The Lost Mounds of Aurora - The Hill-Lewis Expedition

[@JR-playlists]

Thanks to you making this video, Theodore Hayes Lewis's life work will be remembered and not forgotten. Not to mention the churches and the Miller's destruction of the original peoples sacred sites. I personally have cut through that filed south of the cemetery fence on my bike to get to the fox river bike path on the W side of the river via the Cool Acres access road. Now I will be mindful of it's history thanks to your work. Thank you.

[@BeHistoric]

Thanks for watching and commenting - and for the sharing your experiences with this site. Yes, he was a remarkable figure - and unsung hero in archeological research - capturing and preserving thousands of Native American earthworks, when so many were being destroyed. Thanks again!

[@NorthwoodsShooter]

Excellent documentary! Born and raised in the area and never knew of the rich history! Thank you!

[@BeHistoric]

Glad that you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching the video and commenting!

[@thomasmackowiak]

Great information about the Hill-Lewis Expedition over the years and in particular about the Lost Mounds of Aurora. Thank you for bringing this information to our attenetion.

[@BeHistoric]

Thanks very much for watching, the kind words, and for commenting! We thought that the Aurora Mounds story was interesting in itself - but were especially struck by the Hills-Lewis expedition as a backstory. It was fascinating to us.

[@thomasmackowiak]

@@BeHistoric I also found the Hills-Lewis expedition backstory very interesting. It is amazing that Lewis would spend so much of his life investigating Indian mounds all over the Upper Midwest. He was a dedicated man who must have enjoyed his work even though it proved to be perilous at times.

[@BeHistoric]

@@thomasmackowiak Indeed, and then he spent many of the winter months doing his own Southern Archeological Survey during the same time period. Most of these southern survey records never materialized after his death. He was a remarkable person to have investing so much time and energy in these endeavors. Very glad that you found the story as interesting as we did! Thanks again for watching!

[@northvilletunnels]

Outstanding and informational. I live in that area of the Fox Valley from 1987 to 2021. I wish I knew more about that history when I was there. Thanks for sharing this.

[@BeHistoric]

Thanks very much for watching our video, for the kind words, and for taking the time to comment! Very glad that you found the video informative. Thanks again!

[@BocageTiger]

Thank you for bringing this story to light.

[@BeHistoric]

Thanks for watching and commenting! Glad that you found this story relevant.

[@richarddavis1646]

I always like the quality of your productions.

[@BeHistoric]

Thank you for watching and commenting. We very much appreciate it!

[@gusrubio489]

Wow, just wow! What a great story! I'm a bit of an archeology/history geek, I'd never heard this story. Thanks for such a detailed, well-done presentation.

[@BeHistoric]

Thank you for watching, the kind words, and for commenting! We very much appreciate it!

[@gaelliott61]

That was a great story, and I’m saddened to hear that the man who found grave sites has no marker for his own grave.

[@BeHistoric]

Thank you for watching and commenting! Yes, Lewis's fate, given all that he had discovered, seems very unfortunate and sad.

[@LovePrettySunsets]

The Fermi lab grounds are very interesting and have a huge Native American connection there. My dad helped build the first super-collider there in the 80's and there were multiple arrowhead found on the grounds. That area was initially slated to be a little town. I'm not sure if you both would be interested in exploring that? I have family who reside in West Chicago and both witnessed a Native American chief, running at top speed, wearing a full-feathered headdress. He appeared to have run upwards (off of the ground) and suddenly disappeared, while a few of his feathers fell off him and then disappeared. I know it sounds crazy, but they are both sober and claimed the same vision. It's amazing what you can capture if you really pay attention to your surroundings. I've seen plenty of paranormal activity, including in downtown Wheaton, where I grew up and have witnesses to them too. It's like the historical energies do not want to be erased.

[@BeHistoric]

Hi, thanks very much for the comment and the idea! Yes, the Fermilab sites are familiar to us, and we've been looking into the Fermilab excavations from the early 1970s and hope to do one or more videos on this topic sometime in the future.

[@jamess7626]

I was just visiting the grave of a family member of a close friend in that cemetary. I return there from time to time. This video will give even more meaning to this sacred spot. Thank you.

[@BeHistoric]

Thank you for commenting and watching our video. Very much appreciated. Glad that the video provided some additional information that gave more meaning to the St Joseph Cemetery. It is interesting how continuity of use even passes between cultures.

[@jamespierce5782]

Very well done!

[@BeHistoric]

Thank you for watching and commenting! We appreciate the kind words!

[@GOMF-eq4qc]

Thanks for all your research and another wonderful video. Unfortunately I had a conflict and could not attend your presentation at the Wheaton Library that my wife, Nancy, helped set up. I heard that it went very well and that you had a great turnout. I am looking forward to watching it once it is posted.

