Bethalto, Illinois
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Bethalto is a village located in Madison County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 9,454.
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Geography
Bethalto is located at 38°54'15" North, 90°2'48" West (38.904197, -90.046579)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 17.0 km² (6.6 mi²). 17.0 km² (6.6 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 9,454 people, 3,810 households, and 2,647 families residing in the village. The population density is 554.7/km² (1,437.3/mi²). There are 4,007 housing units at an average density of 235.1/km² (609.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the village is 97.84% White, 0.76% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. 1.00% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 3,810 households out of which 34.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% are married couples living together, 11.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% are non-families. 26.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.46 and the average family size is 2.98.
In the village the population is spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village is $42,201, and the median income for a family is $50,764. Males have a median income of $41,512 versus $22,981 for females. The per capita income for the village is $18,697. 9.2% of the population and 6.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.1% of those under the age of 18 and 6.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Business and Industry
As a bedroom community, Bethalto is not an industrial powerhouse. Nevertheless, it is home to a thriving cottage industry that includes Specialty Stands, the world's leading manufacturer of slot-machine stands; RF Technologies, North America's largest independent service center for drive-thru communication systems; and Denny's Seat Cover and Upholstery. Major governmental institutions include St. Louis Regional Airport and Civic Memorial High School. Local restaurants include Gino's 140 Club and venerable Roma's Pizza.
As of late 2004, Bethalto residents expected to have convienient freeway access when the next segment of four-lane, controlled-access Illinois State Route 255 (an extension of Interstate 255) then under construction was opened.
The History of Bethalto
Several years before Bethalto became incorporated, many early settlers favored the area and began to arrive in numbers about 1809. This area was also favored by a some Native Americans of the Kickapoo nation that had their villages along a creek about one and a half miles east of what would be the city limits. The creek became named after the Kickapoo and quite a few relics have been found in that vicinity.
The area held many advantages for the settlers. There was fine soil for growing grain and all needed food. There was a adequate vein of coal, which had outcroppings that had been discovered at an early date. The area had an abundant supply of timber, especially on the west, north and south sides of the site, which included oak, hickory, walnut and other trees suitable for making building material. The roads available were better than in many places, considering the fact that at the time most roads were trails of some kind. Game was plentiful as there was an abundance of squirrels, rabbits, turkeys, prairie hens and other wild game.
Although the area was surrounded by Native American settlements, there was little trouble. Settlers built blockhouses for protection, but the only recorded tragedy was the Native American massacre of 1814, when seven members of the Regan and Moore families were killed a few miles west of Bethalto.
The first known school was located about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of town. The area in which the school had been built was known as Rattan’s Prairie was settled by Thomas Rattan in 1804. The school was a blockhouse and was conducted in 1818 by Reverend William Jones, who was a prominent pioneer.
In 1854, the growing community made it desirable to organize the building of homes and stores. A man named Joel Starky laid out a section of the land, and the plat was recorded on June 23rd of that year. Prairie Street became the main thoroughfare and dividing line between Fort Russell and Wood River Townships. The original town consisted of four blocks facing the railroad where West Main and Sherman streets are now currently located. The unincorporated area was called Bethel, for a short period of time, after a church near the community. When the first post office was established, however, it was necessary to change the name because there was already another town in the state with that same name. There is a general agreement that the name was formed with four letters (BETH) from Bethel and four letters (ALTO) from Alton. Few are in agreement with a claim that the name was formed from Bethel and the Latin word “Altus” which means high or the claim that the first four letters came from Bethel, the name of a family that once lived in Bethalto. Thus, Bethalto is the only town of that name in the United States. Found in an atlas published from 1857, there is a map that shows the towns of Bethalto and Dorsey.
Like many towns of that era, Bethalto existed and prospered many years before it was incorporated. It was incorporated on April 19,1869, under a special charter, and the first town board was composed of: Jacob Huppert, John V. Richards, James P. Cummings, J. C. Bangert, and John J. Jackson. The first Justice of the Peace was John A. Miller. In 1873, it was incorporated as a village under the general law, and the following were elected to the Board of Trustees: Stephen A. Albro, President Conrad H. Flick, John V. Richards, Adam Ellspermann, and John Steele. The following were appointed by the Board: William Eleher, Village Clerk; John A. Miller, Police Magistrate; Frank Rundle, Constable; F.W.Stolze, Superintendent of Streets; Louis Klein, Treasurer. In the election held to determine whether the town should incorporate under the general law, there were 14 votes for the organization and 9 against it.
