The Ellington Stone Episode Blog
Could a rock found in a creek in Quincy change history? Maybe. Listen to the episode about the Ellington Stone here, and check out some visual contexts below here on the episode blog.
The Ellington Stone
Image Credit: The Wreck of the Belle, the Ruin of La Salle by Robert S. Weddle
Approximate Discovery Location
Image Credit: Google Maps
Rene Robert Cavalier, sieur de La Salle
Some speculate that La Salle’s expedition may be responsible for the Ellington Stone, others deny the possibility.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Leroy “Lee” Politsch
Lee was a Quincy resident that spent the better part of 50 years working to unravel the mystery of the Ellington Stone. He corresponded with many experts in his search. Lee left no stone unturned trying to find answers, sadly Lee passed away in 2008 leaving the search for answers to be picked up by someone else.
Image Credit: https://www.hansenspear.com/obituary/305665/leroy-politsch/obituary-services/
Possible Shortcut used by La Salle
This map shows a possible shortcut path that La Salle’s expedition may have taken across Illinois from the Illinois river taking the McKee Creek to the west, then traveling over land a short distance to Cedar Creek which would have dropped them in the Mississippi River. Many believed that Native American guides with the expedition were well aware of this shortcut between the two major waterways.
Image Credit: The Wreck of the Belle, the Ruin of La Salle by Robert S. Weddle