September 29 & 30 event to feature 19th century architecture

GALENA, Ill. - From cozy miners' cottages to grand Queen Annes, Galena's incredible architecture will take center stage during the 45th Annual Tour of Historic Galena Homes.  Autumn is always a popular time to visit scenic Galena, but add the chance to tour inside five private historic buildings and the lure becomes irresistible. Preservation, interior decorating, antiques and history are featured elements of the popular event hosted by the Galena - Jo Daviess County Historical Society. The guided tour runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine, both Saturday and Sunday, September 29 & 30, 2012.

Two heritage hibiscuses, thought to be as old as the home, greet you near at the back entrance of the Friesenecker House at 507 Spring Street. Built in 1891 for Philip and Margaret Friesenecker, the home remained in the family for 114 years. This was the first residence in Galena wired for electricity. A parlor gasolier (half gas, half electric) is original to the home, as is the woodwork, a stained and beveled glass window, pocket doors and hardware. Two staircases, often a sign that a maid or servant lived in the home, provide access to the three bedrooms on the second floor. The current owners purchased the property in 2010. Their large collection of clocks adds an air of whimsy to the gracious and spacious Queen Anne home.

The hilltop property at 304 Elk Street was once owned by C.R. Perkins, a leather merchant who partnered with the Grants in the Grant & Perkins Leather Store (Ulysses was at war during that time). The Perkins home burned in 1880. The lot was sold to William R. Holder, who built this fine Queen Anne home on the site in 1881. Holder was a merchant, operating a grocery store in downtown Galena. Purchased in 1994 by the present owners, the home retains many of its original features. A grand staircase welcomes you in the front hall. Sliding pocket doors separate the spacious double parlors, and a baby grand piano graces the living area. A stacked bay window and two porches provide ample vantage points overlooking historic downtown and the Galena River valley. A recent kitchen remodel provides modern convenience to the stately Holder House. A back staircase leads to second floor bedrooms plus a home office on the third.

The enchanting Coates Cottage at 512 Dewey Avenue is a miner's cottage built of stone in the 1830s. It consisted of just one room (now the kitchen) with a bedroom on the second floor. The living and dining rooms, enclosed porch, and galley bathroom upstairs were added later. Two generations of the Coates family lived here including Ralph "Dude" Coates, who worked for the Uehren & Furlong Furniture and Undertaking business, and his daughter Helen (Mrs. Jerry Bingham). Three French doors bring light and nature into the cozy space from a side terrace. Wide pine floorings are the perfect backdrop for the owner's collection of Craftsman furnishings. The cottage was purchased by the current owner in 1996. An architect by trade, his original photography graces the walls, along with several 1830s maps of America which include a prominent Galena, already being recognized as a national center of trade and commerce.

Thick native limestone walls of the original 1830s miner's cottage were preserved to form the kitchen of the charming House of Seven Gables at 732 Dewey Avenue. Two major additions were constructed, including a late 1890s wood-frame addition with an odd bay that brought the number of interwoven gables to seven. Legend and a stone ledge hint it may have been a stagecoach stop. The home changed hands many times in the 19th and 20th centuries; the current owners purchased the home in 1997. They have done a great deal of structural maintenance, from roof to sagging stone walls. This year the first floor room, which retains its original wainscoting, got a new ceiling and was transformed into a stagecoach and western memorabilia sanctuary. A kitchen wall has acquired a large bas-relief ceramic mural of three generations of Native American women, sculpted by one of the owners. The house is full of family heirlooms, antiques and primitives, plus art work from the owners' Mineral Point gallery. Lovely terraced gardens create a natural oasis which surrounds the home.

Steamboat captain David Bates built a 13-room Federal mansion at 1203 Third Street in 1830. Just behind the main home is an 1835 Greek Revival-style brick cottage which was likely built as an in-law home as it has 10.5-foot ceilings, a feature that would have not be found in servant's quarters. However, it is known that Bates held slaves. Unlike Missouri, Illinois was a free state but Black Laws allowed for slaves under the term of an indentured servant. Bates brought a keel boat from St. Louis to Galena in 1819. He later ran steamboats between St. Louis, Galena, and St. Paul. In 1829 Bates built The Galena steamboat in Cincinnati, OH; it burned and sank in the Galena River in 1837.  Bates sold his property to John P. DeZoya and left town. The site became a bed and breakfast in the 1990s. The owners chose to name the lodging after DeZoya, not Bates. The current owners purchased the property in 2009 and did extensive renovations on the cottage. Antiques fill the charming and functional space, making it a welcoming and favorite spot for guests.

