Author Archives: Rick D. Williams

About Rick D. Williams

Teaching and writing have been my life's work for over three decades as a journalist and educator. My degrees in History were earned at Illinois State University, and I've done additional graduate work at Lincoln Christian Seminary and Urbana Theological Seminary. Over the years I’ve led conference workshops and authored articles and book chapters on topics ranging from religious education and international student ministry to state and local history.

The Egyptian Trail in Champaign County (Part Four: Champaign to Douglas County)

Posted on April 9, 2026 by Rick D. Williams

Part Three of this series, which began tracking the route the Egyptian Trail took through Champaign County (north to south), ended with our arrival in Champaign on Market Street. At this point the directions the auto trail guide conclude, “End … Continue reading →

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The Egyptian Trail in Champaign County (Part Three: Ford County to Champaign)

Posted on April 2, 2026 by Rick D. Williams

Using details on maps and in newspaper accounts from the era, here’s what I believe to be the route the Egyptian Trail took through Champaign County, starting in the north at the Ford County line and traveling south. The route … Continue reading →

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The Egyptian Trail in Champaign County (Part Two: From Dirt Roads to Paved Highway)

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Rick D. Williams

By the summer of 1916 the year-old Egyptian Trail was no longer a novelty, it was a reality. Local papers now turned to reporting news of improvements being made to the roads along the trail. The Daily News (May 3) … Continue reading →

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The Egyptian Trail and Other Early Auto Trails in Champaign County (Part One: Inception & Development)

Posted on March 23, 2026 by Rick D. Williams

The Egyptian Trail was one of a handful of named auto trails in east-central Illinois created by “good roads” advocates in the middle teens of the early 20th century. It ran the length of Illinois from Chicago to Cairo, deriving … Continue reading →

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Historic Church Sites in Rural Champaign County

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Rick D. Williams

Between 2023-2025, I set out to find every one of the more than 100 church sites shown on rural township plats in the Combined 1893, 1913, and 1929 Atlases of Champaign County. My goal? To see what’s there now, learn … Continue reading →

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Champaign’s Historic Churches

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Rick D. Williams

What is the oldest church in Champaign? The answer to that question depends on what you are looking for. The earliest to organize? The first building to be constructed? The oldest building still standing? In an earlier post, “Six Historic … Continue reading →

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Looking for Lincoln in Champaign County

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Rick D. Williams

If you are a history-minded traveler in Illinois, you’ve probably seen markers topped with a distinctive yellow and green “Looking for Lincoln” logo throughout the state. The markers come in different shapes and sizes, but what they all do is … Continue reading →

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In and Around West Side Park (Historic Sites, Part 7)

Posted on August 6, 2025 by Rick D. Williams

This concluding installment of “Historic Sites Re-visited” brings us to the final pages of the 1976 booklet, Historic Sites of Champaign County, devoted mostly to landmark homes located either adjacent to or mere blocks away from West Side Park (itself … Continue reading →

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Champaign’s Downtown Treasures (Historic Sites Part 6)

Posted on July 23, 2025 by Rick D. Williams

This episode of “Historic Sites Re-visited” features a nice walking tour through Downtown Champaign. In case you have missed our previous five articles, let me start this piece with a brief review of the project that started it all. To … Continue reading →

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Six Historic Churches in C-U (Historic Sites Part 5)

Posted on May 28, 2025 by Rick D. Williams

In most communities some of the most well preserved historic structures are churches, and Champaign-Urbana is no exception. When the Bicentennial Project to designate official historic sites in Champaign County was completed, the published guide to the locations included eleven … Continue reading →

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