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In light of Dickson Mounds' closure, a family relative steps in

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Flickr/Creative Commons

A descendant of a previous owner of the Dickson Mounds property is hoping his familial ties will help keep it open.

Dickson Mounds State Museum,  along with other historical sites and museums in Illinois, is closing due to the state budget stalemate.

Galesburg resident Rick Jockisch says the property’s namesake, William Dickson, was his great-great-great grandfather. Jockisch says he’s making a trip to Springfield to inspect the property’s bill of sale. The Illinois State Museum purchased the property from the family in 1965. Jockisch says he wants to see if he has any legal say in the matter to keep it open.

"Not for my personal sake, you know, for the public," Jockisch said. "I have good memories of going there with my father, my grandfather and my brother."

Illinois Natural Resources spokesman Chris Young says staff will continue working at the museum, but it will be closed to the public.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources was due to lay off 97  bargaining unit employees after business hours Wednesday. But the DNR reached a settlement with the state, and a court case is pending.

"Those layoffs have been suspended indefinitely due to an agreement between the State of Illinois and labor unions representing employees affected," Young said in an email statement.

The Dickson Mounds site was first occupied by Paleolithic Native Americans in 800 CE. It was inhabited by their successors until about 1200 AD. Archeologists estimate there are nearly 3,000 burials at the ancient site.