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McGEE's 1860's Rockbottom Retreat 

 

Design Your Own Week-End Get-Away

 

Call Kim MCGEE at 217 837 2685 in Hillview, IL for reservations now!

(Room for 4 couples) first couple is $250.00, ($50 for each additional couple) for 2 nights/days.

Enjoy the weekend alone for 250.00 or contact the McGee’s for a custom made weekend and guided tour including transportation. Seniors welcomed!

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=0,0,15963608552187164009&fb=1&hq=bluffdale+vacation,&hnear=Eldred,+IL&gl=us&daddr=r.r.%231,+Box+145,+Eldred,+IL+62027&geocode=4827126513633333753,39.286243,-90.554306&ei=tBs6TKyAOtTe8Abq4PSfBg&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=directions-to&resnum=1&ved=0CBoQngIwAA   

 

 

Inside House

 

Going West on US Route 36 to I72 past Springfield and Jacksoville to exit #52 at Winchester, go south 25 miles to the historic 1860 limestone house on the  IL Scenic River Road. Address: 118B on the Eldred-Hillview Road,

Hillview, IL. This house sits on 2 acres with a barn and crib, no fence yet for horses. It is in the country and is very dark with bright stars at night.

 

Points of interest or things to do:

·        Take historic limestone house tour of 11 homes in the area (3 are lived in, 8 abandoned) 

·         see the sights in Greene County www.greenecountyil.com/whttosee.htm#

·         Visit and hike at Pere Marquette State Park www.greatriverroad.com/Pere/PereIndex.htm

·         See Calhoune County, IL’s only county surrounded by water on 3 sides

www.greatriverroad.com/Cities/Hardin/attractionsCalhoun.htm

·         See Kampsville Museum and Center for American Archeology

http://www.caa-archeology.org/

·         Go antique shopping http://www.greatriverroad.com/Antiques.htm

·         Tour Bluffdale farm: canoe, horseback ride,  hike and pontoon for a fee www.bluffdalevacationfarm.com/

·         See wildlife at McCully Heritage Project at www.mccullyheritage.org.

·         Watch Bald eagles on the River from Nov. – March http://www.greatriverroad.com/Eagles/eagleCover.htmwww.greatriverroad.com/Eagles/eagleCover.htm

·         Cross IL and MS river on a ferry boat

·         See historic Grafton where IL and Mississippi Rivers

·         Sleep late, watch the dark starry night, see the sun set behind the river bluff

 

·          Lewis and Clark State Historic state park  http://www.swinews.com/LewisandClark.htm 

 Other attractions:            Orchards        Many Fine Eateries

Rockbottom History

According to a direct descendant, Mrs. Bertha Camerer Hodgerson, brothers of one family married sisters of another in the late 1880’s. George Camerer married Elizabeth Young. Samuel Camerer married Margaret Young. The Young Sisters parents Philip and Mary Fields-Young lived in the house. Either Mr. Young or Mrs. Young’s parents had built the house.  It was to have been a two story home but the stone mason from England, Mr. Wooley died before the home was finished resulting in a wooden second story. There was also a stone barn and bridge near the property at one time. According to a local historian, Warren Howdeshell, the hollow was called Bridgewater Hollow for John and Frank Bridgewater who owned property north of the Young House. The settlement had a general store, post office, blacksmith shop, and a steam powered mill. Burrs of the old mill still remain in a pasture where it once stood.