Kishwaukee River Flooding Back in 1949

From February 20, 2024, "Looking Back ."

1949, 75 years ago.

A combination of ice and high water choked up the Kishwaukee River through DeKalb and offered city crews  something different in problems Saturday.

"High water had reached the upper portions of the bridge at Annie's Woods, and the crews had dislodges floating ice there before moving up to the Lincoln Highway Bridge, where a large  flow offered another problem. Blasting powder was used to shake up the ice masses and the current started moving it down."

--RoadDog

NIU Homecoming 2018-- Part 4: The Lagoon and the "Mighty Kish"

Ok, so we puppied out of going to the game, but still plenty to do around campus for us alums.

We  drone east on Lincoln Highway to our favorite part of campus, the Lagoon.  This was formed back when DeKalb leaders were trying to get a college in the city in the 1890s.  It is right by the "Mighty Kish," as we call the Kishwaukee River, which is actually more of a stream or creek.

The story has it that DeKalb leaders damned up the Kish and had the dam broken when state people were in town to select a college site so it looked like the Kishwaukee had a strong flow, which it doesn't have during the summer.  (The headwaters of the Kishwaukee River are in Woodstock, Illinois, and we always drive by it on Illinois Highway 47 when we go to DeKalb.)

Well, they did get that college after all that work.

The Lagoon is close to the hill (actually more of a rise) and there is the oldest building on campus, Altgeld Hall.  It is called "The Castle" because that is what it looks like.  Back in the 70s there was talk of tearing of down and I am sure glad they didn't as it is a beautiful building, complete with gargoyles on the top.

But, No Igor.  --RoadDog