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Alton History
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How Did Alton Look in 1838? How Did 'Hop Hollow' Get Its Name? Alton's City High School named for Roosevelt New High School Needed Mineral Springs Hotel Sold
State Fair Held in Alton - 1856 Alton's Legend of the Piasa Bird & Lover's Leap Mansion House Silk, Tobacco & Cotton in Alton Early Days in Alton
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How Did Alton Look in 1838 Source: Alton Evening Telegraph Centennial Edition, January 15, 1936
Bluff City Reminiscences, May 11, 1883 Editor Telegraph:
When I landed upon the levee in March 1838, it was so much lower than now that I could not get up State or Piasa streets, but came through the storehouse now used by Topping brothers, as an iron warehouse, ascending one story to Second Street. The Legislature had grid-ironed the State with railroads and soon after my arrival Richard McDonald had the contract and cut down Second street from Market eastward, and filled up the levee until some of the stores had a cellar under the cellar, or two stories under ground. Upon the business houses on Second street, from the old frame mill to Piasa street could be seen the names of Godfrey, Gilman & Company, H. Tanner, successor to A. Roff, A. G. Sloss, Jerry Townsend, who did business in a large frame building on State and Second street, G. L. Ward, Negus & Robbins, T. S. Fay & Co., S. Ryder, A. Alexander & Co., Methodist Book Concern, I. Warnock, agent. This was, I think, in Tontine Row. H. G. Wannagenen, Hungerford & Livingston, Taylor & McAfee, T. M. Hope & Co., Whipple & Forbes, Stevens and Trenchery, Hawley, Page & Dunlap, Clawson & Cock, Cock & Fifield and others. Dr. Marsh's store was on corner of Second and State street (Johnston Hardware Co.), A. S. Barry was his clerk; Parks and Breath had their printing office on corner of the (Sugar) alley in the same block.
A. Clifford, father of our Mr. Clifford the merchant, had a grocery store where G. W. Oldham is now doing business, and upon the southeast of State and Third was a little frame house where B. Gabrilliac did business at one time. On the opposite corner, (Piasa B. & L. Office), and running up State street was a row of one-story frames where T. & T. L. Waples had their tailoring establishment, and John Buffum, I think, dry goods &c. Those buildings were burned down as was also a frame building on Third street, then occupied by an Italian, I think. He afterwards built the house now the lower mill near Shields' Branch (Broadway & Washington). On the corner of Third street, going still east, was a small one-room house; across the street a stone house, next a frame carriage and blacksmith's shop. Then the Judge Martin house, a brick, stood where A. W. Cary's store is now (Third at foot of Belle), and a stone one where A. Neerman's is. Somewhere in the rear of Neerman's store was a frame house occupied by Wash Carroll and sisters, as a residence, near which was the remains of an old saw mill, called I believe, the Spaulding Mill. As we could not get to Third street from Second street by Piasa, there was an alley to the west of the stone building coming out on Third at Belle, which was used as a walk.
Going up Belle on the west side was a small house occupied by the mother of Mrs. Filley. Then came J. R. Batterton's paint shop, then the buildings belonging to Mr. Hart (Tri-City Grocery), next a carpenter shop and then a small frame dwelling on the corner. Where the city hall now stands was a small frame, the only one on that side of Second street. Where the church is (Presbyterian) was a row of frames extending toward the river; near the corner, but on Front street was a log cabin (Savoy Hotel side), another on the other corner below (Alby and Front). Where the Union depot stands was a two-story frame of N. Buckmaster, called Eagle Tavern. On the east side of Market was the Pioneer Engine house (rear of Sanders Drug Store). Opposite (site of Stratford Hotel) were those brick buildings now there, and the residence of Dr. Gibson, which was (then) a bank; then the double brick next to the engine house. In the (Market) street, between the Pioneer House and Mrs. E. D. Topping's, was the Market House, a shed concern about forty feet long (which gave the street its name). On Second street east was Capt. Ryder's house. The frame next to it where Dr. Williams' building is (East of Alley on Broadway), was a stone house, built by Capt. Bruner's father and used by municipal court; then a large frame occupied by William Gamble, a stone mason. It was removed, I think, to Seventh street. Where Stanford's buildings are (Broadway & Alby) was a two-story house with a one-story wing running east (Lyceum Hall building). Then Langdon's, then Bruner's, then a widow's house.
Across the street from the hotel (Alton Light & Power Co.) were two houses that now stand, the Schweppe residence and Middleton's house. The building on the corner of Second and Easton streets (and remains so, Temple Theater), was first Odd Fellow's Hall; next above was a small house occupied by a mulatto woman, then a two-story frame of McFarland, and then J. D. Burn's shop and dwelling. The row of brick houses on the north side of Third going west (from Market) was there as was also the brick below Market (Y.M.C.A. site), the old frame and the stone on Alby. The jail was where Dow's auction room now is (Snyder's Store). The "Kimball ditch" extended from Second up to Fourth street, to a log bridge that spanned it. All up Piasa street to Eighth and down to the river was low, flat ground, as is seen back of Pitts & Hamill's store, where the water from Cave Spring ran, and this Kimball ditch was designed to keep it in bounds. The walls extended up to Fourth street, but were never completed by the city. The hotels of the city were the Mansion House on State street; the Central on Third, near State; Alton House, Alby and Front streets; Piasa House, Fourth and Piasa streets, and the Red Lion kept by Mr. Booth near Shields' Branch. A hotel had been commenced on Belle, running on Fourth to State street. The stone basement was up and the second tier and joists on, but there it stood for three or four years and finally the material was sold. The Virginia House was on the southeast corner of Market and Second street where the (Presbyterian) church now is (Faulstich building). The Presbyterian Church was on the corner of Third and Market (Episcopal Church); Baptist, corner of Second and Easton (Taphorn building); the Methodist, northeast corner of Third and Alby (Unitarian Parsonage); the Reformed Methodist had a small stone church upon the property now occupied by the residence of Mrs. Farber. My impression is that the Catholics went to Upper Alton to worship.
John M. Krum, now of St. Louis, was mayor of the city. Wm. Martin, Judge of the Municipal court; John R. Woods, warden of the penitentiary. There are still living here L. J. Clawson of the firm of Clawson & Cock; P.B. Whipple of Whipple & Forbes; E. Trenchery of Stevens and Trenchery; and Richard Flagg and Flagg and North; and Dr. T. M. Hope of T. M. Hope and Co.
The newspapers were the Alton Telegraph, J. Bailhache, Editor; The Altonian, Parks and Breath, and the Temperance Herald, A. W. Corey, Editor. There was also William Hessin, a printer, but I don't know if he published a paper or not. He built the house now owned by Mrs. T. P. Woolridge on State street.
The only mill that I can recall is the old frame that stood about where the water works are (west of Sparks Mill) and close under the bluffs.
