Editor’s note: Patricia Pessman of Morrison, IL, wrote this feature and submitted the photos.
What was to be just another, normal shopping trip to Fulton, IL, and Clinton, IA, on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, turned into an unexpected “Dutch” treat, for former Fulton resident Pat Pessman. As she was taking a short break in DenBeston Park, she noticed a young girl and three adults “milling” about the Windmill area. When two of them walked right up to a window at the Cultural Center and peered through it, she knew what they wanted. They wanted to get inside and see what was in the building. As she drove nearer to them to greet them, she had no idea what a “Dutch” treat she was in for!
The foursome told her they were first-time visitors to the United States from The Netherlands. They were driving down both sides of the Mississippi River to see the sights and noticed the windmill, standing tall on Fulton’s levee, as they were crossing the Fulton Bridge. This impressive sight brought them into town, where Pat ended up being in the right place at the right time.
After she called Jane Luker, both the windmill and Cultural Center were opened just for these special visitors, and tours were arranged. While waiting for their guides, the family also enjoyed some drinks and treats at Krumpet’s.
The group included parents Aart and Claartje Jongejans of Doorn, in the Province of Utrecht, and their daughter Liselotte Jongejans and her daughter, five-year-old Florine, from Delft, in the Province of Zuid-Holland.
[At Krumpet’s restaurant are Mother and Grandmother behind Granddaughter.]
After landing in Chicago, IL, at O’Hare Airport last Saturday, May 6, and renting a car, the four had spent two days in Chicago and were now meandering around Northern Illinois. This included an overnight visit in Galena the previous day. Coincidentally, Pat shared that she had taught there many years ago.
The Jongejans family stated they were on their way to Champaign-Urbana, to attend Liselotte’s in-person graduation ceremony this coming Saturday, May 13. She will receive her Master’s Degree in Computer Science–and this after earning two Bachelor’s Degrees from the same University in earlier years. Liselotte said that after completing all of her classwork and studies online and long distance from her homeland, she thought it was about time to see the University campus up close and personal; thus, the motivation to come to America.
She said it was going to be a thrill for her to wear the “orange and blue” colors and receive her Master’s Degree in person! (She will be surprised to learn that her mother, Claartje, has made an “orange and blue” cap and gown, for Granddaughter Florine.) This little secret was whispered in Pat’s ears, during their tour at the Cultural Center.
This family was so excited to have seen Fulton’s Windmill and Cultural Center. They expressed their deep thanks for those who took time out of their busy day–and after a busier Dutch Days weekend–to make them feel so welcome. The Volunteers gave personal tours of these two attractions, that bring thousands of visitors to the river community.
[Shown outside the Windmill entrance, left-to-right, are a Volunteer; Aart and wife, Claartje Jongejans; a Volunteer; Liselotte Jongejans and Florine.]
What an unexpected thrill it was for Pat, as well, who now lives in her former hometown of Morrison, to be able to welcome the Jongejans family to Fulton, Illinois!
[Pat Pessman is shown with her visitors from Delft, in the Province of Zuid-Holland.]
