LNT_Boomers Today_092323

Boomers

VAULTING INTO SUCCESS

The history of Gaetano’s Vault draws people in

Also:

• Corner Chair Market is breathing new life into old furniture

• Casserole recipes that stand the test of time

• Eerie tales from the Illinois Valley’s past

Celebrating times gone by

Once you reach a certain milestone age, as I did when I turned 50 earlier this year, it’s fun to look back and remember the good old days while staying optimistic about your future years. When you recall days gone by, you often feel a longing or wistfulness for the simplicity you remember or the people you’ve lost since your younger days.

When I think about my formative years, it’s impossible for me not to feel a tinge of sadness mixed in with nostalgia. My dad was an important figure in my life, and he died in 2020. So, when I reflect on my childhood, and even my 20s, 30s, and 40s when he was still around, I remember our moments together, and it always hits me how much I miss him.

I still talk to him some days like he’s in the room with me, but I try not to dwell too much on the sadness of missing him. That’s the thing about the past –it’s a great place to visit, but you shouldn’t try to live there. Some people live too much in the past, thinking all their best years are behind them and wishing things could go back to how they were. But when you spend too much time missing something that isn’t around anymore, you miss the joy in the moments that are happening all around you in the present.

Still, it’s nice to look back occasionally and honor the people and things from your past – they made you who you are. That’s what this issue is all about – remembering the days gone by.

Finding A New Purpose 4

Indulge in History

Old-fashioned

Strange Happenings Along the Illinois River 17

There’s something in each article in this issue that has its roots in the past – whether it’s a story about the new shop in Princeton that restores old furniture, or sitting down in a cozy chair late at night to read about an Illinois author discussing eerie tales that once happened in the Illinois Valley.

This fall, I hope you find a healthy balance of paying tribute to your past while embracing the future.

Best wishes,

Shannon Serpette, Niche Editor

General Manager/ Advertising Director Jeanette Smith jmsmith@shawmedia.com

Niche Editor Shannon Serpette sserpette@shawmedia.com

Writers Courtney Jonsson Shannon Serpette

Photographers Courtney Jonsson

Shannon Serpette Designer Liz Klein

On the cover: The elegant décor at Gaetano’s Vault will make every meal or drink feel special.

PHOTO BY COURTNEY JONSSON

Finding A New Purpose

Retired LaMoille women refurbish furniture in their new shop

When some people retire, the last thing they want is to spend their time sitting on a couch. They’d rather search for new challenges and projects to work on. Sisters Sharon Sarff and Wanda DeLong, both of LaMoille, decided to take a more active approach to retirement by opening a store, Corner Chair Market, located at 414 South Main St., Princeton.

The sisters decided this was the ideal time to begin a business together.

“I’m not a great retired person,” DeLong said, adding that she likes to stay busy. “I like to do projects. I like to be creative. This was something we’ve always talked about.”

The store opened in April 2023, giving Sarff and DeLong a place to show off their creative talents. The two women repurpose old furniture – something they are well familiar

Story & Photos by Shannon Serpette

Corner Chair Market is owned by sisters Wanda DeLong of LaMoille (center) and Sharon Sarff of LaMoille (right), and they are occasionally assisted by Wanda’s granddaughter Ruby (left).

In Corner Chair Market, shoppers will find repurposed furniture and plenty of unusual and charming smaller items.

Purpose

FROM PAGE 4

with. Both women began repurposing furniture decades ago as a way to save money after each of them were married.

In their early years of marriage, both DeLong and Sarff were given older pieces of furniture by their parents and grandparents. Sometimes they had to give the furniture some attention to bring it back to life.

“That’s where we learned to refurbish furniture,” Sarff said. “Back then, antiques were valued.”

Still, to this day, both sisters have hardly any new furniture in their homes.

“I find value in the history of it (old furniture),” DeLong said.

Wanda and Sharon both have a real appreciation for the materials and craftsmanship of old furniture.

“The old furniture is well-made,” DeLong said.

With the mid-century modern move-

ment surging in popularity, they hope older furniture will be more sought after. When the sisters come across a piece they want to rehab and sell in their store, they admit they don’t always immediately know what they want to do with it.

