Time Was

Summer fun, picnicking Braidwood style

Published by admin on Wed, 06/14/2017 - 9:00am

    The word picnic has been around since the early 18th century. It originally meant a meal where everyone contributed something, but by the 19th century it had taken on a whole new meaning.
    Picnics came to mean eating outdoors. They can be private, as in a picnic for two. Or in the case of Braidwood they can come to mean an outdoor party of immense proportions.
    From the start picnics in Braidwood involved some sort of parade or event. The earliest reference to a picnic I can find is from late June 1873.

Cooling cruises on sweltering summer evenings

Published by admin on Wed, 06/14/2017 - 9:00am

    It is hard for us to imagine now, but during the era of dams and locks, the Kankakee River was navigable to large craft almost all the way to Kankakee.
    Excursion boats plied the river in both directions, making sweltering summers almost bearable. Set the wayback machine for June 26, 1879 and hop on board the Mohawk Belle.

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.

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.

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.