I know I shall refresh the memory of some of the "Old 'uns," when I name among the conspicuous men of the city "Gov. Tice," Louis Choquette, and as he called himself, "The delicate Constitution Pup" or "French Louis," "Major Morgan," "Short Smith," "Burnt Eye Bill," and "Fred Livers," the last two were colored men. We had at a later date a visitor every Saturday from Piasa Creek known as "Old Hutch," "Betsy's son." "Hominy Tom" was also a visitor of the later date. I might go on and speak of many things and places of those days, but may weary you if not your readers. Signed by "Old 'Un" *********************************************** |
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When State Fair Was Held in Alton in 1856 Source: Alton Evening Telegraph Centennial Edition, January 15, 1936, by George Leighty
It has been 80 years now since the citizens of Alton surrendered themselves (with reservations to be sure, shrewd Northerners that they were) to the lure of a State Fair. In this now mellow period of the state's history, the assorted honorables in the state legislature were of the habit of selling the privilege of holding the annual State Fair to the city making the highest bid for that honor, and in the year 1856 our earnest forbears dug down deep into the pockets of their broadcloth pantaloons and brought the whole works, lock, stock and barrel, to Alton. And the moment the guardians of our political destiny said "go," the plans, which out city's fathers had hastily formed and hung out to dry on thin threads of hope, were snatched down from the line, washed out again, and put into execution. The lid was off! St. Louis would soon be a mere suburb of Alton, and they couldn't help it because some people had been simple-minded enough to put good money in Chicago real estate. All they ever had needed was a chance to do their stuff before the world, anyhow, and here it was.
Next to the spirit of panic, the most infectious mood in the world is that which descends upon the human race at the prospect of having a good time, and when such prospect is augmented by the desirable end of making a pretty penny for everybody concerned, the method in the madness of those people of 1856, who worked like troopers all that summer and fall, to make Alton's State Fair a success, can readily be seen. The spirit of the mardi gras could (and must!) be made to foam up and overflow the whole scene - elephants, Bengal tigers, and all the birds and beasts of the jungle, strange and rare, ferris wheels, merry-go-rounds, and calliopes, they could (and must!) have - but though bedlam would be allowed to wax thick on the surface, underneath the antics of the flying acrobats, the true lines of battle must be drawn, and never lost sight of - even for an instant.
If black-coated industrialists in the East were to be enticed here to exhibit their products, and ultimately locate their factories; if men of means and a mercantile flair were to come, see and smile upon our rugged hills; if hickory-shirted farmers were to be allowed to demonstrate beyond question the superior fertility of the Illinois soil; if steamboat men from New Orleans, Memphis, Louisville, were to behold in proper relief the convenient compatibility with which the Mississippi river had been graciously located at the lower terminal of three railroads; if, in short, the men who lived, worked and believed in Alton were to put a crease in its Sunday pants and pick the burrs out of it hair before Nov. 1, somebody had to get up and move. No amount of hand-clapping would product a good genii to transform on the instant the bluffs of the Mississippi into a tinseled Baghdad for the gratification of strangers.
The first meeting of the Alton citizens to form a Fair Association was held in April in the Alton fire house, on the corner of Market and Second streets. Among those present at this meeting were: Col. Buckmaster, superintendent of the penitentiary and local representative of the power of the state of Illinois; Capt. Bruner, steamboat man and designer of several of the fastest steamers ever to ply the Mississippi; L. A. Parks, one of the founders of the Telegraph; Dr. Hope, two-fisted ex-mayor; one Ezra Miller, a builder and contractor of marked talent; and many others too numerous to mention, but comprising to a man the leading property owners, business and professional men of the town.
When the meeting came to the nearest approach of order it every managed to attain, Col. Buckmaster, as much because of his dynamic personality, as because of is political significance, was placed in the chair. From this point, the colonel waved the stick over most of the performance that was about to befall. Under his booming leadership, sincere, albeit dreadfully wearisome, resolutions were proposed, adopted and communicated in due order to persons, organizations, corporations and companies, expressing an appeal for them, one and all, to attend the Alton State Fair. Manifestos were issued calling upon this or that excellency in Boston, Albany and other capitals, to come on out and take a ringside seat whilst the millennium began its descent upon the choicest portion of the Golden Rod state. And Ezra Miller, our builder, was elected superintendent of grounds and buildings. Upon his shoulders was placed the heavy task of bringing order out of chaos. Somebody would have to go out to the edge of the city, clear land, erect buildings suitable for the occasion, and otherwise see to it that no steam engine manufacturer arrived in Alton on the day of the fair, only to find that he would be unable to rent appropriate space and shelter wherein to demonstrate and exhibit his product. This task would be Mr. Miller's.
But the Fair Association chose well. Considering the trials and obstacles to be encountered by the man bearing the title, "superintendent of buildings and grounds," any one of which would have driven a less purposeful man to distraction - considering what Mr. Miller had "to do with," he will ever remain Alton's miracle man No. 1. He had to be his own landscape gardener, half the time he was compelled to design the buildings he laid out and erected, and many times, when it would be discovered that "another hundred" dollars was needed before the preparations for the fair could go on, the superintendent of grounds and buildings went boldly and grimly out and raised the money among the business men of the town.
The fairgrounds were on what was at that time known as the "Hawley tract" near Sempletown, between Alton and North Alton, near what is now Danforth street. This vicinity, at the time Mr. Miller and his associates arrived upon the scene, was virgin forest. The task of clearing the place meant a great deal more than merely cutting trees. Underbrush was as thick as grass and the whole mass - trees and underbrush - were knotted together with grapevines and old ivy. But by the last of September, with one month to go, except for the gathering up of a few loose ends, Mr. Miller had accomplished his purpose. All the underbrush and such of the large trees as suited his purpose had been removed. The whole place, one-quarter of a mile square, was intertwined with paths and roadways. A grand exhibition hall, 200 feet long and 50 feet wide, to house the farm products exhibit, had been build. Six wells had been dug at advantageous points over the grounds. Numerous individuals exhibition halls had been erected for the benefit of such manufacturers as might care to use them. A veritable forest of small stands for refreshment vendors had been built. Space had been provided for the great combination of three circuses that was to come. A half mile race track had been laid out, plowed and conditioned. Verily, Mr. Miller might now relax and await the advent of the opening day. But not this Mr. Miller. Work was yet to be done. Between two trees, above the gateway at the entrance of the fairgrounds, he suspended a huge red banner, 50 feet long and six feet wide. And not being satisfied with this comparatively mild sample of advertising technique, he went to the bluffs overlooking the river above the town, and erected two well-braced pillars 25 feet high, 1600 feet apart. Between these two pillars he suspended a wire (or cable, as it certainly must have been), and from this, to whet the imagination of approaching travelers, red, white and blue streamers were suspended. Mr. Miller was one of Alton's first advertising experts.
While all these things were being accomplished under the direction of Mr. Miller, it must not be supposed that other members of the Fair Association were inactive. Numerous other projects were simultaneously going on under the direction of others. Preparations were made and every night the fair was in progress. The road leading from the depots and the levee, out Belle street to the fairground, was graded and given a heavy coat of McAdam. Arrangements were made with various prospective exhibitors, and negotiations were carried on with the three circuses that were to combine their shows for this event. Those who had caught the spirit, and could find nothing better to do, were busy doing a fancy job of beating the tom-toms.
