2 THE A UD UB OW), BU LeL baie 
many representatives from bird clubs, garden clubs, nature organizations, 
camera and hiking clubs will come to Decatur, Saturday, April 26, and 
stay for the interesting field trip on Sunday, April 27. Further inquiries 
should be addressed to Mrs. C. F. Russell, P.O. Box 287, Decatur, Ill. or to 
Mrs. Walter S. Huxford, 3027 Thayer St., Evanston, Ill. (GReenleaf 5-1487). 
io fl fi 
January 21, 1958 
Dear Friends: 
I meant to do my work today —— but we awoke to find a big snow. Break- 
fast at our house was late, as the birds needed theirs first. All twelve 
feeders had been filled Sunday, but with the heavy snow the birds were 
finding it difficult to get the food. After clearing the snow away, our break- 
fast still waited, as this was a perfect winter morning to watch the birds 
feeding and to day dream. 
Day-dreaming about Sunday, April 27th, when our old house and gardens 
will ring with happiness, laughter, friends and bird song. The Decatur 
Audubon Society will be your host on Saturday. On Sunday the field trips 
will include a visit to Breeze Hill Farm and Gardens, our country home 
near Moweaqua, Illinois. Breeze Hill is an old farm. In its center stands 
a house 121 years old. The Hill is a wild life sanctuary, full of birds. 
As I day dream I always turn back the pages of time. A long, long time 
ago Elizabeth and Ellington Adams came up from Kentucky and settled on 
this hill. They built a log cabin and lived in it many years. Elizabeth had 
tenderly cared for the root of a lilac she had brought in their covered 
wagon. While it grew, Ellington was busy, working and saving to secure 
a land grant for his ground. Finally, in 1837, they secured a grant for 
forty acres. The price, one dollar per acre. Ellington was ready now to 
build his house. (This land grant, signed by President Van Buren, is one 
of our prized possessions. ) 
First came four rooms, each 16 x 16 feet, two below, two above, and a 
large fire place for heat and cooking. Ellington became more prosperous, 
and eventually owned thousands of acres. The family grew, and four more 
rooms were added. to the front, two below, two above. Ellington had chosen 
his site well. To protect the house from the winds he built it at the foot of 
a higher hill. When death claimed their young son, the hill became the 
burial ground. Time marched on, and Elizabeth and Ellington were buried 
at the top of the hill. Their tombstones are now so weather-worn you can 
hardly read the dates. Their land passed from sons to grandsons. Each 
one sold a little more until, when we arrived, only 65 acres remained. 
And now the pages of time turn back to the Spring of 1940. 
We drove down a country lane, which suddenly rose in a steep incline. 
Rounding a curve we saw an almost abandoned old house. It was the most 
forlorn place I had ever seen. Its occupant was a lone man. Weeds and 
trash were abundant; I had no desire to give the place a second glance, 
but my husband quickly disappeared, looking for the owner 
It took me only an instant to decide that my husband had surely lost 
his mind. He refused to answer my call, and growing more impatient, I 
