Pere Marquette State Park
Pere Marquette State ParkTo the Editor:
Recently, my sister-in-law and I had the pleasure of experiencing one of the best kept secrets in our local area, Pere Marquette State Park. I am not affiliated with this Park in any shape or form, but as one of two adventurous senior citizens, the other being my sister-in-law, we were looking for an overnight getaway, and decided to visit the Lodge as I had fond memories of the park from my youth. We were not disappointed.
Everyone at the Lodge was extremely nice. We enjoyed the pool, hot tub, comfortable accommodations and the beautiful park grounds nestled on the Illinois River. It was a peaceful retreat which we enjoyed without spending a lot of time in the car and without dropping a lot of cash. Perfect!
As we returned home, we checked out the park’s website and learned so much about its history. Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) which was a work relief program that employed men on environmental projects during and after the Depression Era. During his tenure, the workers planted in excess of 3 billion trees, built trails and shelters in more than 800 parks across our country. Think about that! This group built our local gem from 1933-1939. The fireplace alone consists of more than 700 tons of limestone from the Grafton rock quarry and Illinois inmates built the furniture in the lodge.
Unfortunately, I’ve learned Illinois is continuously having budgetary problems regarding the necessary maintenance needs for this State treasure. This is unacceptable. Let’s honor this beautiful piece of land, buildings and all those who built it with their hard work and obviously, dedication to former and future generations. My hope is that all Illinois legislators will get behind this issue and push for the necessary funding that we in Southern Illinois so rightly deserve. Let’s get it done.
Mitzi Erthal
Godfrey