In the penitentiary, Col. Buckmaster's prisoners were bending over their part of the work. The carpenter shop inside the prison walls turned out chairs, tables, window frames, etc., the blacksmith shop turned out fancy iron gates, horseshoes, foot-scrapers, and the tailor shop produced a number of high grade garments - all to be placed on exhibition at the Fair, to increase the fame of Alton abroad.
The strictly private enterprises of the town too, fermented with preparatory activities. Our hosts, Mr. Pitts of the Franklin House, Mr. Corson of the Alton House, and others holding forth for the public's convenience at such respectable hostelries, as the Piasa House, expanded their brand of business activity to its utmost possibilities. The Franklin House was remodeled and on the day of the fair sported such innovations as a specially constructed ladies' entrance, a 10-by-10 lookout tower, from which point such steamboat races, as might occur between arriving boats, could be witnessed in ease and comfort, and approximately 175 feet of verandah, fitted out with "numerous elegantly upholstered chairs for the comfortable repose of guests." Delicious and monstrous supplies of food stuffs were laid into the larders of every inn, and history offers us no sign that might lead to believe that the colonels of Kentucky, who attended the fair, were compelled to slake their delicate thirsts with anything so mild as water - thanks again to our hosts.
During the Fair, special arrangements were made by the packet boats, running between St. Louis and Alton, to handle the crowds coming from points south and east. The steamers "Reindeer," "Baltimore," "Jennie Deans," and the "Winchester," (every boat of them quite as luxurious and as large as any steamer on the river in this day of electricity, 1936) each and all made two trips daily to and from St. Louis for the duration of the Fair. Meals were served on board these boats at all hours of the day and night, and "bands of music" accompanied each boat on every trip. While the Fair was in progress, three boats were tied up in the local harbor at nights, to provide sleeping accommodations for such visitors as might care to use them. All this required energetic preparation, as well as no small outlay of money.
The Alton Gas Co., then in its infancy, took unto itself a regiment of employees, and laid pipe to as many different points in the city as was possible, before the Fair was to open. Street lamps were provided at every corner of the business section and citizens, as well as visitors, as it was written at the time, "could move from place to place in our streets after dark with a facility hitherto peculiar only to daylight."
By the time the opening day had arrived, the town had gone Fair conscious. The roads leading to and from the fairgrounds had been graded and put into first class shape, and the business section was dressed in its holiday colors. The City Council had gone to the extremity of ordering the city marshal to enforce an ordinance that had been passed several years before making it a misdemeanor for one to "permit hogs to roam at large in the business portion of the city." What with Mr. Miller and his buildings and grounds, the private and public citizens, and their own individual contributions to the cause, the stage was set by Oct. 31, and many of the visitors were already lodged at the various hostelries.
The first of November found the show going full blast. Eight times that eventful day large "and commodious steamers" nosed up to the wharf and unloaded swarming human cargo. Three times the trains of the Alton & Sangamon Railroad (not counting the arrival of two specials) wheezed up to the depot and discharged an aggregation of men, women, and children. And over the roads leading from Calhoun, Jersey and Macoupin counties, came an almost endless stream of carriages, buggies and holt wagons. The Fair was on.
With the exception that the Fair buildings were constructed of wood, inch boards up and down over a wood frame, instead of chromium over a frame of steel; except that there was no sky ride and the ferris wheel and the merry-go-rounds were moved with steam instead of electricity; except for a few of the extreme niceties of late modern life, it cannot be said that the Alton State Fair of 1856 was much different from fairs as they are held today ([1936]. The women had their jelly and jam exhibits, and displayed unanswerable testimony to their zeal at knitting, sewing, crocheting and other home arts, including the manufacture of butter. For men and women alike, there were the races. All races were by pacing horses, and at that time a horse that could make the stretch in two and a half minutes was due to have its portrait painted in oils, and hung in his owner's family gallery. There was the great combined circus, which was probably superior to most circuses of today [1936], the circus business having gone the way of horse-car and other creeping things. The shell game was undoubtedly worked, in the largely unsophisticated crowds, with greater success than it had been worked before. And the number of stands where one might try to win various objects of doubtful value, simply by throwing balls at them for a price, was great. There was no tractors or combines on exhibition, but factories all over the state sent their products of mowing, threshing, sewing and grain drying machines, to vie with each other for supremacy in the minds of prospective buyers. At this time, sewing machines were one of the main exhibits. Pianos were exhibited in a hall with a floor suitable for dancing, and this means of entertainment was one of the main sources of pleasure for the visitors at the fair. From which I might be concluded, that fairs do not change in tenor - they merely increase in volume. ********************************************** |
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Early Days in Alton - 1834 Source: Alton Telegraph, July 19, 1883
I have noticed a number of contributions in the Telegraph, the first being "Old school days in Alton," which bring home forcibly the fact that time and tide wait for no man. Although I have no school reminiscence to chronicle, my lot having been that of physical exertion, I assume the prerogative of stating that T. D. is wide off the mark in asserting that "what I have to say is of no value except to the sayer, and, possibly a dozen persons beside who may be interested in this revival of almost forgotten times." It is no doubt true that the rest, or most, of his constituency have scattered far and wide and that though many, as in my own case, have passed the Rubicon of life, still I speak knowingly in saying that they highly prize the communication from the pen of T. D. While I freely pardon the "egotism," and make all due allowance for the equally pardonable modesty of your interesting correspondent, I would feel derelict in duty if I should neglect to add my meed of praise, but desist feeling that such task should be dispensed by an abler pen. As my acquaintance with the Altons, somewhat antedates that of T. D., as also the historical sketch from the pen of B. F. B. I feel inclined to contribute for the readers of the Telegraph a few items connected with early days in Alton.
