10/20/99

At 2 p.m. Saturday, residents of the Ilasco area will join together with descendants of former residents and other community supporters to proudly dedicate the new Ilasco Historical Marker.

Efforts to establish a permanent remembrance of the town established in the dust of the Atlas Portland Cement Company began in February, and Saturday's dedication ceremony is the culmination of many hours of research, fund raising and personal dedication to the project.

What began as the dream of a few is now a memorial to the masses. At its peak, Ilasco was home to an estimated 2,000 residents. Nationalities included Slovak, Croatian, Hungarian, Romanian, Ukranian, Polish and Russian.

These immigrants, many of whom couldn't speak English when they arrived in America at the turn of the last century, have blended in to the culture of this region, adding a rich cultural heritage to the land along the banks of the Mississippi River. Their family traditions, cherished recipes and work ethics have contributed to the well-being of an area originally built on agriculture and merchandising.

On Saturday, the supporters of this memorial will officially dedicate the structure to the people who worked hard and sacrificed so much to provide a better life for their families. The entire region will stand proud in the fact that these people, who toiled to eke a living out of limestone and shale, gave their best for the benefit of all.

The design for the marker was drawn and donated by Michael Kettelkamp, a Hannibal architect. Many people donated money for the project, including 400 people who attended a benefit dinner in June.

The Georgia Gray granite stone which serves as the marker has plaques that tell how the town of Ilasco was started, and the story of its decline. In addition, there is a sidewalk, flowers and low shrubs to accent the memorial.

We congratulate the people who have worked so hard to transform this dream into reality. This newspaper has proudly supported the efforts of the committee members in their efforts to bring recognition to the people who made cement with picks, shovels and the bend of their backs.

The contributions to this region are significant, and Saturday's tribute is long overdue.