North Alton Newspaper Articles
ALTONIA - LOTS FOR SALE
Source: Alton Telegraph, June 01, 1839
The reader is requested to take notice, that the sale of lots in the
new town of Altonia will take place on Monday morning at ten o'clock
at the Buck Inn, a short distance from this city, on the road to
Monticello. The town of Altonia, about a half a mile north of Alton,
is laid out on the highland, north and south of the Upper Alton and
Grafton road, and east and west of the State road leading from Alton
to Jacksonville; thus having two of the most important roads in the
State crossing at a right angle in its centre (at which stands the
Buck Inn), the road leading to Smelzer's ferry running through it on
the south, and the Alton and Hillsborough railroad running through
it on the northeast. The concentration of these roads in Altonia
most greatly lead to render an interest in it desirable, did it
possess no other advantages. But in addition to this, it has a
salubrious [healthy] atmosphere; an abundance of stone road within
its bounds; a good landing on the Mississippi river, within the
distance of three-fourths of a mile on the Smelzer's ferry road,
inexhaustible quarries of lime and free stone in its vicinity, an
easy access to Monticello Seminary, one and a half mile north of it,
which is perhaps the best institution of the kind in Illinois, and a
regular plan for its future growth. The streets are wide and cross
each other at right angles, and the blocks large, with alleys
through them to be closed in any given block so long as one
individual may own an entire block, at his option. By this plan, any
person who may wish to have a few acres for his private residence
can be accommodated, and the works of art he made to unite with the
natural beauty of the town, to render it worthy of the union which
must soon take place between it and Alton. A public sale of lots in
Altonia will take place on the first Monday in June next, at ten
o'clock a.m. at the Buck Inn aforesaid, at which sale some lots will
be sold for the most they will bring. Terms: Ten percent, cash, the
balance on nine- and eighteen-months credit, unless the purchaser
will improve them, in which case a credit of one and two years will
be given for the balance. Until the day of sale, any of the
above-mentioned lots can be had at private sale; and to any person
who will build on them the price will be low, and the credit long.
Plats can be seen and terms ascertained by application to Messrs.
Willard and Carpenter, W. S. Lincoln, Esq., or C. L. Frost,
Auctioneer, Agents for Proprietors.
SUPERIOR FRUIT AT BUCK INN
Source: Alton Telegraph, September 30, 1843
Mr. Strong of the "Buck Inn," about two or three miles north of
Alton, has decidedly the finest peaches I ever saw or tasted; he has
several varieties, among which are a large yellow freestone of a
very delicious flavor, and a very large white cling, two of which
weigh a pound down weight. He informed me, however, that they are
not as large as they were last year - the circumference of some of
them being ten inches.
BUCK INN COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY FIRE
Source: Alton Telegraph, December 03, 1852
We regret to learn that the property known as the Buck Inn, situated
about two miles north of this city and owned and occupied by Mr.
James Strong, was entirely destroyed by fire about one o'clock
yesterday morning. The family were aroused from their sleep by the
glare of the fire, and had barely time to escape with a portion of
their clothing and bedding, before the building was consumed. About
one hundred bushels of potatoes in the cellar were also burnt. The
loss is estimated at about $1,500, on which there was no insurance.
It was doubtless the work of an incendiary.
NOTES:
Buck Inn was believed to be the first structure erected within the
present North Alton business section. It was a frame structure,
constructed in 1837 in Godfrey Township, at the northwest corner of
State and Delmar [where
the
shopping center now stands]. Buck Inn was destroyed by fire in 1852.
A man named Sullivan was arrested for arson. A brick structure was
erected by James Strong in 1855 to replace the building that burned.
This brick building still stood in 1937.
James Strong, founder of Buck Inn, came to the North Alton area in
1836 or ‘37 from Pennsylvania. He was born in 1785 in Cumberland,
England. James arrived with his wife and at least one of his
children by ox-drawn wagon. He settled on two and a half acres of
wooded land, made a clearing and erected an inn. Soon Buck Inn,
located on a crossroad, grew in importance. Travelers stopped to
take meals or stay the night, and the large well which James had dug
provided fresh water for man and beast. Antlers of a buck, which
Strong hung over the entrance, gave the tavern its name. Settlers
began building their homes and businesses nearby, and this
settlement became known as “Buck Inn.”
James Clayton Tibbitt laid out another town just south of Buck Inn
in 1853 and called it Greenwood. However, this name did not catch
on. When a post office was established in 1868, with P. J. Melling
as postmaster, it was called Buck Inn by the U.S. Government.
James Strong died November 11, 1869, at the age of 84yrs, 2mths, and
2 days. He is buried in the Godfrey Cemetery. His wife, Maria A.
Strong, died in 1876, and is also buried there. The Buck Inn name
continued until 1875, when North Alton was incorporated.
James Strong had at least one son, Jacob, and two daughter, Emma and
Hannah. The Strong family grew in size and importance in the North
Alton/Godfrey community.
James Strong, a grandson of James Strong Sr., was hit by a car in
1937 and died from his injuries. He was 75 years old. He was struck
while crossing Godfrey Road, just north of Delmar Avenue. His
sister, Laura Strong, was struck by an automobile in 1927, within a
few feet of where James was injured fatally. His cousin, Lillian May
Picard, was struck by an automobile in front of her home on Delmar.
FIRE AT BUCK INN
Source: Alton Telegraph, February 24, 1871
A small storehouse, belonging to E. Picard & Co., at the Buck Inn,
was burned yesterday. The loss, we understand, was small.
BUCK INN NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph, June 23, 1871
The Buck Inn neighborhood was the scene of two or three lively rows
Monday night at the saloons. At one saloon, two constables became
involved in a fierce personal encounter, which resulted in one of
them whipping and disarming his antagonist. Constables are generally
supposed to be conservators of the peace, but when they descend to
such performances, whatever the provocation, it is due to the public
that a vigorous examination be made into the case.
NEW TILE FACTORY NEAR BUCK INN
Source: Alton Telegraph, February 21, 1873
Messrs. Hughes & Co. of St. Louis were in town Wednesday,
prospecting for a location for a new tile factory. They have
purchased land near Buck Inn, upon which is a splendid deposit of
clay suitable for making stoneware tile. They intend to make a
specialty of the manufacture of roofing tile, or slate for covering
houses. They own a patent under which they claim they can make
roofing tile at a cost that will not exceed a dollar a thousand more
than shingles. They examined the Seaton Foundry property yesterday,
and will probably lease it for their business. Should they finally
decide to locate here, their factory will be an important addition
to our manufacturing industries, as they would employ constantly
from 50 to 60 men. We trust they will receive every encouragement in
their new enterprise.
BUCK INN
Source: Alton Telegraph, September 5, 1873
There was a large gathering at Weigler’s Beer Garden at the Buck Inn
Sunday afternoon, to attend an entertainment, and during the
afternoon, some roughs raised a disturbance, upset the counter where
the Teutonic beverage was dispensed, and robbed the money drawer of
eight or ten dollars.