My first acquaintance with Upper Alton was in the fall of '34, while it may be truly termed a passing acquaintance as our family tarried there only one night while on the overland route from the old North State to Griggsville, Ill. Being at that time only six years of age, and in the face of an inhospitable snowstorm, the writer failed to make a sufficiently thorough inspection of the embryo city, worthy the attention of the historian of the present day, however the journey throughout is still fresh in his memory. The crossing of the Blue Ridge (to us) was huge. We crossed the Ohio river at the notoriously drowned out Shawneetown, and the Illinois at what was then Phillips ferry, four miles below Naples. My first introduction to lower Alton was in the spring of '37, and again in '41, on this second visit, via stage from St. Louis, a change of horses was made at the Alton House. It was then and there that I first beheld the portly form of the landlord, Amos L. Corson. My life as a citizen of Alton, however, only dates back to May 22, 1845. Consequently, in recounting some incidents of early times will naturally cover about the same period reported by your correspondent, B. F. B., which, although mainly correct as far as it goes, needs as I think some ventilation. Of course I grant that B. F. B. does not engage to give through your paper, a biographical sketch of every business man then in Alton, or to pose as a living gazetteer or encyclopedia to be adopted by the future historian. In recounting business interests of early days in Alton, I think precedence should be given to the old frame flouring mill, located just below the present waterworks, then under the management of Griggs, Libby & Garnier. The old mill was a famous landmark and a terror to steam boats of limited power, headed upstream, as generally the passage, though slow, was nevertheless exciting, and at times doubtful whether they would succeed in passing that point. The steamer, however, succeeded ultimately in "making the rifle" whilst the old mill ground worried the life time out of several generations of steamboats. Possibly the fact that the writer had accepted the position of retail salesman in this mill, may have some bearing in the matter of refreshing the memory of B. F. B. True enough, the Messrs. Sabastian and Peter Wise were good and true men, and ran a good mill successfully, and the "go it old mill, every puff is a picayune," by uncle Peter Wise is all correct, and in connection with this mill I am pleased to make mention of my old time friend, their head miller, Frank Grota, "dot is sure and certainly." I may add, that while engaged in the frame mill, I had a light attack of bilious fever. Dr. T. M. Hope made me a professional visit, while sitting on the stone doorsill of the stone building, corner of State and Second streets, owned by L. J. Clawson. This building was occupied by Hulbert, Watson & Co., afterwards by Messrs. H. P. Hulbert & Co., and was next door to Bowman & Johnson, and later still by Charles Trumbull; the upper story was used as a printing office by Bailhache & Parks. I think L. J. Clawson next did business in the same store for several years. Probably Dr. Hope has long since forgotten this incident, as well as his patient; however, in his skillful hands I was soon all right. The fact of the Doctor being one of the F. F. V's may have had some bearing in the case, simply on the ground that we both claim the "Old Dominion" as our natal State, and to a certain extent, both share in sustaining the State motto, "Sic Semper Tyrannis." At all events, neither of us especially desires to be imposed upon.
My second situation was in the store of Chapman & Briggs, in the stone building corner of Second and Piasa streets, which had previously been occupied by Col. E. C. March, afterwards the rear portion next to the levee was used as a flouring mill, as well as the store, and was under the control of Lea, Brown & Co., both of these locations now have modern brick buildings on them. I think the firm was composed of Henry Lea, Joseph Brown and J. H. Lea.
After having made rather a lengthy report in my behalf, it is but just to mention a few of my boyhood's acquaintances who have passed "on before." Robert DeBow, a co-laborer for a year or two in the store of Messrs. C. & B. was certainly a pleasant comrade and a man of sound business principles. He was a son-in-law of Maj. Chas. Hunter, the founder of Hunterstown. Prominent among the few that I mention, the late Chas. A. Murray stands fresh in my memory; he was a dutiful son and a pleasant, life-long acquaintance. Of his brother, John Murray, I knew but little, while with his youngest brother, Hugh Murray, I was quite well acquainted, but as he left in '49 for California, I partially lost sight of him. When speaking of the genial Hugh Murray, I call to mind his boon companion and friend, Lansing B. Misner, who, with H. P. Hulbert and many others, also left Alton for the Golden State. Among the early business enterprises may be mentioned the overland transportation car, invented by the late Gen. James Semple, then of your Sempletown suburb, and some years later of Jersey Landing. This invention, though not brought to a favorable fruition, was nevertheless an effort in the way of improvement of those early times, though in the hands of a somewhat visionary projector. All honor to his memory. I will not weary your readers by attempting any lengthy recital of the location of business houses, or the old time-honored residents, leaving that field to others, albeit the truth forces itself upon me more and more, I reflect how few of the older citizens of '45 who were then heads of families and actively engaged in life's battles, are now seen in your midst.
This is all the more forcibly brought to mind as in our case, though not yet having attained three score years, we have passed the half century mile post, and only claim a discount of five, from the allotted three score. Before abandoning the, to me, ever pleasant recollections of early days in Alton, I must claim the further indulgence of your readers, in allowing me to pay my respects to B. F. B., and his wonderful Piasa Bird. It so happens, though strange yet 'tis true, that while our mutual friend, B. F. B., was pounding drugs, cor. Second and State streets, the writer lived just across the street, and moreover had some knowledge of approaching Mississippi river steamboats, from New Orleans to the falls of St. Anthony, and moreover was quite intimately connected in business with the early steamboat men of the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers, having held the position of the first wharf master at Alton for a number of years, as well as transacted business as agent for most of the boats then navigating the Father of Waters and tributaries. It seems to me that B. F. B., in his method of knowing of the approach of an upriver steamer by the fustlade of musketry, in the hands of indignant or frightened Indians, blazing away at the picture of the fearful Piasa Bird, is in a measure at least, drawing on his somewhat fertile imagination. Truly my hearing is now bad enough, but in those days I had nothing to complain of as my ears, seldom played me false. No doubt there were some few random shots fired at the harmless representations by enthusiastic tourists whose imagination had been wrought to a welding heat by the pleasant and verbose Captains of boats, desirous of entertaining the hurricane deck brigade as they emerge from a good meal, for the morning promenade and social chat with the pilot on watch, and doubtless occasionally a disappointed Nimrod (returning half starved and with empty game bag, from the environs of Smith's lake or the tortuous windings of the placid Quivre) would discharge his farewell shot at this Badly Frightened Bird. This sketch having extended itself over a space of forty-nine years, and this being the 38th anniversary of my landing in Alton, I will subside. W. T. H., Louisiana, Mo., May 22d. ****************************************************** |
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Early Days in Alton - Recollections by Thomas Stanton Pinckard Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 17, 1903
In compliance with your request that I write for the Telegraph an article containing such facts as to the early history of the city of Alton as may be in my knowledge, I submit the following. Of course, it will be understood by your readers that much herein written is hearsay evidence given me by older persons who were actors and actual witnesses of facts and events narrated:
In the year 1818, the present site of what is known as Alton was a most unattractive and unsuitable site for a city of the size to which it has grown. The high cliffs on the west side of the Piasa creek sloped steeply down to the bank of the stream, while the high hills on the east side also frowned steep and rugged to the water's edge. The creek bed or bottom was spread out nearly as far west as the east side of what is now Belle street, and the eastern bank was near the center of Piasa street. The creek was then a more pretentious stream than now, and at the mouth or entrance into the river was a low, flat, marshy quagmire extending east from a rocky point west of Piasa street to a similar point of solid rock at the foot of what is now Market street. As I have stated, it was not a very attractive site upon which to lay out and build up a city.
Before the admission of the State of Illinois into the Union in 1818, the efforts of Mr. Easton and others, the promoters of the town site, made but little progress in inducing settlers to stop permanently there. There was a village of the Wood river crossing named Milton, in which Rev. Thomas Lippincott, a noted Presbyterian minister in early times, kept a store, and quite a number of log and frame houses had been erected before Alton excited much attention as a future town site. Homeseekers arriving at Milton in their wagons usually procured necessary supplies there and pushed on westward, not going up the river to Alton, but keeping the main traveled road up the hill west of Milton and through the town of Salu, as Upper Alton was then called, and on westward and north through Scarritt's Prairie (now Godfrey). Thus Salu, or Upper Alton, grew quite fast, many stopping there permanently. For a time Salu had a boom and increased faster in population than did lower Alton, but only for a short time.
