Open letter to Robinson, Crawford County citizens:
A few weeks ago, I started reading reporter Dea Gullett's interesting series in the "Daily News" on the Crawford County Tourism Council's audio-tape driving tours of the county's historical sites and points of interest. I've always thought Crawford County was an interesting place. The four pieces I read highlighted my perspective. By the end of the series, I was more curious about Crawford Country and how various agencies were involved with, participating in and promoting the county's attractions. So I checked the Daily News' Web site and followed the links to the tourism council's site, the Crawford County Historical Society's site and several more. Besides the audio-tape driving tours, I found an impressive array of information about the history of the county, places to visit and things to do throughout the county-and even some short day trips to other places of interest within easy driving distance.
Unless I missed it, there is no link to the James Jones Literary Society Web site (rking.vinu.edu/jhtm) or much information about Robinson's famous son. The site has much relevant information that would be more easily available to people browsing the local Web sites. That problem is easily fixed. The tourism council and the historical society sites provide e-mail addresses for adding links. And I'm requesting that a link to the James Jones Literary Society site be added to those sites.
What isn't so easily fixed is something else I find sorely missing from the audio-tape driving tour of Crawford County: the boyhood home of James Jones on Walnut Street, just east of the Robinson Square. The house was purchased by Jack Morris with the intent that something be done to preserve the home and maintain some of the Jones memorabilia. When that idea wasn't picked up, Morris sold the house to Larry Walrdop. And the idea still hasn't gone far.
From what I can gather, there wasn't much local interest in preserving the home for one reason or another, most of which have nothing to do with the fact that James Jones will be remembered for his realistic portrayal of men at war, particularly in World War II, for hundreds of years to come.
Robinson-near-Wabash may not become the tourist attraction for Jones and his work as Stratford-on-Avon became for William Shakespeare and his work. But the Jones boyhood home could be an asset to the community and a great addition to the audio-tape driving tour.
As president of the James Jones Literary Society and co-editor of its newsletter, I regularly see inquiries from around the world about one aspect or another of Jones' work or his life from time to time. Sometimes somebody will ask about his home, if there's anything there to see. Sadly, I tell them the house is there, barely. At least, it's not a parking lot yet.
And I hear about signed copies of first editions, letters and other things that might be available were the house to be preserved as a museum or a historical site. I received a letter not long ago from a man who said his father still had several items that Jones had given him when he left Marshall in the late 1950s. Undoubtedly, there are other things that could be traced to Jones or could be used to decorate the house in period style and made a great stop on the Crawford County tour.
I've always hoped that the Literary Society would end up with the house and use it as a local office where Jones memorabilia and material would be available to scholars and tourists and for a tour when the annual symposia are held in Robinson. But the Society is not able to financially acquire the house, finish the restoration process that has been started, decorate it and fill it with antique furniture and then maintain it.
There are other options. I don't have all the answers. But I do have some ideas and think something needs to be done to save the house and maintain it as a museum of sorts. Maybe that could be done with grant money, contributions or other sources. However and whatever, it can and should be done for the community and for posterity.
I know there are people who want to see the house saved and would like to see some parts of a native son's life available for public use and display. The window of opportunity for that possibility is closing. If you're interested in doing something to see that it doesn't shut completely, please get in touch.
Ray Elliott
R.R.#2, Box 401
Urbana, IL 61802
217 337-6510
217 384-7996 (fax)
tales@soltec.net