kankakee centennial, 1853-1953. souvenir · 2008. 5. 2. · 1853. kankakeecentennial • 1953....
TRANSCRIPT
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1977.3631
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977.363
K132l< 1S53 • KnntiniiES
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^^o^n Z^f3^e^e4^ice Co4ml Qan^idei^xx.The EXPERIENCE gained from over 80
years in business means CONFIDENCE.Since 1872 when H. E. Volkmann first en-tered the jewelry business, thousands ofKankakee-land people have learned what itmeans to know Volkmann's. It means satis-faction after you have made a purchase, beit a diamond, a watch, silverware or jewelry;confidence that a reliable firm stands be-
hind its merchandise. This makes Volk-
mann's more than just a jewelry store.In keeping with these ideals, Walter C.
Volkmann and the late William H. Volk-mann erected the Volkmann Building. Thismodern building of concrete and steel is to-day an integral port of Kankakee life.A third generation now carries on the
some principles of its predecessors ... toearn and hold the CONFIDENCE of you,the people of our community.
VOLKMANN'SlQ^e\ers since 1872
Kankakee, Illinois
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'«0ft, flfeV
As the culmination of tlie effort that has engaged our attention
during the past months, and as the chmax approaches, I am anxiousto get to my friends and associates a message of my gratitude for whatyou have done.
I accepted the responsibiUtv as General Chairman of the Cen-
tennial widi some trepidation, but from all walks of life, from allfaidis, and from all nationalities has come a gracious response to thecall to help in making this celebration truly significant. Several thou-sand persons from all parts of Kankakee Countv have shared in the
collective effort to give our citizens a rekindled pride in their heritage
of history—a new faith in their tomorrow.
Industry, labor, business, the professions, schools, churches, and
civic organizations have closed ranks in a common cause. They havedemonstrated that Kankakee is a fine city of fine people who have aninstinct for working together. To evervone who pla\ed a contributingpart whether large or small, I express my sincere gratitude.
Kankakee's celebration is the highlight of many months of plan-ning and hard work. It now has its climax in the great historicalpageant-spectacle, and we have faith that its echo will be a heightenedand continuing connn unity lo\ alty and service as a new century dawnsfor Kankakee.
ROY H. ROBINSONPresident
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1853 . KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953 .
^fm^^ufWilet's GET B£rTER>4CQU4lN1^J
Know your neighbors better-
through the columns of the
Kankakee Daily Journal.
Can you think of a better way
to become acquainted with
"what's what" and "who's who"
in this community than in the
Journal's news columns?
Folks who read the Journal get
all the news, particularly home-
town news. Here's where folks
find news of their friends—who's
going where, who's getting
married, who's passing out
cigars, and so on.
Read the Journal carefully, the
advertising as well as the news
columns. Because the Journal is
your key to neighborliness,
information, business and
service!
The Kankakee Daily Journal is a home-owned, locally-managed public service
institution, dedicated to better living and better business for its readers and
advertisers.
Kankakee Daily Journal180 South Dearborn Avenue Telephone 3-7711
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s ->, KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL 19 5 3
'^(t^t^a^ee (^e^tte^uUai ;4^4acCcitcaK
PRESIDENT-Roy Robinson\ICE PRESIDENT-Lcn SmallSECRETARY-Ron HenrikenTREASURER-Fred Hefter
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEEXECUTIVE BOARD-Mrs. F. I. Still
Burrell SmallR. E. FrancisE. P. BergeronJames Stupka
Ed MadisonHarold SimmonsPercy LoisellcGeorge LuehrsJoseph J. Tolson, Attorney
CELEBRATION DI\ ISION CHAIRMENFinance Division—Len SmallSpecial Events Division — Co-Chairmen, Roy
Wilcox—Ed SaleAdvance Ticket Sale Division—Harold CooleyHospitality Division—Co-Chairmen, Mrs. J. C.Bohmker—Mrs. William Volkmann
Centurama Division—Miss Dorothy JansenPublicity Division—Burrell Small
FOR THE JOHN B. ROGERSPRODUCING CO.
Co-ordinating Producer—Wayne LemmonAssociate Business Managers — Robert Rush.
Chris CarterCenturama Director — Tom ChathamAssociate Centurama Directors — Dick Spitler,
Shirley Spitler
Preparation of Dramatic Script—Helen DrynanLemmon
HEADQUARTERS (Permanent Staff)-Mrs. George O. Green, Mrs. Justin Henschel, Mrs. Albert T. Sellers
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND DIVISION CHAIRMEN OF KANKAKEE'S CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.Standing, left lo righf — Ralph Francis, Harold Simmons, Ed P. Madison, Joe Tolson, Harold Cooley, F. R. Henrekin, RoyRobinson, Len Small, Fred Hefter, V/ayne Lemmon. Seated, Miss Dorothy Jansen, Mrs. Fanny Still, Mrs. W. H. Volk-monn, Mrs. J. C. Bohmker, Jim Stupka, Ed P. Bergeron, Burrell Small. Not present when the picture was token wereRoy Wilcox and Ed Sale.
Veil IflKOUNIY SMI
Mei
It • .j^-^Ti.iam>M. A
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For A Growing City . .
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AN EXPANDING COMPANY
Looking forward to progress
characteristic of Kankakee
SIMONIZ COMPANYCHICAGO KANKAKEE
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1853 . KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL . 1953
SOME EARLY KANKAKEE FIRSTS
First settler ... in 1848. First
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY
KANKAKEE!We are happy to join with our fellow townsmen in celebrating Kanka-
kee's 100th birthday anniversary during "Centennial Week".
One hundred years is a long time in the life of an American community.
In our case it has seen the progressive development of a frontier settle-
ment to a pleasant small town, nestled among vast cornfields, and then
to a thriving, prosperous modern city . . . humming with industrial
activity and with plans for a still greater future.
We are proud to have had a part in our community's growth . . . and to
have contributed, through our Title Guarantee activities, to the peace-of-
mind and security of so many of our property-owning fellow citizens.
No other title protection you con get has as strong financial bocking as that of
the century-old Chicago Title and Trust Company whose Title Guarantee Policies
ore issued by us in this community.
VTHREE STEPS
FOR YOUR1. Use a good real estate broker to save time and money
in locating just what you want.
„______,-^ 1,^ 2. Consult your lawyer who will protect your interests,PROTcCTION IN ^^^ ,(,g, ^n controcts are legally in order.BUYING 3 Qe, Q CHICAGO TITLE GUARANTEE POLICY to protectREAL ESTATE yourself against loss due to defects in the title
KANKAKEE COUNTYTITLE AND TRUST COMPANY
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The task of writint; a history of Kankakocland wouldhe a tremi'iulous one were it not for the Atlas of 1883.When that volume was compiled, the publishers werefortiuiate in having as their historian Daniel H. Pad-dock, then States Attorne\' of Kankakee County. Mr.Paddock's father. Col. John W. Paddock, was one ofthe first settlers in Kankakee, arriving here in 1853.^^'ith liis background and with his legal training,Daniel H. Paddock was able to write what must beconsidered an authentic stor\'. He was fortunate inbeing able to refer to early settlers for their tales ofthe early davs because many of them were still livingin 1883.
EARLY HISTORY
Being in a prairie state, Kankakeelands early historyis the same as that of similar communities. As far aswe know, the Indians were the first inhabitants ofthis area, although there is some trace of an earliercivilization.
Almost three centuries ago, or about 1680, theCavalier De LaSalle, with the authority of the Kingof France, with the purpose of discovering the outletof the great Mississippi, organized an expedition tocome by way of the Great Lakes. He set sail fromFt. Niagara in the ship, the Griffin, and some timelater reached Green Bay.
Thirty sturdy ad\enturers were on board with him;two—Tonty and Fr. Hennepin—have become historicpersonages, but another, Francois Bourbonnais, Sr.,whose family name became that of the old French-Canadian settlement two miles north of Kankakee,was also in the band of hardy explorers.On reaching Green Bay, LaSalle landed his men
and unloaded his ship, and placing on board a cargoof furs purchased from the Indians, he sent her ona return trip to Niagara. Providing himself withcanoes, LaSalle and his men, skirted the westernshores of Lake Michigan. At the mouth of the St.Joseph Ri\er they built a fort, and after a short restproceeded up the St. Joseph to a point near whereSouth Benil now stands. There they portaged overlanduntil they reached flowing water and were thus thefirst white men to see the waters of the Kankakee.Hennepin describes the headwaters of the Kankakee
as being very marshy, and had it not been for thefrost-hardened groimd, thc\- would have had diffi-culty- in landing their canoes and in finding a campingplace. It is supposed that while it is probably trueno white man ever preceded LaSalle in the passingof this portage, >et it was perfectly well-known tohim to exist, as his whole expedition seems to havebeen planned with reference to it. and no chance
brought him to the St. Joseph and thence to the head-waters of the Kankakee by way of the portage.The explorers lingered in the Kankakee \'allcy to
fish and hunt and in January, 1680, they reached thelake of the Illinois river, near where the city ofPeoria now stands. There they built a fort and garri-soned it. LaSalle then returned by wa\- of the riverto a point near where the Kankakee empties into theIllinois; there he left his canoes and returned over-land through what is now Will county, back to hisfort on the St. Joseph. Then, for almost a centuryand a half we have no record that a white man eversaw the Kankakee Valley, although it is quite probablethat some of the many fur traders who ventured intothis area mav have been here.