In September 1818, my father, William Greene Pinckard, and family, arrived in Milton in a wagon, after a long overland trip from London, O., and while purchasing supplies from Rev. Lippincott, was informed of the location of the town of Alton. Delaying but a short time in Milton, they proceeded west up the river to what has since been known as Shield's branch or creek (now Bozza town). Here the homeseeker and family, together with his brother-in-law, Daniel Crume, decided to remain during the winter. A temporary cabin was built north of the road on the east side of the creek, and in these eight or ten persons spent the winter. The next year my grandfather and his family joined the colony and all secured homes in Salu, as the town of Upper Alton was then named, and there resided several years. Grandfather was a justice of the peace of the village. The chair which he used as a combined desk and chair, and which my father used after him for many years in his office as justice of the peace in lower Alton, I have as a cherished relic of those early days.
The entire range of hills from Milton west to Piasa creek was densely covered with timber and settlers found ready at hand choice material of which to make log houses and clapboards with which to roof them. Major Charles W. Hunter came later to lower Alton and laid out lots in the east part and called it Hunterstown. Father and Crume built several log houses for Major Hunter on his lots, and also others in Alton for Mr. Easton. They also erected for the last named gentleman the first frame house on the site of lower Alton.
Until 1866, a double log house stood a few yards from the corner of Second and Piasa streets, called the Hawley house. This was built by Pinckard & Crum for Thomas G. Hawley, and was known as a hotel and the ferry house in those days. In 1866 the Hawley house was torn down to make room for improvements. I understand Hon. Henry G. McPike secured logs from the old structure and built at his home, "Mr. Lookout," s small room in which he keeps a number of curios and relics of early days in Alton. Before the filling in of the levee and improvements at the mouth of the creek, a kind of ferry was maintained and landed near where the public weighting scales were later located.
The west part of the business portion of the city - in fact the only part where much business was transacted for many years - from the west bank of the creek to the foot of the bluffs, was filled in from the deep cuts in the native hills to make street grades suitable for vehicle. (Concluded tomorrow) *************************************************** |
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Alton and Portage De Sioux - Days of Fun and Frolic, Legend of the Missouri and Sioux Indians Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 26, 1907
In the early days of Alton history, several French families were citizens of the town and vicinity. The Roubidoux, Lavenues, Sotiers and others of the early settlers of French extraction were foremost in all manner of amusement, halls, dancing and social festivities. The younger members of Alton society of both sexes were much given to gaiety and loved to trip the "light fantastic toe" to the music of the fiddle (now violin). In those days, towns several miles distant were often participants in the merry dancing parties given in Alton, and lads and lassies of Alton were not backward in attending like affairs in other towns. In Alton there were several rooms that were available and suitable for dancing. One, called the Lyceum, at the southeast corner of Second and Alby streets, and another on third floor of a stone warehouse on Second street west of State street. The Eagle Tavern frequently was the house of entertainment, and became popular with gay revelers. Some very old citizens may remember when the "Cave Spring House" was quite a pretentious resort and was well known for its good table and liquid refreshments.
The little French village of Portage De Sioux in Missouri, below the town of Grafton and above Clifton Terrace in Illinois, was quite a favorite place to visit, and always sent a number of fun-loving French lads and lassies to dances in the town at the mouth of the Piasa. Situated as the small town of Portage De Sioux was, on the low land back from the river bank, it was scarcely in view from the river. The dwellings were of logs covered with clapboards as roofing, with little furniture except of the most primitive make. Among the families of the town were two by the name of Sotier (Sosha). In the two families were two young men and three young lively ladies. An old French Creole named LeDuc was a tireless fiddler and caller, and few balls occurred in either town at which his services were not required. Perhaps there are some of the boys and girls of those days yet living, and if so, they must remember the pleasant trips. Sometimes made all the way on Charlie Chapman's ferryboat, at other times by carriage, crossing the river and driving to the village. It was a merry outing for the young of both sexes, and sometimes after dancing until early dawn parties took canoes and returned by river. I think all of the young men of those days are gone beyond the valley, at least I can think of no one living. I have not visited Portage De Sioux for fifty years, and do not know whether it is of any importance now, but it had a few lively girls and boys in the early days. The origin of the name "Portage De Sioux" is attributed to an Indian legend of "long ago," which runs thus:
A tribe of Indians, the Missouris, had their hunting grounds far up along the river of that name and near the present site of St. Charles, Mo., a large village of Missouri Indians was settled. It was a beautiful site, extending up and down the river which bounded it to the eastward, while in the rear was bounded by a grand range of hills. With game and fish and water in abundance and near at hand, they dwelt in security and safety a happy people. Unfortunately, many years previous to the time our story opens, a quarrel had arisen between the Sioux Indians, whose hunting grounds were far up the Des Moines river, and the Missouri tribe. Distant from each other, years had lapsed since a collision between the tribes had occurred. The restless Sioux resolved upon what we now would call a raid beyond the limits of their own hunting grounds, and accompanied by squaws, children and baggage, descended the Mississippi river in large force, intent on pillage and murder. Their light canoes brought them rapidly to the mouth of the Illinois river, where they learned of the location of their old enemies on the Missouri and determined to attack them. The Missouri Indians were informed of the fact that the Sioux had left their old hunting grounds, but had the idea they would go to the north of the Missouri river and ascend it to the village of the Missouris. A counsel of warriors decided to meet their foe at the mouth and by surprising them by ambuscade, destroy them entirely.
The distance from the Missouri village on the river to the point of land at the junction of the rivers was about twenty miles. All the best warriors of the village were at once sent to "point" in canoes and landed and hiding in ambush, awaited their foe's approach. The Sioux, by some means, became aware of the movements of their enemies, and instead of proceeding to the "point" as they first intended, landed at a point several miles above on the Mississippi river, where the two rivers were only about two miles apart, shouldered their light canoes and carried them across the neck of land to the Muddy Missouri where they again embarked. Having landed below the village, they proceeded up stream to attack their almost defenseless foe.
The villagers could see the approach of the canoes while they were three miles distant down the stream, but supposing they were their own braves returning after successful battle, prepared to welcome them home. But sad was the mistake. Soon as the Sioux landed, they began butchering their defenseless foe and did not cease killing until every squaw or papoose was dead or driven into the woods. Wigwams were burned and every vestige of the village destroyed. As soon as their savage work was done, they rapidly entered their canoes, and swiftly as brawny arms could urge them on, made their way down stream to the "point," where the Missouri braves, wholly ignorant of the sad tragedy at their village, anxiously awaited their approach from the Mississippi river. Suddenly the war whoops of the Sioux resounded from the rear and they were forced to battle at much disadvantage.
