Southwestern Illinois RC&D, Inc.

Southwestern Illinois RC&D - Regional Info

Founded in 1818, Washington County is one of the original Illinois counties. Rich in 180 years of local history the area is dominated by the descendants of German and Polish immigrants who take pride in their communities and heritage.

Located just south of Nashville on Highway 127, the Conservation area covers 1,440 acres of woodland containing a 246-acre fishing lake with 13 miles of shoreline. Whether you are looking for a peaceful weekend camping trip on the gently rolling shoreline or just want to get away for a day of hiking and picnicking, Washington County Conservation means outdoor recreation.

European customs run deep in the communities of Washington County. The small village of New Minden is named for Minden, Germany, from where many of its early residents came. The community's Old World culture is still reflected in its old shuttered homes built close to the street with auxiliary buildings to the rear. Hoyleton and Oakdale credit English settlers with their early beginnings. Eventually the rolling prairies and deep sod attracted the hardy German farmers who remained. In 1894, Hoyleton's Evangelical Children's Home began as a facility serving orphaned children and today serves troubled and disadvantaged youth. Attesting to the great age of the Oakdale community is the fact that the cemetery contains the graves of Blackhawk War and Mexican War soldiers and no less than 35 graves marking the resting-place of Civil War veterans. Meadow-in-the-Hole, a grassy valley located in Oakdale, has also been recognized as part of the trail taken by George Rogers Clark on his trek from Kaskaskia to Vincennes and is believed to have camped there.

Radom and DuBois boast beautiful and historic Catholic Churches, both whose spires dominate the gently rolling landscape. St Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Radom was organized in 1873. The current building was blessed on September 30, 1924. At that time it was the largest church in Southern Illinois with a seating capacity of 1200. The interior of the church is beautifully decorated and its large vaulted ceiling is free standing with no pillars for support. St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church in Du Bois has been visited by tourists from all over the nation because of its unusual beauty. It is a combination of Roman and Byzantine architecture. Its twin spires rise 116 feet above the surrounding prairie and its pictorial windows are considered art treasures. The church has been nicknamed "Cathedral of the Prairie". DuBois is also home to the DuBois Center. This United Church of Christ camping and conference facility is nestled in a beautiful wooded area. The center is open for meetings and retreats throughout the year, with a heavy camping schedule in the summer.

Addieville, was named after a woman, Addie Morrison, whose husband donated the land upon which the town was built. It to is a well-kept, residential community which reflects its German heritage. Ostendorf's Blacksmith Shop and the Eagle's Nest Restaurant and Tavern, the community's two most noted spots have been in continuous business for more than one hundred years. The community of Venedy is home to one of the most historic pipe organs in the state. The small St. Salvator Evangelical-Lutheran Church purchased it in 1865 from a Lutheran church in St. Louis who had outgrown the organ. To bring it to its new home, six Venedy farmers volunteered to make the roundtrip by horse and wagon. The momentous journey took the men and horses a week.

Ashley, IL, located on the far eastern side of the county, has an interesting history. After the Civil War, the U.S. Government offered the devastated Southern refugees free railroad fare for one hundred miles north of the Mason-Dixon line. Because of Ashley's location on the Illinois Central track, 98 miles north of Cairo, IL, it became a jumping off place for many of the refugees. The people of Ashley found themselves responsible for the care of these down and out people. Even today one can find a variety of names sprinkled throughout the area reminiscent of this time. The name, Lively Grove, was given to the area in the western part of the county because for one night in 1813 a grove of trees in that area served as a safe haven for a young boy named Lively and the Lively family's hired hand. They were the only two survivors escaping a band of Indians that had massacred the rest of the young boy's family, the only recorded Indian attack in the county.

Nashville, with its lovely Courthouse Square and unique shopping area, is the county seat and the largest community in Washington County. Experience life during the early years of Washington County at the Washington County Historical Museum and the McKelvey One-Room School House. Enjoy one of the most picturesque spots in the Southwestern Illinois at the Washington County Conservation Area just 5 miles south of Nashville.

Okawville has long enjoyed its reputation as home to the only mineral springs resort in Illinois. Originally founded as Bridgeport in 1838, Okawville maintains its comfortable German heritage with quaint shops, good food and unique attractions. Discover a piece of the past as you visit the Heritage House Museum, including the Frank Schossler Home as well as the family's harness shop and commercial laundry, the 1869 Joseph Schlosser Home, and the Victorian-style Dr. Poos Home and Medical Museum.

Washington County is home to small rural communities, many dotted with churches, small grocery stores, or local watering holes. These are places where family, heritage and tradition are strong and life a little slower.

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