INDIANS
LaSalle found the Pottawatomies in the Green Baycountry, but by the time Charlevoix came in 1721they had migrated to the south and were found in theKankakee Valley. The Pottawatomies, Ottawas, Oji-bewas, and Algonquins were all members of theAlgonquin family and were much alike in dress,customs and manners. They were great hunters andfishers and of warlike bearing. They cultivated Indiancorn to a great extent; were idolaters of the strongesttype; polygamous, yet revering their wives anddaughters more than the other nations about them;and to the French the firmest of friends. In themassacre at Fort Dearborn at Chicago, in 1812, theywere the principal actors; bands coming from theSt. Joseph, Kankakee, and Illinois countries, composedof the wildest, most bloodthirsty and relentlesssavages.
Pottawatomie villages in Kankakeeland were thoseof Minemaung or Yellowhead, so named on accountof an Indian chief of that name, located near Sher-bournville; Waiskuks, near Waldron, now known asAroma Park; She-mor-gar (the soldier) or Soldier'sVillage in Kankakee near the mouth of what weknow as Soldier's Creek; the village of "The LittleRock " or Shaw-waw-nas-see at Rock Creek about ninemiles northwest of Kankakee.
The rights of the Pottawatomies were first givenrecognition by the United States in January, 1789,in a treaty concluded at Fort Harmer. Many rightswere secured to the whites by this treaty; among themost important were provisions for the opening oftrade, protection of life, the maintenance of friendlyrelations, and the right of unmolested travel of thewhites in the Indian country. Because the whitesviolated the treatv, it became necessary in a treaty
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KANKAKEE POST NO. 85— AMERICAN LEGION
AIMS AND PURPOSE OF THEAMERICAN LEGION
For God and Country
Uphold the Constitution
Maintain Law and Order
100 Percent Americanism
Preserve World War Memories
Inculcate Individual Obligation
Promote Peace and Goodv\/ill
Safeguard Justice and Freedom
Sanctify Our Comradeship
Devotion to Mutual Helpfulness
Service to Community, Siate and Nation
Chartered August 15, 1919
Membership 1919-113 Membership 1 953 - 2000
Post Home, 435 East Oak Street Peter Zinkann, Commander
Kankakee, Illinois Martin L. Sheehan, Adjutant
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ci)ii(_Iiided ill 1795, to intliide a clause prohibitiiii; the
settlement by the whites of Indian land. So far as theN'alley of the Kankakee is coneerned, however, thetreaty was strictly kept, for not initil the Treaty ofCamp Tippecanoe in lS;32-33 did white settlementcommence, and except for a ver\' few traders, nowhite men were in the valle\-.
.Vccording to Article 2 of the treat) of Camp Tippe-canoe, certain lands in the Kankakee V'alley weret;i\'en to members of the Pottawatomie tribe; Shaw-anassee received five sections, to include Little Rockvillage; for Miii-e-maimg, one section to include hisvillage; for Monteno, daughter of Francois Bourbon-nais, Jr., one section at Soldier's \illage; for Catish,wife of Francois Hourbonnais, Sr., one section atSoldier's village; for Washington Hourbonnais, onesection adjoining his mother's reser\ation (CatishBourbonnais); others received grants of land in Kanka-kee Count\-. It will be seen that the ground uponwhich Kankakee now stands was mostly reservationlands. Article 2 concludes with the following, "thepersons to whom the foregoing reser\atioiis are madeare all Indians and of Indian descent.
"
.\mong the fur traders who ventured into theKankakee \'alley were Francois Bourbonnais, Seniorand Junior, who married Indian women and thus werementioned in the Tippecanoe treaty. These twoFrench-Canadians were descendants of the FrancoisBourbonnais who made the historic \o\age of explo-ration with LaSalle in 1679-80.
The treaty was signed by some 61 chiefs andheadmen for the Indians and various Commissionersand Interpreters (among the latter Gurdon S. Hub-bard) for the United States government. Certain cashpayments were made the Indians and to others, oneof whom was a Noel LeVasseur who received thesum of $1800.00, which in 1832-33 was quite a size-able sum.
GURDON S. HUBBARD AND NOEL LEVASSEURAs a boy of 16 Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard had
become an employee of the .\nierican Fur Companyand made his first trip to the headquarters of theeonipiMiy at Mackinaw, .Michigan, in 1818. There as;i clerk he entered into a five-year contract with anannual salar)' of $125. .\fter learning the rudiments ofthe fur trade he was assigned to units penetratingthe Iroquois and Kankakee rivers eountrv. While incharge of the trading post at Bunkum, in what isnow Iroquois count), Hubbard met and married theIndian maiden \\'atch-e-kee (Watseka), whom he de-scribes as being a handsome, intelligent, and superiorIndian woman. The decline of the fur trade must havebeen foreseen b) Hubbard, because he left the serviceof the fur company and moved to Chicago. The postat Bunkum in 1832 was turned over to Hubbard'sassistant, Xoel LeVasseur, and as Hubbard andWatch-e-kee had divorced in all friendliness, Le-X'assuer married her.
In purchasing the lands grantid tiie Imlians b)the Treaty of C'amp Tippecanoe, LeVasseur had adistinct ad\antagc over other buyers. He numbered
KANKAKEETo survive 100 years is an accomplishment.
But to live, grow and prosper for a century
is a feat of which anyone may well be proud.
Kankakee reached that ten-decade milestone
this year.
As Kankakee grew, so did its people, its
schools, its businesses and all the rest that go to
make up what we affectionately call "our city".
Today Kankakee stands high on the list of
leading Illinois cities — because its founding
fathers and the men and women that succeeded
them have made it so.
A&P is proud to have contributed to thisprogress. We have tried to keep pace with theever-increasing demands made upon us by
Kankakee residents.
We progressed and expanded here becauseKankakee families realized we helped bring them
quality foods at low prices. In return, they
passed through our stores in greater numbers
each year.
Today .\&P looks forward to the birth of
Kankakee's second century of progress, deter-
mined to serve the next generation of Kankakee
residents, with the same efficiency, that made
their mothers and fathers, their grandmothers
and grandfathers, our friends.
THE GREAT\TLANTIC ANDPACIFIC
TEA CO.
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185^ . KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL . 1953
CONGRATULATIONS
to
the people of Kankakee through 100 years of con-
tinuous progress. We are proud to be a part of
your community and thank you for the oppor-
tunity of serving the many families of this area
with high quality bakery products for more than
a quarter of the century.
THE H. W. CONRAD BAKERY, INC
MOMENCE • ILLINOIS
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1 8 S ^ KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL 19 5 3
as his intimate friends who hat! married Indiansqnaws, Francois Bourbonnais, Jacque Jonveau,Francis Leville and others. W'hen the; Pottawatomieswere moved to their new homes west of the Missis-sippi following the Black Hawk War, their lands inllHnois were sold to \\hite settlers. Noel Le\'asseiirnaturally was in a position to take ad\antage of thisopportunity and he became an extensive land owner.He was interested. howe\er, in ha\"ing as his neigh-bors his friends in Canada and made several tripsthere to induce them to come to Illinois, and settlein the neighborhood of the village of Bourbonnais..\t about the same time many other settlers werepouring into Kankakeeland.
For the most part the\- chose lands on or near theriver, not generally extending into the back-country,except along the creeks that flowed into the Kanka-kee. As water and wood were tvvo necessaries in theseearly days it was an object to be as near to them aspossible.
EARLY SETTLERS
In 1832, William Baker, and a year or so after that.Dr. Todd, the Beebes, the Mellens, Byrns, Lowes,and others formed the nucleus of a settlement nearShobar Crossing, now Aroma Park.
In LS.34, Enoch Sargent, Asher Sargent, Robert Hill,Col. Wooseter. the \\'orcesters, the Perrys, OrsonBeebe, A. S. \'ail and others located on the rivernear where Momeiice now stands.
Following closeK- or shortly prior thereto wereWilliam Nichols, the Beebes, Oliver, Marshall, John,Samuel and Daniel, Samuel Johnson, Thomas Hatton,Henry Boucher, John Flagole, William Rantz, DavidBloom, A. M. Wylie, John and William Hayhurst,Paul Hathawa\-, Egbert Ostrander, S\lvester Wadley,James and Thomas \anMeter, H. S. Bloom, LorenzoD. and William Legg, L. P. Farley, A. Marcott, A. L.Miner, Nathaniel and Alphonse Mullen, Mrs. EllenDutcher Miner, Andrew Daxton. John and WilliamSmith, Mrs. Johnson Mann (with her father's family),Abram Beedle, Ichabod Stoddard, George Exliiie,Jonathan Uran, W. B. Hess, James Mi.x. Caleb Wells,Ansel Britton. William Richardson, R. C. Kile, Archi-bald Morrison, Nathaniel Coffinbury, H. Church Todd,Cornelius and John Cane, James and Volney Dickev.They came from New England, from the southern
states, and from the eastern states, all anxious toobtain a new start in the newly a\ailable land. Newarrivals were A. Burchim, N. W. Stetson, F. S. Camp-bell, R. H. Hawker. P. H. Segar, Samuel Vining,H.Goodwin, W. P. Chipman, John and Fred Mami,Abram True, C. O. and Joseph Savoie, W. O. Clark,W. G. and Frederick Swannell, R. H. Enos, WilliamBishop, John Stirling, Mrs. C. W. Warner, John In-graham, Mrs. Mary Dole Smith, Joseph Ringuette,H. C. Konklin, F. B. Mason, J. H. Worrell, Mary Lamb,A. Hess. Mary R. Vining. \\illiam Haslett, Ben Legg,Mr. and Mrs. Charles \loore, M. D. Hunter, LeoniPowell, W. W. Todd, H. O. VanMeter and the doctorsHenry A. Russell, and J. F. Mazuzon. Of course therewere many, many others \\'ho came to brave the
1904 I-Cy/inder Cadillac. One of (he first
automobile delivery trucks in Kankakee.
