HWG meets the second Sunday of each month from 2-4 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Highway 61 North in Sikeston, Missouri.

More information is available in the Heartland Writers Journal (Members Only)

Special Field Trip October 12, 2008

The Heartland Writing Guild is making its annual field trip on Sunday, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m. to the Stinson Library in Anna, Ilinois. After touring the library, we'll have lunch at The Root Beer Saloon in Alto Pass, and finish the trip at Alto Vineyards.

About Stinson Library
Robert Burns Stinson was born in Pennsylvania in 1830 and his family moved to Anna, Illinois, in 1849. He joined the Union Army in 1860, marched with General Sherman, and returned to acclaim as a war hero. He became a successful businessman and, upon his death in 1903, bequeathed his fortune to the town of Anna for building a public library. Ten years later, a Chicago architect, Walter Burley Griffin, was hired. Griffin had worked with Frank Lloyd Wright earlier in his career, and shared Wright's vision of 'organic' architecture and use of indigenous materials.

Though not a large building, the Stinson Library's rough-hewn limestone block exterior makes for an imposing structure. A band of Art Deco stained glass clerestory windows encircles the building, adding color and light to the interior. Most of the original dark oak interior beams and woodwork remains in place. In 1978, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

While Stinson Library does not have extensive holdings, its computerized connection to the Shawnee Library System allows it to acquire just about anything for its members. The Library also serves as a center for cultural and civic activities in the local community.

For more information and pictures, go to www.stinsonlibrary.org

About The Root Beer Saloon
The Root Beer Saloon has been a fixture in beautiful downtown Also Pass for many years. Its decor has been described as Northwest Passage meets the Antiques Roadshow. True to its name, it features several micro brewed root beers on tap, as well as  cream soda, cappuccino, milkshakes, and other ice cream concoctions. The menu features croissant sandwiches, ranging from lobster, crawfish, and smoked salmon, to ham and roast beef. It also carries a remarkable range of coffee beans, teas, herbs, and spices from around the world. I guarantee you have never seen any place like it.
More information and pictures

About Alto Vineyards
Also located in Alto Pass, Alto Vineyards is the granddaddy of about a dozen wineries in this region (more are opening each year). In 1985, Guy Renzaglia retired as Director of the Rehabilitation Institute (which he founded at Southern Illinois University about 20 earlier, and was my employer since 1970). Guy began his second career by planting grapevines and, in 1988, with his son, Paul, and other family members, opened Alto Vineyards. It features a gift shop and tasting room with about 20 different award-winning wines, so be sure to have a designated driver if you plan to do some tasting. There is an outdoor pavilion where concerts and wine festivals are held. It so happens that Lew Jetton (the WPSD weatherman) and his band are are scheduled that afternoon, so bring your dancing shoes.
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