STRIKE AT GREENWOOD AND COAL BRANCH
Source: Alton Telegraph, April 8, 1875
The miners employed at the principal coal mines at Coal Branch and
Greenwood are on a strike, occasioned by a notice from the
proprietors that wages would be reduced on the first of the month
from five to four cents a bushel for digging. The proprietors were
obliged to take this course because at former rates they were losing
money. In St. Clair county, we understand, miners are paid but 2 to
2 1/2 cents per bushel. If this is the case, it is easily seen that
proprietors here cannot afford to pay five cents a bushel for
digging.
400 TORCHES ASCEND STATE STREET HILL
North Alton Republican Rally
Source: Alton Telegraph, September 2, 1880
From the Daily, August 31 – Yesterday was a proud day for North
Alton. It was the day fixed for the Republican meeting to be
addressed by Hon. John B. Hay. The bustle of preparation during the
day indicated that a big time was expected. The Alton Republican
Club was invited to be present, and accepted the invitation. The
marching companies were unorganized, although some names had been
enrolled, but torches and uniforms were quickly issued, and a
procession improvised from the hundreds who gathered at Crowe’s
Hall. Nothing daunted by the long march in prospect over 200 torch
bearers fell in line behind Gossrau’s Band. Company A was under
command of Mr. John K. Butler; Company B (young men’s company),
commanded by Mr. James Glenn; and Company C (colored men’s company),
by Mr. John Smith. The procession was under the direction of Dr.
Haskell, President of the Club. As the torch bearers moved forward,
they presented a fine sigh, especially in ascending State Stree
hill. At the corner of State and Main [now W. 9th] Streets, the
procession was met by the North Alton boys, 100 strong, who also
fell into line. About a quarter of a mile this side of North Alton,
the Cullom Guards of Brighton met and joined the line, and the
procession entered North Alton in style – three bands playing,
banners flying, and men cheering. It was an inspiring sight, and
waked up North Alton so thoroughly that it won’t go to sleep again
the rest of the campaign. The entire population had turned out, and
North Alton Park, where the speaking took place, was crowded. From
1,200 to 1,500 persons were present. Notwithstanding the immense
assemblage, everything was quiet and orderly. The speaker of the
evening was Hon. John B. Hay, the next Member of congress from the
17th District. He was introduced to the audience by Mr. C. W. Colby,
President of the North Alton Club. Mr. Hay commenced by giving a
sketch of the life and public service of General Garfield, and
contrasted his career with that of General Hancock, and the facts in
the case were very unfortunate for the latter. The contrast between
the honorable career of General Arthur and the mercenary life of
“Shylock” English was also fittingly portrayed. Mr. Hay next drew a
comparison between the past records of the Republican and Democratic
parties; reciting the patriotic services of the former, and the
disloyal deeds of the latter, and in eloquent terms appealed to the
people to stand by the party that had ever been the friend of the
oppressed and had done so much to maintain the honor of the country,
maintain its integrity and increase its prosperity. Owing to the
lateness of the hour, Mr. Hay’s speech was brief, but into it was
condensed an immense amount of strong logic, unanswerable argument.
He is a strong and forcible speaker, with a fluent command of
language and a persuasive manner. The crowd listened to him with
profound attention, and gave him three ringing cheers in conclusion.
Mr. Hay made a favorable impression, and the North Alton people will
stand by him solid.
The meeting was a magnificent success in every particular. The
attendance was four times as large as had been anticipated. It was
by far the largest gathering North Alton ever witnessed of any
party. The fact that it was called together at short notice shows
the interest and enthusiasm of the people. The Alton boys marched
home in good spirits, and disbanded in front of headquarters about
11 o’clock.
DR. BARTH’S HOME AT NORTH ALTON DESTROYED
Source: Alton Telegraph, April 26, 1883
Tuesday night, Dr. George F. Barth’s family, at North Alton, were
aroused by fire in their dwelling, the flames having made such
headway that the occupants made their escape with some difficulty
from the edifice, a story and a half frame. The house and contents
were totally destroyed, including the post office and fixtures, a
stock of drugs, and household goods. The flames next communicated to
two one story and a half houses, closely adjoining on the south,
owned by Mr. Joshua Dixon, and occupied by himself and Mr. Henry
Essering as residences. Edward Deterding’s two-story brick house
also fell a victim to the ravages of the flames.
Through the unremitting efforts of the citizens of North Alton, the
household goods and furniture of all the houses, except that
occupied by Dr. Barth, were saved. The store and stock of H. A. Betz
& Co., just north of the first house burned, were injured to the
extent of a few hundred dollars.
The total loss by the conflagration is estimated at $6,000 or
$7,000, and will be quite a heavy blow to our thriving little
suburb. The origin of the fire is unknown, but indications point to
an incendiary.
FIRE AT NORTH ALTON
Source: Alton Telegraph, January 29, 1885
Thursday evening, Mr. James Mullen’s fine barn, situated at his
place, half a mile west of North Alton, was discovered to be in
flames by Mr. James Wannemacher, who immediately alarmed Mr. Mullen
and his family. On account of the strange persecution to which they
have for some weeks been subjected, the windows of the house were
heavily curtained on the inside, thus preventing the inmates from
seeing the light of the conflagration. When the alarm was given, the
structure was so enveloped in flames, that it seemed that it would
be impossible to save anything, but through the determined efforts
of Mr. Mullen and his family, assisted by Mr. Wannamacher and Mr.
Hall, thirteen head of cattle, two horses, and two mules, housed in
the barn, were saved, but unfortunately, three cows and a valuable
bull, belonging to Mr. Mullen, and two horses, property of Mrs. W.
C. Quigley, were burned. Also burned was 25 or 30 tons of hay, 4
sets of harness, 2 plows, 250 bushels of screenings, and other
articles.
The barn was a new structure, and included all the modern
improvements. There is no doubt but that the fire was incendiary,
and the supposition is that the criminal is the same who has made so
many attempts to burglarize Mr. Mullen’s place. At 5:15 p.m., Mr.
Mullen left the barn for the house, and at the time everything was
in order as usual.
These outrages upon Mr. Mullen have continued so long undetected
that it is a disgrace to the authorities. Every good citizen is
interested in the capture and condign punishment of the villain,
whoever he may be. Mr. Mullen offers a reward of $300 for the arrest
and conviction of the guilty party or parties, and the authorities
of the township should supplement this by another reward of as much
more for the same purpose.
FIRE AT NORTH ALTON
Source: Alton Telegraph, February 5, 1891
The little one-story building in the fork of the roads that enter
North Alton from the south, directly opposite the park, was totally
destroyed by fire early Wednesday evening. It was owned by Mr.
George H. Weigler of Alton, and occupied by Mr. William Black. The
latter kept a general store and restaurant there, in addition to
using it as a place of residence for himself and family. The loss on
building and Mr. Black’s property is estimated at $800 in the
aggregate.
The building destroyed was an old timer, and when it went up in
flames and smoke, a landmark disappeared. When Mr. Louis Bickle came
to this region many years ago, he used the structure as his first
place of residence in Madison County.
NORTH ALTON NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph, April 23, 1891
Mr. John Pierce, of the Coal Branch, had his grocery store and
residence, with their contents, destroyed by fire yesterday. The
origin of the fire is unknown. It was first discovered in the roof,
but owing to the strong wind, it could not be saved. The loss will
be about $2,000.
