The Coal Mines and the Coal Miners defined Coal Country
Our Macoupin Street Story chronicles their legacy
This stretch of a small town main street is just a half mile long but holds the heartbeat and the legacy of Coal Country.
Our Macoupin Street Story chronicles their legacy
This stretch of a small town main street is just a half mile long but holds the heartbeat and the legacy of Coal Country.
This is the Behrens home located on the 100 block of N. Macoupin Street Henry H. and Herman W. Behrens came to Gillespie in 1867 and were two of the leading pioneer Gillespie merchants. Henry erected one of the first brick buildings at 200 N. Macoupin Street and Herman bought and operated the National Hotel next door. Three generations of the Behrens family, as merchants, doctors, dentists, and bankers maintain a presence on Macoupin Street for 100 years. The family home was demolished in 1911 and the property was donated to build the Maple Street Elementary School. |
At the center of this photograph is The Frederickson home in the 500 block of S. Macoupin Street
Maude Wilcox migrated to Gillespie in 1903 from the coal fields of Iowa and would marry Edward Clarence Frederickson. Their is home would anchor the south end of the Macoupin Street Business District.
|
THE STAGE IS SET
The town is ready for growth and the Coal Boom has begun
The town is ready for growth and the Coal Boom has begun
|
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 At 19 years of age, W.E. Cavanaugh left St Louis, Missouri to make his fortune in the boomtown of Gillespie. Larry, as he was known, worked as a coal company clerk, a bank clerk , and was deeply involved local and county politics. He served 23 years as Gillespie City Clerk and worked in both the Chestnut Street City Hall and at the interim City Hall in the newly vacated 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 Bill and Johnnies 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