Weekend before last, I finally had the opportunity to visit friends in Arcola, IL and celebrate the broomcorn from which all goodness flows. Mitchell and Danette were along for the ride, and we got to visit the broom tent, watch the parade, partake in fine festival food, see the Amish in town for the holiday and spend some time sipping beers with semi-friendly ex-hippie bikers. Of course, the real mission of the trip was the opportunity to observe the Monahan in its natural habitat, and I'm happy to share my notes and observations with you here.
The domesticated Monahan is often observed in the city of Chicago or vacationing on shores of Lake Michigan in Holland, MI. But, it's natural boundaries, which extend from throughout lower Illinois, have long been known and written about in the well-documented book, Monahans of America, The Greater and Lesser Tribes by Dr. C. R. Eatelies. However, beyond the publications of Dr. Eatelies and documentary done by the Maysles, few have had the opportunity to view and observe the Monahan at close quarters in its native Arcola, IL.
Some interesting facts about the Monahan:
1. It is known to gather its large families together several times during the year for major events, especially the Broomcorn Festival.
2. The Monahan adores the broom corn and has been known to decorate house and home with it, and even person.
3. The Monahan is not territorial, and gathers around itself people who might be consider a part of the tribe. These are welcomed fully by the Monahan, who share both victuals, lair and beds with said extended family members.
4. The Monahan is also an excellent guide and can provide all of the details of the land to those who might visit, pointing out site, people and experiences of note.
5. The dress of the Monahan is colorful and they are easily distracted by bright, shiny objects or even dull, plastic blue tokens. The favor green above all other colors and have no care for matching colors or patterns in any conventional way. Indeed, when members of the tribe first move to more civilized areas, they are often mistaken by locals for itinerant bands of roving clowns.
6. The children wear large hats until they reach the age of ten, at which point they take part in the hat removal ceremony and are considered adults members of the tribe.
There is so much to say, but truly the pictures do speak for themselves:
The hippie memorial
Lemon shake-ups!
The history of the broomcorn in the Broom Tent, a la Colleen
A lovely model of the historic Broomcorn Palace
Me and Margaret
One of the many, many beauty queens. A small suggestion for most of the others: short skirts don't work when you are sitting on the backseat of a convertible
Flag corps with brooms
Giant donuts!
And real donuts!!
Monahans on parade
The world famous Lawn Rangers--a true site to behold
A new use for those old bathtubs
Fried treats. Ugh. Mangez?
The domesticated Monahan is often observed in the city of Chicago or vacationing on shores of Lake Michigan in Holland, MI. But, it's natural boundaries, which extend from throughout lower Illinois, have long been known and written about in the well-documented book, Monahans of America, The Greater and Lesser Tribes by Dr. C. R. Eatelies. However, beyond the publications of Dr. Eatelies and documentary done by the Maysles, few have had the opportunity to view and observe the Monahan at close quarters in its native Arcola, IL.
Some interesting facts about the Monahan:
1. It is known to gather its large families together several times during the year for major events, especially the Broomcorn Festival.
2. The Monahan adores the broom corn and has been known to decorate house and home with it, and even person.
3. The Monahan is not territorial, and gathers around itself people who might be consider a part of the tribe. These are welcomed fully by the Monahan, who share both victuals, lair and beds with said extended family members.
4. The Monahan is also an excellent guide and can provide all of the details of the land to those who might visit, pointing out site, people and experiences of note.
5. The dress of the Monahan is colorful and they are easily distracted by bright, shiny objects or even dull, plastic blue tokens. The favor green above all other colors and have no care for matching colors or patterns in any conventional way. Indeed, when members of the tribe first move to more civilized areas, they are often mistaken by locals for itinerant bands of roving clowns.
6. The children wear large hats until they reach the age of ten, at which point they take part in the hat removal ceremony and are considered adults members of the tribe.
There is so much to say, but truly the pictures do speak for themselves:
The hippie memorialLemon shake-ups!The history of the broomcorn in the Broom Tent, a la ColleenA lovely model of the historic Broomcorn PalaceMe and MargaretOne of the many, many beauty queens. A small suggestion for most of the others: short skirts don't work when you are sitting on the backseat of a convertibleFlag corps with broomsGiant donuts!And real donuts!!Monahans on paradeThe world famous Lawn Rangers--a true site to beholdA new use for those old bathtubsFried treats. Ugh. Mangez?