Book signing at eight-sided Charter Oak School

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Randolph County Historical Society is pleased to host a Reception and Book Signing Saturday, May 22, 2010, at the eight-sided Charter Oak School near Schuline from 1 to 4 p.m.

The new book, just released, is More Than Eight Sides To The Story, Oral Histories of Illinois' Charter Oak School, 1873 -- 1953, by Mary Helen Cissell. She will be present May 22 to sign the books.

The 308 page, soft-cover book is available for $26 at www.lulu.com or directly from the author mary.helen93@yahoo.com, or 770-886-5153; RCHS, Jeff Gillespie 618-443-4975; Don Schilling 618-443-2439.

The book not only contains the history of the school, but over forty personal eye-witness accounts of the years 1916 to 1953 from students of this one-room, octagonal school, that is now a National Historic Site.

Who were the teachers? What was life like for children and teachers in rural Illinois in the first half of the 20th Century? What was it like to attend a one-room school with eight grades and one teacher?

Find out as you read narratives that are guaranteed to touch your heart. Filled with hundreds of historic photographs, this book will delight readers of all ages. Former Charter Oak School students, teachers, friends, families, and anyone that ever attended a rural school will be especially interested in seeing this book.

RCHS invites all of those interested to come out, tour the school, see the book and enjoy refreshments.