MHS recently acquired a photo of the 1949 Illinois State Fair Tug of War State Champions consisting of men from the Morrison area. Swanson said they’ve identified all but three of the team members, and he’s hoping someone from the community can recognize them.
Swanson is also aware of a companion photo of the team tugging on the rope, and he’s hoping someone has that photo so MHS can scan it and add it to their collection.
Swanson credits Jesse Habben for donating the vintage photo below: they’ve identified the coach in the upper left in the back row, with the man next to him yet to be identified, and the other three men (R-L) identified. For the front row, he’s seeking the names of the man in the dark shirt and the man on the right. If you know who these men might be, please email Ken Swanson at Swany0754@gmail.com.
Swanson also provided an update on Morrison Historical Society’s goal to reopen the historic Annan Mill, which is located on the west side of Rock Creek along US-30. The building has been closed to the public since 2020, first for the Covid years and then a break-in and damage by local youth earlier this year. Members have been working on clean-up and hope to open it to the public on a Sunday afternoon in late September, with more details to be announced.
Swanson said the mill was built in 1858, and an addition was constructed in 1980. He noted that Brent Sikkema, who was born in Morrison in 1948 and co-founded Sikkema Jenkins & Co, a Manhattan art gallery, bought the mill for $125,000, spent $175,000 on repairs, and donated it to the Morrison Historical Society.
Ken Swanson, Morrison Historical Society President, is seeking the names of three of the men in the photo.
