama of hiding/transporting runaway slaves and a near-death day of duck hunting
- raising and showing outstanding Hereford cattle, until the last three were sold
- the poignant significance of a lilac bush on the property.
The DVD experience was made especially pleasant due to the generous loan of a 50″ flat screen, high-definition, Samsung LED television and DVD player from Aaron’s Sales & Lease for Less! in Sterling, IL. General Manager Scott Wallingford arranged the service.
Property owned by the same family for a minimum of 150 years may be designated as a sesquicentennial farm. Two additional Whiteside County owners of Sesquicentennial Farms spoke briefly about their property: Jane James, Morrison, and Zoe Rudy, Prophetstown, IL. James is owner of her late husband’s family farm. Rudy leases her land to Roger Lippens for crop production.
In a telephone interview, Avis (Doug) Chamberlain of Lyndon, IL, reported her family’s farm of 380 acres raises stock cows and calves today and grows hay, corn, soy beans, and oats. She remarked that her ancestors were also involved in the Underground Railroad system. The family watched for approaching slaves from the cupola atop a little house. Shirley (James) Blumhoff‘s Lyndon farm was busy doing field work, and she could not attend. Frank (Linnea) Belt own a sesquicentennial farm in Lyndon, too. Today they grow grain; five years ago they ceased raising dairy cattle. His sister, Ardetta Belt, also owns Lyndon property that is over 150 years old. She now lives in assisted living in Rock Island, IL.
The late Eunice Pingel Abbott, Ed and Bill’s mother, wrote accounts of life at “The Pines,” the family home along the Lincoln Highway. After her death, granddaughters Susan Gidel and Jan Landow published them in a collection titled House by the Side of the Road.
Book passages of the good old days were selected for oration by Goodenough (Corn Pickin’ in the Good Old Days–Methods Have Changed), Carole Patton (Smokehouse Samaritans), Karen Zuidema (Moving Day), and Stephanie Vavra (Stalled at Sundown.)
The book and DVD share a title and charm, making them entertaining gifts. The book sells for $10; the DVD is $20.