Charles Engel (with derby) and H. Romien.
TOLSON'SKANKAKEE'S OLDEST CLEANERS
Since 1886
379 SOUTH SCHUYLER AVENUETELEPHONE 3-8422
C. C. ENGEL P. H. ENGEL
THIS YEAR 1953KANKAKEE CELEBRATES
irS CENTENNIAL
We're Very Proud and Thankful
To Be Celebrating Our 59th Year
in Catering To The Apparel Needs Of
The Men Of Kankakeeland
VANDERWATER'SStore For Men
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CONGRATULATIONS TO KANKAKEE ON ITS100 YEARS OF PROGRESS
For over 100 years we have been
continually serving you with quality
products. We are proud, indeed that
these products have contributed to the
development and progress of the Kanka-
kee area.
INTERNATIONALHARVESTER COMPANY
480 North Schuyler Ave.
Kankakee, Illinois
FARM EQUIPMENT MOTOR TRUCKS REFRIGERATION
Earliest picture of Court Street, at Schuyler Avenue,
looking northeast, in 1860's.
North side of East Court Street, early 1900's.
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Liming 2 Million Actes
Nearly a half century ago, the first carload of
limestone to be used in Illinois was shipped from
Lehigh to Dr. Hopkins' famous "Poor Land Farm"
down in Marion County.
Since then, Lehigh has shipped over 6,000,000 tons
of limestone, equal to 1 1 1,000 carloads, to sweeten
sour soil on Illinois farms.
LEHIGH SOIL SUGAR GETS RESULTS!
LEHIGH STONE COKANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
Since J 906
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Best Wishes From . . .
SCHIERENBECK'S
DELICATESSEN
Kankakee's leading cheese and saus-
age house. Serve your family and
guests the best. Serve some of our
delicious tasty appetizing luncheon
meats, home-baked ham and cheese
on Sichling Rye Bread. Tasty v^/ieners,
potato salad, appetizers. Imported and
domestic food specialties.
Kankakee's Unique Food ShopBROOKMONT SUBDIVISION PHONE 3-8340
WEST WILLIAM STREET
FREE PLATTER SERVICE
FREE PARKING
FREE DELIVERY
J. C. PENNEY CO.
T T
Serving The Greater
Kankakee Area
For Over 33 Years
and the
Nation For 51 Years
Congratulations
To Kankakee—
100 Years of Progress
For more than 30 years we've beenmodernizing the business district of
Kankakee with the finest of modernstore fronts.
We're proud of Kankakee's record inits first 100 years and will continueto grow and progress with this com-munity in future years.
Modern Store FrontsPlate Glass & Mirrors
Auto Safety Glass
Colorful Structural Glass
For Bath or Kitchen
Thermopane and T window
KANKAKEE GLASS CO.r/ie Glass Company That's Growing With Kankakee
250-256 W. COURT ST. PHONE 2-1423
Compliments
of
HARRY MANGKankakee's Oldest
Car Dealer
DE SOTO-PLYMOUTH
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KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL
hardships of pioneering in Kankakeeland. The priva-tions and hardships they endured . . . ague, prairiefires, sub-zero weather and blistering heat, droughtand floods, primiti\e dwellings, and lack of roadsand means of transportation made it a life for onlythe most hard\'.
In the very early days most travel was along theold Indian trails, one of which passed through whatis now the City of Kankakee. It passed through Bunk-um (now Iroquois) crossed the Kankakee River atAroma Park, followed what is now the Waldron Road,entered what is now Kankakee on Maple street,passed through the Bonfield Hemstreet property justnorth of Station street, thence in a northwesterly di-rection through the northeast corner of the court-house square, then crossing the middle of the blockbetween Dearborn and Indiana avenues just northof Court street, thence in a northwesterly directionto north Fifth avenue, crossing Soldier Creek aboutat the bridge; it then veered in a northerly directionon what is now Fifth avenue and 113 N to RockCreek, the site of Shaw-waw-nas-see's village.
THE FIRST RAILROADAgitation for a railroad to run the length of Illinois
was started in the lS40's, and continued with variedsuccess until finalK in 1850 all of the legislative andlegal difficulties were overcome, and in 1851 survey-ors set out to establish the best route. What thecoming of the railroad meant to the sparsely settledcommunit\' is best told b\' the reminiscences of SamuelL. Knight' published in ' the "Gazette" in 18&3.
"I was a resident and citizen of Bourbonnais(Grove) at the time the Illinois Central Railroad waslocated and built, and it may interest the reader tosee a record of some of the events of the early settle-ment of our town. During the session of the IllinoisLegislature in the winter of 1850-51 the charter of the
railroad was granted. In the summer of 1851 the roadwas located. In June 1852, a man with a four-horseteam with a load of lumber, drove up to the "Ameri-can House" which I was keeping, and called for adinner and horses' feed. After satisfying himself witha dinner of ham and eggs, with a few trimmingsadded, he ordered out his team and inquired theroad to the river, as he wished to cross over to thesouth side of the Kankakee, to the I.C.R.R. survey.He drove over and deposited his lumber on the prairieone-half mile south of the river (about at Jefferystreet). Two or three days after, another strangercame, with a square, scratch-awl, and other tools,and called at the American House, took lodgings forthe night, and in the morning inquired the wav towhere the first man had left the lumber, and tookhis departure. The next heard of him was that hehad a building up—a blacksmith shop, and had namedthe place Sacramento. The first man was Milo Juneand the second was L. W. Walker, and in the employof Linsley & Co., railroad contractors. In quick suc-cession after June and Walker, came many teamsand men, carts, barrows, shovels and spades, and inone year the road was graded from Chicago to Spring
The
COFFEE CUPWe Are HAPPY and
PROUD To Be Part Of
KANKAKEEIN
1953
686 E. COURT 236 NO. SCHUYLER
South Side
ROYAL BLUE STORE899 South Washington Avenue
Kankakee, Illinois
Phone 3-7133
PAUL AND VERA BETOURNE
Quality Foods and Meat
Congratulations for this
Centennial year and years
to conne.
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1853 . KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953
THE HOTEl KANKAKEE
LJne LJf J^llinolA finest79
WELCOMES YOU
fo the
AIR CONDITIONED "EMERALD ROOM'
* • •
QUALITY AT POPULAR PRICES
Private Air Conditioned Facilities for
BANQUETS • RECEPTIONS • WEEK-END CONVENTIONS
AIR CONDITIONED
TAP ROOM
For Your Enjoyment
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18 5 3 KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953
Creek, Iroquois County. Later another man with acompass, chain, etc., called at the American House,took some refreshments and inquired the way to theplace where the I.C.R.R. struck the river. The nextheard of him was that he had a town platted, but notnamed.
"In the winter of 1852-53, a petition was sent to theLegislature asking for a new county to be taken inpart from Will and a part from Iroquois County, anda bill was passed allowing the voters of the twocounties to vote on the question. The election washeld and the question decided in the affirmative. Atthat election, Limestone Precinct called out all hervoters and decided the contest (which was close) andgave to the name of the county, Kankakee. Immedi-ately after the result of the election for a new countywas known, an election was called to determine thelocation of the county seat. The citizens of Bourbon-nais, Momence, Aroma, and the new town withouta name asked for this seat. Friends of the new town,when they got their ticket out, called it KankakeeDepot, and gave the new town a name which is now(1863) the postoffice name.
"The election came off, the votes were canvassed,and Kankakee Depot and Momence had the highernumber of votes, neither having a majority, and an-other election was called to settle the matter. On theday before the election, a gentleman from Chicagocame into the county, and was very inquisitive aboutthe new town, and its prospect for the county seat,and when he found there was a chance for KankakeeDepot to be defeated, he announced himself as theFinancial Agent of the new town association, andthat he was authorized to say to the people of thecounty, that if they would make Kankakee Depot thecounty seat, the town association would deed to thecount>' the most prominent and valuable block theyhad, for a court house square, and, in addition to that,would give the county $5,000.00 toward building acourt house. Kankakee Depot got a majority of thevotes cast at the election. On July 20, 1853, the firsttrain of cars crossed Soldier's Creek culvert on theIllinois Central Railroad, consisting of two car-loads oflumber for Solon Knight, which were unloaded at theend of the track where the stone and cattle yards noware, among stumps, logs, bushes and laborers cabins,and here was opened the first lumber yard in the city."On the 10th of August, Solon Knight was the first
to receive freight brought to the freight house, thenbuilding, which was a number of car-loads of lumber.In the month of September, 1853, I was appointedthe first postmaster for the town of Kankakee Depot;the name of the postoffice was Clarksville."
