Time Was

A nice place to visit, the endless summer of 1879

Published by admin on Mon, 09/14/2026 - 11:41am

We have almost come to the end of summer, and despite the heat and rain and storms, we have taken time to relax and enjoy. However there was one particular summer in Wilmington's history when it was all about that. Let's take the time machine to the summer of 1879, the endless summer.
I call it that because it was in that summer, more than any other, that Wilmington became what we would term, a resort town, where days and nights were filled with fun things to do, and people from all around flocked here for recreation and entertainment.

The Red Menace invades Braidwood, to arms!

Published by admin on Mon, 09/14/2026 - 11:39am

It was the communists alright, red flag and all. What's to be done? They have taken over Braidwood, the mayor, the clerk - all the offices. Would Wilmington be next? If you are thinking this happened during the communist scare of the 1950's, or perhaps during the early 20th century during the Russian Revolution you would be wrong. Set the way back machine to the 1870's and find out.

The Island City, a history of our namesake

Published by admin on Mon, 09/07/2026 - 12:06pm

Since time immemorial the Island has been the host of many people, chiefly because at that spot on the Kankakee the river was shallow enough for fording, even on foot. What is now a mill race with a dam, was just a small stream that circled the Island then returned to the river. There are many such places up and down the Kankakee.

Labor in the coal field, miners were ahead of their time

Published by admin on Mon, 09/07/2026 - 11:54am

We often talk about the plight of the coal miners; long hours, little pay, dangerous working conditions. But they were not the only workers who faced all of those things. The men who worked for the railroads were the invisible workforce that kept things moving, and often paid the price.
The Chicago & Alton Railroad was the first to come through the area in 1854, long before coal was being pulled from the earth. The only stopping point was at Stewart’s Grove to take on more wood and water before moving on toward Springfield.

Darkness, cold, and mud- welcome to Braidwood 1873

Published by admin on Mon, 08/31/2026 - 12:18pm

Will County in the 19th century had its pockets of crime and drunkenness, fighting and stabbing. But nothing in our history compares to early Braidwood. Why? Because, like the wild west, it was a mining town; it doesn't seem to matter whether its gold or coal. In 1873 Braidwood incorporated and none too soon. Let's go back to get the full picture.

Water vs. Paper, who would win in court

Published by admin on Mon, 08/31/2026 - 12:15pm

Last time we met, we were in 1904 and the area known as the old paper mill was called the American Straw Board Company. Let’s go back to that spot to see the changes the new century had brought.

Traveling history's highways looking for our roots

Published by admin on Mon, 08/24/2026 - 12:02pm

Most of my gentle readers know that the land upon which we live did not always belong to the United States, it also belonged to the English and before them it was France. That history seems so long ago that most of us have forgotten it. Most think that there are no traces left of this ancient past of ours. They would be wrong. Today we take a road trip to a place not all that far away, where you can still see traces even today. We are traveling to Vincennes, Indiana.

One of Wilmington's oldest residents, the paper mill

Published by admin on Mon, 08/24/2026 - 11:58am

Looking at the north end of Water Street, the area seems abandoned - now. But 150 years ago the joint was jumping. Most folks just call it the old paper mill. It was more than that. Let's set the way-back machine for the summer of 1873. Step aboard.
A company of local men, among them E. W. Willard and C. J. Jukes, formed a stock company to build a factory on the east bank of the Kankakee about a half mile above the town. The factory was to produce nuts and bolts.

Murder on the Ragin' Canal, not uncommon

Published by admin on Mon, 08/17/2026 - 12:46pm

Today we leave Braidwood to visit Ottawa and Joliet, two of the many towns on the Illinois Michigan Canal. Out of necessity boatmen on the Canal spent several days, if not a week, away from home. Rarely did the family of boatmen come with, there just wasn't that much room. The result of that situation was the two murders that we look at today. Well, that, and that green-eyed monster - jealousy.

The rise and fall of the Commercial Bank

Published by admin on Mon, 08/17/2026 - 10:11am

Time was when a bank was a physical thing that you could touch. Whether it was in the shape of a pig or a huge imposing building, they contained money that you could actually touch. Today banking with an app on your device we call a phone, we can handle money without touching anything but a keypad. Today we look at banks and banking as it was “in the day.”