Randolph County Historical Society monthly event

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Randolph County Historical Society will hold their monthly event on Thursday, April 15, 2010.

"Carpooling to Cahokia" - A Guided Tour of Cahokia Historic Courthouse, Jarrot Mansion, & Holy Family Parish Log Church, and lunch.

The schedule is as follows:

10 a.m. From Chester (meet at Rozier's lot)

10:30 a.m. Everyone meet at Red Bud City Park to carpool. (Rt. 3 N.)

11 a.m. Lunch at Joe Boccardi's Italian Restaurant, 117 S. Main St. Columbia, IL - 618-281-6700 (order from menu)

1 p.m. Meet state guide for a tour of the Courthouse & Jarrot Mansion.

2:30 to 3 p.m. Bill Day will guide tour of the Log Church.

Please RSVP by April 14 to Marlene 826-3330. Friends are welcome.

The Jarrot Mansion is a two story brick building documented to 1810 by construction invoices. Nicholas Jarrot, b. 1764, in France, married Marie Louise Barbeau 1795, in Prairie du Rocher. In Kaskaskia, he became friend and business partner with Pierre Menard. He arrived in Cahokia mid-1790's.

The Cahokia Courthouse after serving as a residence, was bought by the judges of St. Clair County in 1793, to serve as an additional site for court proceedings besides Kaskaskia. In 1795, the area of St. Clair County was divided, and the southern half was renamed Randolph County with Kaskaskia remaining as a County Seat, and Cahokia became the county seat for St. Clair County. It remained the county seat until 1814 and then sold. The courthouse was reconstructed incorporating any remaining logs on its original site in 1939.

The early Cahokia log churches were destroyed by fires and the present church was dedicated in 1799. It was built in the (post on sill) manner known by the early French settlers. In 1949, it was "rediscovered" under white clapboarding and restored. An old cemetery is located behind the church.

The Kaskaskia Mission Church was established in 1675, and the Cahokia Mission Church established 1699, both in the Diocese of Quebec.

Also the 2010 membership dues are now being accepted. Memberships are: single - $10, family-$20, life - $200

Please list address, telephone number, and email. Send to Rose Mary Dashner, 4648 Kane Hill Road, Ellis Grove, IL 62241. Please indicate if changed from last year.