The deadly struggle raged furiously and so fiercely was it contested that it was long doubtful as to which tribe would be forced to yield. The Sioux, by force of superior numbers and the advantage gained by the surprise, finally prevailed and their victory was complete. Few of the Missouris escaped, and thereafter the tribe was almost unknown. The landing place of the Sioux on the Mississippi river, whence they made the portage to the Missouri, has ever since been known as "Portage De Sioux." The town of St. Charles, Mo., was first established as a French post about 1770, and was called "Village du Cote." Thos. S. Pinckard ************************************************************ |
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Alton and Vicinity - Silk Culture - Tobacco - Cotton Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 11, 1907
Hon. Cyrus Edwards was one of the first, if not the first, man in Illinois, and certainly the first in Alton, to try the cultivation of silk worms or raising of silk cocoons. Early in the 40's he planted a large portion of his home lot in Middle Alton in a mulberry orchard to produce the leaves for feeding the silk worms or caterpillars which produce the silk cocoons from which silk fiber is spun into threads from which silk goods are woven. He possessed plants of the white mulberry, that having the best reputation as a food for the silk worms. It required a long time to grow the plants to a size necessary to yield leaves of sufficient size and quantity to supply the caterpillars and these I saw there. The trees or bushes were eight or ten feet high, bearing large, broad leaves. As it is said that it requires 1,600 worms to raise a pound of silk, one can readily see that much space was required for the housing of the caterpillars. He added quite a large addition to his house at the east end and long shelves were placed in tiers, one above the other. On the shelves were placed the leaves and caterpillars. Fresh leaves were supplied at regular intervals. The heat had to be maintained at a regular height of about 80 degrees. The expense of the venture was large and the yield of silk cocoons was so variable, that Mr. Edwards, after a few years trial of the experiment, abandoned it and the orchard was destroyed.
In 1825 a small clearing was made in the heavily timbered bottom land near the mouth of Wood River, just above the junction of that stream with the Mississippi river, by a man named Harrison, from Kentucky, who planted it in tobacco. He built a log cabin and lived alone for several years. The first crop of tobacco was a complete failure, but the second one, of about one acre, was excellent, and two or three others in the neighborhood also put in small tobacco patches on their clearings. The rich soil of the bottom lands seemed well adapted to the plant, but the persons who attempted its cultivation soon realized that the care of the plants was too strenuous, and after one or two years trial, the corn crop and fruit trees were adopted in its stead. The cultivation of cotton was also tried by some of the settlers from the southern states, higher up on Wood river, but the attempts were only partially successful. ****************************************************** |
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How did Hop Hollow Get It's Name? Source: Alton Evening Telegraph Centennial Edition, January 15, 1936
Dr. B. F. Long contributes the following account of an expedition to discover the sources of the Missouri River:
How came the name of Hop Hollow: In early times, before 1830, there resided in Upper Alton a man by the name of Henry Hopkinson, who purchased the land on which was held the State agricultural exposition some years since, and north of that tract to the Jerret tract, and south to the Smeltser tract of land. He removed on this tract of land, built his house in the hollow, fifteen or twenty rods bellow the stone quarry and on the east side of the branch. He went by the sobriquet of "Old Hop," before removing to his purchase, and from this the hollow took its name. **************************************************** |
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Alton's High School Named for Roosevelt Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, February 6, 1919
The name of the High School of Alton is now the Theodore Roosevelt High School, in honor of the distinguished ex-president, who died recently. A resolution to change the name of the High School was offered at the meeting of the Board of Education last night by Abbott W. Sherwood. It was passed unanimously, without discussion. "Whereas, the clean life of Theodore Roosevelt," the resolution said, "and his high character and moral courage; his staunch fearless patriotism and his 100 per cent Americanism; his achievements and his steadfastness for the right as he saw it, should be kept alive in the recollection of this community as an inspiration and as an example, be it resolved in the view of all of these facts, that the name of the City High School shall be called the Theodore Roosevelt High School." The resolution, as presented by Mr. Sherwood and passed by the Board of Education is as follows:
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Reavis Sounds Need for New High School - Roosevelt Crowded Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 3, 1919
Supt. W. C. Reavis, of the Alton public schools, in submitting to the Alton Board of Education at the regular monthly meeting last night the program, for the next five years, of building and instruction, which will place the Alton schools "on a level comparable with any in the country," sounded the need of a new high school for the City of Alton. While the need for such a building has been apparent, and has been talked of among board members, last night was the first time that the matter has been discussed publicly. The superintendent, in his report to the board, told the limitations of the present building, and the overcrowded conditions. The remainder of his statement on the building will be found below:
The Superintendent, in the program prepared at the request of the board, maps out a course of action for the next five years which would cause many changes in the schools, and bring them, as he has said, to a level which will compare with that of any other schools in the country. The program, both for building and instruction, as read to the school board last night, is as follows:
To the Members of the Board of Education: In every undertaking, great or small, success is greatly enhanced by the consciousness of definite objectives and carefully prepared plans. The administration of a system of schools is no exception to this rule. If we are to make progress next year, we must outline our goals now and begin to work for their realization at once, and if we are to meet efficiently and opportunely the educational demands of the future, we must outline our objectives for the future and begin to consider ways and means of attaining them. The following objectives, proposed in accordance with your request for a working program for the next five years are based upon the unmet needs of the Alton public schools. There is nothing experimental about any of them. Similar needs have already been realized in scores of cities, known for their excellent schools. If the schools of Alton are to offer opportunities to the children commensurate with the increasing demands of modern life and with the material growth and prosperity of our city, it is imperative that the following program be realized as rapidly as possible.
