Ever wonder who invented that handy little fly swatter you arm yourself with on a hot summer day?

You may not know that the first fly swatter was invented almost 120 years ago. According to patent history, Robert R. Montgomery filed a patent for the “fly killer” in October of 1899 in Decatur, Illinois. As the patent explained, the first design consisted of an oblong piece of wire netting fixed onto a long rectangular wooden handle using screws. While many different versions of fly swatters existed before the “fly killer,” this model was the first to receive a legal patent in the United States. So the next time you swat one of those pesky insects in your house with your fly swatter, don’t forget to thank Robert R. Montgomery.

Learn more:
View the original patented design

Wearing pants today? How about a coat? Carrying a backpack? Chances are you used a zipper.

The zipper made its international debut at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. At the time, its inventor, Whitcomb Judson, called it the “clasp-locker.” Sadly, Judson died long before his invention picked up its zippy name and took the world’s apparel by storm.

But his legacy lives on. You can thank Judson every time you zip instead of button or tie.

Learn more:
Want to know more about the history of the zipper?
Curious how the zipper really works? Take a trip to HowStuffWorks.com to read an informative article or watch a short video.
Wonder why so many zippers say YKK? It’s the brand name of the world’s biggest zipper maker! Check out the YKK website.

Jason Kipnis was born April 3, 1987, in Northbrook. He attended Glenbrook North High School, where he played on the varsity baseball team for three years. During his junior year, he broke the school record in home runs with 11. He was selected to the all-conference team that season and was named to the all-state team his senior year.  

Kipnis attended the University of Kentucky and then Arizona State University, where he earned the PAC-10 Newcomer of the Year award in 2008 and the PAC-10 Player of the Year award and was named a First Team All-American in 2009.

Kipnis was drafted in the second round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft by the Cleveland Indians, and spent only two seasons in the minor leagues before being called up to the major leagues in 2011. He is currently the starting second baseman for the Cleveland Indians and was voted to the 2013 All-Star game. He has a .263 career batting average with 44 home runs with Cleveland.  

Learn more:
Jason Kipnis Cleveland Indians Bio

You got it! Grammy nominated Susan Kay “Suzy” Bogguss, was born and raised in Aledo, Illinois, a small town of only 3,700.

Bogguss began her music career at the age of five, when she joined the Angel Choir at her hometown church. Shortly thereafter, she took up multiple instruments, including piano, drums and guitar. She later attended both Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University, graduating with a degree in metalsmithing.

In 1985, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a career in music. In a short time, she became a headlining performer at the Dollywood theme park. During this time, she also produced her first of several demo recordings, one of which caught the attention of Jim Foglesong, President of Capitol Records.

Bogguss signed with Capitol and continued on to release eight studio albums, working with other artists such as Lee Greenwood, and Crosby, Stills and Nash.

In 1999, after a Grammy nomination, and several gold records, she left the record label, but she continues to produce music under her own label, Loyal Dutchess, as well as through a collaboration with Compadre Records.

Learn more:
The official Suzy Bogguss website
Want to keep up with Suzy? Check out her facebook page, for tour dates, videos, music and more!

If you ever find yourself dancing the square dance, then you have officially become a true Illinoisan.

Illinois is among 19 states that have proclaimed square dancing their official dance. However, in 1990 Governor James R. Thompson signed a law that proclaimed square dancing the certified dance of the state. Square dancing is a mixture of many different dances that are influenced by Irish, Spanish and Scottish dancing.

Square dancing usually involves couples in groups of four who are all set up in a square. A fiddle, accordion and banjo play while an instructor prompts a variety of movements.

Learn more:
Find out about going out and square dancing in Illinois.