SHOOTING IN NORTH ALTON SALOON
Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, November 17, 1892
Last evening in the saloon of Louis Walters at North Alton, James
Dukes was shot in the left ear by Frank Norris. Dukes, in company
with Norris and several others, were playing cards. Some dispute
arose over the game, and Mr. Walter, proprietor of the Saloon,
demanded the cards. All connected with the game but Dukes gave up
their cards. Dukes refused to give up the cards, and was still
seated at the table when Norris walked up behind him and struck his
hand, knocking the cards out onto the floor. With that, Dukes picked
up a chair and struck at Norris, who at the same time drew a
revolver and shot him in the left ear. Dukes fell to the floor and
lay there for several minutes in an unconscious condition, the blood
pouring out of his ear. After coming to, he was taken to St.
Joseph’s Hospital, where Dr. Haskell attended him. This morning his
condition is somewhat better, and it is thought he will recover.
NOTES:
James Dukes, who was shot by Frank Norris, recovered from his
injuries. He later managed the Mary Charless farm in Godfrey, and in
March 1912 was shot by Officer Edward O’Leary in Herbert White’s
saloon on Belle Street in Alton. Dukes died from his injuries later
in the afternoon. Jason Dukes, a brother of James Dukes, was also
working on the Charless farm. Jason was a quiet, peaceable man,
law-abiding, and highly regarded by all who knew him. It was stated
in the newspaper Jason would probably take over the management of
the Charless farm. James was buried in the Alton City Cemetery.
NORTH ALTON - A NEW COAL SHAFT
Source: Alton Daily Telegraph, April 11, 1893
Yesterday morning Messrs. John Molloy and Samuel Ball, commenced
work on the new shaft at North Alton. They got down some 15 or 16
feet by evening and will push the work until they find the "lost
vein," or its twin brother. Both of the men engaged in the
enterprise are experienced miners, know how to proceed in order to
make every move a movement of progress, and their past success in
locating veins warrant the confidence their friends feel in ultimate
victory now. The shaft is being sunk on the land of A. T. Hawley,
just off Elm street, and to the left of the Presbyterian mission.
Coal has been found and mined successfully all around the new
prospect hole, and the projectors of the hunt depend on striking the
"black diamonds" in paying quantities at a distance of 90 or 100
feet. The Telegraph wishes the gentlemen every possible success in
their undertaking. The "lost vein" is there: of this there can be no
doubt: may it soon be advertised in the "Found" columns of all the
papers.
NORTH ALTON NEWS
John Davis
Centenarian 103 Years Old
Source: Alton Telegraph, April 13, 1893
North Alton has a citizen who is 103 years of age, having been born
in 1790. He is a native of Mississippi, is colored, and was a groom
or stable boy for General Jackson during the War of 1812 with
England. He remembers the Battle of New Orleans, and the cotton bale
breast works, and speaks feelingly of General Jackson and his
kindness of heart. He knew Jefferson Davis when he was a mere
stripling, and is possessed of a fund of information concerning
General Taylor, and events of those days, which have since become
historical. He is an uneducated man, and can therefore not be
charged with having secured his intimate knowledge of events of long
ago from books, and anyone conversing with him will soon become
satisfied that he was really a party to the events of which he is
speaking. Neighbors of his who knew him in the South say he was an
old man when they were children, and they themselves are now well
beyond the half-century mark of life. John Davis, the name of the
centenarian, lives near the Summit bridge on Alby Street. He is
active for one of his age, and his hair, which was snow-white up to
a few years ago, is now coal black. He is a Republican in politics,
and is an interesting person with whom anyone can spend an
interesting and instructive hour or two of leisure. Anyone wishing
to find Mr. Davis can do so by calling on Mr. Charles Henderson, the
Alby Street grocer, and anyone doing so will secure from one there
living, a vivid description of men and events of whom, and
concerning which they now know nothing except through the medium of
histories.
FIRE BUG IN NORTH ALTON
Source: Alton Telegraph, September 14, 1893
For the third time in as many weeks, someone attempted to burn out
the home and saloon of Mr. Louis Overath at North Alton, Tuesday
night, and the affair has aroused the village as it never was
aroused before. Between 11 and 12 o’clock Tuesday, Mr. Overath heard
noises downstairs at one of the saloon shutters, and thinking
someone was trying to break in, hurriedly dressed himself, and with
a lamp and revolver went downstairs and entered the rear saloon
door. As he stepped into the saloon, he was struck in the right eye
with some blunt instrument, probably a bottle or a billy, and
knocked down. The light went out, and he was unable to see his
assailant, but he commenced shooting, and as bullet marks are
visible all around the room, it is thought the thief had a hot chase
for his life. He escaped through the window, which had afforded an
entrance also, and running through the alley in the rear,
disappeared in the darkness.
The neighbors were aroused by the pistol shots, and the shrieks of
Mrs. Overath, but got to the place too late to be of much good. The
floor of the saloon was found to be thoroughly saturated with coal
oil, and it was the evident intention of the “fire bug” to first rob
the place of whatever he wanted, and then set fire to the building.
Mr. Overath’s eye and side of his face are in a bad condition today,
but no serious results are feared.
Madison County, as well as North Alton authorities should leave
nothing undone to capture this man and punish him. He is a
contemptible coward; a public enemy; a man who, if he had succeeded
in his incendiary efforts, might this morning be a murderer as well
as a destroyer of property. If the Overath place had been fired last
night, the entire block between the Grafton Road [Delmar Street] and
Elm Street would in all probability have been destroyed, and some
lives might have been lost.
NORTH ALTON NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph, September 21, 1893
Mr. Henry Camp intends sinking another coal shaft at North Alton. He
recently disposed of his old shaft, as he became tired of fighting
water, and he now intends going on higher ground and boring for the
black treasure. Mr. Camp is a miner not only of experience, but one
who has rarely ever met with defeat, and he will find coal in paying
quantities this time, as he has always done before.
A regular fusillade of shots aroused the people of North Alton in
the vicinity of Elm and State Streets, about two o’clock this
morning, and investigation showed the shooting to have been done by
Mr. Henry Fischer. He was doing his level best to cripple two men
who were attempting to break into his saloon through one of the
windows. They succeeded in getting away with their lives, but it is
not so easy to think that they escaped unhurt, as Mr. Fischer was
shooting straight down at them from above, and could scarcely have
missed them altogether if he had tried.
NORTH ALTON NEWS
Fire Destroys Slaughterhouse
Source: Alton Telegraph, October 5, 1893
There was a fire at North Alton Monday night, succeeded in burning
down the building it attacked, and barbecued three beeves besides.
It was about midnight that Mr. George Kirsch’s slaughterhouse and
rendering establishment was discovered in flames, and it was not
many minutes after that until North Alton is afraid of fire, and yet
has no fire protection. Ladders are excellent weapons with which to
fight fire by climbing, but they will throw no water on the flames,
and the chances are altogether against the salvation of a building
when ladders and buckets are depended on altogether. The flood of
yesterday and heavy rains of the past week saved the village to the
north of us last night. As it was, Mr. Fischer’s hotel caught fire a
couple of times, and only earnest and persistent work saved Kirsch’s
barn and Mr. Hall’s house. The wind went over to Hop Hollow, and
left the town where it had been scattering blazing cinders, and thus
the fire was confined to the slaughterhouse, which was burned to the
ground. Three beeves that had been slaughtered yesterday afternoon
burned with the building, and the loss in tools, etc., is
considerable. The origin of the fire is not known, but is supposed
to be incendiary.