Listed as early comers to the new town of Kanka-kee Depot were: G. V. Huling, A. B. and Abram True,Asa Bartlett, C. R. Starr, James M. Perrv, PhillipWorcester, John W. Paddock, H. C. Paddock, SamuelL. and Solon Knight, William, John and PleasantDurham, C. A. Lake, \. Chester, Cyrus B. Ingham,Charles M. Vaughn, Edw. Chappell, P. Flannigan,Jeptha Ripley, L. Ripley, Dr. J. M. Mack, Dr. C. W.Knott, Alonzo and Truman Huling, Peter Wilbur,George M. Stowell, Orson Rice, Thomas H. Albert
Established 1887
F. W. Gohike and Son Coal1 1 West Water Street
Kankakee, Illinois
Phone 2-3031
66 Years of Service
ROCK PHOSPHATE
ITS EASY
TO BORROW FROM US$20
$50 -$100
$200 - $300 - $500or more — or less — to suit your needs
No Delay
No Red Tape
HOME LOAN& FINANCE SERVICE
Room 328 Arcade BIdg.
Roy Strasma, Manager
i'A Friendly Personal Loan Service
I 1? I
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s ^ KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL 19 5 1
For A Real Centennial Treat
STEAK-N-SHAKE
DRIVE INN
INVITES YOU TO DINE WITH US
Delicious
SANDWICHES • TRU FLAV SHAKE • CHILI
Specializing In Selected Foods
Professionally Prepared, And
Quickly Served To Save You Time
SPECIAL ATTENTION
TO CARRY-OUT SERVICE
206 N. SCHUYLER AVE.
Complinnents
of
KANKAKEESUPERWAY
'The Friendliest Store In Town'
OPEN 9:00 TO 9:00
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
558 EAST COURT STREET
1AMERICAN-MARIETTA COMPANT"ilVINTS
hGenera) Olfiee* Americon-Morferta Building, 101 Eo»t Ontario Street, Chicogo 1 1, lllinoii
CHEMICALS • ADHISIViS • RiSlNS • MiTAL POWDERSBUILDING MATIRIALS • HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
Divisions AND SUBSIDIARIES_RICAN-MARIETTA COMPANY
ADHESIVE, RESIN AND CHEMICALPLANT
Seattle, Washington
KEYSTONE ASPHALT PRODUCTSCOMPANY
Chicago Helghti, Illinois
FERBERT-SCHORNDOftfERCOMPANY
Cleveland, Ohio
MARIEHA PAINT & COLOR CO.Marietta, Ohio • High Point, North Carolina
SEWALL PAINT & VARNISHCOMPANY
Kansas Gty, Missouri • Dallas, Texas
UNITED BRICK & TILE COMPANYKansas City, Missouri
AMERICAN-MARIETTA COMPANYOF CANADA LTD.
New Westminster, Brtlish Columbia
THE ARCO COMPANYCleveland, Ohio • Los Angeles, California
AMERICAN-MARIETTA COMPANYKANKAKEE RESEARCH &
OPERATING PLANTKankolcee, Illinois
BERRY BROTHERS, INC.Detroit, MichigoR • Wolkerviile, Ontario
CHAS. R. LONG, JR. COMPANYLeuisviHe, Kentucky
1
1
M
INDIA PAINT & LACQUER CLos Angeles, California
METALS DISINTEGRATINGCOMPANY, INC.Elizabeth, New Jersey
O-CEDAR CORP'NChicago, Illinois
THE MASTER BUILDERS COMPANYCleveland, Ohio • Buffalo N. Y.
Toronto, Ontario
OTTAWA PAINT WORKS, ITD^Ottawa, Ontario jHj
AMERICAN-MARIETTA COMPANYOF CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles, Colifornia
s Ed 13 '''^' Ip ft ^m
18 1
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1 8 "5 3 KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953
ami lliui) 1). I'tiry. A. E. DianK)iicl, A. W. Mack.C C Wilcox, William G. and Frederick Swaiinell,Thomas P. Boiifield. Hiram Whittemore, John B. andWilliam W. Dusinhiir\', A. G. Hobbie, Clark R. Strong,James, William, and William A. Sible\', James Mc-Grew, Daniel C. Taxlor, R. D. Sherman' M. D. Butts,
Hoyt, Worden, C. P. Townsend, J. F. Donovan,T. and A. Kerr. Benjamin Leas, Thomas Beede, M.Greenwaldt. Augustus M. Wylie, James Clark Perry,George \'ail, Rodney Ashle\', Washington Selvy, L A.Ward, Mrs. Henrv Koon, Patrick Rilev, Louis Gou-tlreau. S. R. Moore, W. D. Butler, S. P. Smith, JohnTunnison, William Whitcomb, John B. Atkinson,Nathan Chester, Daniel S. Parker, J. G. Knecht, AdamFunk, xMessers. Linslevs, Henrv Bacon, Jacob Fluke,
J. C. Mateer, R. O. Scbville, W. F. Kenaga, S. C. andDaniel Kcnega, Sherman and Newton Kenaga, DanielH. and James H. Paddock, L. A. and W. H. Bristol,N. G. Halse\-. James W. Williams, D. Ehrich, P. N.Pallisard, \'incent Stamm, Dr. A. Ames and Capt.Crandall, Joseph LeCour and Dr. A. L. Small.
OLD LANDMARKSThe first stone building was built by a Mr. Hall and
stood on Court street on the lot on which the westhalf of the Cit\- Banks building now stands. It wasused as the oflfices of George M. Stowell, CountyClerk, Mr. Gutterson, Circuit Clerk, and A. Chester,as the "Gazette " office. The stone building was burneddown in the fire of 1869 or 1870.The second stone building was erected on the
southeast corner of East a\enue and Hickorv street.It was first occupied as a dwelling by John W. Pad-dock, and offices of the law firm of Paddock and Bart-lett, and was the third building built in town.
The first store building was that of Clark & Roberts,on the back of the east lot on which the WalgreenDrugstore now stands. The frame to that buildingwas raised on June 1, 18.53, and it is related that therewas just a road cut through the brush where Courtstreet is, and the place for the store could be seenthrough a little opening in the trees, which servedas a "shoot" for the lumber for the building to bepassed through the brush to its destination.
The first warehouse was erected by Hiram Good-win on West avenue opposite the Illinois Centralfreight house. It was occupied b\- Holliday & Reed inthe fall of 1854, and was later moved just north of theCourt street viaduct. It was destroyed by fire in the186()"s, and at that time was occupied by Cougar &Ilirsch.
NanMeter's Hote'I, slill standing on the southeastcorner of Oak street and North Fourth avenue, waserected in the fall of 1853, with a wooden addition tothe east built in 1854. The second term of court washeld in the hotel.
The first lumber yard was openeil by Solon Knightin 1853 on Washington a\enue just south of Hickorystreet.
In 1859 Maj. Albert G. Hobbie erected on the north-east corner of Court and Schuvler a three-storv stone
Compliments of
PAYNE-STOTLERGRAIN COMPANY
ARCADE BUILDING
KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
CONGRATULATIONS
100 Years of Progress
FIBRE DRUM CO.KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
1 19 1
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1853 . KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953
^sannakee Centennial 1853-1953
Compliments of
BeaUke Tcois Co.
Always ask for
Ice Cream Division
139 N. WEST AVENUEKANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
DIAL 3-6601
Milk Division
396 So. SCHUYLER AVE.
KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
DIAL 3-6603
FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY THE FINEST IN DAIRY PRODUCTS
20
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S 3 KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL 19 5 3
McGrew Mill fire at foot ofSouthwest Avenue.
Emory Cobb Home. Situated on southeast corner ofRiver Street and South Chicago Avenue. Erected 1866.
Illinois Ceniial K'a;liuad iiassenger depot, located at
East Avenue and Station Street, 1894
p
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18S^ • KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953
Congratulations to Kankakee
= On J 00 Years of Progress =
We appreciate the opportunity
of having served you for over
thirty-five of those years—
Plant-Tiimereo.NATIONALLY KNOWN (^MEN'S WEAR
l/l/e are proud . . .r. . . yes, both proud and happy to be a part of Greater Kankakee on this
memorable occasion. We wish to extend our best wishes to the
Centennial Association and to everyone in the community for a successful
celebration of Kankakee's 100th Birthday.
Joseph Turk Manufacturing Co.BRADLEY, ILLINOIS
1 22 ]
£
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8 5 ^ KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL 19 5^
building which was destroNt'd h\- firo in 1925, whileoccupied by D. M. Norris 6c Son as a hardware store.Near this corner, before the building was put up,was a gigantic oak tree, and its shade provided ari'iide/.vous on Sunday for the townspeople. In theniitidle of the block between Schuyler anil Dearbornaxi'iiues and Court and Oak streets was a small pond.The slope towards the north made it necessary toplace on piling the rear ends of the buildings facingCourt street.
The first brick building was erected on the south-east corner of Dearborn and Court by JamesLaiub. It was a three-story structure housing the"Morrow House", later the "Murray House", earlyhotels of that day.
On the northeast corner of South East avenue andStation street still stands a building erected in 1S58.The first floor was occupied by A. S. Perrv & Co.,hankers and Thomas H. and H. B. Perry, land agents,and Minchrod and Epstein, clothing dealers. On thesecond floor were the offices of A. W. Mack, and Pad-dock & Moore, attorne>s. The third story became theMasonic Hall. In 1S62, the whole building was con-verted into a hotel by a man named Husted whocalled the hostelry tlie "Exchange Hotel". Later itwas re-named the "Commercial", and was the leadinghotel until well after the turn of the century.
