‘Stomping on my heritage’

Negro Creek has nothing to do with DePue; it is in Marquette.

In 1960, your newspaper printed a name change to Negro Creek. I think that is enough, or you will be stomping on my heritage. In 1820, two great-grandparents came from Dudley, England, to work in the coal mines; they were stone makers. Since then, 14 generations have lived, loved, laughed, raised children, lived through the Depression, fought wars from World War I through Afghanistan, and have either died there or moved on to the outside world. The house still stands like a beacon to what we have given back to America and is still lived in today. The only thing left of Echo Bluff (Marquette) is a row of foundations of homes that stood below the hill and Negro Creek. Have you ever heard of “Don’t Mess With Texas?” Don’t mess with Negro Creek and Marquette, Illinois!

With Pride I say, “I am just an Illinois River Bottom Dirt Farmer’s Daughter. Ike’s Kid No. 2.”

Carol Lamkin Anderson

Anaheim, Calif.