The fire in North Alton seems to be a star attraction. At first,
everybody was frightened. Fear accounted for their presence where
the red flames could be seen at their work of destruction. But after
the danger was over, fascination took the place of fear, and the
folk still looked on. When there was nothing but blackened ruins and
smouldering embers, people with all the curiosity of Mother Eve
stood in the doors shivering with cold, their teeth playing tunes as
they shook in their sockets, and their eyes riveted on the ruins or
on some preeminent attraction in the crowd, and if there isn’t an
epidemic of colds or chills or la grippe (flu), it will not be
because women and children did not give these enemies a first-class
chance to capture them.
NORTH ALTON AGAIN VISITED BY FIRE BUG
Source: Alton Telegraph, October 5, 1893
After two weeks of “innocuous desuetude,” North Alton’s fire fiend
again attempted to burn the saloon and residence of Louis Overath,
Friday night. He effected an entrance into the cellar through a
small window on the south side of the saloon, and he entered the
saloon through a small door, which opens behind the bar. Mr. Overath
has a night watchman, but he was at the rear of the premises at the
time, and saw and heard nothing until the fellow was leaving, when
the slamming of the large cellar door attracted his attention. It
was between 11 and 12 o’clock that Mr. and Mrs. Overath, who sleep
directly above the saloon, were aroused by a noise “that sounded
like escaping steam from an engine,” and immediately following came
the reports of cartridges. Mr. Walters, with three or four other
men, got into the saloon as quickly as possible, and found it full
of smoke, and the curtains, fancy papers, etc., on and above the
sideboard behind the bar, ablaze. The fire had been started in a
lower compartment of the sideboard, where 10 or 12 boxes of 10-cent
cigars, a lot of bills, and other inflammable materials, and a box
of cartridges were kept. These latter, when they became sufficiently
warmed up, began shooting, and this is what roused the neighborhood.
The fire was extinguished but the damage will probably reach $200.
Mr. Overath is thoroughly discouraged, and is about ready to give
up. He still claims to have no suspicion as to the guilty party, but
says it certainly is someone better acquainted with the place than
he, himself, is.
NORTH ALTON TO HAVE ELECTRIC LIGHTS
Source: Alton Telegraph, November 9, 1893
By a unanimous vote, the village board of North Alton voted to light
up their town by electricity in the future, and the arrangements
will be perfected as soon as possible. When the board met, it was
confronted by a petition bearing the names of nearly 200 ladies of
this place, asking that favorable action be taken in regard to the
proposition to be submitted by Mayor Worden to secure electric
lights for the town. With all of electricity’s advantages known to
them, and back by the “moral support” of the majority of the ladies,
how could the village fathers do anything else but vote unanimously
for the proposition? Instead of five lights, however, there will be
six, and these will be placed in the most advantageous positions
possible, after due investigation.
North Alton will not regret this step forward. It will bring other
good and desirable things in its wake, and it is an evidence to the
outside world that any moss which was supposed to be growing around
and over this village and its future, was not moss at all, but the
green springs of laurel that needed only a little encouragement to
flourish and proclaim aloud our latent possibilities when the time
was propitious. The ladies deserve considerable credit for their
action. The ladies, heaven bless them, are always – that is, nearly
always – working for good and good results, and your correspondent
takes his hat off to them.
A great many colored men who work in Alton live here [North Alton],
and are for the most part provident and industrious. They have
bought lots and have built comfortable homes thereon. Some new
houses will be erected soon in that part of the village known as
Oklahoma, for colored families who will move here as soon as the
buildings are ready for occupancy.
Dr. Worden and the Board of Health committee report that North Alton
is entirely free from contagious diseases of any kind. There are one
case of diphtheria, but it was confined to that and the health of
the general community is very good.
The next thing the North Alton people intend to have is an extension
of the Alton waterworks. With that secured, the fire fiend cannot
blanch the cheerk and strike terror to the hearts of our people as
he now does when he commences his work of destruction.
When tramps are seen wandering aimlessly around this place, or
entering yards for the purpose of begging, Marshal Swanson tips his
hat to them, asks them which way they are going, and then requests
them to kindly give him the pleasure of their company to the city
limits in the direction they wish to go. As a consequence of this
policy, North Alton is enjoying almost perfect immunity from that
class who “toil not; neither do they spin” – anything but sympathy
producting yarns.
OVERATH HOME DESTROYED BY FIRE
North Alton
Source: Alton Telegraph, March 01, 1894
Readers of the Telegraph will remember the repeated attempts that
were made last summer to burn out Mr. Louis Overath, a North Alton
saloonkeeper. So frequent were the attempts and disastrous to his
interests were they, that Mr. Overath concluded to sell out and
leave North Alton. He acted on this determination, and renting the
farm of Mr. Dan Hale on the Piasa, moved his household goods and
family there, where he hoped to find peace and prosperity. His
firebug enemy, however, had other plans, and that these plans were
successfully carried out is evidenced by the fact that Mr. Overath
is homeless again.
The farmhouse, barn, etc., were fired early Monday morning, and were
totally destroyed before anything could be done. The family escaped,
but much of their furniture was destroyed, and there was no
insurance on either the building or contents. It is time the county
authorities were taking a hand in the hunting down of this firebug.
He is as persistent as a sand fly, and too destructive to be allowed
to run at large.
Mr. Overath was in the city today with several teams and wagons,
after lumber to build a residence on the farm. Mr. Overath stated to
a reported that he lost no furniture, and that he thinks the fire
was made by someone opposed to his getting the place.
NORTH ALTON HAS NEW POSTMASTER
Source: Alton Telegraph, March 22, 1894
Mr. Bertram Elfgen has been appointed postmaster at North Alton. Mr.
Elfgen is in the butcher business, and will probably take charge of
the office at the beginning of the next quarter, April 01. Mr.
Barth, the retiring official, will carry with him the best wishes
and esteem of the people, and there is widespread regret that
political changes have caused his removal.
NORTH ALTON NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph, November 01, 1894
A hunting party composed of John Rain, Frank Fehr, Herman Horneyer,
George Mayford, and Newton Parker have gone to the Illinois River to
enjoy a three-weeks hunt. An ample store of provisions and a good
supply of blankets and other necessaries no doubt insures a good
time. The camp will be reinforced in another week by several more of
the boys, who could not go with the pioneers.
A very pleasant surprise was tendered Miss Emma Girdeau by a party
of her friends at the residence of Mr. Newton Parker, last Friday
evening. With social games and music, the evening passed pleasantly
until a late hour, when the surprisers departed for home. Miss
Girdeau left for her home in Muskegon, Michigan last Sunday evening.
NORTH ALTON NEWS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 22, 1895
Messrs. Sam Ball and Andrew Williamson will shortly begin work to
open up the old abandoned coal pit directly back of the Presbyterian
Mission. It will be remembered that Molloy & Ball operated the pit
about two years ago, but were forced to leave it on account of a bad
roof, and also the large amount of water continually seeping into
the mine. The present prospectors still hope for success, and will
do all they can to bring to the surface the large amount of coal yet
contained in the earth in this particular vicinity.