Following the organization, the officials were busy setting up streets and boundaries, making previously used names legal, and doing other work that required some legal advice. However, no record is available of a Village Attorney until 1879 when a village attorney was allotted the sum of $40 per year, payable quarterly, and the sum of $2 for handling all suits. In cases where he was successful in getting a judgment of $10 or more, he received an additional fee of $2. A short time later, the salary was increased to s$60 per year and other financial considerations were given to the attorney.
One of the reasons that Bethalto grew prosperous so quickly was the railroad passing nearby and through the center of town. The second railroad to be constructed in Madison County was the one passing through Bethalto. It was at one time known as the Alton Terre Haute and then as the St. Louis & Terre Haute. The railroad was incorporated in 1851 and was largely built between 1854 and 1856 when it was extended to St. Louis. Eventually, it was taken over by the Big Four and was later operated by the New York Central. This railroad gave Bethalto access to the rest of the country and gave the rest of the county access to Bethalto and the Mississippi, enabling the new town to market its flour and coal, two of its biggest industries.
One of the first buildings in Bethalto was a boarding shanty built and owned by Thomas Smith in 1854. It was 16 square feet (1.5 m²) and faced Oak Street from what was called Widow Mape’s Place. This shanty served as both a dwelling and a grocery store. In spring of 1855, business in Bethalto tripled with the addition of the next recorded buildings, William Tyrone’s general dry goods store and Milo Hovey’s blacksmith shop. Tyrone’s store was another frame building, 900 square feet (84 m²), on the corner of Prairie Street and Railroad Avenue (now Sherman Street). He also began operating the first Post Office the same year. Nothing is said about the post office building except a reference to the fact that the early railroad depot was in a boxcar that was also being used as a post office. It was at this time that Bethel became known as Bethalto. Hovey was also a machinist, and besides smithing, he did farm machinery repair and manufactured plows, cultivators, and harrows. The next building in town was in connection with a brick yard established by John A. Miller in the spring of 1856. It was located north of the railroad on the corner of Mill and Oak Streets. Mr. Miller had followed the trade of his father in making bricks and operated the yard until 1862 when he enlisted in the army. Hamilton and Piggott erected a steam operated circular saw mill on Oak Street between Second and Third Streets. This mill was operated for many years to serve the needs of the community and other areas until the supply of good building timber near Bethalto became scarce. Bethalto was heavily wooded at this time and the mill did quite well. This particular mill eventually moved to Hamel. Business continued to expand with another blacksmith shop owned by Richards and Samuels in 1856. Richards and Samuels opened the first officially recorded blacksmith shop, located on Second and Oak Streets.
The first hotel was built and operated by Anthony B. Carroll in 1858. The Carroll Hotel was located on Prairie Street and Railroad Avenue, north of the railroad. This hotel was in active use for many years. Another hotel in town was the Cooper Exchange operated by John Husum. Another a well-known Bethalto hotel was the Sheridan House located at the corner of Third and Oak Streets. Conrad Flick was the proprietor of this establishment. The Sheridan House was in fine brick building and contained sixteen guest rooms, two storerooms, a commodious office and a sample room, in which salesmen were more than likely able to display their wares. It also boasted a dumb waiter, which was somewhat unusual in those days, and all of the advantages of a good hotel. John Cooper also ran another well-known hotel called the Bethalto House. Now, if one traveled any distance in those days, it meant staying in a hotel at times, and salesmen spent much of their time away from their homes and in these hotels. The previously mentioned sample rooms were not uncommon even in the smaller hotels of that day and other facilities were made available to what were called “traveling men.” After these first few businesses, other buildings and industries came to Bethalto at much more rapid pace, and, by 1860, the town was well established as an important place in the surrounding area. By the year 1866, in addition to mills and coal mines, there was an agriculture and implement building, a plow shop, and a few cooperage shops.
An important part of our early history is that the greatest difficulty experienced in the early days was in securing a supply of meal. In fact, flour was obtained by very few. Even the hand mill was a God–send at that time. Many people went as far as Cahokia in St. Clair County to secure meal. With the coming of the railroad and having grain in good supply, mills were built early on in Bethalto's history. The milling industry grew until Bethalto became one of the most important milling towns in the nation and had the largest mill in Illinois at the time.
The first mill was the President Merchant Mill and Elevator, which was established in 1859 by James Neimrick. Like most modern mills of that time, it had what was called “three runs of stones” or three Run Burrs and produced 100 barrels of flour a day. In 1877, it was torn down and rebuilt with a daily capacity of 500 barrels a day. Both members of the firm died in around 1879, and the mill was leased to the E.O. Standard and Co., which operated the mill for about one year. In January 1881 J.W. Kaufman purchased the mill. He then increased the capacity to 600 barrels a day. In March 1882, a complete change was made with the substitution of the Gray Roller System for the Burrs System, which was an overall improvement in the milling of grain.