“Sometimes we have to look at it for a while,” Sharon said.

DeLong, who worked at LaMoille School District before retiring, and Sarff, a retired sales representative, work well together and enjoy each other’s company. Their business has become a family affair, with DeLong’s 5-year-old granddaughter, Ruby, spending time helping in the shop and input being offered from the sisters’ husbands as well.

“Our husbands are very much involved,” DeLong said.

Both women enjoy unleashing their creativity while making pieces for the store, but the social aspect is also much appreciated, with family stopping by and having the opportunity to meet new customers.

Left: Wanda DeLong (from left) and Sharon Sarff love the opportunity to use power tools in their store workshop while working on projects to rehab and sell.

Right/center: Since the owners of Corner Chair Market grew up on a farm, their shop has lots of farm-inspired products to purchase.

Enjoy Life to the Fullest

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Indulge in History and Dining at Gaetano’s Vault

As you cruise through downtown Streator, you’ll notice that empty buildings are becoming occupied by local small business owners who have the dream of contributing to their community. With its clothing boutiques, home decor shops, and niche eateries, downtown Streator is thriving. Standing prominently on the corner of Main and Park, Gaetano’s

Vault is a destination for locals and travelers alike.

The old Union Bank Building has been revived and turned into a twostory bar and restaurant that features 1920s decor. This downtown Streator gem embraces Art Deco decor, Prohibition-era speakeasies, and old-time gangsters.

See Gaetano’s page 10

Story and Photos by Courtney Jonsson

Gaetano’s Vault is located at the corner of Main and Park in Streator.

Gaetano’s

FROM PAGE 8

The Union Bank building became a prominent piece of Streator history when an infamous robbery took place. According to issues of the Urbana Daily Courier, on the night of May 15th, 1932, five bandits showed up at the home of T.E. McNamara, an assistant cashier at Union Bank.

Four of the bandits took McNamara to Union Bank, while the fifth bandit stood watch over McNamara’s wife and children. The four bandits and McNamara hunkered down inside the bank and waited for employees to arrive for work in the morning. Upon arrival, bank employees were forced to lie on the ground. A call was made to report an accident, which was used to distract local police while the bandits snagged forty to fifty thousand dollars, an equivalent to one million

dollars today, from the vault. A scene of police officers surrounding Union Bank is depicted in a mural directly over the vault’s entrance, as a nod to this incident.

If you ask patrons what drew them to eat or drink at Gaetano’s Vault, they will mention the atmosphere. Jamal Jones, banquet manager, agrees.

“The draw is the venue. It is eye-catching and multi-faceted. We have a 20-tap beer wall, an amazing patio, a banquet room to host events, and private booths in the vault for dining,” Jones said.

Other features include an upstairs bar and slot lounger, along with a full-service bar in the main dining room.

“The atmosphere is something that is not replicated within the Illinois Valley. There’s nothing like it,” Kayla Ferris, bar manager, said.

The intricate decor and attention to

Jamal Jones (left), banquet manager, and Kayla Ferris, bar manager, are two of the friendly staff members you’ll meet at Gaetano’s Vault.

The décor at Gaetano’s Vault pays homage to the building’s interesting past.

detail show how much the owners, Rick and Stephanie Wilkerson, care about bringing a unique dining experience to Streator.

“Gaetano’s was highly anticipated. My husband and I would walk by the restaurant every weekend and see the contractors hard at work. Seeing this, we knew a lot of care was going into the place, and it would become a fast favorite for many. Gaetano’s brings something special to Streator,” said Dee Allen, a Streator native and frequent patron.

The prohibition era may be the highlight of the restaurant’s decor, but they’ve gone above and beyond to provide patrons with exquisite cocktails and unique brews. Whether you’re ordering from the bar on the main floor or the upstairs Speakeasy, there is one

signature drink that should be on your radar.

“The Huckleberry Hooch is Firefly Strawberry Moonshine, blackberries, pineapple, cranberry, and lemonade. This drink is a crowd favorite. It is definitely a must-try,” said Ferris.