Mr. William Glassbrenner, who has been in partnership with William
Schneider, the barber on Belle Street, has severed his connection
with the firm and will open a barbershop here [North Alton] in the
David Ilch building on Elm Street. Mr. Glassbrenner has purchased a
complete new outfit, consisting of two chairs and the other
accessories necessary for a first-class barbershop, which were moved
into the building today. Tomorrow will be his opening day. There are
as many barbershops as grocery stores in our town. No excuse for
walking about with a dirty face now.
NORTH ALTON NEWS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 20, 1895
Mr. William Threde has greatly improved the appearance of his Belle
Street property by grubbing out the old trees and replacing the
hedge fence with an ordinary fence. Mr. Threde intends to erect a
handsome brick residence on this place when the new street is
finished.
The ballplayers are planning on an extensive scale for the coming
seasons. They have leased the ground occupied by them last year, for
a term of five years, and propose to build on this a grandstand and
a board fence to surround the entire park. The fence will be solid
boards, eight feet high, and will be 1,200 feet long. The grandstand
will be 90 feet on each side of the diamond, and will have a seating
capacity of 500 people. The boys have succeeded in raising over $100
by subscription, and hope to raise the necessary amount to complete
the structure in this way, and by selling the space on the fence to
advertisers.
NORTH ALTON NEWS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 01, 1895
Fred Glassbrenner is putting his stable and livery services in
excellent shape. A number of new buggies will be added to the number
already on hand. Mr. Glassbrenner will go to St. Louis the latter
part of this week to purchase some more horses, and it is his
intention to give the public a first-class livery service in every
respect. His efforts will no doubt be appreciated by his patrons.
NORTH ALTON NEWS
Source: Alton Telegraph, May 9, 1895
The regular meeting of the Village Board was held Saturday night.
The Treasurer reported something over $1,000 on hand. Various bills
including bills for the recent election allowed. With all the
necessary business being finished, the old board adjourned sine die,
and the new board was sworn in. President Clifford made the
following appointments, which were confirmed by the board:
Policeman, William Batterton; Street Commissioner, Leo Glassbrenner;
Treasurer, John Krug; Weighmaster, Anton Buri. The committees
appointed were: Finance, Davis, Mather, Threde; Ordinance,
Hoffmeister, Davis, Krug. Streets and Alleys, Mather, Threde, and
Davis. Public Buildings, Krug, Hoffmeister, Fischer. Police, Threde,
Hoffmeister, and Mather. Fire, Fischer, Krug, Threde. Health, Krug,
Mather, Fischer. Electric lights, Davis, Krug, Mather. Real Estate,
Threde, Hoffmeister, and Fischer. Rules, Hoffmeister, Davis, and
Mather.
The petition of the colored people was considered, and the use of
the truck hall was given them for the purpose of giving a concert
next Saturday night. The board then adjourned to meet next Saturday
evening.
TWO COLT REVOLVERS FOUND IN NORTH ALTON
Source: Alton Telegraph, August 29, 1895
An old colored man, who lives in North Alton, while digging for
worms for fish bait Tuesday on the banks of the Piasa Creek,
uncovered two old rust-eaten Colt’s revolvers, one a 9-inch barrel
and the other a 6-inch barrel. Both were loaded, the chambers of
each being full of shells. They resembled very much the arms worn by
officers in the Civil War, the large one being about the size used
by Cavalry men. These old arms, from their appearance, have lain for
a long time in the ground. Why they should have been so buried is a
question not easily answered, as such weapons were very valuable
during and after the close of the war.
STATE STREET [TROLLEY] CAR LINE
Source: Alton Telegraph, April 28, 1896
Work on the North Alton electric line is being pushed vigorously by
President Porter. The men who struck are still working peaceably
enough and are making rapid progress with the work. To comply with
the terms upon which the bonus is given, the line must be in
operation on the first day of June. The completion of the road on
time will require fast work, but it is thought that cars will be
running by the specified time. President Porter stated yesterday
every rail will be spiked on the entire line to Fourth street by
Saturday night. Mr. Porter also stated that nothing had been done in
regard to changing the route from Third and Piasa street, and that
he expected to go along with the work on that route. A force of men
began setting the poles on Third street this morning for the trolley
wire.
ODD FELLOWS IN NORTH ALTON TO BUILD NEW TEMPLE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 30, 1900
Work will be started next week on the new Temple to be erected by
Greenwood Lodge I.O.O.F., at North Alton. The new Temple building
will cost $2,200, and will be a handsome structure and an ornament
to North Alton. Some time ago the lodge bought a piece of property
in the main part of the village for the purpose of making a lodge
home that would belong to the Odd Fellows. They have had plans
prepared for rebuilding the property, and will make it a profitable
investment for the lodge. Rooms for lodge purposes and
entertainments will be made on the second floor, and downstairs will
be devoted to business rooms. The building will be one of the
prettiest little Temples in the country owned by a lodge the size of
Greenwood.
JOHN RAIN OPENS NEW GROCERY STORE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 14, 1901
John Rain has leased the north half of the store part of the new Odd
Fellows building on State, near Elm street North Alton, for a term
of five years, and is fitting the place up with shelves, etc.,
preparatory to putting therein a large and assorted stock of
groceries, etc. Mr. Rain is a good business man with hundreds of
friends, and it is thought will make a complete success of his new
venture.
GREENWOOD HOTEL AT NORTH ALTON DESTROYED BY FIRE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 15, 1901
One of the oldest, if not the oldest building in North Alton, was
destroyed by fire last night, and four families were made homeless
temporarily at least. The building was a double brick, owned by Mrs.
Catherine Kolb, and occupied by Mrs. Kolb, Mrs. Overstreet, W. W.
Calvey and Thomas Swift and families. The fire broke out in a closet
in one of the rooms occupied by the Swifts, about 9 o'clock last
evening. That fire was extinguished, it was thought, and after a
time folks went to bed. About 11 o'clock members of the Swift family
were awakened by smoke and flames. The room was ablaze from the
ceiling. The closet fire had not been extinguished, only smothered,
and had worked slowly up the laths between the wall and plastering
to the ceiling. The alarm was given, the fire bell was rung, and did
the best it could, then the rope broke and the bell quit. The
volunteers got out the fire fighting apparatus but could not save
the building. They did save the adjacent buildings and the store of
Mrs. Annie Hennessey, and they saved all of the furniture and
effects of the different families in the doomed building excepting
that of Mr. Swift's. Everything he had except a sewing machine was
destroyed.
The building was insured, but the amount of insurance could not be
learned. It was an old building, however, and its destruction will
probably entail very little, if any loss. Years ago, when the Buck
Inn was in its prime, this old building, which was located on State
Street a short distance north of the Custom Mill, was the scene of
many a joyous gathering and hilarious time. It was a place that good
"refreshments for man and beast" were kept constantly on tap, and
where romances were born, tragedies conceived and big heads produced
- by the stuff that cheereth some but inebriateth more. The old
"Greenwood Hotel," or "Gast House" or Cupid's Bower, or whatever
term you may please to call it, awakened all kinds of memories in
recollection's balls of the older citizens last night as they
watched its finish, and "peace to its ashes" was muttered by some,
while "it got what was coming to it" was said by others.