[@BeHistoric]

Thank you for your continued support and for watching this latest video! Say "Hi" to Nancy - and thank her again for setting up the talk. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed working with her on this project.

[@davidthigpen2366]

Here in Ohio mounds and earthworks are often found in cemeteries, makes sense to me.

[@BeHistoric]

Yes, you are right. This is not that unusual. On the one hand, the continuity of usage is a good thing. On the other hand, the bad thing is that the later usage often destroys and obliterates the earlier usage. It's too bad the at least some of the original sacred space cannot be preserved in some of these locations. Thanks for watching and the thoughtful comment!

[@834CJM]

I'm researching the East Aurora/Root Street Cemetery that was said to have Native Americans buried there. This is fascinating information. I created a blog and shared it with the Aurora Library. I'd love to include the picture you have of Joseph Stolp's feast with the Native Americans. Can you send me a copy of it?

[@BeHistoric]

Thanks for watching and commenting! Yes, we exchanged emails on the topic. Hopefully, you were able to receive that and found it useful. The best of luck in your research on the area. Thanks again!

[@BeHistoric]

In spite of always watching these videos multiple times before we release them, small errors still sometimes manage to creep through. First, at 10:11, we stated that Lewis was 30 in 1876, which was an arithmetic error. He was in fact, 20 years of age, being born in 1856. At 16:20, we described St Joseph's Church as being 1 mile south-southwest of the cemetery, when in fact it's 1 mile south-southeast of the cemetery. Our apologies for not catching these before release.

[@LovePrettySunsets]

There is no need to apologize. You both are stellar with your detailed historical facts. I can barely remember the history of where I parked my car coming out from the local Costco. ;)

[@BloodofmyKindred]

I would love to see the triangle field have a Geophysical survey to detect disturbances in the ground as they do with ancient barrows and such in England. Great video!

[@beetnlegz]

Not sure if this cause for concern or warning but there was I think a homeless person camping in the wooded area on the north side of the cemetery. May still be there. It was kinda tucked back but pretty noticeable in early spring when there was no growth. Be careful wandering around

[@BeHistoric]

Thanks for the observation.

[@BeHistoric]

Here are some additional references regarding Theodore H Lewis ... Specific references used in this video: "The Archaelologist", Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, 1894, Volume 2, Pgs 85-89 archive.org/details/archaeologist02ohio/page/90/mode/2up "The Aborigines of Minnesota: A Report based on the collections of Jacob V Brower and on the Field Surveys and Notes of Alfred J Hill and Theodore H Lewis", by N H Winchell - Minnesota Historical Society - 1911 books.google.com/books?id=DoFFAQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false Additional works of Theodore Lewis available online: The De Soto Expedition through Florida" by Theodore Hayes Lewis, 1900 archive.org/details/desotoexpedition00lewirich "Tracts for Archaeologists, being Reprints from Various Periodicals" by Theodore Hayes Lewis, 1885 books.google.com/books?id=WaHVAAAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

[@LovePrettySunsets]

Thanks for producing another excellent video, as usual. You both really dig deep with your research and that is so appreciated. I always look forward to what you'll have next to share. I never knew about the Aurora effigy mounds. Side note, I did learn a bit about downtown Naperville in the 1800's and how the land of the current, North Central College was Indian territory back then. There supposedly is a mass grave underneath a bank parking lot downtown Naperville. I heard that there was construction that occurred and it was immediately halted after multiple bones were inadvertently dug up. It was determined that it was indeed and old mass gravesite that should remain undisturbed, hence the cement lot covering it. There are so many interesting, historical tidbits that are so fascinating and you both are keeping them alive! I send nothing but good vibes and applause for your excellent work!

[@BeHistoric]

Thanks very much for watching the video and the support. It is much appreciated!

[@johncinfloridausa2236]

VERY minor comment: I was amused to hear that Aurora IL was likely named for Aurora NY. I am very familiar with that little town, and my wife taught a few semesters at Wells College located there. It's such a small town that it's hard to imagine that there existed that many people from there to inspire a town name.

[@BeHistoric]

Thanks for watching and for the comment! Yes, there is some incongruity there. Early histories mention a town in New York - but don't specify further. One other possibility we didn't mention might be Aurora Township in Erie County, New York, near Buffalo.

[@MrStones1963]

In western New York state, there are nearby towns named East Aurora, Oswego, Geneva, and Batavia. Same town names along Fox River in Illinois. I do not know the naming details, but that sure appears to be more than a coincidence.

[@BeHistoric]

@@MrStones1963 Fully agree that at least a few of those were the ispiration for the Illinois town names. And upon further review, the western Aurora town, in Erie County, NY is the more likely namesake of the Illinois city.

