Coal mining and the coal miners defined Coal Country
Our Macoupin Street Story chronicles their legacy
Our Macoupin Street Story chronicles their legacy
At the center of the photograph, above left, is The Frederickson home at the bend in Route 4 and the ITS tracks as they leave Gillespie heading toward Staunton.
The photograph, above right, is the Behrens home at the opposite end of Macoupin Street.
This stretch of a small town main street is just a half mile long but holds the heartbeat and the legacy of Coal Country.
The photograph, above right, is the Behrens home at the opposite end of Macoupin Street.
This stretch of a small town main street is just a half mile long but holds the heartbeat and the legacy of Coal Country.
|
1905 downtown fire and start of the coal boom
|
1905
Macoupin Street Looking north from Pine Street 
|
|
1903
Maude Wilcox Fredrickson (1881-1967) Attended business school and at 19 was named clerk of the Iowa State Mine Inspector’s Office
Arrived in Gillespie in 1903 from Buxton Iowa as the clerk of the Superior Coal Company. Chicago Northwestern Railway owned, at that time, the Superior Coal Company of Gillespie and the Consolidation Coal Company of Buxton. Buxton was a company town. Elected to the School Board, served on the library board when the Gillespie Public Library was founded, and became the Gillespie correspondent for the Illinois State Journal. |
|
|
1904
W.E. (Larry) Cavanaugh 1885 - 1968 From St Louis Coal Company Clerk, Banker, and City Clerk at both E. Chestnut and ITS building |
|
|
1910
Henry (Hank) Love Relocated to Gillespie from 1909 Cherry Mine disaster E. Chestnut pool hall Chief of police |
|
|
1928
Macoupin Street is paved and and lined with businesses 
|
|
George Lacy
Born in Buxton IA Relocated to Benld opened 1st small own G.E. franchise on E. Chestnut Moved Lacy Electric to 222 S. Macoupin |
|
|
Johnny Bernhardt
Opened Johnny' Tavern in Hank Loves pool hall Moved to S. Macoupin and opened Bernhardt's Restaurant |
|
|
John Hicks
Grew up in Sawyerville @ #2 Opened his first Hick's Maytag then second on S. Macoupin Mayor of Gillespie |
|
|
Katy Blanchard
Newspaper Publisher Canna Anna's Canna Theater |
|
|
Dan Fisher was a 'pump jockey' when a gallon of gasoline sold for 25.9 cents and came with an oil and tire pressure check, and a cleaned windshield.
Gillespie alderman, mayor, then treasurer - waterline project, coal museum startup, streetscape |
|
|
Layne Knoche
Performed in the last GHS musical at the Canna Chance museum visit that led to streetscape |
|
End with streetscape story finale