European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 10, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 14 the stars and stripes thursday october 10, 1991 faces n places17th-Century Canoe trip plays big in Peoria from wire reports everyone knows Thal in 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed the Ocean Blue. But what about 1691, when Henri de Tonti paddled Down the. Illinois River in a Canoe it May not have the same ring but the French explorer s trip was As important to Peoria iii., As Columbus voyage was to the new world. It was so important that peo rians last month recreated Henri de Tonlis Quot grand voyage Quot Down the gently flowing River to begin celebrating the Community s 300th anniversary. Seventy five canoeists journeyed for three Days from starved Rock state Park to Peoria and a Marina where Tonti and his entourage built a fort near a Large Lake called limit Cousby indians or a fat  organizers of the yearlong tricentennial Observance Are staging an archaeological dig for remnants of the French settlement a the first by europeans in Illinois a that sprang from Tonti s expedition. A we re trying to discover a missing part of Peoria s history and revive local interest in the areas Early history Quot said Judith Franke director of the Dickson Mounds museum in Lewistown. A a that a the whole Point of the  French explorers were the first Whites to explore and Settle Peoria and French was the dominant language for about 150 years As the Frontier town developed into a key outpost on the route Between Montreal and new Orleans. But Tonti did t exactly discover Peoria. The first footprints of Whites in Peoria were made by French Jesuit missionary fit Jacques Marquette and explorer Louis Jolliet in 1673. Tonti arrived in 1680 and helped build fort Prevc Coeur a which translates into a broken heart a across the River from what would become Peoria. Fort Crevecoeur was abandoned and burned after a few months. Tonti returned in 1691 and built a new fort near an Indian Village with perhaps 3,000 residents. From that Lime a 85 years before the american revolution a there has been almost continuous settlement at Peoria. Quot what you had was an Indian Village with a French trading Post and a French Mission Quot Franke said. Quot sometimes the settlement and fort were abandoned due to Indian attacks. But the population always returned a Short time  thai makes Peoria older than St. Louis Chicago my other major Midwest cities. Quot we know for sure that in 1765 this was a French Village with farms and 15 residents Quot she said. Quot by 1778, a new Village was established a Small distance from the fort in the current downtown District. It had a Small fort 50 houses 100 residents paved streets log houses a wine press and assorted cattle pigs and  the Fertile River Bottom surrounded by breath taking wooded Bluffs attracted the indians and the set canoeists a 17th-Century apparel paddle along a stretch of the Illinois River once travelled by Henri de Tonti. Tiers to Peoria. The natural Beauty and resources such As an abundance of Coal land River and Spring water com and grains later attracted Industry. There were factories that built bicycles and automobiles including designs by Peoria resident Charles Duryea who with his brother Frank Are considered among the fathers of the american automobile Industry. And there were manufacturers of heavy machinery that gave birth to Caterpillar inc., the worlds largest maker of earthmoving equipment. Besides the Duryea great minds and entertainers have called Peoria Home Radical 19th-Century agnostic Robert Ingersoll Bishop Fulton Sheen Host of a network television show feminist Betty Friedan Jim and Marian Jordan known to radio listeners As Fibber Mcgee and Molly comedian Richard Pryor and Singer songwriter Dan  to receive award or. C. Everett Koop the Blunt speaking former . Surgeon general has won the 1991 Albert Schweitzer prize for humanitarianism. Koop 74, will receive the award including $10,000, during a ceremony in Baltimore on oct. 22. Koop was surgeon general from 1981 until 1989. He helped redefine the aids debate with a 1986 report that recognized the disease As a health problem and not a moral Issue. He warned that nicotine was As addictive As heroin and cocaine and made a smokeless society by 2000 a National goal. The Schweitzer prize administered by Johns Hopkins University is named for missionary theologian and musician Albert Schweitzer. Previous winners include former president Carter and author educator Norman  Scott sculpture a commemorative sculpture has been erected for dred Scott the slave who in 1857 was barred by the . Supreme court from suing in Federal court for his Freedom. The sculpture was unveiled earlier this week on a Grassy Blutt in St. Paul minn., overlooking the Confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers where Scott was believed to have met Harriet Robinson whom he later married. A it is a memorial to Honor the memory of dred Scott and to Mark the african american presence in Minnesota a said artist Pietu Jones. Quot hopefully this piece will be a foot in the door to commemorate and Honor the diversity of our  the St. Paul sinner City youth league project was funded by the Minnesota historical society. Scott moved to Minnesota with his owner a military surgeon assigned to fort Snelling and returned to Missouri two years later. When he failed at a bid to buy his Freedom he went to court arguing that because he had lived in a free part of the country he should be declared free. The supreme court disagreed on March 6, 1857, ruling a slave was property that could not be taken away from his owner. However the surgeon had died and his widows new husband an abolitionist emancipated Scott and his family in May 1857. Scott lived the last year of his life As a free Man. Quot a a men10% off on our top 10star trek legacy and nine other top 10 paperbacks Are discounted 10% during october at a stars and stripes Bookstore near you. October top 10 paperbacks 1. Sullivan s sting by Lawrence Sanders a Only $5.35 2. Soon of child by John Saul a Only $5.40 3. 3s North a Angcao by de Ruggero a Only $5.35 4. Black trillium by m.2. Bradley a Only $5.40 5. Star Trak legacy by m j. Friedman a Only $4.45 Angel Eyama by Eric v. Lustbader a Only $5.35 deadly maa Qurada by . Pienciak a Only $5.40 Star Trak boogeymen by m. 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