Peter Makautz erected in 1859 a stone buildingwhich stood for many years on the northeast corner ofCourt street and East avenue. This building housedthe postoffice in Kankakee for quite a number of vears.The first wooden dwelling was erected bv A. B.
True in the early lS5()'s on the northeast corner ofMaple street and Orchard a\enue. This was a roomingand boarding house called the "Half-mile" house be-cause it was about a half-mile from the courthouse.The second wooden dwelling was erected on thesouthwest corner of Court and Dearborn by Clark R.Strong in ISS'l, and was used as the family dwelling.There being no cemeter\- at that time, when deathsoccurred in the family, they were buried at the rearof the lots, the present site of the Volkmann Building.The first church building was the Presbx-terian.
This was erected on the west end of the lots wherethe present church now stands. This structure wasbuilt in 1S55.
The old Methodist Church on the east side of the100 block south Dearborn avenue was built in 1855,and later became the City Hall when the presentchurch was erected in 1S6S-69.With but few exceptions almost all of the business
buildings erected during the first years of the city'sgrowth were of wood. They presented much thesame appearance as do the buildings in any newfrontier town, built of all sizes and shapes, paintedand unpaiuted. .\s a result of the t\pe of buildingmaterial used, Kankakee had man\- destructive firesin its earl\- da\s. On Februar\ 27, 1869, all of thebuildings burned from the corner of East avenue andCourt street south to the middle of the next block.Between 1870 and 1880 frefjuent fires occurred, oftendestroving as much as a half block at a time.
MONEYWHEN YOU NEED IT!
$20 to $500
'On your Signature Only"
MODEL FINANCE"VETERAN OPERATED"
310 East Court St.
2nd Floor
Phone 3-4474 Established 27 Years
LA GESSE & MERCER
TEXACO SERVICE
OAK
and
INDIANA
DIAL
3-4611
Frank Lagesse — Frank Mercer
WHEEL BALANCING
LUBRICATION • WASHING
TIRES • BATTERIES
BATTERY CHARGE
BRAKE SERVICE
I -'M
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• 185^ • KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL, • 1953
Congratulations
TO
KANKAKEEON
700 Years of Progress
Triangle Construction Co.
Percy F. Loiselle, Pres.
L L Shidler, Sec.
[ 24 ]
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5 ^ KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953
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18 5 3 KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL 19 5 3
For The Past 71 Years-From the first buildings of The Kankakee State Hospital to the completion
of the Armour Pharmaceutical Center, we have met Kankakee's growing
needs in roofing, heating, ventilating and sheet metal work.
And For Kankakee's Next 100 Years—We promise to continue to bring to our community the best work
possible to meet every building problem whether for a small home or a
large factory.
Henry Renter & SonsROOFING HEATING VENTILATING AIR CONDITIONING
Original Arcade Building
built by Emory Cobb
Cyclists, Kankakee, 1889.
Corner South Dearborn
Avenue
and East Court Street
I 26 ]
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1853 • KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953
We welcome you to the
Kankakee Centennial Celebration
The Funeral Directors of the City of Kankakee
Clancy Funeral Home
Hertz Funeral Service
Hickey Funeral Home
Phillips, Friday & Schreffler Funeral Home
Rehr & Kaiser Funeral Home
Senesac Funeral Home
Yates Funeral Home
I
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^^ . KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953
St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Kanka-
kee was organized December 9, 1859.
First services were held on the second
floor of "Ehrich's Store" at the corner
of Court and Schuyler (City Banks'
Building). The first church was erected
at Chestnut and East Ave. After fire
had destroyed that, the present church
was built in 1888 at Merchant and
Dearborn. Pastors of the church are
the Rev. Carl F. Haller and Herbert F.
Bohlmann. Since 1874 the parish
school has flourished, and is fully ac-
credited. Fred Nohl is principal. Among
the various organizations THE LADIES
AID has rendered noble services.
DURING CENTENNIAL WEEK MEALS
WILL BE SERVED (11:00 a.m. to 7:00
p.m.) When hungry, stop at the church
hall for a delectable meal. Visit the
place. You are cordially Invited and
most welcome.
KENNY GIROUXFine Used Cars
ROUTE 54, NORTH
KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
PHONE 3-3135
Censon HardwareFARM SUPPLIES - PAINT
134 N. EAST AVENUE
Thani
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18 5^ KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953 •
At the 1911 Fair the first aeroplane was flown in theKankakee area by R. E. and E. Simon. On August 20.1920. all records were broken for attendance at theFair, which was by this time known as the KankakeeInter-State Fair. Before noon on that clay every seatin the grandstand had been sold and several thousandsof people had to be turned away. The infield wasblack with spectators, and people lined the rail aroundthe race track.
On July 21. 1921, the entire grandstand was de-stroyed by fire which spelled disaster to the Fair forthat year since it occurred onl\- a few days before theFair was scheduled to open.When the Fair was re-opened in 1922, its secretary,
Len Small, was Governor of Illinois. Throughout the20's the Kankakee Inter-State Fair was considered oneof the major fair attractions in the county, e.xceededonly by State fairs. Old timers will remember thesociety horse shows with the $1,000 in stakes eachevening, the live stock parades, the midway with itsdancing marathons, flag pole sitting contests, theautomrihile pole, world's craziest Ford, and thebeloved Billy Lorette—the clown policeman whocalled liiniself the "Cheese of Poluce", who was afavoritf of Kankakee audiences.During many of these years C. R. Miller was Presi-
ilent of the Kankakee Inter-State Fair; E. A. Jeffers,X'ice President; Len Small, Secretary and Treasurer;Werner W. Schroeder, Assistant Secretary; L. H.Becker, Assistant Treasurer; with Mina F. Baker,Superintendent over the horse show.
The last Kankakee Inter-State Fair was held in 1932and was suspended the following year when theCentury of Progress opened in Chicago. In 1937 anew Kankakee Fair association was formed with B. F.Hertz as its president, which conducted a Fair withthe assistance of the Kankakee Chamber of Commerceat Waterman park and other locations until 1948. Inthat year the present Fair ground (the site of theKankakee Centennial) consisting of 162 acres waspurchased by the Fair Association with the help of$16,000 donated by various individuals and groups inthe county.
Present officers are Percy Loiselle, President; Mrs.Walter Ranz, \'ice President; Merle Thorne, Treas-urer; Roy Robinson, Secretary. With the cooperationand help of man\' public spirited citizens the presentKankakee Fair has been successfully launched and isbecoming an institution worthy of its illustriouspredecessors.
In 1912 a group of interested Kankakee County mensaw the need for agricultural improvements within thecounty and decided to form an organization for thatpurpose.
Seven men were appointed to a committee to per-fect a permanent organization. The men were LenSmall, H. E. Taylor, A. C. Radeke, H. A. Magruder,D. E. Styles, C. E. Robinson, and C. H. Rumlev.
During the Centennial
VISIT
SALKELD SPORTING GOODS
'Your Favorite Sport Store"
251 So. Schuyler Kankakee
Telephone 2-1422
Cosmetics For The Centennial
Furnished By
MERLE NORMANCOSMETIC STUDIOS
VELDA RUTH DOROTHY
167 No. Schuyler Ave.
KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
29I
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• 1853 . KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953
Congtatulations to the Community
of Kankakee
in their
Centennial Year
Compliments
of
Sears Roebuck &l Co
30
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18 5 3 KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953 •
These men formed the executive hoard of theKankakee County Soil and Crop Improxement Associ-ation, the first such organization of its t\'pe in Illinois.
It \\as a non-profit organization to foster hetterfarming methods within the county. The associationthen hired a trained agriculturist, John S. Collier, whowas recommended b>' the University of Illinois.Collier's job was to instruct farmers and landowners insoil building and tiie raising of larger and better crops.The association leaders had no precedent to follow.
But they knew and saw the need for an organizationthat would get the latest agricultural practices andinformation to the farmers of Kankakee Countv.The need for such an organization was reflected in
the way it was accepted. There was such a demandto join that the leaders restricted membership in eachtownship according to its population.
.\ few years after the association got its start,membership was opened to every interested KankakeeCounty farmer. Surrounding counties began taking aninterest in Kankakee's group and formed organizationsof their own.
Collier remained until his death in 1933 whenGeorge Swaim took over as farm adviser. In that vear,just after Swaim took charge, the Soil and Crop.Association joined the Illinois .Agricultural .Associationand became the Kankakee Count)' Farm Bureau,which t()da\ has a count\- membership of more than2,200. Llovd Graham, the present farm adviser, camehere in 1946.
S^(^^CCltC
The horny fists that whipped the raw prairies ofKankakee Count)- were not accustomed to holding penor pencil. Onl\- a few had any skill in figurin', readin'and writin".
But the hard)' pioneers who 100 years ago faced thestruggle for a better life seemed to have knowninstinctively that education held the key to progress.
Thus, they approved heartily when the first pro-vision for public support of free schools was made in1818. That was when Illinois joined the Union, andCongress enacted a law donating a section of land ineach congressional township of six miles square.The proceeds from the sale of this land were
required to be held by the township school trusteesas a permanent fund out on interest. The annualincome was to be apportioned annually bv the trusteesto the various school districts.However, the first schools of the Cit\- and County
were subscription schools, supported by assessmentagainst the parents of pupils. The first school wastaught in 1836 b\- Stella .Ann Johnson, in .AromaTownship, and the second in 1837 at Momence byLorraine Beebe, for whom the settlement there wasfirst named Lorraine.
