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#205: Kankakee River State Park: Preserving Nature and History
Hello, Kankakee County and friends! This month, we’re taking a hike through time and nature as we uncover the story behind one of our county’s most beloved treasures: Kankakee River State Park. In our latest episode of the Kankakee Podcast, I sat down with historian Jack Klasey of the Kankakee County Museum to dig deep—pun…
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#196: Celebrating 150 Years of Bourbonnais with the Kankakee County Museum
Hello, Kankakee County and beyond! Today we take you on an enlightening journey through the rich history of Bourbonnais as it celebrates its 150th anniversary. Joined by esteemed guests Jack Klasey and Jory Walters, we delve into the fascinating tales that have shaped Bourbonnais into the vibrant village it is today. The Beginning of Bourbonnais…
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#192: Kankakee County Museum: Bradley Roper Manufacturing
Hello, Kankakee County and beyond! Today, I’m excited to share with you the story behind one of the most iconic companies that once thrived in our hometown—the Roper Corporation. This episode of the Kankakee Podcast delves deep into the fascinating history of Roper and its significant impact on our community and industry. A Century’s Tale:…
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#177: A Century of Newspapers: The Small Family’s Legacy in Kankakee
Hello, Kankakee County and beyond! Today’s episode is a deep dive into the rich tapestry of Kankakee’s journalistic history, brought to life by our special guest, Jack Klasey. As we explore the legacy of our local newspapers, we uncover stories of dedication, evolution, and community impact that span over a century. The Ever-Changing Landscape of…
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#170: Kankakee County Museum: Kankakee Public Library
Hello, Kankakee County and beyond! Today, we delve into a cornerstone of our community’s history—the Kankakee Public Library. Join me, Jake LaMore, as I wrap up another insightful episode of the Kankakee Podcast with our esteemed guests Jack Klasey and Jorie Walters. Together, we unpack the library’s rich narrative from its inception to its vibrant…
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#155: The French Heritage: Kankakee’s Connection to France, Canada, and Belgium
Hello, Kankakee County and beyond! Welcome back to another thrilling episode of the Kankakee Podcast with our friends at the Kankakee County Museum. Today, we’re diving into the enchanting world of the French Heritage Museum—a place where history comes alive and our rich French legacy is celebrated. Whether you’ve paid a visit or it’s still…
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USS Kankakee: Veteran Stories and Naval History at Kankakee Museum
Exploring Kankakee’s Naval History: A Dive into the USS Kankakee Welcome, Kankakee enthusiasts! Today, we delve into a pivotal moment in our town’s history, where the USS Kankakee emerges as a beacon of valor and service. Join me as I sit down with the knowledgeable Jack Klacey to uncover the remarkable journey of this esteemed…
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#105: Lincoln and Kankakee – Shocking New Discoveries with Tom George and the Kankakee County Museum
Abraham Lincoln paid a visit to Kalamazoo, MI only one time in his life. This once in a lifetime visit actually has a connection to Kankakee, IL. On this episode with the Kankakee County Museum, Tom George, Vice President of the Kalamazoo Abraham Lincoln Institute, shares his passion for local history and his research on…
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#99: Honoring Local POW/MIA – Kankakee County Museum
Kankakee Podcast is presented by, Puter Pros, Digital World Design, and Stitch Prints in Bradley. Learn more at myputerpros.com, digitalworlddesign.com, and stitchprints.com. Episode 99: I’m excited to share with you a special episode of the Kankakee Podcast that I recorded in collaboration with the Kankakee County Museum. The episode is all about Rolling Thunder, a…
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French Heritage Museum Open For the Season
Happening this Saturday, April 1st from 10am to 2pm is this season’s reopening of the French Heritage Museum at the Stone Barn, sponsored by Riverside Healthcare. Not only will attendees be invited to enjoy coffee from Brew Head Espresso while browsing the museum, but patrons will also have the opportunity to discover and explore more…
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#92: Kankakee Geology with Abigeil Davis – Kankakee County Museum
Kankakee Podcast is presented by, Puter Pros, Digital World Design, and Stitch Prints in Bradley. Learn more at myputerpros.com, digitalworlddesign.com, and stitchprints.com. Episode 92: It isn’t uncommon for the topic of Kankakee’s history to come up on the podcast. Today, however, we head deeper than ever into Kankakee County’s history with the Kankakee County Museum.…
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#80: The Air Age Coming to Kankakee with the Kankakee County Museum
 Kankakee Podcast is presented by, Puter Pros, Digital World Design, and Stitch Prints in Bradley. Learn more at myputerpros.com, digitalworlddesign.com, and stitchprints.com.  Episode 80: Believe it or not, The Greater Kankakee Airport used to offer passenger service from 1968 to about 1970. During those two years or so, Air Wisconsin provided the public…
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#75: Gougar’s Grove – Kankakee County Museum
From 1883 to about 1915, Gougar’s Grove dominated the tourism industry in the Kankakee area. It was a beautifully wooded picnic area located about two miles upstream from Kankakee, just south of Baker’s Creek. Gougar’s Grove had several attractions to lure people in for miles around including a beach, shooting gallery, bowling alley, merry-go-round, dancing…
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#67: Kankakee Paranormal Investigations Team – Kankakee County Museum
Happy Halloween! Please enjoy this spooktacular episode of Kankakee Podcast that was recorded live at the Kankakee County Museum with the Kankakee Paranormal Investigations Team on Saturday, October 15th, 2022. The team shares some of their spookiest paranormal experiences in Kankakee County and so much more. After the recording, we headed over to the Taylor…
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#62: The Great Inter-State Fair – Kankakee County Museum
The Great Inter-State Fair existed in Kankakee from 1911 to 1932 and took place in what is present day Old Fair Park. At one point, it was almost as large as the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. Jack Klasey of the Kankakee County Museum joins us once again to share the incredible story. Upcoming events…