A free shuttle service will operate between all tour homes and ticket locations on Saturday; attendees will need to provide their own transportation on Sunday. Tour guides, many in period attire, will provide historic narrative at each home. Free admission to the Galena & U.S. Grant Museum is included with the home tour ticket and will include the new Ghosts of the Grants hologram presentation. During the home tour, the museum will be featuring a new temporary exhibit entitled "Ulysses S. Grant: Friends, Family & Foes," showcasing personal relationships of Galena's favorite son.

New in 2012 will be a Cocktail Reception at the grand Captain David G. Bates home at 1203 Third Street. On Saturday evening, September 29, from 5 to 8 pm, hosts Phil Eichler and Tim Newman will serve cocktails & hors d'oeuvres. The exclusive, limited ticket will cost $50 and includes the reception, plus one Home Tour ticket.

The 45th Annual Tour of Historic Galena Homes is sponsored by the Galena - Jo Daviess County Historical Society. Tickets are $17, $16 in advance (before September 15); children under 10 are free with an adult. Tickets and maps are available during the tour weekend at the Old Train Depot Visitor Information Center at 101 Bouthillier St., the DeSoto House Hotel at 230 S. Main St., the Galena & U.S. Grant Museum at 211 S. Bench St., the Gateway to History at 403 S. Main St., and at any home on the tour. Advance tickets (non-refundable) are available at the Museum, or phone 815.777.9129 to purchase by credit card.

For further event information, contact the Historical Society at 815.777.9129 or visit www.galenahistorymuseum.org. Additional area offerings and visitor information may be found at the Galena/Jo Daviess County Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.galena.org or by calling 877.464.2536. While in town, visit the CVB's Old Train Depot Visitor Information Center at 101 Bouthillier St. (corner of Park Avenue) for on-site assistance and countywide information.

Davenport hotel 1 of 3 in Iowa to hold esteemed national designation

Davenport, IA - Hotel Blackhawk has received the esteemed AAA Four Diamond Award ® lodging award for 2012. The historic property is one of only three in Iowa to hold the designation.

The hotel is part of a select group within North America. In 2012, just 1,491 lodgings received the AAA Four Diamond Rating out of 59,000 AAA Approved and Diamond Rated lodgings across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Lodgings at this level are refined and stylish, featuring upscale physical attributes, according to AAA. The designees typically offer an extensive array of amenities combined with a high degree of hospitality, personal attention and guest services. The program has been in existence for 75 years.

"Four Diamond establishments consistently deliver attentive service and memorable travel experiences in comfortable, high-quality surroundings," said Michael Petrone, director of AAA Tourism Information Development. "To achieve and maintain these exceptional standards on a daily basis is a commendable achievement."

"This AAA Four Diamond Award is a seminal moment in the re-emergence of the Hotel Blackhawk," said General Manager Tim Heim. "To have the hip and historic experience we strive to deliver for our guests every day recognized nationally is an awesome privilege. We are proud to receive this prestigious designation."

Hotel Blackhawk re-opened December 15th, 2010. The hotel retains its 96-year-old historic character while featuring modern conveniences throughout the 130 guestrooms and extended-stay suites, six meeting rooms and up to 300-person banquet capacity in the signature Gold Room.

Other features include wireless internet, a fitness center, business center, swimming pool, hot tub, Spa Luce (lu-CHAY), Milan Flower Shop, the Bix Bistro restaurant, the Beignet (been-YAY) Done That coffee shop and Blackhawk Bowl & Martini Lounge. The hotel is part of the Summit Hotels & Resorts group (www.summithotels.com) and the Historic Hotels of America network (www.historichotels.org).

For more, visit www.hotelblackhawk.com or find us on www.facebook.com (Search: Hotel Blackhawk).

