Kiehna and Picou Help Preserve Kaskaskia Island History

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Regional School Superintendent Dr. Marc Kiehna and former Randolph County Sheriff Ben Picou recently teamed up to help preserve a piece of Kaskaskia Island history. Kiehna had spotted a 3' by 6' decorative lintel from the Lafayette Elementary School buried by the rubble of the Kaskaskia Island Elementary School, in the flood of 1993. With the help of Ben, his nephew Cody and several others, the retrieved sign that had been placed at the top of the school, has been moved to a spot by the Kaskaskia Community Center in Dozaville. The Lafayette School was constructed in 1916 in the community of Lafayette and named after General Marquis de Lafayette, who visited the island in 1824. In 1916, three elementary schools were built on the Island. Along with the Lafayette School, the Pujol School was built in Dozaville and the Kaskaskia School was built in the town of Kaskaskia to educate the number of students who lived there.

Dr. Kiehna stated, "I want to thank the current owner of the Kaskaskia Island Elementary School, Richard McConnachie for allowing us to move and display the stone at the community center. Also, thank you to the group of men who provided the muscle to make this happen. As we get close to the 100th anniversary of the building of the Lafayette Elementary School, it is tremendous to have this lintel on display."

Picou plans to build a display shelter for the lintel next to the community center building, where he would like to also display the school bell.