With a mix of handhelds, pasta dishes, entrees, and desserts, Gaetano’s offers a dish for everyone. Patrons are welcome to dine in without a reservation at any time. And it’s an excellent place to celebrate life’s greatest milestones. You can reserve an intimate booth in the vault to celebrate your anniversary or rent the banquet room to host a baby shower. You can gather with pals on the patio to enjoy a band and brews from the tap wall while celebrating the job promotion you just received.

The 20-beer tap wall gives customers plenty of choices for beverages.

Old-fashioned Casseroles That Will Bring Back Memories

By Shannon Serpette

It’s amazing how much we remember the home-cooked meals of our childhood as we get older. We fondly recall recipes our grandmas and mothers made for us when we were younger. If you’re lucky enough to have the recipe written down, just the smell of that meal when you make it can transport you right back to that time – and those people – in your life.

Many of us remember eating casseroles during our childhood. They were easy to put together, and you felt like you had a filling meal when you ate one. Here are some casserole recipes you may remember from your younger years.

Green Bean Casserole

INGREDIENTS

2 cans (10 and 3/4 oz each) of condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

1 cup milk

2 tsp soy sauce

1/8 tsp pepper

Two 16 oz packages of frozen green beans, cooked and drained

1 can French-fried onions, divided

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine soup, milk, pepper, and soy sauce in a bowl. Gently stir in the beans and spoon half the mixture into a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with half the onions. Spoon the remaining bean mixture over the top, and add the rest of the onions. Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes, until heated through.

Chicken Noodle Casserole

INGREDIENTS

1 can (10 and 3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 Tbsp lemon juice

2 cups cubed cooked chicken

1 small onion, chopped

1/2 cup sweet bell pepper, chopped

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided

12 oz egg noodles, cooked and drained

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a big bowl, combine the soup, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. Add the chicken, onion, peppers, and cheeses and stir well. Gently fold in cooked noodles. Grease a 2-quart baking dish and pour the noodle mixture in. Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes.

Broccoli and Rice Casserole

INGREDIENTS

2 (10 oz) packages of frozen chopped broccoli

2 cans (10 and 3/4 oz) of condensed cream of mushroom soup

2 cups instant rice

3/4 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup butter

1 jar (16 ounces) of processed cheese sauce

DIRECTIONS

Cook rice according to the instructions on the box. Sauté onions in the butter until tender. Cook broccoli according to the directions on the package and drain. Mix the broccoli, soup, rice, onion and butter mixture, and cheese together in a bowl. Put in a 9-by-13-inch oven-proof dish and bake for 30 to 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

Tuna Casserole

INGREDIENTS

3 cups cooked macaroni

1 can tuna, drained

1 can (10 and 3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 and 1/2 cups French-fried onions

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add the cooked macaroni, tuna, and condensed soup into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese and bake in the oven for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with fried onions and bake for five more minutes. If you want, you can add extras to the recipe, such as peas and bacon bits.

Tater Tot Casserole

INGREDIENTS

1 lb ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

1 package (16 oz) frozen tater tots

1 can (10 and 3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

2/3 cup milk

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet, cook the onion and beef over medium heat until thoroughly cooked. Drain, and then season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Transfer to a greased 2-quart baking dish and top with tater tots. Combine soup and milk and pour over potatoes. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes or until heated through. Alternatively, you can place the tater tots on the top of the casserole before baking instead of under the soup if you prefer crispy tots.

Breakfast Casserole

INGREDIENTS

1 lb sliced bacon, diced

1 medium sweet onion, chopped

6 large eggs, lightly beaten

4 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 and 1/2 cups cottage cheese

1 and 1/4 cups shredded Swiss cheese

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet, cook bacon and onion until bacon is crisp, and drain the grease. In a large bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients and then stir in the bacon mixture. Transfer to a greased 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes or until a knife comes out clean when inserted into the center. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

STRANGE Along the Illinois River HAPPENINGS

The towns along this waterway have seen their share of bizarre events

There’s something mysterious about water, something that draws people to it. Maybe it’s the unknown about what lurks below the surface. Perhaps it’s because we know hundreds of years ago people were looking at, traveling, and exploring many of the same waterways we do today.

The Illinois River is one of the many waterways that has seen strange occurrences and is the site of legendary ghost stories. Sylvia Shults of Pekin is a published author who has written about ghosts and strange events, including a book in 2010 called Ghosts of the Illinois River. She grew up in the Chicago area, a region rich in ghost stories like the infamous Resurrection Mary tale.