The mill proper was 54 by 80 feet (16 by 24 m) and five stories high, not counting its stone basement. The elevator in connection with the mill was 40 by 80 feet (12 by 24 m) and 85 feet (26 m) in height. It could store 70,000 US bushels (2,500 m³) of wheat and had an elevating capacity of 15,000 US bushels (530 m³) of grain daily. A warehouse near it, 65 by 150 feet (20 by 46 m), would store 10,000 barrels of flour. There was also a cooper shop conducted in connection with the mill and a railroad switch track from the railroad to the mill. Fifty men were employed, and flour was shipped mainly to the eastern states and Europe. In addition to these other facilities, the mill had a bran bin capable of storing ten carloads of bran and a smaller one that held four carloads of shorts. Another building was a corn elevator, which was sixteen by thirty feet and thirty feet high with a storage capacity of 5,000 US bushels (180 m³) of corn. The mill caught fire and was burned on August 22, 1882. A terrific dust explosion occurred about 11 o’clock that evening, and the large structure was on fire immediately, from top to bottom. At that time, the mill was said to have been producing 1,200 barrels of flour daily. That night there was a strong wind that fanned the fire, causing flying timber and sparks to sail through the air over homes in the neighborhood. The residents used every means available to keep their homes from burning; and fortunately, none of them were burned. However, a nearby elevator, ten stories high, and a large grain storehouse were soon on fire and eventually destroyed.
At that time, a pond or small lake about one-quarter mile long was on the northern part of the town. This supplied water for the mill and other industries. The pond was also used in connection with a large cooper shop where the hoops, staves and barrels were soaked before being made ready to hold flour. Ox-teams were used to haul the barrels to the mills to be filled with flour. This pond was a favorite place for fishermen in those days. This pond was later platted and is now filled with homes and no trace of the old pond remains.
Following the disastrous fire of 1882, Kauffman built a new mill and constructed it of brick. The new mill was a five-story building and was 100 feet (30 m) high. A new warehouse and elevator were also constructed. The daily output of the new mill was 2,500 barrels of flour daily, and the demand for wheat was increased to the point that wheat had to be shipped from places such as Kansas. Now, all farmers from the surrounding communities took their grain to Bethalto.
Although the new building was equipped with water sprays, having spray heads at 10 feet (3 m) intervals, and was thought to be fire proof, a second dust explosion occurred in March 1895. The explosion rocked the entire town and flying glass from broken windows was sprayed all over the neighborhood. The explosion so damaged the sprinkler system that it did not operate. It was said that the people were frantic, but there was no way to stop the fire and they could only watch from a distance until walls crashed down and the building became a smoldering wreck.
The Kauffman Milling Company immediately made plans to erect a new mill but objections were made by some citizens when the first building, a temporary machine shop, was started in an alley behind the building. The officials who would not permit the shed to be built in the alley backed the objection. Later, the Kaufman Company constructed a mill in Kansas. The brick storehouse stood for many years and was used as a market place for wheat.
The Karnack Mill, called the Custom Mill, was established by the firm of Ewan and Flick in 1872 and passed into the hands of Mr. Ewan in 1879. It was located on Prairie Street just a little north of the railroad. The mill had several buildings and started with four runs of burrs. It had a grinding capacity of 100 barrels of flour daily and gave employment to 12 men. There was a cooper shop being run in connection with the mill, and the flouring was done by an improved process that made the flour sell quite well in the eastern cities. A portion of the main building was still standing and was a part of the Prehn Hardware store in 1954 at the time of the Village’s Centennial Celebration.
There were other milling activities in Bethalto and in connection with the two mills described. There were other grains marketed and many products such as bran and shorts sold. The making of barrels was, in itself, a sizable industry.
Other industries flourished in Bethalto:
- Baeh & Fors, wagon and buggy makers and blacksmiths, was established in 1867.
- Jacob Hupert's Brewery was established in 1867.
- J.C. Bangert, manufacturer of boots and shoes, 1865.
- G.W. Foster's marble works established in March of 1873.
- Stephen A. Albro, physician, established 1866.
- H. Fergerson, machinery repair, established in 1869. (Fergerson was also a miller.)
- Union Hotel, with Heinrich J. Heinricks as proprietor, was established 1869.
- Marion Starkey, dry goods store.
- Caroline Starkey, carpet weaver.
- Frank Bucheit Jr., saloon resort proprietor.
- National Hotel, Bernard Picker, proprietor.