The erection of a modern high school building - The Theodore Roosevelt High school was built to accommodate 400 pupils. It's class rooms are not sufficient to accommodate more than this number, and when the supervised study plan is used in the beginning classes still fewer pupils can be cared for satisfactorily. At present, the Manual Training Department is cramped for room. It will need at the beginning of next year two shops and a room for mechanical drawing. The Commercial Department will need a room for classes in stenography, and the Art, Music, Physiology and Geography Departments are without class rooms and laboratories. The principal needs more office room. Cloak room facilities for both boys and girls are inadequate and unsatisfactory. The study hall will no longer care for all the students, and there are no other rooms that can be improvised for this purpose. The gymnasium is unsatisfactory for games. In short, the school has outgrown the building. The High School now has an enrollment of 456 pupils and the present enrollment in the eighth grade, which will be eligible for the High School next fall, is 150. The most conservative estimate of the enrollment next fall is a minimum of 500 pupils, with an easy possibility of 550, which will be increased at the middle of the year by from 40 to 50 pupils. We have already been forced to increase our day to eight periods and the prospects for another year can be met by introducing a ten period day, with shift organization. The High school building at the present is entirely inadequate to meet the conditions that a modern city like Alton should provide for its boys and girls. **************************************************** |
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Mineral Springs Hotel Sold to St. Louis Man Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, October 23, 1926
Gus Ratz today announced that he had sold the Mineral Springs hotel business and will retire from active charge of the business Nov. 1, when the new owner takes charge. The hotel was sold to A. M. Cooper, who conducts the Blue Grass hotel in St. Louis. The sale of the Mineral Springs hotel was decided upon by Mr. Ratz because of the loss of sight and his ill health. He had been advised by the doctors who are looking after him that he must rid himself of all worries as far as possible, and he was told he must give up his hotel. This decision was made after it became apparent he was not making the progress he should in recovering his sight and regaining his health otherwise. "It is all over," Gus said today in speaking to a newspaper man to whom he was telling of his sale of his hotel. It was apparent that it was like losing a child he had reared to have to give up the Mineral Springs hotel, which he founded and which he has conducted for now nearly eleven years. He had engaged in a daring undertaking to start a new hotel in Alton after one new hotel here, the Illini, had failed to make good. The hotel was built for him by the Luer Brothers and Mr. Ratz helped plan it. The first two years he had it, business was not good enough to make a profit, but after that he went along doing a business that was the envy of hotel men who watched him prosper. After more than three years of managing the hotel for the Luer Brothers, Mr. Ratz bought the hotel business, leasing the building for a term of years, of which over 14 years remain, and the unexpired period of the lease has been acquired by the new owner of the hotel. Asked today as to how his sight was getting along, Mr. Ratz said that it was getting no better and that perhaps is the fact that had the most bearing in his reaching the decision to sell. Mr. Ratz came to Alton in May, 1909, to make ready to open the Illini hotel, of which he was the first manager. He gave up the hotel in 1912 and went to Hot Springs, Ark., where he took charge of the Arkansas club. He returned to Alton in 1914 to make ready for opening the new Mineral Springs hotel, which had been built expressly for him. Ever since his return, Mr. Ratz has been one of Alton's most prominent citizens. There was no progressive enterprise hereabouts that did not have his support in every way help was needed. He launched the idea of getting the Alton people closer together by giving annual fellowship dinners. "Genial Gus," he was to that vast number of persons who called him friend. His smile was infectious and it was for all those who patronized his hostelry. "Gus" did not conduct his hotel with the "hotel idea." There was none of the highly efficient activity found in the great hotels, although Ratz prided himself on the service he gave. There was more the "home attitude." A guest was more than a guest. He was a friend of the proprietor.
When Gus came to this country, he brought with him something of the attitude of the innkeeper of the old world. Jovial and happy, he greeted his guests as one of a wide circle he loved to entertain. A cold office was not his habitat. He graced the lobby with his beaming countenance, and his "hello Chum" and his "how are you," with the broad "a" in the "are," were as familiar as the hotel itself. When he came to Alton, Mr. Ratz did not remain "Mr. Ratz" for long. He soon was "Gus." By his creation of friendships, he soon built up a clientele who regarded his hotel as a second home. And every year, when he gave his fellowship dinner, he heard himself extolled as the host supreme. Speakers went back to the Caesars, even, to find historic counterparts of "Gus."
Ratz confounded the present day theory that there is no sentiment in business, that the personal element has been replaced by modern efficiency. The Mineral Springs hotel was "Gus" and "Gus" was the Mineral Springs. To go to that hotel was to go to "Gus's," to see him, well-groomed in his familiar gray, a perfect match with his silver hair, smiling, to greet one there. "Gus" Ratz in Alton was an institution.
The new owner of the hotel is a man of wide experience and with a good reputation. One of the first things the retiring owner proposed to the new owner was that he keep all the old help, also that he carry on the idea of giving the annual fellowship dinners. To this, Mr. Cooper readily consented, seeing in both proposals great merit. So, Gus said today, the annual fellowship dinners will not be interrupted by the change in ownership, and that is something that pleased him greatly, for he knew that the dinners had been having an important effect in uniting the people of Alton. Mr. Cooper, Mr. Ratz sold, has had charge of hotels in Salt Lake City, Utah, two in Denver, Colo., one in San Diego, Calif., and one in Chicago. He comes here with the intention of carrying on the Mineral Springs hotel on the same high plane as Mr. Ratz has done. He is studying the methods that have made Mr. Ratz prosper and will omit none of them that are essential to carrying on. As to his own plans, Mr. Ratz said today he has not made up his mind fully. He does expect to stay on in Alton. The city has been good to him and he loves it more than any city he has ever lived in. He has hosts of friends here who would be unwilling for him to leave Alton, he has been assured, and he knows of no place he would be as happy as here where his friends are. What is worrying him chiefly now, aside from parting with his baby, the Mineral Springs, is the fact that his vision is not improving and he cannot give his personal attention to the supervision of the hotel. He does plan to stay around and help his successor to make a good start, and he is hoping his successor will meet with the same favor as he received in Alton. **************************************************
The Mansion House - Alton's Oldest Boarding House Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, October 25, 1933
The death of Miss Addie Piggott, announced yesterday, brought to mind the fact that the house where she died, was the oldest hotel or boarding house in Alton with a continuous record. It was probably over 100 years ago the Mansion House on State street was built. The name may have had its origin in a corruption of the word "mansard," as the house has a mansard roof. Struggles of early day Altonians with the word "mansard" have led to a corruption of the word into the more familiar "mansion." Still, the building was a mansion in its day, as a casual inspection even today will convince anyone. It is not a bad looking building on the outside, and inside it still retains evidences of its one time grandeur. Part of its time the old building was a religious institution, a convent, but even so it still was a place for boarding people, though most of its career it was a public house to receive guests for pay. One writer of early days in Alton listing the hotels that offered accommodations in 1838, included the "Mansion House" on State street. It also included the Piasa House, the foundations of which still are included in the old Beall plant at Fourth and Piasa, while the Alton House which stood on the site of the Illinois Terminal building, Front and Alby, was a magnificent stone hotel of those days. There were some small "taverns" and smaller hotels. The present day Lincoln hotel on State street had not yet been erected at that time, ninety five years ago. Indications are that the old Mansion House, having survived its early day contemporaries, will stand many years more and serve a useful purpose. (more below) ***********
Alton Mansion House History Source: Alton Evening Telegraph "Centennial Edition", January 15, 1936, by Doris McDow
On a day in early spring of the year 1834, the portly Capt. Botkin surveyed the stone exterior of the edifice he had erected at the bend of the State Road (now State Street), hung out a shingle that read "Mansion House - Lodging for Travelers," and started the building on a career as a place to obtain lodging that has lasted for more than a century. Down through the decades, Mansion House has served as a lodging house of one sort or another, and though it now boasts a brick facing over the stone front, it is the same place that Botkin surveyed so proudly.
Mansion House is located halfway up State street hill at No. 520, and is a building of rare beauty, though not appreciated to the fullest because of the other buildings that hedge it in. When Capt. Botkin opened his hotel, which was known the length of the state for its fine table and courteous service, and which has housed many of the famous persons of this country, it was situated on the State Road at the bend, a most favorable site. The road, later State Street, then curved northeast instead of northwest as it does today, and cut over first to Semple street and then to Belle. It was connected with Alton's first hard road that was made of oak planks over the bottomless bed of Piasa Creek. Several other fine hotels were in Alton when it was erected, but reports are that the site of Mansion House was the most favorable as it was on the main highway leading from upstate. In 1836, it was the only hotel left in Alton, the others having discontinued business.
