We have a saying in the Archives that you never know who will walk in the door on any given day, and that’s one of the many reasons we love our jobs. It is especially interesting when we can put our hands on documents relating to our patrons’ pasts.
Today we had a visit from Joe Dart, longtime Champaign County resident who was married here in 1946. He tells the story of how he “won” his wife on a quarter bet at Crystal Lake Park, when he was a soldier at Chanute Air Force base. He was 19, and his bride was 16, so they needed permission from their parents to tie the knot. Joe’s father gave his “permission for Private Joe Dart, my son, to marry the girl of his choice”. Mary passed away in 2009 after 63 years of marriage to Joe. Thanks for stopping by, Joe.