Our Past, June 2, 2012
Isaac Kelly of Alton was the first trustee of Elijah Lovejoy's grave. He also served as gatekeeper of the Illinois Legislature for two terms and operated a barber shop in Alton for 74 years. The...
View ArticleOur Past, June 3, 2012
A group of cadets from Western Military Academy were en route to a recreational outing on the Capitol, one of the area's most popular excursion boats. Students from Monticello College usually joined...
View ArticleOur Past, June 4, 2012
Alton was awarded the new mental hospital to be built by the state of Illinois in August 1912. The Alton Board of Trade assisted with the bid and would be responsible for building a streetcar line to...
View ArticleOur Past, June 5, 2012
August Luer, a German immigrant, came to Alton in 1881 to open a small retail meat market. He started out as owner, salesman and butcher. His brother, Herman, joined him, in 1893. His products were...
View ArticleOur Past, June 6, 2012
Students at Lewis and Clark Elementary School got a hands-on history lesson in this tepee occupied by three of Joanne Kuebrich's kindergarten students. Richard Propes was principal at that time. Photo...
View ArticleOur Past, June 7, 2012
Alton's Centennial Celebration in the summer of 1937 attracted thousands of people to Downtown Alton. They were entertained by a parade, antique exhibits and other historical activities. One of the...
View ArticleOur Past, June 8, 2012
Alton Fire House No. 4, 2422 College Avenue in Upper Alton, was approved as part of a bond issue that also approved a new City Hall and a swimming pool in Riverfront Park. The bond issue provided...
View ArticleOur Past, June 9, 2012
Among Alton's historic churches were, top left, German Lutheran Church on Central Avenue; top right, German Evangelical, Eighth and Henry; center, German Methodist, Seventh and Henry; lower left, First...
View ArticleOur Past, June 10, 2012
This early photo shows the one-furnace operation when Illinois Glass Co. was on Belle Street. Edward Levis and William Eliot Smith purchased the factory in 1873 and quickly made a success of it. When...
View ArticleOur Past, June 11, 2012
The Alton Lake pool was formed by Lock and Dam 26 at Alton. It opened up a popular boating area on the river. Many islands furnish beaches for bathers and protected areas for water sports. Sailboat...
View ArticleOur Past, June 12, 2012
Alton's Madison Hotel, known as one of the town's finest, was at the northwest corner of Broadway and Easton. This composite photo, in an early Board of Trade publication, featured, top center, the...
View ArticleOur Past, June 13, 2012
Construction of Alton Steel Co. began in 1913. The plant went into operation on Aug. 22, 1913, when the first piece of steel was run through a machine at 11:30 a.m. Laborers were paid $2.40 a day for...
View ArticleOur Past, June 14, 2012
Flag Day began in 1777, the day when the stars and stripes was adopted as the U.S. flag. In years gone by, the River Bend marked the date with parades, picnics and flag-raisings. Vintage postcard from...
View ArticleOur Past, June 15, 2012
Alton's Olin Vocational School on the campus of Alton Senior High School provided nursing education and other career training for hundreds of men and women. These graduates were members of the licensed...
View ArticleOur Past, June 16, 2012
Monticello College students and instructors (inset) sailed on the "Andrea Doria" on June 12, 1956, to tour Europe. The photo shows their visit to the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Powers near...
View ArticleOur Past, June 17, 2012
Alton's old City Hall was completed in 1856, just prior to the great debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in 1858. The speakers' platform was on the east side of the building. The...
View ArticleOur Past, June 18, 2012
A new barracks building was under construction at Western Military Academy in Upper Alton. It was one of four buildings to face the parade grounds on the north. Each building would provide quarters for...
View ArticleOur Past, June 19, 2012
The first St. Mary's Catholic Church, completed in May 1859, was a two-story brick structure. In June 1860, a tornado swept over Alton and destroyed the church, along with hundreds of other buildings....
View ArticleOur Past, July 20, 2012
This crowd of Altonians, young and old, was intent on the entertainment at a centennial event. Some found seats on freight wagons near the old Alton Train Depot. It was estimated that as many as 8,000...
View ArticleOur Past, July 21, 2012
Alton's huge centennial parade moved from West Third Street to Piasa, then to Broadway, to entertain the spectators. According to Telegraph reports, the weather was ideal. Festival chairmen estimated...
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