[@johncinfloridausa2236]

@@MrStones1963 That's really cool! There must have been a lot of Upstate NY people who settled in the area, I suppose.

[@johncinfloridausa2236]

@@BeHistoric I'm laughing: I lived in Upstate NY for 30 years and never heard of that Aurora Twp. Though it's tru

[@brianberthold3118]

Rockford Il still has some mounds they made a whole park around them

[@BeHistoric]

Thanks for watching and commenting! That's interesting. Can you share the name of the park? Perhaps that's something we can look into.

[@moonmac]

Wayne township was covered with huge turtle effigy mounds

[@BeHistoric]

That's interesting. Presumably you are referring to Wayne Township in DuPage County, Illinois? Can you describe further approximately where these effigy mounds were located? Thanks again for the comment!

[@moonmac]

Home lots cut into it's left shoulder. Disgraceful!

[@moonmac]

There's an ancient underwater stonehenge shaped like a turtle behind Wood Glen. It's made of turtle shaped boulders. It's easy to see on Google satellite.

[@bapk123]

Thanks for creating this video. Are the archives still in Minnesota? Are they available for viewing by the public?

[@BeHistoric]

Thank you for watching and commenting! That is an excellent question. According to the MHS online catalogue, the work entitled "Survey field notebooks and related volumes, pre-1880, 1880-1895, Northwestern Archaeological Survey (U.S.)" is available via microfilm at the MHS library (Gale Family Library) in St Paul, MN.

[@forrestunderwood3174]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Land surveying is a profession, not a craft. jus sayin'. Also, topography can effect the courses of section lines (especially through swamps etc.), but the example shown involves closing sections in a township. Section 19 is a closing section. The township and range lines are surveyed first. Then, the sections are laid out within the townships beginning in the SE corner and surveyed toward the north and the west. The tier of sections along the north and the range of sections along the west boundaries of the township are called closing sections, and the "40s" along those lines are whatever is left over. So sometimes it's more, sometimes it's less. The whole idea is to make as many "regular" 40 acre quarter-quarters in a township as possible, for the purpose of selling them to the public via the General Land Office back in the day. The whole reason this is necessary is because surveyors are trying to survey a grid of squares onto a spheroid. Yes, the earth is not flat.

[@forrestunderwood3174]

Having said that, I'm glad you're using the old USDA aerial images from the 1930s and the old platbooks. I would also suggest that if you're having a hard time pinning down the location of a building, etc., you might check the County's Land Information Office to see if an old survay map (these are called Plats of Survey) exists of the area you're exploring. You might get lucky and find an exact location on a map. With dimensions. Also, I've been binging on your videos from the "tundra" just north of you, and enjoying all of them.

[@BeHistoric]

Thanks for the comment and for the additional clarification regarding township and section mapping. Makes sense and is very interesting. Our primary goal in many of these videos where we discuss the Township-Range-Section mapping is to convey how the grid system was generally imposed upon open lands in the first half of the 19th century (for our region at least). Fully understand that there were exceptions here and there to accomodate river systems and other natural boundaries. But your observations regarding how the mapping started and proceeded - and then left some residuals areas to the north and west of the townships is very interesting. That actually explains a few things that we've recently seen. Thanks too for the advice regarding the plats of suvey. We have made use of these for other investigations, where we can find them or have access to them. But not always so easy to find them, as you know. These old maps and surveys are a treasure trove of information. As you point out, however, it is good to know their limitations, their precision (or lack thereof), when interpreting them. Thanks again for the comments and suggestions. Glad that you find our videos interesting!

[@trexkiller3904]

Do you know if ground-penetrating-radar has been used to attempt to locate and examine any of the mapped mounds?

[@BeHistoric]

We are not aware of that technology or any other geo-physics technology as having been applied to this site.

[@fleadoggreen9062]

Anyone ever dig a mound up and see what’s inside???

[@BeHistoric]

Thanks for watching and commenting! Not to our knowledge. Effigy mounds rarely contain anything more than a bundle burial with few or no grave goods. The mound itself is the artifact or relic, as it apparently may have been used in ritual or spiritual guidance. Digging up an effigy mound does nothing more than destory the artifact. Today, you need a very, very good archeological reason for digging up a mound, whether it be ceremonial, effigy, or burial.

[@amelinedealexei9843]

I’ve got something special for you if you ever come through Richmond (Wisconsin/ IL border) :)

[@BeHistoric]

OK, sounds interesting. Feel free to email us with any information ahead of time, either [e-mail] or [e-mail]

[@EnvironmentalJusticeAdvisoryCo]

Thank you for sharing the video, I would like to get in touch with you , Can I have your email. Thank you Casey

[@BeHistoric]

Thanks for watching! Glad that you found it informative. We can be reached via email at either [e-mail] or [e-mail]