Time Was

Laying out the foundation, the Cox family

Published by admin on Tue, 05/23/2023 - 11:13am

Before the white man came to this area, there were only native Indians. They created trails to travel on, but other than that the landscape was not altered.
When the white man came the landscape changed. The settlers cut down trees, built roads, erected homes and businesses, moved around the dirt to suit themselves, cut deep channels in the river, and changed what we see forever.

A beer murder in Braceville

Published by admin on Tue, 05/16/2023 - 11:29am

Although Braidwood has a reputation for being a rough town, the other towns of the coal field were no different. Today we look at one incident in Braceville.
The miners and railroad men had just settled their four-month long strike. Men were going back to work, so they celebrated, a little too much. Set the wayback machine for August 1, 1894.
From the pages of the Joliet News:

An acceptable way to make a living

Published by admin on Tue, 05/16/2023 - 10:06am

Married women in the workplace, they are everywhere. Practically no occupation is closed to married women - today that is.
But time was, when no respectable married woman would work for a living, it just wasn't done in polite society. Before marriage, women could be teachers, nurses, clerks, even accountants.
But after, there were few socially acceptable ways women could make money. Even widows fell into this area. It seems their male relatives were expected to support them.

An eyewitness account of the 1850's

Published by admin on Mon, 05/08/2023 - 1:32pm

Recently, descendants of the very earliest of Wilmington pioneers have contacted various historical societies about the role their ancestors played in founding the town.
While helping them with their research, I began to get a very different view of the town. The documents point to mills and distilleries and hog yards.
In 1883 the Will County Old Settlers held a reunion and many people came back to Will County to attend. Gurdon Hubbard, one of the first white men to see Will County was invited. We have the following description of what was served at the Grand Dinner.

Coming home to Braidwood, a few stories

Published by admin on Mon, 05/08/2023 - 1:23pm

We all have a definition of home. It may not be what another person would love, but it is your home. And, when others demean your home, it makes you mad. One newspaper man wrote the following about Braidwood.

What George remembered, a portal into the past

Published by admin on Tue, 05/02/2023 - 10:42am

Lately, I have been asked to talk about what was here before the first white settlers came to our area. What did it look like to the first ones? The first few white men to come to this area saw a very different landscape than we do, that is for sure.
And while Braidwood was settled by white men some 30 years later, I imagine that the scenes were very similar to 1834. There are no photos, but we do have memories put to paper.

May 1923 a time of contradiction

Published by admin on Mon, 05/01/2023 - 2:00pm

Things started out peaceful enough. It was a time when nature produces offspring. In Custer we hear of one occasion. “Eight baby wolves (probably coyote) in captivation on a private farm is a rather unusual occurrence and is attracting many visitors to the home of Richard Culkins, who resides two miles east of Custer Park.
Mr. Culkins was passing through the woods on Ralster Hoffman's farm when he saw tracks that he believed were made by wolves. He investigated further and in a secluded nook overhung by wild grapevines found eight tiny wolves about six weeks old.

Ascending to the heavens, mankind's dream

Published by admin on Tue, 04/25/2023 - 12:26pm

I am sure that some psychologist somewhere can tell us why man has always wanted to ascend to the heavens like a bird; but it's true. Today we look at those who attempted it.
Even before the Civil War aeronauts, as they were then called, were showing off their skills. We read on August 12, 1856 in the Joliet Signal, “Balloon ascension - By advertisement it will be seen that Prof.

A new name for new entertainment, the Opera House

Published by admin on Tue, 04/25/2023 - 10:35am

Last time we met, it was 1907 and the Opera House, formerly known as Empire Hall, located in the Empire block on Water Street, had been totally remodeled. It was now state of the art, and performers flocked to play there.
On October 4, 1907 we read, “The Musical Hoyles were the attraction at the New Opera House in this city Thursday evening.

Having a good time for a good cause

Published by admin on Tue, 04/18/2023 - 11:28am

Having a good time and doing good work sometimes go hand-in-hand. Since there was a Braidwood, there have been events held for charitable causes, but were in themselves, an enjoyable evening out. Today we look at only one year, 1879 to find what's happening in the social circles.