When I picked LaSalle, Illinois as the location for my annual Becky-meet-up, I had NO IDEA it would be such an interesting town.
Learning about the Illinois and Michigan Canal...and then, meeting the Heleger family, via their incredible mansion...
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| As we were leaving the mansion, Tricia showed us a blueprint of the mansion...and reminded us that it has 57 rooms. THEN, she reminded us that in the last hour, talking as fast as she could, we had visited just 11 of those rooms... |
Really -- we just glimpsed the tip of the iceberg...and, even though we weren't allowed on the two upper floors -- there was ONE MORE BIG SURPRISE for us to see...
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| The two-story indoor gymnasium!! |
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| The Heleger's were devoted Turners |
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| Which is a group I was slightly familiar with. Davenport, Iowa had a large German population in the 19th Century...and "Turner Halls" existed until the 1970's. |
According to Wikipedia:
Turners were members of German-American gymnastic clubs called Turnerverein. They promoted German culture, physical culture, liberal politics, and supported Union war effort during the American Civil War. Turners were the leading sponsors of gymnastics as an American sport and the field of academic study.
Mr. Hegeler employed Turner bodyguards -- which was apparently a job they often did. Abraham Lincoln employed Turner bodyguards...
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| Of course, I BEGGED Tricia to let me try some of this gym equipment...but she said NO. |
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