-30-

Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. - Commemorate the Civil War's 150th anniversary with two thrilling reenactments of the Battle of Monday's Hollow at a Living History and Civil War Reenactment Weekend, Sept. 15-16, at the Missouri Trapshooters Association Grounds, 51 Trapshooters Road off of State Road A in Linn Creek.

This event, sponsored by the Camden County Historical Society & Museum and the Fourth Missouri Cavalry Reenactors, will feature a full-scale reenactment of the battle on both Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free to this maximum-effort reenactment of the only Civil War battle fought in Camden County. Parking is available for suggested donations of $10 per car and $5 per motorcycle.

The Civil War festival will feature a multitude of activities and will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The reenactment of the Battle of Monday's Hollow will start at 1 p.m. each day and is expected to last 45 minutes to an hour. According to period reports, the actual Battle of Monday's Hollow took place on Oct. 13, 1861 and lasted less than a day. Battle reenactments of this scale generally attract an average of about 400-600 reenactors and spectators can often number in the thousands.

"It's the only reenactment of its kind in the central portion of Missouri," said Valerie Thomas, event coordinator and museum archivist. "It's like having a front row seat to a live-action Civil War battle movie. These battle reenactments are quite a spectacle - Union and Confederate soldiers with sabers drawn, cannons firing, infantries shooting and the cavalry charging. Kids love it and adults are absolutely fascinated by it. And there's so much more to the reenactment than just the battle. It's really a spectacular two-day event."

Each day visitors can travel back in time to the 1860s with a variety of era-themed activities before, during and after the battle. Guests can walk through Confederate and Union military camps and interact with the soldiers on both sides. Patrons also can hear live Civil War-era music performed by singers and musicians on Saturday, as well as watch period reenactment speakers on both days. A Civil War-era worship service is also scheduled at 8 a.m. Sunday.

Other planned activities include a "sutler village" of period vendors, craftsmen, traveling museums and a Civil War-era medical tent. Inside the tent, visitors will learn how surgery was performed and how illnesses were treated in the 1860s, as well as observe Union and Confederate wounded soldiers as they receive medical attention in the heat of battle.

Additional 1860s-era stations will showcase a laundress, woodworkers and soapmakers. A children's area will feature an interactive air cannon, a station where kids can learn to make rope and other fun activities. A variety of food vendors also are scheduled to be at the site, featuring pulled pork, chicken and ribeye sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, nachos, funnel cakes, kettle corn, ice cream and more.

Three special guests will help "review the troops" during the reenactment: John Seward, a retired brigadier general and the last living male descendant of President Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of State William Seward, along with Brandon and Chase Mills, the great-great grandson and great-great-great grandson of a Union soldier who fought at the Battle of Monday's Hollow.

For more information, including an event schedule or for details on how to get involved with the reenactment, call the museum at 573-346-7191 or visit CamdenCountyMuseum.com. The Camden County Historical Society & Museum is at the corner of U.S. 54 and Route V in Linn Creek and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week (when volunteers are available).

Civil War reenactors and spectators who are looking for lodging can learn about the Lake's many resorts, hotels, condominiums, motels, bed and breakfasts, RV parks or campgrounds by calling the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) or visiting FunLake.com.

The event was made possible by a $5,000 grant from the Missouri Humanities Council (MHC) to the Camden County Museum and Historical Society in support of the reenactment. The MHC is the only statewide agency in Missouri devoted exclusively to humanities education for citizens of all ages. It has served as a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities since 1971.

# # #

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that the U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a total of $687,362 to three Iowa airports: Cherokee County Regional Airport, Davenport Municipal Airport, and Sheldon Municipal Airport.  The funding was made available through the Federal Aviation Administration.  Harkin is a senior member of the Senate panel that funds transportation initiatives.

"Improving the pace of economic recovery in our state means investing in our infrastructure," said Harkin.  "These improvements to Iowa's airports will bring jobs to the communities by helping to facilitate a more attractive business environment."

Details of the grants are as follows:

Cherokee County Regional Airport - $534,542 to purchase land within the runway projection zone for Runway 18.

Davenport Municipal Airport - $63,000 to perform an environmental impact assessment of the proposed extension of Runway 15.

Sheldon Municipal Airport - $89,820 to install a vertical/visual guidance system to enhance safety as pilots seek access to runways.