Can you tell me about Ottawa?

[BUalumni]

Ottawa is a great town. Very similar to what you might find in the Chicago or Peoria metro. The only draw back, there isn't a ton to do like Peoria or Chicago, and nothing around except corn, corn, and then every other year soybeans. Joliet I guess would be the closest city, but that isn't saying a whole lot. Peoria might be closer than Aurora, but both are a drive. Just know that you won't be heading to the mall more than a few times a month.

[gardener34]

I would say that peru mall would be the closest maybe?

[BUalumni]

If you want to call that a mall. Just kidding. Who needs a mall to have a great town anyway?

[jtnbound]

Originally Posted by gardener34

"If your children are interested in anything get them into classes!!! If you have a daughter who wants to be a cheerleader in high school she has to have dance classes. If you want your son to play high school football he must have played peewee football. It doesn't matter how good they are if they haven't had lessons or been in the town's sports as a kid. "

It is like that anywhere there are upper middle class families now... this nation-wide trend makes me sick. that is why my son is in karate - I refuse to play this game.

I grew up in Ottawa. The school sports are very clicky. Certain family's have been controlling for quite some time. By the time your in high school you've already been categorized. I left about 18 years ago. My family is still there. The real truth is the project housing from Chicago has been placing low income people to the South side of Ottawa and they are bringing the crime with them. Also there are probably more bars per capita than most city's around. Since that is about all there is to do in the winter time. I don't want to sound like I'm bashing just telling how I see it. I talk to my family every day and they let me know all the gossip. And yes tax's are high not just local but state to. I left because the work was so bad. Factory's were closing and you had better know someone in the union or you just sat waiting for a call.
Just a question to put out there who was the planner who put the mega watt street lights downtown so close together. I thought I was in a Simpson's episode when the town light turned night into day.
I still like to come back and visit sure do miss those tenderloin sandwich's!!

[shadow91]

yes, you are right about certain families controlling everything. Yes people from Chicago housing are moving down here, mostly to the south in Streator though. There seems to be an influx of herion being sold to the teenagers in Ottawa (new drug of choice?). Ottawa is like any small town, full of gossips. It doesn't matter if you keep to yourself, the gossip will find you. I personally like the downtown lights and the painted murals on the buildings. And yes, the tenderloin sandwiches--I just visited Ottawa 2 weeks ago from AZ and I had tenderlions, fried chicken and the best beef ever--something Arizona is lacking. School sports are very clicky--kids that are ineligible for sports suddenly become eligible (while the eligible ones sit on the bench) because of who their parents are. Ottawa seems to be thriving with new stores--not high paying jobs though. If I could come back financially I would. I miss the hometown feel of it.

[jtnbound]

Heroin that is sad. But I remember there always being a big drug problem there.
I do like the murals but I believe you could eliminate every other light pole and still have more light than a prison yard. I've tried to make the tenderloins but they never come out the same. I believe it has something to do with the water and climate when you use the batter. Same with the pizza.
I enjoy the south to much to ever go back those winters are brutal.

[cowboy 64]

I was raised down on the west side of Ottawa and moved away many years ago, but still have a lot of family that live in Ottawa. Ottawa is not much worse then most small towns, except for all of the drugs that are now showing up. I have spoken to a lot of folks and all say the same thing that the drugs are comming out of Chicago. I do want to thank the owner of this page that has set it up, except for the face pictures. Tell a little about the pictures, such as the Popcorn wagon and the Down Town Park. I also see the old Roxy Theater and the former Morgan Jewlery Store in it. Dave Morgan had the Popcorn Wagon for years and is the father of the former owner of the Morgan Jewlery Store. Show some pictures of the Old Court House also. Again, thank you.
Cowboy 64 in Texas

[bigman123]

Originally Posted by jtnbound

Heroin that is sad. But I remember there always being a big drug problem there.

Old problem. New people to blame.

[D. Vodicka]

Still live in Ottawa. Yes very clicky and the kids have a hard time. My kids hate the town no where to go have fun and if you make the wrong kid mad at you you dont have a friend in the world and the parents tend to back them. It is really sad. I brought my kids here thinking it would be better then in the suburb I grew up in and wondered if I did the right thing. My kids are grown and one moved away as soon as she turned 18 and is doing great. She was one of the girls that made another mad and it was a spiral downhill for her from then on. Neither one of my kids got into drugs or "gangs". Again no way to get into a sport. My daughter tried out in 6th grade and was made fun of by the coach. Nice huh. The school policies of pass the class or you have to keep taking the class til you pass, instead of finding something that may be more suitable for your child does not exist. Again either popular or not teachers tend to show it also. Very sad!

[TabulaRasa]

I grew up in LaSalle County and have always preferred Utica to Ottawa.