12 THE AU:DUB O NSB ULE eee 
historical marker was erected on the campsite: $150 for the stone and $250 
for the bronze plaque. Pictures of this were taken May 3, 1970, during the 
Iilinois Audubon annual meeting, of LeRoy Tunstall and Keith Martin of 
DuPage Audubon Society, on the site, posing as Lewis and Clark in the 
dense greenery of springtime ... with the Mississippi River at their feet. 
At the time the marker was erected in Illinois, nearly every newspaper 
and magazine in America wrote about this historic site at Wood River, 
Illinois. Next, a long line of torchbearers won three and one-half acres for 
a Lewis and Clark State Park on the site. Some far-sighted Illinois citizens 
didn’t feel this acreage was worthy of the great Lewis and Clark expedition. 
Thus began the struggle for a bigger park. Prominent here as expansion 
leaders were Elmer Hart of Hartford; Mrs. Peter Klunick, president of 
the Lewis and Clark Society; Clarence Decker of East Alton; the late 
Clarence Sparks of Wood River, and his brother Everett Sparks, dedicated 
Audubon Society member ... all bucking industrial expansion vs. the park. 
Madison County, in which Wood River lies, on its 160th birthday had 
26 miles of riverfront on the Mississippi, with not one inch set aside for 
public enjoyment and use. Expansionists fought for 2,400 feet of riverfront 
for the park. To achieve this victory, the Lewis and Clark Society worked 
with historical bodies, chambers of commerce, industrial, civic, conserya- 
tion, and planning groups ... democracy at work on the highest level. 
Not since acquisition of Starved Rock State Park early this century 
has Illinois had the opportunity to establish a park combining historical 
significance, unusual scenery, forest cover, and open water for wildlife. 
In honor of the hard-won achievement of the Lewis and Clark Society and 
the conservation pioneers, who won 173 acres for the park, and are shooting 
for 600, the Illinois Audubon Society awarded them a collection of out- 
standing nature books. This constitutes the Dr. Alfred) Lewy Memorial 
Book Award. These books have been conveyed by the Lewis and Clark 
Society to the hbrary of Wood River’s Lewis and Clark School to spear- 
head conservation education. On the 167th anniversary of the Louisiana 
Purchase from Napoleon, southern Illinois newspapers showed the Lewis 
and Clark Society, via its President Mrs. Peter Klunick, donating these 
Audubon nature books to the library nearest the original campsite—to 
keep the torch burning for conservation. —Betty Groth 
WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU 
At the IAS Campout in fall, and at the Annual Meeting in spring, 
the officers and directors have the opportunity of meeting face to 
face with members of the Society. 
But two times a year is hardly enough to get a penetrating 
reading of what members like or don’t like, or to exchange views 
on what the organization should be doing to serve its members, or 
perhaps to be more effective in its various fields of interest. 
Consequently, a word now and then from the members would 
be appreciated. | am sure it would add zest to the responsibility 
one assumes in becoming an officer or director. So please don't 
hesitate to write. 
—Charles Lappen 
President 