“I’ve been fascinated by ghost stories since I was a little kid,” she said, adding that her dad was responsible for her early interest in the paranormal. “He would regale us at the dinner table with ghost stories.”

It doesn’t surprise her that the river has so many unusual stories surrounding it. With the number of communities built upon its banks and the sheer size of the waterway, it has seen a lot of history.

“Illinois is a very long state, and the Illinois River takes up about two-thirds of the state of Illinois,” she said.

Shults offers some possible explanations about why waterways are such a popular setting for strange and eerie tales.

See Strange page 18

Story and Photo by Shannon Serpette

Sylvia Shults

“Going way, way back, waterways are the first places people tend to settle,” she said.

These settlements often had a strong sense of community, with people talking and interacting often.

“They liked to share the weird things that happened to them,” Shults said.

While that offers a social explanation about why there are so many unexplained incidents that happen along waterways, Shults offered a paranormal reason as well.

“Running water can attract paranormal activity,” she said.

Moving and running water increases the negative ions in the air, according to Shults.

“That is thought to be a catalyst for paranormal activity,” she said.

When Shults was writing Ghosts of the Illinois River, she dove deep into research to learn about and document some of the ghost stories, strange tales, and mysterious deaths that have happened along the Illinois River or the communities that are located near its shore.

“The reason I love ghost stories so much is that there’s so much history,” she said. “History creates hauntings. These people lived experiences that decades later become the ghost stories we know and love. These were people too.”

One of the tales Shults recounts in Ghosts of the Illinois River is the strange deaths of Patrick Rooney and his wife, Matilda, who lived in Seneca.

“I heard about this when I was a kid,” Shults said.

It was Christmas Eve in 1885, and Patrick Rooney and his wife were at home, enjoying a few holiday drinks with their handyman, John Larson, and their son, John Rooney. Larson, who lived at their home, retired for the night, closing his bedroom door.

In the middle of the night, Larson woke up with a scratchy throat and went back to sleep, according to Shults. Larson woke up in the morning and went about his business like it was any ordinary day.

“He opens the bedroom door, and the house is a little too still,” Shults said.

He looks for his employer, Patrick, and finds him dead in his bedroom. He then begins to search for Matilda and finds a horrible sight in the kitchen – a hole burned through the floor.

“On the cellar floor below, there is what was left of Mrs. Rooney,” she said.

It was determined Patrick had died from smoke inhalation, and Larson likely survived because he had closed his door as he headed to bed. The investigator determined the fire must have burned at a temperature of at least 2,500 degrees to burn Matilda’s body so completely, with just a few bones left. The death was attributed to spontaneous combustion.

“There are several common themes in cases of spontaneous combustion,” Shults said.

Generally, the victim is a heavyset person, and alcohol is involved, she said.

“The other commonality is that most cases happen in the Northern Hemisphere in the winter months,” she said.

Another local tale Shults heard during her research into

ghost stories in towns along the Illinois River involved an old cemetery from Lacon in Marshall County. One of the graves located in the older part of the cemetery belonged to a little girl who died in a horrific house fire.

“The lore is you can smell smoke (near the grave), and if you try to light a match, it won’t stay lit,” she said.

Starved Rock State Park has long been the site of alleged paranormal activities, according to Shults. Some of the legends have to do with the three Chicago women who were murdered at the park in 1960.

According to Shults, an electronic voice phenomenon session conducted at the park by a paranormal investigator yielded a spooky result.

“He was using a spirit box,” she said. “In the spirit box session, he got the number 14.”

The women had arrived at the park on March 14, causing speculation that was why the number 14 was heard. The next message the investigator received was more direct.

“He heard a woman’s voice whispering, ‘Help me,’” she said.

Although perhaps the three Chicago women were the most famous deaths at Starved Rock State Park, other deaths have also happened there, Shults said. According to legend, some of the deaths there were responsible for the park’s name.

“In the 1760s, there were Native American tribes living there,” she said.

When two tribes fought, one of the tribes chased the other to the top of the rock and starved them to death.

“That’s why it was called Starved Rock,” she said.