Time Was

Testing your Braidwood history knowledge

Published by admin on Wed, 06/07/2017 - 9:00am

    So you think school is out? Not just yet. There is one more test to take.
    Answer one to three right - you aren't reading enough or haven't been reading this column long enough.
    Answer four to six right - you have a decent memory or are a good guesser.
    Answer seven to nine right - you are a real history buff or have lived in the area your whole life.
    Answer 10 right - you probably cheated.
    1. How many train depots has Braidwood had?
    a. 1
    b. 2
    c. 3
    d. 4

Florence and farming, a lifelong partnership

Published by admin on Wed, 06/07/2017 - 9:00am

    Florence Township, just to the east of Wilmington, was considered the best in the whole county in at least one respect - her deep prairie soil and convenient sources of water made her ideal for farming.
    However, the first settlers rejected that idea. Today we look at the history of Florence Township.

Honoring the dead, a fight they couldn’t win

Published by admin on Wed, 05/31/2017 - 9:00am

    • Aug.19, 1868 - Wilmington Independent: Serious accidents at the coal mines - Mr. John Cox and his son, miners at Cady's shaft, were seriously injured on Friday last, by the falling of the roof of the room in which they were digging. It was some fifteen minutes after the roof fell before they could be extricated. They were brought to this place for medical treatment. Their chief injuries are spinal, and their recovery is extremely doubtful. One of the miners in the employ of the C. & W.

Remembering the dead during war time, 1917

Published by admin on Wed, 05/31/2017 - 9:00am

        Memorial Day brings out the split personality in all of us. Part of us knows that it is a time to honor the dead, especially those who have died in war. And many of us do in our own way.
    But the other part of us knows that it is a time for getting together with friends and family. A time for good food and good times. We shouldn't feel guilty about this.
    Those who have gone before us would be the first to tell us to enjoy life while we can. In 1917 it was a bit different. Many were living in fear of their own loved ones becoming part of the honored dead.

Plain speaking, God fearing, farmers, early Wesley

Published by admin on Wed, 05/24/2017 - 9:00am

    This is the first in a series documenting the earliest history of the townships we call home. Much of the early history of our townships is documented by Will County historian George Woodruff in 1878.
    Wesley Township is our focus today, so set the way back machine to 1832 to see what's happening there.
    The truth is, before the Black Hawk War, Wesley Township was occupied by only Native Americans. Chief Shabbona may have set up his village very near Wesley.

A story from the early days; or a saloon keeper's woe

Published by admin on Wed, 05/24/2017 - 9:00am

    The reputation of early Braidwood was well earned. If you have watched the old program “Gunsmoke” then you can relate.
    The following story was printed in the Morris newspaper, but also appeared in the Joliet papers as well. It was this kind of publicity, most of it true, which sold newspapers, but also cemented Braidwood's fame for violence.

Prairie problems plagued Braidwood

Published by admin on Wed, 05/17/2017 - 9:00am

    I don't think it will come as much of a surprise to anyone that Braidwood, Godley, Braceville, Diamond and all the other 19th century coal towns were originally prairie.
    The tallest things in the landscape excluding buildings are the man made slag heaps. It was a special kind of prairie, one that had originally been at the bottom of an ocean, and water was never far from the surface.
    Today we look at the problems water made to the people who lived on the land.

Fish tales and other stories of the Kankakee

Published by admin on Wed, 05/17/2017 - 9:00am

    I guess if you have lived around here long enough you have heard fish tales, usually about the one that got away.
    Then there are other stories about fishing trips gone good or bad, or the weird blue frog you saw, or the time your friend jumped into the river up to the armpits to catch the giant catfish. It's all good and fun.
    Here are a few from over 100 years ago; just as much fun as today's tales.

Parades, politics, parties and priests

Published by admin on Wed, 05/10/2017 - 9:00am

    We have talked about the diverse nationalities that came to Braidwood to mine coal and start a new life. While the first wave of immigrants was mainly from the British Isles, the second wave, in the mid 1870's, was from countries all over Europe.
    They were separated by custom, dress and language, but they had two things in common - willingness to take a chance on a new country and life, and the Catholic religion. Today we look at the early history of the Catholic Church in Braidwood.

Fur, farms and the French, early life on the Kankakee

Published by admin on Wed, 05/10/2017 - 9:00am

    Parlez vous Francais? That means do you speak French.
    Why should you speak French? Because gentle readers, you are standing on soil that once belonged to France. It is hard to imagine that time in our local history, but let's give it a try.