- Smith & Cobb, dressmaker.
- George Dorr, watchmaker.
- John Gray, harness and saddler shop.
- Charles Landhart and Charles Gundall, shoe and boot makers.
- J.C. Martin, physician.
- Wiley Prewitt, stock dealer and farmer.
- TWL Belk, stock dealer and farmer.
- Isaac Brown, mechanic.
- J.T. Ewan, druggist and physician.
- C. H. Flick, railroad agent.
- L.D. Harrison, stock dealer and farmer.
- Charles Heither, flour packer.
- Henry Opperman, cabinetmaker.
- W.L. Piggott, Postmaster and Justice of the Peace.
- Nelson D. Richards, physician.
- John V. Richards, clerk.
- F.M. Randle, Deputy Sheriff and Constable.
Also, in nearby Moro, there was a stockyard so that the meat markets killed their own animals and operated their own packing plants.
Coal mining was also an important part of Bethalto’s history. There were few mines in the early days and modern transportation had not reached the point where coal was available from great distances. Bethalto had railroad facilities and during those days there was a railroad extending to a river dock near what is now Hartford. Coal was not only shipped and distributed by the railroad but also carried by steamboats on the river-to-river towns.
There were many mines and one company mentioned frequently is the Madison County Coal Company, which shipped a lot of coal up and down the Mississippi river for many miles. Although the number is not available, it is known that the Madison County Coal Company employed a large number of men and shipped from three to five thousand tons of coal each month.
Another mine was the Job mine just west of town, which employed several hundred workers. It furnished coal to the railroad and sent wagonloads of coal to other places including Edwardsville. The Edwardsville market disappeared for the most part when Bethalto prospectors discovered a rich vein of coal north of that city. In those days, coal could sell, at some times, for as as little as eight cents per bushel, but such a low price made operations unprofitable until prices increased.
Other mines were the Spencer mine located on a 12 acre (49,000 m²) tract north of town, the Wood River Coal and Mining Company property located about one and one-half miles west of Moro, and other mines were the David Brunton and Michael Mayer mines near the suburbs of town.
There have been more than forty coal mines in the Bethalto area. Perhaps the most famous of all is the place called the “Yankee Diggins,” which employed about 150 men and was located a short distance north of town. Much of this coal was marketed in the Mississippi river towns and at considerable distances in railroad towns. There was a switch railroad track running from the main line to the Yankee Diggins mine. In January 1878, a sewer was established and constructed on Prairie Street, about 260 feet south of this single-track railroad to the Diggins mine area.
Saturday night was the end of the week for the miners, coopers, and mill men. It was also pay day. These men were husky men and not inclined to back away from an argument or trouble. In those days, to quiet a more troublesome celebrator, a ball and chain had to be used.
Bethalto industry would not be complete without mentioning the farmers. In the early days, there was a group called the Farmer’s Club, which met in Bethalto. Members were from Bethalto and its surrounding areas. The farmers would get together and discuss better farming methods.
This true story has told about a typical farmer from those early days with the names omitted. "This young farmer worked on a farm during the period shortly before Bethalto was platted, and he received $12.00 per month, which was more than most farm hands received at this time. As a result of his savings, he was able to purchase some ground in 1852 and was able to locate on it in 1855. It was a tract of wild land, but he cleared away the trees and brush and broke ground with ox teams and, in the course of time, started to gather good harvests. He gradually improved the ground and built buildings as he was able. His life was a busy one and a useful one to his community, and he may truly be called a self-made man for he started without capital, except willing hands and a strong determination. Today [in 1894] he has fine buildings and is owner of one of the finest farms in the community."
Bethalto was not without a theatre. The place called the Public Hall was also used as the town's theatre. It was in the second story of the Neisler building, later the Klein building, and was large enough to seat 500 people. It was well arranged for the seating of spectators and had a well equipped stage and stage fittings such as foot lights, curtains, scenery, etc. The stage was thirty feet wide.
Some of the early organizations that were in Bethalto and are no longer here were the United Ancient Order of the Druids, Teutonia Grove, No. 25 which was organized September 9, 1871 and chartered in 1874. There were forty-five members of the organization, which was very active during its existence in Bethalto. The other lodge was the Order of the Odd Fellows. Many prominent residents of Bethalto were active in that lodge during its time in Bethalto. John A. Miller was one of the charter members and Zeb Owens was a Noble Grand of the lodge at one time. The name of George Wiemers is also mentioned as having been active in the lodge at one time.
