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 pavilion and more. The Grove was owned and operated by Captain William T. Gougar. Captain Cougar would shuttle people to his getaway grove on his steamboats, The Minnie Lillie and Margaret, starting at Schuyler Avenue and River Street in Kankakee. Jack Klasey of the Kankakee County Museum joins us on this episode of Kankakee Podcast to tell us all about Captain Billy and his Grove.
The 44th Annual Gallery of Trees is now open at the Kankakee County Museum until December 30th! Learn more at https://www.kankakeecountymuseum.com/.
Read Jack Klasey's weekly column in The Daily Journal:
https://muckrack.com/jack-klasey/articles
Also on this episode is our latest installment of KCC Success Stories! This one features the Professor of Education at Kankakee Community College, Jessica Friedericks.
Please join Kankakee Podcast in donating to the KCC Foundation: https://foundation.kcc.edu/give/
Every donation helps a KCC student succeed.
Much Love,
Jake LaMore
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#105: Lincoln and Kankakee - Shocking New Discoveries with Tom George and the Kankakee County Museum
#104: Steve Case - Science Fiction Writer
#103: Meet Pathfinder
#102: Kankakee Area LGBTQ Network with Matt Hedding-Hess
#101: Strawberry Jazz Festival 2023 with Bonnie Brewer
#100: Meet the Mayor of Grant Park - Jamie Hawkins
#99: Honoring Local POW/MIA - Kankakee County Museum
#98: Darren Westphal - D. Westphal Jewelers
#97: Friends of Langham Island
#96: Perry Farm - Kankakee County Museum
#95: KVTA’s In The Heights with Director Sharla Ronchetto
#94: Meet the Mayor of Bradley - Mike Watson
#93: Kris Calmese - Beng
City of Kankakee Violence Prevention
#92: Kankakee Geology with Abigeil Davis - Kankakee County Museum
#91: ”Good Enough” Q&A - Live at Paramount Theater
#90: Bill Perakis - Meineke Car Care
#89: KVTA’s Disney Moana Jr. with Director Paula Sutter
#88: Jermaine Hunt Sr. - Hunt Services & Consulting Inc.
#87: Carrying Torches - Alternative Rock Band
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