Thomas Swift, one of the men burned out last night, is followed by a
determined demon of ill-luck. Sickness fastens often on his family,
accident after accident has happened to himself, until it is a
wonder he is alive or has a whole bone in his body. He works hard
when he can; so does Mrs. Swift, and they are deserving of sympathy
much more substantial than saying, "it is too bad." They have
several children and are destitute of furniture, clothing, etc., by
last night's fire. There is a difference of opinion as to the origin
of the fire. Some say rats gnawing at matches in the closet ignited
them; others say one of the children went into the closet with a
lighted lamp, chimneyless, and that this set fire to something
there, but this does not explain the 11 o'clock or destructive fire
as it was early in the evening when the girl is said to have entered
the closet. Besides, the fire was between the wall and the lathing,
and the rat theory is probably the correct one. A great deal of the
furniture of the people, so rudely deprived of shelter, is still out
in the yards exposed to sun, dust or anything that may happen along.
It is impossible to get vacant houses, and while the people
themselves may be given shelter by neighbors, these latter have no
place to store furniture. The engine house where the truck and
ladders are kept will be used probably until something better can be
done.
NOTES:
The old Greenwood Hotel was located near the corner northwest corner
of State and Rozier Streets, about where the Miller-King Law Firm is
today.
NORTH ALTON MEN GIVE CHASE TO BLACK WOLF
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 4, 1901
Somewhere in the Hop Hollow caverns, a black wolf- maybe more than
one - is in hiding, coming forth only when he wants a tender lamb,
juicy ig or yellow-legged chicken. The wolf has been seen by several
citizens, among whom are some expert hunters, men who are familiar
with wild animals and who declare the North Alton animal to be a
sure enough black wolf - the kind that has built up a great
reputation for fearlessness and savageness. John Mullen and James
Wannamaker, both well-known farmers living just west of North Alton,
are the latest to hold a session with his wolfship, who visited
their barnyards in the early morning in quest of a breakfast. They
gave chase with their dogs and they shot several times at the
animal, but he succeeded in getting into Hop Hollow and losing
himself. He showed fight too, until he realized that he was clearly
outnumbered and outclassed, when he led a retreat with ability and
success. The boys are talking of organizing a big hunting party and
of bearding the wolf in his den if they can find the den, someday
soon, and some of them are of the opinion that they will unearth a
family of the varmints. Black wolves in this section of the country
are about as scarce as white blackbirds, and many people are
inclined to the belief that the one now in hiding in the bluffs is
an escape from a menagerie or circus.
BUILDING BOOM AT NORTH ALTON
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 25, 1901
From time to time the Telegraph has published accounts of the
pleasing progress being made by North Alton; of the many commodious
and sometimes costly dwellings erected there the past year; of the
rapid building up of the Lockyer addition on State street, and today
it has the pleasure to announce that the long-delayed development of
the Turner tract, just north of Alton city limits, is at hand. The
credit for breaking the deadlock - for such it practically was - is
due to Charles F. Steizel, the enterprising cashier of the Citizens
National Bank. Recently he purchased nine choice lots in the tract
from Eugene Lee Benoist and Edith Turner Benoist of St. Louis, and
secured control of many more. He refused to sell to
would-be-purchasers, unless development was intended by them. In
other words, speculators were not encouraged, and to those who
wanted to purchase for home building purposes, he sold a lot in
this, one of the loveliest and most convenient and desirable
additions to Alton, at very reasonable rates. Papers have been made
out by him transferring lot 3, block 3, of the addition to Mrs. Anna
Michelbuch, and lot 4, block 3, to Ed S. Cotter. These lots are on
State street near the old Wise brick hotel and farmhouse. Architects
are now drawing plans for houses to be erected by both purchasers to
be occupied by themselves as homes, and construction work will be
begun as soon as contracts can be let. Mr. Steizel has negotiated
the sale of a couple more lots, the transfer papers of which will be
completed this evening or tomorrow morning, and what is now a fine
farm, will speedily become the site of many beautiful houses, the
homes of happy people. When he secured possession of the acre and a
half of the tract, and control of a great deal more of it, a big
stride was made towards development, for Mr. Steizel is not a
believer in the "setting hen" theory as against the incubator
process, as a producer of spring chickens. He is a developer himself
and believes in development by others and is willing to help in the
work of converting the raw material into the beautiful and useful.
With the terms and inducements offered, the Turner tract will
speedily be covered with comfortable homes, beautiful streets and
sidewalks, and yard improvements, and there will be a solid street
of houses from the river almost to the Godfrey line on State street.
Annexation or amalgamation will follow, and the Altons become one in
fact as they really are now in interests and in ambitions.
BROOM FACTORY NEAR NORTH ALTON DESTROYED BY FIRE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, October 7, 1901
This morning at an early hour the broom factory of E. S. Newson, on
the Godfrey road near North Alton, was completely destroyed by fire,
together with several tons of broom straw, several dozen brooms,
machinery, etc. Broom straw is worth $150 per ton, and Mr. Newson
had just stocked the factory with straw enough to run the factory
all winter. There must have been between 25 and 30 tons, or about
$4,500 worth of straw besides the machinery, building, etc., which
will make the damage close to $7,000. There was some insurance, it
is said, but not nearly enough to cover the loss. Mr. Newson's
little girl, it is stated, went to the factory before 7 o'clock to
start a fire in the stove. She dropped a lighted match, it is
supposed, into the dry, inflammable straw, and the flames spread
rapidly and uncontrollably until all was destroyed. [Note: The Broom
Factory was covered with insurance.]
NEW BUILDING WILL BE BUILT ON OLD GREENWOOD HOTEL SITE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, December 6, 1901
It is stated that a fine new building will be erected in the spring
on the site of the old Greenwood hotel and adjacent ground several
months ago.
NORTH ALTON - CHAPPELL BROTHERS PURCHASE CUSTOM MILL
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, January 10, 1903
The Chappell Brothers, who purchased the custom mills here
Wednesday, will at once proceed to improve and enlarge the plant.
Steam will be abandoned and electricity used instead to operate the
machinery. A 20-horse power electric motor was received and is being
set up today.
COAL MINER FINDS PETRIFIED HUMAN
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 5, 1903
Henry Camp, the well-known North Alton farmer and coal miner, while
working in his coal mine recently unearthed a deposit of
petrifactions - shells, small animals or insects, and a perfect
figure of a human. The arms are crossed on the breast of this
latter, the shoulders are broad and prominent, and there is a deep
cavity in the back between the shoulder blades. It is asserted that
this is a petrified prehistoric man or baby. If true, prehistoric
man was a midget, and a one-legged one at that, as the figure found
only displays one leg. The petrified man is black in the face and
its body is as black as a tar kiln also, a condition that it would
not obtain unless mortification had set in before death. It is a
curious formation anyway, and the petrified shells are real and the
find has attracted considerable attention. Mr. Camp brought the
"man" and some of the shells to town and left them with Henry
Buckstrop of the Cole Hardware Company, and he is thinking of
mounting the lecture platform this summer and giving some chalk
talks on antediluvian [period before the Flood] subjects.