Histor\- hints that the \cr\- first school of an\' kindin the Cit\' of Kankakee was a pri\ate establishmentset up during the winter of 1853 b\- Frances Houk.who later became Mrs. Koon. .Artemus Ward, accord-ing to tradition, was teacher of the first district school
i^omtfiiinentA
of
SAM'S SHIRT SHOP
Belt Route Warehouse CompanyNORTH WEST AVENUE AND CENTRE STREET
P. O. Box 307 — Tel. 2-2732G. E. Anderson, Pres.
W. C. Babst, Secy.-Treas.
R. J. Carstens, Asst. Secy.
Railroad Siding N. Y. C.
Chicago Freight Rate
Storage Area 66,000 Sq. Feet
One-Story Warehouse
Unlimited Floor Load
Mechanized and Palletized Storage
Storage in Transit Privileges
on Most Commodities
Member American Warehouse Assn.
Associated Warehouse, Inc.
I 31 ]
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18 5^ KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL . 1953
Cornersone laying, First Methodist Church, 1867
Clifton House, formerly the Grove City House,East Station Street.
Van Meter Hotel, first Kankakee hostelry. Built in 1853 atFourth and Oak Streets. Still standing Court Street about 1879.
K^omplimentA of
DANIEL F. RICE AND COMPANYSTOCKS
BONDSGRAINS
COMMODITIES
187 S. SCHUYLER KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS PHONE 3-3387
?2 I
-
UXUJ, DEFABOdbir.
1^ b II *!«*> fc -^ gl)^ laiAakfe fe^tttvouw-wxit. KAJtmif E, ILL, THlRSnJ, |1RCH 26. 18M.
I Im N •. Ut-ltf
fci^O taliwrf •Hiwr TV* auk-
(III" a(iijjn'Ht ni;^~k Mifi
ft8 (0 (be cousequeDcet}
WHOLK NO. 1626
fw« IW U> tl| fHt H 4*/ rM4—
»
Mh. iM ba I ~ J "*» ****
r* (•• k; ika nr«
1 it uui < III inly easy
Own Your Home.A nieetiag will be held neil SalurJay even-
ing at Lalf pasl ueven at Squire Ilipley'g
utKce fur the purpose of discustiing tbe aJ-
visibiiilj of orgituixing a Loan and Home-
stead assocmliun in Kankakee. The effort inill every way woriliy of hearly encouruge-111 ent CD the part uf c^ipitahsts aiiJ pour menalike. The former, who are needed to giveilie thiug a Hulid backing, will make a goodiuierest on iheir money, and the Inner willbe enabled lo borr.iiv money for building pur-poses on the iuHlallineul plan at a slight adViinoe on what they are paying for rent; orin ihc event ibey do not wish to biiil I andhave a little ready money lo invest they willliiid the associaiioii a means of profit. Theseissociatioos L^ve proved very successful andproSlable in Danville, Cliampr.i^n, lloope-stun, I'axton, Waiseka and oilier towns,where hundreds of clerks, mechanics andlaboring rnen owe their ability to obtain theirown homes to such organ izalions.
Nrriuuvly injured.I'eter IVtersua, u S.vode, living in Ibis
cily, jurapel fi-p^^l.b", „,iJl'jiout^n.assenee r
• > •II ftftn la tW !»«• t> kn
tf »ai*t Ckll H* • k «
w4 tkM* »— llf ••»< M J«M*M u .k>. 11 (•I MM* n•m *hu> >k«n I Bl'i kMMllM «rrT •hn iiH .r kHu mJ U*^- Rwmm. h«-*baH4 Nm rarvMiipMkK.I iDiV OMBlCH.
Ikr r UfAflt.
ft J H.iai. P I
nanAoAee /^ ****** v */^* * *
^0lW. A. (CHNSIOEB, PruulMrf
SO. SCHUYLEK AVE. ASSCDCOATOCDNCLIFFORD W. MANN. &«creiarr
mtm «« »aw>a< « Mb iaH IIhM ^ ^ Ik* M^«tMnrf It J»A T>^•a ba Mv* *H «
Mm»^
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1853 . KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL 19 5 3 •
We are proud to be a
part of Kankakeeland
;f-:-^ -r:^: '* "-.••".• t •.: ---r'-.^-if'-
Compliments of
RUDOLF EXPRESS CO395 SOUTH FOREST AVENUE PHONE 3-4466 BRADLEY, ILLINOIS
I^4 ]
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5 3 KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL 19 5 3
ill the cit>' ill 1853. The school's location was vaguelydescribed as being "near the depot."As the city developed and grew, other arrangements
were necessary. A classroom was established in 1855in a room of the old Van Meter hotel, still standing.
Action to secure a city charter and administrativebod)' for tlie schools of Kankakee came in 1861.County Schools Superintendent Thomas P. Bonfielddrafted a charter and it was adopted at a mass meet-ing in the courthouse. The charter became the fifthto be authorized by the State Legislature.At that time there e.xisted five schools within the
corporate limits of Kankakee. Each of these was onthe basis of a district school and each was under theauthority of three directors.
There was a frame schoolhouse on the west side ofthe city where the Jefferson school stands today.Several blocks north, close to Soldier Creek, was asmall brick building used as a school, later employedb\' the Kankakee Stone & Lime Company as a stable.To the northeast on North Indiana Avenue was a smallbrick school building.
The well-known "Flat school" was located on SouthDearborn Avenue, midway between Hickory andBourboiiiuiis Streets. Another small frame schoolhousestood near the present side of Washington school.Kankakee County has had a commissioner or county
superintendent of schools since 1853. The first wasJames Gay, succeeded in 1856 by C. R. Starr. It wasin that year that steps were taken for holding the firstcounty teachers' institute, and such events have beenheld annually since.
Parochial schools were established by local religiousgroups as they grew large enough to support them,and there have been such schools operated by RomanCatholic, Episcopalian, Lutheran, and United Evan-gelical congregations. There are numerous RomanCatholic and one Lutheran school now serving thechildren of their respective flocks.
The first parochial school was established in 1859in Bourbonnais, this school having been the forerunnerof toda\'s Notre Dame academy. The first institutionof higher learning was St. Viator college, establishedin Bourbonnais in 1869. This institution contributedtremendously to the educational, cultural, and reli-gious life of the community, and from its halls havecome many \oung men who were to achieve promi-nence in national affairs.
St. Viator college was succeeded by Olivet NazareneCollege, which purchased the property 13 years ago,being the onl\' institution of higher learning in thispart of the state, south of Chicago.
As the community developed as an industrial, busi-ness, and agricultural center, it is also a collegecommunity as Olivet exerts its cultural, educational,and religicnis influence, through its classrooms, associ-ated churches, and the talents of teachers and students.
In recent years, there have been vast buildingprograms for public schools throughout the county,and practically every village can point with pride tonew or remodeled buildings with excellent classroom,laboratorv, and stud\' facilities.
Best Wishes for A Successful
Centennial
EBY-CULLEN CO.242 S. EAST AVE.
PHONE 38117 KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
King Edward Cigars
LaPalina Cigars
Robert Burns Cigars
White Owl Cigars
Van Dyke Cigars
LaFendrick Cigars
Schrafft's Fancy Chocolates
Brach's Fancy Candies
Fountain Supplies
Congratulations
Kankakee
FERLISFood Market
307 West Court Street
Kankakee, Illinois
PHONE 3-6426
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18 5 3 KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953
R. J. Hanna's Grocery Store253 East Court Street
A.H.PIKE^sthefair
Pike Jewelry Store, East CourtStreet, 1877
Brzinger grocery store. South East Avenue.
LAWRENCE F. RAICHELocksmith
Over a
quarter-century
of service
to the people
of Kankakeeland
326 SOUTH SCHUYLER AVENUE
PHONE 3-4732
KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
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• 1853 . KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953 •
1 1 2 E. Washington St. 116 w. Walnut St.MORRIS, ILLINOIS WATSEKA, ILLINOIS
LASSERSFURNITURE COMPANY
160-166 South Schuyler Avenue Kankakee, Illinois
FOR 40 YEARS LASSERS
HAVE FURNISHED LOVELY HOMES WITH
Kroehler Living Room Furniture
Bigelow-Sanford Rugs and Carpet
Simmons Mattresses and Box Springs
Zenith Radio and Television
Speed Queen Washers and Ironers
General Electric Stoves and Refrigerators
Rembrandt Floor and Table Lamps
Daystrom Chrome Dinette Furniture
Lane Cedar Hope Chests
Kroehler Bedroom Furniture
Lullabye Juvenile Furniture
Armstrong Linoleum and Tile
and many other nationally advertised brands
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1853 . KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953
KANKAKEE
TOOL & DIE WORKS, INC
• MANUFACTURERS OF STAINLESS STEEL PEN & PENCIL CAPS
• BUILDERS OF SPECIAL TOOLS, DIES, JIGS AND FIXTURES
W. F. HINDERER, President
R. G. HINDERER, Sec'y-Treasurer
462 So. Schuyler Avenue BRADLEY, ILLINOIS
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5 ^ KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL 19 5 3
Miicli of till' improvomciit in facilities has beenmade possible by \'ast programs of school consoli-dation thronghout the county. The day of the one-room rural schoolhouse, remembered with nostalgicaffection by okler residents of the county, has passed.The dream of the hardy pioneer, that his children
and his children's children would ha\e educationalad\ antages that were not his, has become reality.