The house, already on its second century of service in the community, is one of the oldest in town. It was the birthplace of the parochial school system of the city, and of the hospital here, in addition to having been a hotel of good repute, and dwelling place of one of the most vivacious ghosts ever to haunt the citizens of Alton.
When Capt. Botkin had built the spacious three-story stone building, he racked his brain for a name, and the appellation of Mansion House struck his fancy. The residence of the Lord Mayor of London had been called Mansion House, and the name was copied all over the world, much as Grand Hotel has been in this era. The residences of Lord Mayor have since been called by that name, and many fine, old, hotels were designated thusly, so Botkin joined the fad and named the building Mansion House, a title it has never relinquished. Although business seems to have been fair when the hotel was opened, it changed hands three times inside of the first year of its life. The second proprietor was Louis Kellenberger, and the third was William Harned, who came to Alton to run Mansion House in 1835 and was its most colorful owner. The present owner is John Davey, who runs it as a lodging house. The value of real estate in Alton jumped one thousand per cent from 1833 to 1837, and Mansion House boomed, but in 1837 the price fell and it had little worth from 1837 to 1842, and was empty a great deal of that time, later regaining its prestige along with real estate in general here.
Early in 1837 William Harned remodeled and refurnished his hotel and it boasted "large airy bedrooms; private sitting rooms, carpeted and furnished with the latest periodicals; the best table the market can afford; proximity to steamboat landing and business district; and it is the best hotel in Alton" (since the burning of the Alton House, 1836).
William Harned was a follower of Elijah Parrish Lovejoy, and bent all of his efforts to the cause for which the martyred abolitionist fought. He was a member of the "60 Militant Friends" of Lovejoy and donated a first story room in his fine hotel for the last Lovejoy meeting, held the evening before Lovejoy was assassinated. John Wesley Harned, son of this proprietor of the hotel, died in 1904. He had been a guest of honor at the unveiling of the Lovejoy monument here Nov. 7, 1897. He recountered to friends that he was in his hotel the night of the last Lovejoy meeting, attended by Lovejoy, Mayor John M. Krum, A. B. Roff, Royal Weller, Winthrop S. Gilman, William Harned, and other men who took less active part in the feud. Plans for defending the press were made at that time. Speaking of Mansion House in the days when his father was proprietor, 1835-1839, John Harned recalled: "There at that time I met Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, Governor Reynolds, Governor Coles and most of the prominent men of Illinois in that time. It is still standing and is used for a boarding house. I saw Alton in its infancy, spring up quick and fast . . ." (more below) **********
Mansion House Ghost of Mysterious One-Eyed Indian Fighter Source: Alton Evening Telegraph "Centennial Edition", January 15, 1936, by Doris McDow
It was during this same period that Alton's most famous ghost came into being. Tom Boothby, veteran of the Indian campaigns, who had fought in the last war in this vicinity with the Indians, the Black Hawk War of 1831-32, a man of whom little else is known, came to Mansion House to stay in 1836. He seemed to have plenty of money to keep him at the hotel, but was close-mouthed about his past life. He had but one arm and an Indian arrow put out one eye. When he drifted to Alton, he was extremely old and never went out of the building from the day he entered the hotel until his body was carried away for burial in 1838. He occupied the southwest corner room on the second floor.
After he had been in Mansion House a short time, his brain became affected and he was obsessed with the idea that an Indian was after him and would torture him to death; he began to scream when these spells came on, and told listeners that this Indian would strangle him so that his soul would never leave the body (an Indian curse in which Boothby apparently believed). He was in his room when the last Lovejoy meeting was held and had one of his hallucinations during the gathering downstairs, becoming so unruly that Mr. Harned went to his room to quiet him. Between spells, old Tom Boothby was likeable and spent his time spinning yarns for the children of the downtown district, who would drop past the hotel to see him.
One night, a fit seized him that was more violent than the others, and he screamed that the Indian had found him and was strangling him. Harned rushed to the room, but the old man was dead of fright, his one eye staring as though he still could see, and his hands at his throat as though to pull hands away from it. After he was buried, superstitious persons remembered his fear of strangulation and said the spirit of the Indian probably had come back and strangled him, and that Tom Boothby would never have any rest, for his soul was encased forever in his body. In a few years this had become the best-known ghost in Alton, and because of the story, his room on the second floor back was unoccupied for some time, except occasionally when a traveler came to town who had not heard the story and was put up there for the night. During storms of high winds, folks declared they heard Boothby's ghost crying out, and his frantic footsteps up and down the hall. In time, he was forgotten and the place of his burial is not even known today.
The hotel business slumped badly, and the place was closed by Harned in 1839. It looked as if Mansion House would go the way of many business houses in Alton after the Lovejoy disaster, but it was opened again as a hotel from 1849 to 1855. Then in 1856(?) the Daughters of Charity took over Mansion House and conducted a school there, boarding students. The school was under supervision of Sister Aloysia Everett, sister of Edward Everett, a jurist of world-wide reputation. At the beginning of the war, the sisters closed the school and left Alton, but reoccupied Mansion House in 1864 when nurses of the order were sent to Alton to care for the sick and wounded at the military prison located here. The sisters stayed in Mansion House when not on duty with the sick. At the close of the war, the sisters remained and started the hospital in Mansion House that was in later years to grow into the large establishment St. Joseph's Hospital is today. In 1866, the Sisters of Charity moved from Mansion House, re-establishing the hospital at the old Hunter's Tavern, and Mansion House was idle for a short time. Some time after this date the house was given a new face, brick being applied over the stone front to conform to a building fad of that period, and the fine stone face was hidden from view.
Since that time Mansion House has served one purpose, that of a boarding house, and today is as sturdy and commodious a building as the day when it was first opened for business, and the portly Capt. Botkin hung out the shingle - "Mansion House - Lodging for Travelers." ****************************************************** |
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Recalls Father's Early Days in Alton Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 21, 1937
I thought it might be of interest, in connection with the Alton Centennial, to recall an incident my father used to tell about, when I was a boy, 60 or 70 years ago. My father, whose name was James Claridge, helped build many of the early buildings in Alton. He would raft logs down the landing, about where the depot now is, and there rive them into weatherboarding and clapboards. One day the proprietor of a boarding house, which stood about where the Savoy Hotel is now, had a large turtle of which he wished to make turtle soup. He brought it to where my father was working to have him cut its head off. After several attempts to get the turtle to bite a stick, so as to get its head pulled out to expose its neck, with no results, my father's helper, who was a sort of a ventriloquist, made the turtle say, "I know what you want - you want to cut my head off, and make soup of me; go get some pig's feet and calf's head, and tell them that's turtle soup." This so frightened the proprietor that he threw Mr. Turtle back into the river, and left hurriedly. This is a true incident of the early days in Alton, almost one hundred years ago. Your truly, Francis A. Claridge. ************************************************************* |
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Copyright 2008 Bev Bauser. All Rights Reserved. |
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