NOTES:
Henry Camp was considered an expert coal miner. He spent practically
all his life in the North Alton area (on the south side of West
Delmar, where Chouteau Street joins Delmar), farming and mining for
coal. His stepfather was Adam Rodemeyer, who came to Illinois from
Pennsylvania when Illinois was yet young. Henry died in 1914, and is
buried in the Godfrey Cemetery. I could find no more information on
Mr. Camp’s find.
GIFT GIVEN TO NORTH ALTON LIBRARY BY LUCIA L. PRIEST
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 6, 1903
Mrs. Lucia I. Priest, who is continually doing good in a quiet,
unostentatious way, has just presented to the North Alton Board of
Education for the free use of North Alton children generally, a
library of fine books, with book cases, etc. There are more than six
hundred volumes in the library, and the books are all of the
interesting, instructive and elevating kinds. She has said also that
she will add to this library from year to year until the North Alton
library will be a splendid one. The Board of Education has secured
the large, well-lighted hall in Odd Fellows' Building, and the
bookcases, desks, books, etc., will be placed there which is about
the most central place, and the best adapted for the purpose in the
village. The books now in the public school will be added to Mrs.
Priest's gift and together they give North Alton a library of more
than 1,000 volumes. Principal George H. Osborn is greatly elated and
so are all who know of the substantial gift of Mrs. Priest. Mrs.
Priest was instructress in the North Alton schools some years ago,
and she has never lost interest in them or in North Alton people,
and these latter will certainly never cease to hold her in grateful
esteem.
NORTH ALTON HISTORY TOLD
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 6, 1903
G. F. Long says in regard to the old well on McPherson street
ordered filled up by the village board at its last meeting, that it
[the well] never furnished water for travelers; that in fact the old
brick house known for years as the "bee hive," and popularly
supposed to be the remains of the old Farmers' Home, never was a
hotel or tavern at all. The old Farmers' Home, he says, was a frame
structure situated on the Wise farm (the Turner tract) just across
the street from where the Episcopal chapel now is, and it was wiped
out by fire years ago. The old brick house remodeled and now
occupied by Grocer Waldron was erected many years before the war
[Civil War], by John Fitch, editor of the Alton Democrat, and used
by him as a country residence. During the war it was occupied by the
family of Doctor Breckinridge, relatives of Mr. Long. After the war
it fell from its high estate and became a tenement house and finally
was abandoned altogether.
BROOM FACTORY TURNING OUT EXCELLENT BROOMS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, August 25, 1903
The Newson Broom factory here is turning out an unusually large
number of excellent brooms, and is flooding the country with
literature appealing to the people to assist in destroying the trade
of the convict-made brooms of Arkansas and other places, which have
entered into competition with union-made articles, outside of
penitentiaries. Union-made brooms sweep clean and are clean, and
should be given the preference very time and everywhere over the
convict manufactured kind.
NORTH ALTON GRAFTON ROAD
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 17, 1903
North Alton News - One of the rural routes started out of Godfrey
traverses the Grafton road for quite a distance west of Melville,
and leaves the Grafton road at the intersection with the Rocky Fork
road.
ONE OF THE ORIGINAL SETTLERS OF GREENWOOD DIES
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 22, 1904
Mrs. Eleanor Kohler, widow of Frank Kohler, died Sunday morning
after six years illness with acute stomach troubles at the home of
her brother, Joseph Ein____, on East Third street. She was 77 years
of age and had lived in the Altons since 1854. The funeral will be
held Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the home to City
cemetery. Rev. Theo. Oberhellman officiating. Mrs. Kohler was one of
the original settlers of Greenwood, now North Alton, where she
married in 1857 and resided until the death of her husband in 1888,
when she moved to Alton. She leaves four children, Mrs. Frank
Gissler, North Alton, Mrs. B. Burl of St. Louis, Miss Josephine
Kohler of Alton, and George Kohler of St. Louis.
"WORLD'S FAIR ADDITION"
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 11, 1904
North Alton is to have a new addition - the World's Fair Addition,
and in it will be several desirable sites for homes. John E. Rodger,
the well-known real estate dealer, purchased the tract of more than
8 acres of Thomas Adams of Bloomington, and will have it surveyed
and platted at once. He already has two purchasers for portions of
the tract, and he intends to erect two dwelling houses at once to
suit these two purchasers. The tract will be divided into lots
containing two acres each, and this will give plenty of ground for
beautiful front yards and lawns, with a large enough space for an
orchard or garden in the rear. In addition to the two-acre tracts,
there will be three lots on Elm street _00x120. The tract is north
of Elm street and directly south of Alby, and only a short distance
from State street and the car line. The location is a good one from
all points of view.
ANHEUSER BUSCH BREWING CO. LEASES KOLB PROPERTY
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 8, 1904
Anheuser Busch Brewing Company has leased the Kolb property near the
park on the opposite side of the street, for a term of five years,
and with the privilege of purchasing during that time. The company
will erect a building on the site of the old "Greenwood Hotel,"
destroyed by fire a few years ago.
NORTH ALTON TO HAVE TROLLEY LINE TO JERSEY COUNTY LINE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 13, 1904
Mr. John Ingersoll has secured the right of way from North Alton to
the Jersey county line for the proposed electric line to be built by
the Central Traction Company, and there is no doubt that the
supervisors will today grant the permission necessary for the
company to have before beginning work of construction of that part
of the line running along the public road. Work of construction will
begin this fall, Mr. Ingersoll says, at the North Alton end and
possibly at the Jerseyville end also. A power house and car barn
will be built either at North Alton or at Godfrey. If the power
house is built at North Alton, the village board will endeavor to
negotiate with the new company for electric lights, or secure better
terms from the present company. Godfrey township people are giving
the new road and its projectors a warm welcome and substantial
encouragement, and the pupils, patrons, and teachers of Monticello
Seminary are said to be delighted with the prospects of soon having
a trolley line in front of the Seminary.
NEW KIND OF DAIRY STARTED
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, November 21, 1904
According to G. L. Glassbrenner, the North Alton saddler who was
down town Monday morning, a new kind of dairy was started in that
village today by Ed Riehl, the well-known horticulturist and farmer
of the Grafton road. Instead of using milk wagons to make
deliveries, the cows themselves are taken along and the pint of milk
for Mrs. Fuss-and-feathers or the quart for Mrs. Goodmeasure is
milked from the cow right in front of the purchaser, who can see
that if there is any water in that milk the cow drank it and mixed
it herself. Each purchaser tells the amount of lactated fluid wanted
and it is milked into the measure and delivered on the spot before
there is any chance to secure help from the town pump or any other
pump. In Cuba, the Philippine Islands and tropical countries
generally this method has been in vogue for centuries, but it is
entirely new here, and ought to become immensely popular.
BROOM FACTORY SOLD
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 9, 1905
George Miller will move the machinery of the Newson broom factory to
Alton tomorrow and will resume business at once in his new factory
on Madison avenue.