Journalism began in the Kankakee community when,on .\ugust 29, 1853, the first newspaper was printed ona small hand press under the shelter of an ancient oaktree.
Augustin Chester was the first editor. About him asthe first newspaper sheet was printed were the early-day merchants of Kankakee City, a few women ofpioneer families, and a few curious Indians who stillremained in this area.There was no building to house that first newspaper,
and the tree under \\hich the press was set upprobabK' stood near where the Illinois Central railwaynow crosses the river. The heritage of today's Kanka-kee Daily Journal extends in an unbroken successiondirecth' back to that pioneer newspaper. Two yearslater Editor Chester sold the Gazette to Daniel S.Parker.
In 1S69 Editor Parker—to quote his own writing—"laid down the quill" and sold the Gazette to CharlesHolt, a journalist of experience. He had, in IS48,established the first daily newspaper in Janesville,Wisconsin, the Gazette, and later was part owner andeditor of the Quinc)', Illinois Whig.
Mr. Holt's first announcement of editorial policywas terse and explicit. "Hereafter," he wrote, "theGazette will advocate the principles of the Republicanparty and support the Republican organization."
The Gazette continued under the direction of EditorHolt for nearly half a century, extending down intocomparatively recent times. This has established oneof the major branches of succession by which today'sKankakee Daily Journal is directly linked to thepioneer newspaper.
An abbreviated summary of the development ofjournalism in Kankakee, since the establishment of theC^azette, follows:
Kankakee Joiimal-Estabiished in 1866 by N. H.Taylor, discontinued in 1868.
Kankakee Herald-Started in 186.5 b>- T. M. Kelly,sold about 1869 to N. H. Taylor, who sold it in thesame year to W. F. Keady.Kankakee Times—The name of the Herald was
changed to the Times in 1869 by Publisher Keady. TheTimes was sold in 1881 to Charles P. Livingston andErnest Shaw.
Kankakee Daily Times—The Times became a dailyin 1887 when Hiram J. Dunlop, former Kankakee post-master, purchased the share of Ernest Shaw in thenewspaper.
LOUIS E.
BECKMAN & CO
REALTORS
INSURANCE
FIRST TRUST BANK BLDG.
KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS
(^onaratuiati'f
LonA
/rom
BRICE DRUG CO.104 E. COURT ST.
KANKAKEE
I
'^"1
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1853 . KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953
H. H.TROUP €l CO• LUMBER
. MILLWORK
. HAND & POWER TOOLS • GARDEN SUPPLIES
• KITCHEN CABINETS
• HARDWARE
202 N. EAST AVE. PHONE 3-6619
SINCE 1858
"Kankakee's Building Center"
We invite you to come in during the centennial and see our newly remodeledshowroom. Free gifts!
Ik « > vl^sf. Iflwv;'.
rf
Laying paving on South Schuyler Avenue. About 1896.
Frank Hatch grocery. East CourtStreet, 1880's.
Civil War Cannon, Court House yard. Old Powell Studio, South Dearborn Avenue
[40]
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18 5^ KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL 19 5 3
Congratulations
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• 18 5 3 KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL 19 5 3
ear VamtHOSIERY
Kankakee's progress may be
measured by the
steadfastness of its industries
Bear Brand Hosiery Co. has shared
6 years of Kankakee's
100 YEARS of GROWTH
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18 5 3 KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953 •
(The establishment ot a daily publication was con-sidered a "daring ad\enture," about which HistorianBurt Burroughs later wrote:"Newspaper competitors stood aghast at the news.
There were ail sorts of dire predictions indulged inprivately, while publicK- people patted Charley Liv-ingston on the back and called him 'bullv fellow' ").Kankakee Daily Repv.blican-On March 16, 1903, a
new publishing corporation was formed, called theKankakee Republican Company. The corporation wasorganized b\' 50 stockholders, the principals beingLen Small, who later was twice elected to the Illinoisgovernorship. Sen. Edward C. Curtis, Col. C. R. Miller,Ed Jeffers, and Charles Robinson. The new companybought the Times, and changed the name to theRepublican.
(The event which placed the Daily Republican onits feet, financially, in circulation and editorially,occurred in 191'3 when Leslie C. Small was mademanager on a "temporary" basis. Six managing editorshad failed in that job in 10 years.
That temporary job, however, has continued with-out interruption for 40 \ears. Mr. Small is now presi-dent of the Kankakee Dail\- Journal Company, andeditor and publisher of the' Journal.)
Kankakee Democrat—Begim in 1856 as a weekly byC\rus B. Ingham and Henry Austin, discontinued in1862 after several publishers failed to keep it going.
Kankakee County Union—C\rus B. Ingham startedthis newspaper. Democratic in politics, in 1862. It waspublished three years.
Evening Democrat—Begun in 1885 by R. H. Ballin-ger as publisher and E. H. Bintliff as editor. In 1887the plant was sold to .\lfred Doolittle, who changedthe name to the Kankakee County Democrat. Thepaper was bought in 1SS9 b\- the partnership of JohnBenton (J.B.) Smith and Thomas B. Collins. Theychanged the name back to the Evening Democrat, andwere Kankakee publishers for many years.Kankakee Daily News—Established in 1920 as a
merger of two of the main branches of local news-paper histor}-; the Gazette and the Evening Democrat.The News was published b\ the Kankakee PublishingCompany for 11 years.Kankakee Republican-News— In 1931 there was a
consolidation of the Kankakee Daily Republican andthe Kankakee Daily News. Leslie C. Small continuedin charge of the combineil newspaper as managingeditor. Herman Schmidt, who had been editor of theNews, became city editor of *vhe combined paper.Directors of the newly-formed publishing corporationwere Len Small, H. M. Stone, E. A. Jeffers, S. E.Moisant, and Leslie Small.
In September of 19! 5 the name of the newspaperwas changed from the Kankakee Republican-News tothe Kankakee Daily News.The Journal today is published by a corporation
whose officers and directors are Leslie C. Small,president of the company, editor and publisher of theJournal; .\rthur L. Beckman, secretar\- and treasurer;Burrell L. Small, \ice president and managing editor;Len H. Small. \iee uresident and associate editor.
Serving Kankakeeland
FOR A
Quarter of A Century
T T
COOLEY & SONREALTORS • BUILDER • INSURANCE
Congratulations 100 Years
COURTESYLAUNDRYETTE
• 20 WASHERS
• 2 EXTRACTORS
• 5 DRYERS
3 Attendants to Serve You — You Can Have a
Complete Wash and Dry in Less Than 45 Minutes
221 WEST COURT PHONE 3-3517
1 43 ]
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S3 . KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL . 1QS3
/ff'ifSsJu
K
Stfamer Maigaiit, 1898-1916.
Old Dam Aroma Park, early 1900's. Shekey's boat landing foot of Schuyler Avenue about 1890's.
Compliments of
SOCONY-VACUUM OIL COMPANYINCORPORATED
MobilgasSOCONV VACUUM
AND YOUR
FRIENDLY
MOBILGAS -MOBILOIL DEALERS
441
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5 ^ KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL 19 5^
CONGRATULATIONSIn extending our best wishes on this
centennial occasion, we of Kroehler want
the people of Kankakee to know how
much we appreciate the fine spirit of
cooperation and the friendly relation-
ships which have always existed be-
tween the community and our company.
PRODUCTS• KROEHLER LIVING ROOM FURNiTJRE
• KROEHLER BED ROOM FURNITURE
• KROEHLER "PUSH BACK"
THEATRE CHAIRS
WORLD'S LARGEST FURNITURE MANUFACTURER
SINCE 1893
PLANTSNoperville . . .
Binghomton . .Konkokee . . .Bradley ....Montreal . . . .
. . Illinois
New York. . Illinois
. . Illinois
. . Canada
DoMas TexasInglewood Californio
Cleveland Ohio
Stratford Canada
SHOWROOMSChicago Illinois
New York City New YorkLos Angeles California
Son Francisco California
I
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1853 . KANKAKEE
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• 1853 • KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL • 1953 •
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH(Disciples of Christ)
752 East Oak Street
Kankakee, Illinois
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS HAPPY TO
HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE CHURCH LIFE
OF THE KANKAKEE COMMUNITY SINCE 1893.
Courtesy of a Member
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18 5 3 KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL 19 5 3 •^ ^^^ ^y
^^
.t
^^
xs-Js;;^;^-N*^.^;i^is,^^.Xv,^xj5,N5^^,,^5^g^^^^jj^^
lift^
City National Bank
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KANKAKEE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
^lo^'UUK a^ Svc*tt4'
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
Morniug — Fair Fantasy—Centennial Flower Show, sponsoredby the Kankakee Kultivators.
Afternoon—Huge Sbriners Parade, featuring spectacular floatsand units from the entire area.
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
CENTENNIAL RELIGIOUS DEDICATION DAY
Morning— Centennial Observance in all Churches. Theme:One Hundred Years of Religion in Kankakee.
Afternoon—12:00—Catholic Open-Air Mass, Marycrest.Fair Fantasy—Centennial Flower Show, sponsoredby the Kankakee Kultivators.
Evening — 8:00—Kankakee Century of Sabbaths Program atFairgrounds. Music by massed Church Choirs.
Brief remarks by leaders of major religious faiths.