The records show that early Bethalto had a band that deserves mention. This was the Cornet Band, organized about 1879, which won renown throughout the state of Illinois. It began with 11 horns, 2 tenor drums and one bass drum, and the original uniforms cost $500.00. This band grew in size and was famous for many years.
Like any community early Bethalto did have some problems. The following ordinances tell the story of the problems that existed in the early years:
Parking-No one could fasten any horse or other animal to any fence railing or tree without the owner’s consent.
Speeding-There was a fine for anyone who purposely rode or drove rapidly any horse or mule through any street or alley of the village.
Gambling-Anyone caught playing cards for money was subject to a heavy fine.
Intoxication-Anyone appearing on the streets intoxicated was subject to a heavy fine. No one could sell or give any liquor away on Election Day.
Dogs-There was a rule that covered the muzzling of dogs and a dog tax.
Fall Safety-To prevent falls there was a law which prohibited leaving open any cellar doors, wells, cisterns or any other excavations that might cause injury to anyone.
Street Safety-Boys or other persons playing ball, rolling hoops, or engaged in any other play or amusement on the streets or sidewalks, which impeded safety were subject to punishment.
Taverns-Taverns could not be open before 5:00 pm and must be closed each night by 10:00 pm.
Charivari-To protect the newlyweds, there was a rule prohibiting such things as beating on cans, ringing bells, and raising cain outside the doors of the newlyweds. Those doing so were subject to a fine.
Railroads-In those early days there were no fast trains and one of the laws stated that any train, engine or locomotive running through the limits of Bethalto should run no faster than eight miles (13 km) per hour under penalty of not less than $10. (The railroad through Bethalto was one of the most important in the early days and it is recorded that trains were often run every 30 minutes. The people in the early days would go to the station to see the puffing iron horses pass through town. It was a sight not common in many towns at that time.)
The first doctor in Bethalto is said to have been a Dr. Albro in 1866 when physicians did not frown on advertising. The good doctor advertised as a "specialist in chills and fevers of long standing."
The early history speaks of “special events” including such things as strawberry festivals, ice cream suppers, hayrides, buggy rides, spelling bees and corn husking parties.
The first sewer installation was one to eliminate a creek, which ran across Third Street between the drug store and the Sheridan building. The first street was paved in 1930, modern electrical service started in 1923, and the new water plant and sewage plants were constructed in 1943.
Little is known of the schools before the beginning of the past century except that one of the first schools in the area was a log building and that an older gentleman named Peter Flynn taught there for many years. The next school built around 1854 was a two-room building located on Prairie Street. This small frame building was the result of an influx of population caused by the opening of the “Yankee Diggins” mine.
During 1866, a four-room brick building was erected. This four-room building was noted for its beauty at that period and was pictured in an early Madison County Atlas. This new building was soon crowded due to a further increase in residents when a large flourmill was erected.
The high school started in 1921 and was constructed on the site of the 1866 building. Ralph N. File was the principal. A new grade school was being constructed at the time, and it provided several extra rooms, which were used for the two-year high school. Some of the classes were also held over the Klein Drug Store and in the Town Hall.
Some of the teachers in the early schools were Hughey McCrea, D.M. Bishop, and John Uzzell who later became County Superintendent of Schools. Other teachers were George Klein, J.W. McCracken, Henry Zimmerman, M.E. Newell, John A. Culp, and Doris Bruns who taught for thirty-nine years.
In 1930 a two-room wood structure, known as the “White Building,” was built on the site later occupied by the File Gymnasium. The seventh and eighth grades used this new building and the high school then took over the entire second floor of the grade school building. The Legion Hall was rented for physical education classes, basketball practice, and games. Ike Rhine was the basketball coach and held that position for 17 years.
Some of the earlier rules for the teachers were:
1. Teachers each day would fill lamps and clean chimneys.
2. Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal for the day’s session.
3. Make your pens carefully. You may whittle ribs to the taste of the individual student.
4. Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purpose, or two evenings a week if they went to church regularly.
5. After ten hours in school, the teachers may spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.
6. Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.
7. Every teacher should lay aside from each day’s pay a goodly sum from his earnings for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden on society.
8. Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool or public halls or gets shaved in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect his worth, intention, integrity and honesty.
9. The teacher who performs labor faithfully and without fault for five years will be given an increase of twenty-five cents per week in his pay, providing the Board of Education approves.
External links
- History of Bethalto (http://www.bethaltolibrary.org/btown.htm)
- St. Louis Regional Airport (http://www.stlouisregional.com/)
- RF Technologies (http://www.rftechno.com/)
- Specialty Stands (http://www.specialtystands.com/)
- State Route 255 (http://www.stlhighways.org/interstates/ab.htm/)