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Story Subject Category: Decatur
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A group of baseball players in Macon County is preserving the old days of baseball. The Rock Springs Ground Squirrels play the game by 1860s rules, which don’t allow swearing or gloves. Producer Julius Bolton takes viewers to the Macon County Conservation District to enjoy a bygone era from our national pastime.
Segment duration: 06:02
Story links:
- Vintage Baseball Association--Rock Springs Ground Squirrels
- Rock Springs Ground Squirrels Vintage Baseball Site
Producer: Julius Bolton and Jeff Bossert
Editor: Tim Hartin
This segment is filed in these categories: History • Hobbies • Illinois Culture/History • Sports • Decatur
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Prairie Fire visits the Scovill Zoo in Decatur to see what happens to all the animals in the winter. “We were curious about how zookeepers could care for them when it’s so cold and snowy outside,” said Prairie Fire host Alison Davis.
Segment duration: 06:33
Producer: Alison Davis
This segment is filed in these categories: Livestock/Animals/Zoology • Parks/Outdoor Recreation • Science/Nature • Decatur
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Troy Taylor loves to hunt ghosts, and we follow him to the Old Lincoln Theatre, a haunted gym, and other...interesting places.
Segment duration: 22:07
Producer: Alison Davis Wood
This segment is filed in these categories: Folklore • Illinois Culture/History • Decatur • Greenwood • Lincoln
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Prairie Fire looks back at the odd welding of sports and manufacturing that created the Decatur Staleys, a corporate semi-pro football team that later became the Chicago
Bears. Prairie Fire host Alison Davis talks to former Staley chemical engineer Tom Garrenand Decatur Herald and Review columnist Bob Fallstrom about the history of the team. Davis said A.E. Staley had big dreams, both for his corn products business and his company sports teams. In 1919, he recruited the former U of I football star George Halas to play for and coach his firm’s football team as well as work in the manufacturing plant.
“When the Staleys were getting started, A.E. Staley agreed to let the team practice on company time two hours a day,” said Davis. “They recruited guys across the Midwest.” In 1921, the Staleys moved to Chicago to draw bigger crowds and were renamed the Bears the next year.
Segment duration: 08:20
Producer: Alison Davis
This segment is filed in these categories: Illinois Culture/History • Sports • Decatur
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Segment duration: 06:27
Producer: Alison Davis
This segment is filed in these categories: Automotive • Business • Family history • Illinois Culture/History • Decatur
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