PRESSING 500 BUSHELS DAILY
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 19, 1906
The Walter's apple jack [apple brandy] distillery has a capacity of
40 barrels daily, and is pressing about 500 bushels of apples into
cider every day the apples can be procured. Apple jack must have hot
weather to reach perfection, and so far, the weather has been hot
enough even for apple jack.
NEW TROLLY LINE IN NORTH ALTON
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 19, 1907
The A. J. & P. grading contractors are being followed closely by the
bridge and culvert makers and the track layers in North Alton. Pile
drivers are kept busy from daylight to dark, and everything
indicates the speedy completion of the road to this place, at least.
There is some difficulty experienced, and it may cause temporary
delay in getting a right of way through the Schiess tract between
Elm Street and Delmar Avenue, but in all other respects, the Alton,
Jacksonville, and Peoria Traction Company has clear sailing,
apparently.
10,000 GALLONS OF CIDER FILLS CISTERN
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, November 25, 1911
If Judge Dyer of St. Louis, who complains that he cannot get a jug
of pure apple cider in that city, will come to Alton, he can be
supplied with many jugs of undoubtedly pure apple cider. It is here
and in the surrounding country in barrel lots and farmers say it
never before was so plentiful and never was any better or purer.
Michael Walters, who operates a distillery in Mather street, has
just finished filling a large cistern at his place with sweet cider.
Barrels could not be obtained several weeks ago because every man
who had an orchard wanted a barrel or two for cider for home use,
and Mr. Walters concluding an emergency existed, pumped all of the
water out of the cistern, cleaned the cistern thoroughly, and began
pouring in the cider. The capacity of the cistern is two hundred and
twenty barrels of forty-five gallons each. That makes nine thousand,
nine hundred gallons of cider in the cistern. Mr. Walter has made
many thousands of gallon of apple cider this year, and is still
making it. Some of the cider is sold to dealers, sweet and fresh;
more is made into cider vinegar, while lots more is converted into
apple jack [apple brandy]. The Walter's distillery has long been
famous for the good quality of the apple jack made there, and this
year Mr. Walters will have a larger quantity to dispose of than ever
before. He has sent another lot of barrels of apple jack to
Louisville, Ky., where it will be bonded and aged. He has more than
forty-five barrels there now, and the end is not yet. Unless he
sells the lot in Kentucky, it will be brought here later and
disposed of to dealers in this section of the country. He has never
had any trouble disposing of the products of his distillery close to
home, and expects no trouble this year either. It is undoubtedly the
first time in the history of Madison County that 10,000 gallons of
cider went into a cistern for want of other receptacles.
KRANZ WILL TAKE ON TITLE OF "APPLE BUTTER KING"
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, November 8, 1917
North Alton undoubtedly will take the lead of all parts of the
country this year in the manufacture of apple butter - one of the
most healthful of substitutes for "bull butter," or any other kind
of butter for that matter, at the present time when real butter is
so scarce and so high priced, and Fred Kranz will take on the title
of "Apple Butter King of Madison County." He will manufacture close
to 700 barrels of the butter this winter, 500 barrels being for a
St. Louis concern. The Landau Grocery Company has placed a large
order with him, and he has countless smaller orders. He is getting
apples from various parts of the country - not too remote - and will
receive some large consignments from Calhoun County next week. He
used sweet cider in manufacturing his apple butter, and he has some
process, all his own - which makes the butter leave a taste in the
mouth that won't come off, and that you don't want to come off. He
is making and selling large quantities of sweet cider too, and will
have more or less cider vinegar to dispose of later in the year. He
will make no apple jack at all. In former years, before he bought
the M. Walters' distillery in Mather street, cider and apple jack
were the only products of the plant. Fred has halted the apple jack
business altogether, and has added a grist mill equipment to the
plant and will make corn meal, rye flour or wheat flour for farmers
when they desire the service.
FIRE DESTROYS APPLE JACK PLANT IN NORTH ALTON
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, September 24, 1919
The Fred Kranz cider and apple butter factory on Mather Street, west
of State Street, was burned last night shortly before midnight and
everything was destroyed completely. The contents of the factory
included many barrels of sweet cider, vinegar, a large quantity of
apple butter, and about 1,000 bushels of apples - eight hundred
bushels of which were received by Mr. Kranz yesterday. The fire was
well under way when discovered and the alarm given, and there being
no water available in that part of the street, the firemen were more
or less helpless. The fire bell was not rung and most residents of
the North Side knew nothing of the fire until this morning. Fire
bells are not being rung now as in the days of volunteer
firefighting, but many of the old timers cannot become accustomed to
this failure, and feel they could help materially if they knew of
the fire. It is a good feeling to have perhaps, but their help, as
compared with the work of trained fighters, could not affect much.
The Kranz factory included also a custom mill grinding outfit, and
during the Winter and Spring Mr. Kranz made corn meal, chicken feed,
etc., and this mill, together with considerable other machinery, was
badly damaged, if not completely ruined by the fire. Mr. Kranz
bought the mill from Michael Walters a few years ago, after it had
been operated for years by Mr. Walters as an apple factory, and the
new owner at once proceeded to fix it up, equip it with modern
machinery, custom mill, etc. Then the war [WWI] came along, and Fred
was sent to the colors and the factory was closed. He was gone
nearly a year and a half, and had just gotten things shaped up once
more, when this misfortune occurred. He has had bad luck throughout,
and it is said that he did not carry a dollar's worth of insurance
on the building, machinery, or stock, so that everything is a total
loss. He neglected to have policies reissued, or new policies made,
and he stands to lose between $5,000 and $6,000. A dwelling
belonging to Mrs. Alice Meyer and occupied by a tenant was saved
with difficulty by the firemen and neighbors, it is reported. It is
not far from the mill site. The origin of the fire is unknown, but
as the men worked all day at the factory, and there were many
callers during the day and evening, it is possible that some fire
danger or menace about the place was overlooked when the place was
closed for the night.
NOTES:
The North Alton cider plant was located on Mather Street, west of
State Street. It was originally owned by Michael Walters, who
operated the plant as early as 1906, and who also owned a grocery
store in North Alton. In 1911, 10,000 gallons of cider filled a
cistern, as he ran out of storage room. Some of the cider was
trucked to Louisville, Kentucky, where it was bonded and aged. After
taking over the business, Fred Kranz earned the title of “Apple
Butter King,” as he manufactured 700 barrels of the butter – with
500 barrels sent to a St. Louis firm. Kranz shipped in apples from
various parts of the country, especially Calhoun County. He also
made apple jack (hard cider). After the fire of 1919, the factory
was rebuilt and in operation once again.
Frederick “Fred” Kranz was killed in an auto accident on September
23, 1946 (27 years to the day when his apple jack plant burned),
when the vinegar truck he was driving collided with an oil truck on
Highway 67, a mile and a half north of Godfrey. Another truck from
the Alton Vinegar Company was also involved. Kranz was born in the
State Street neighborhood of North Alton on April 4, 1891, and was
the son of Harry and Catherine Kranz. He operated the apple jack
plant for a number of years, and also worked for the Alton Vinegar
Company. He had been active in the North Side playground, and was a
member of the Boosters Club. He left behind a wife, a son (Fred
Jr.), and two daughters (Mrs. Bernard Serals and Miss Marilyn
Kranz). He was buried in the Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey.