Please Don't Quote Me By Caralee Aschenbrenner So. You probably thought you knew as much about Loran as you'd ever need to know. Well, you're wrong! An important fact is that the "native" of what is now Loran once called it by another label that should surprise you. It was pronounced "Lash-el town." Now Lash-el town wasn't just dreamed up out of the blue. It was because George LaShelle had the village platted in 1854 (last week). Now, you and I would likely call him La-Shelle, the two syllables being arranged differently such as in the name of the early French explorer, Robert Cavalier LaSalle. And the city of that name in LaSalle County on the Illinois River.

Lash-elle town didn't quite catch on with the postal department either which in May of 1854 gave it the name of Loran whose services persisted until December 31, 1909. It is now RFD Pearl City.

A short essay written in 1982 by the late Almira Flickinger, aged ninety-two, lists each building in Loran, who lived in them or what they were used for, an invaluable piece for the historian specializing in Loran. My crazy unfocused eye, however, prevents my studying the dim penmanship as closely as must be done . . . Eye time is limited but the fact that Almira's grandfather and five families were responsible for building the Evangelical Church and whose site can be seen on last week's map. It was later moved to the north edge of Loran and with some remodeling is till in use.

The stone house on the major road was once a school house after a log one and before a frame one was constructed (#1). That edifice of education has been added onto several times to become the "Slurp and Burp" tavern. Before and after are seen here.

Long a landmark on the road through town was the cheese factory (#2); the long barn-like building where in later years many a lively, well-attended Saturday night dance was held. Yee-Ha.

Two other bustling business enterprises are seen here alsothe wagon maker's shop where examples of carriage making are lined along the road (#3). Signs read, "Carriages" and "Deering," a one-time farm implement manufacturer. The other business (#4) is the blacksmith, a vital concern in all settlements since the dawn of time.

Free enterprise was exemplified in small town America by those who used their personal stimulus, their ability and interests to manufacture goods and services for the public in the good ol' way of American capitalism. Demand and need were the stimulus for Jake Esselborn who went to the creeks to catch fresh fish for the supper tables around Loran (#5). These photos are only a few of those of Kathie Nelson's collection. Her ancestors were the Flickinger's of Loran and Pearl City. There's nothing like a photo to tell a story of a thousand words and our sincere thanks go to her for the charms of yesteryear in pictures. We now recognize Loran as well as Lash-elle town!

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