Edwin+W+Blackwell+Poems

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Edwin W. Bakewell
By Katie Erdman

A rich man I was, living in Bloomington in my wealth and splendor When a new idea started to sweep the town. A university to educate young minds in history, math, and the sciences Was proposed and many began to contribute to the cause. Donating forty acres was sure to show my status and support, A gracious figt from a generous man in the community. I felt the cultivation of the art of agriculture Would be the most valuable use of my hard-earned land. But I was deceived and my land was wasted, Foolish university men, trifling with a gentleman such as I! I would never give up that valiant cause, reacquiring my land would take all of my energy, But I would never stop fighting.

=Edwin W. Bakewell=

By Taiyo Wilson

Everyday kids play baseball, tennis, soccer On the grounds of University High, Running around, not a care in the world, But over 100 years ago, This land meant the world to one man.

A wealthy Edwin W. Bakewell Once made a generous contribution: 40 acres of land for the founding of ISNU, For the purpose of agricultural use.

20 years later, economic despair struck the nation、 And Mr. Bakewell as well. He demanded the return of his land On grounds that its use wasn’t how he intended it.

ISNU refused, And the unrelenting Bakewell fought back. Dozens of Illinois lawyers and the Supreme Court Fought alongside for a quarter of a century.

Hardheaded and with a fiery attitude, Edwin became obsessed with recovering his land For the rest of his life.

Neither Bakewell nor the university gave in, And for better or for worse, Edwin never got his land back. Finally, his struggle ended in 1901.

The next time you’re out Walking or driving by this land, Be grateful of Edwin’s contribution, Or thankful for his failure to recover this land That we now call U-High.