MONDAY, JUNE 22—YOUNG AMERICA TODAYMorning— Viewing of Historical displays in retail stores.
10:30—Kiddies Centennial Parade. Awards forbest Old Fashioned Costumes, best decorated ve-hicle, most novel pet.
Afternoon—Fair Fantasy — Centennial Flower Show. Open12:00 noon till 9:00 p. m.
Games and events for small fry and teen agers atCity Parks, sponsored by City Recreation Depart-ment.
Opening of Centennial — "Gay Way," Carnivalrides, fun for all
!
Evening — 9:00—Centennial Costume Ball. Presentation ofCentennial Queen and Court of Houor. Modern andSquare Dancing.
TUESDAY, JUNE 23—DISTINGUISHED GUESTS DAYMorning— Viewing of Historical Displays in retail stores.
Tour of Historical Landmarks, sponsored by Kan-kakee Historical Society.
Fair Fantasy—12:00 noon till 9:00 p. m.
Afternoon—Preliminary judging of "Brothers of the Brush."Honorary Citizenship Award.
Evening — 7:30—Coronation Ceremony, Crowning of Kanka-kee Centennial Queen.
Award to Princesses of the Court of Honor.
8:00 — Premier performance of "KANKAKEECENTURAMA." A mammoth historical Pageantspectacle featuring a cast of over 750 local partici-pants In a 90minute dramatization of Kankakee'shistor.v; all presented on a 2n0foot stage with his-torically authentic costumes and with spectacularlighting effects, followed b.v an exciting fireworksfinale.
10:00—Street Dance—Square Dancing.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24—LADIES' DAYMorning — Viewing of Hi8toric;il Displays in retail stores and
tour of Historical landmarks.
Afternoon—3:00—Ladies' Centennial Tea; Old Fashioned StyleShow; Old Fashioned refreshments and music,sponsored by Kankakee Woi '.iin's Club.
Evening — 8:00—Judging of Ladies' Old Fashioned Costumesat Fairgrounds by the Sisters of the Swish.8:30— Second performance of "KANKAKEECENTURAMA," Historical Pageant-Spectacle, atfairgrounds, with Fireworks Finale.
10:00 — Old Fashioned Square Dance— downtownlocation.
THURSDAY, JUNE 25
PIONEER AND HOMECOMING DAYMorning — Viewing of Historical Displays in retail stores.
Tour of Historical Landmarks, sponsored by Kan-kakee Historical Society.
Afternoon—2:00—Pioneer Recognition Ceremony. Awards foroldest living pioneers of continuous and brokenresidence. Awards to former residents returningfrom furthest points for Centennial.3:00—Preriew presentation of Kankakee Centen-nial Historical and Patriotic Parade. Awards tofloats, marching units and musical groups.
Evening — 7:00—"Brothers of the Brush" semi-finals judgingdowntown reviewing stand.8:00—Drill Exhibition by Kankakee American Le-gion Color Guard—National Champs, 1951.8 : 15—Presentation of Oldest Pioneers at Fair-grounds.
8:30—Third performance of "KANKAKEE CEN-TURAMA," Historical Pageant-Spectacle, withFireworks Finale.
10:00—Old Fashioned Square Dance— downtownlocation.
FRIDAY, JUNE 26—NEIGHBORS' DAYAfternoon—1:00 — TIME CAPSULE CEREMONY— Placing
the names of all Centennial participants; commit-tees, "Brothers of the Brush" and Sisters of theSwish" members. Pageant Cast members, PioneerRegistration list and other records into a perma-nent steel capsule. This capsule will be sealed, bur-ied and marked permanently for opening 100 yearsfrom now in 2053.
Dedication of Historical Building, CentennialRoom, Governor Small Memorial Park.
2:00 to 4:00—Amateur Vaudeville Contest. Opento talent in Kankakee County. Prizes and awards.
Evening — 8:00—Presentation of winners in afternoon eventsat Fairground.
8 : 30—Fourth presentation of "KANKAKEE CEN-TURAMA," Historical Pageant-Spectacle, withFireworks Finale.
10:00—Old Fashioned Square Dancing—downtownlocation.
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ffATURDAY, JUNE 27—AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY
Afternoon—3:00—Second presentation of Kankakee Centen-nial Historical and Patriotic Parade. Awards tofloats, marching units, and musical groups.
Evening — 8:00—Final judging of "Brothers of the Brush"Beards contest at the Fairgrounds. Music by the
Barbershoppers.
8.30—Fiiial performance of "KANKAKEE CEN-TTJRAMA," Historical Pageant-Spectacle, withFireworks Finale.
lOiOO^Old Fashioned Square Danc«-location.
downtown
EVEEY AFTERNOON AND EVENING OP THE EN-TIRE WEEK—THE CENTENNIAL "GAY WAY," Carnivalrides, games, concessions and fun for everyone. Plan now toattend the Centennial "Gay Way" often during the celebration
!
NOTE: If unfavorable weather causes postponement of anyperformance of KANKAKEE CENTURAMA, same will begiven on the first night following regxilarly scheduled perform-
ances that weather permits.
Red Cross Bloodmobile available on June 23-24; hours
12:00 to 6:00, Masonic Temple, 124 South Harrison.
/4c&ftoiu'ied^(He«tt^
The Centennial Committee wishes to express their most sincere thanks to every citizen of the county who hasc^ontnb-
uted in any wav to the Centennial effort. They also wish to express deep regret that due to Program Publication dateof
June 1st, it was impossible to include the complete list of so many people who helped in so many ways.
Particular appreciation is expressed to the following:
Painters Union Local No. 467Carpenters Union Local No. 496Stage Hand Union Local No. 435Musicians Union Local No. 288Electrician Union Local No. 963Teamsters Union I^ocal No. 438Contractors Don Trost and James JonesKankakee Symphony and ChorusIllinois Central Railroad CompanyCustodians of Kankakee High SchoolKankakee Historical Society (for loan of pictures)Blatz BreweryMillers BreweryOlivet Nazarene CollegeA. O. Smith Corporation—Time CapsuleSquare Dance Callers—Frank Sullivan, Art Ber:Bcoter, Buss Bone
SUPPLIERS OF HEADQUARTEKSLouis E. Beckman and CompanyJoseph Turk Manufacturing CompanyGucrtin Sign ShopMarcotte Electrical CompanySears, Roebuck and CompanyAmerican Marietta CompanySwannell Hardware CompanyMiner Business Machine CompanyKankakee Water CompanyLassers Furniture CompanyH. J. Porabert and SonsKnights of ColumbusKankakee Lumber & Supply CompanyLawrence RaicheKankakee Valley Advertising CompanyByron Johnson Office SuppliesNational Cash RegisterPark Garage
VOLUNTEER STAFFMrs. ButterfieldMrs. Walter RanzMrs. Earl SkeldonMrs. William CoyMrs. Charlotte SiroisRachael MartinoMarlene BlandMrs. Alma TrahTri-Y Girls Club of the Y. M.
Carol GrumisbJoAnn JensonMadeline WieliczkoBeverly BowmanMarilyn BeaumontMargo TwissMrs. NordmyreMrs. W. L. Marcotte
.A.
SUPPLIERS OF QUEEN CONTESTTransportation
Albert Schneider and Sons—Insurance and Travel BureauHotel
Hotel Kankakee. Kankakee, UlinoisThe Town House. Los Angeles, California
Prizes
Aldens Kankakee, IncorporatedSamuel'sLecoursSwannel Hardware, IncorporatedMontgomery Ward and CompanyW. D. Gousset Sales Company, IncorporatedEdwards Credit Jewelers. IncorporatedKankakee Book StoreTurk I^miture Company
Sears, Roebuck and CompanyHuff and WolfWatland BrothersBlankenberg Photographers, IncorporatedRyan and Ebeling PharmacyKoehler Drug Company. Number OneKoehler Drug Company. Number TwoWalgreen Drug StoresJ. C. Penney CompanyLassers Furniture CompanySalkeld Sporting GoodsCharlie's StoreJaffes Uptown PharmacyVolkmann's
Transportation
LTptown Sales, Incorporated
Beauty Care
Merle NormanAlden's Beauty ShopBeauty MartCentral Beauty ShopThe Fair StorePersonality Beauty SalonSamuel'sParamount Beauty ShoppeKarma Lee's Beauty ShoppeModerne Beauty SalonJust Beauty ShopMilly's Beauty ShoppeZelma's Beauty ShopVogue Beauty ServiceJennie's Beauty Shop
SUPPLIERS OF PARADE PLATFORMCampbell Block CompanyKankakee Shrine Club
SUPPLIERS OF ICE CREAM AND TREATS FOR MONDAYBorden'sMeadow Gold Ice Cream CompanySchnell's Dairy
SUPPLIERS OF SISTERS OF SWISH PRIZESRogers Beautiful ClothesSinger Sewing Machine CompanyWomen of the Moose
SUPPLIERS OF CENTENNIAL CARSClose Motor SalesUptown Sales, Incorporated
SUPPLIERS OF BUS TRANSPORTATIONKankakee County Truck and Bus Owners AssociationKankakee Auto Leasing
WOMEN'S RELIEF CORPRed Cross Service
SUPPLIERS OF KANGAROO COURTAizarelli Trucking CompanyKerr Construction CompanyJoe H. ConleyKankakee Coca-Cola Bottling CompanyRichard D. Ferris Landscape Service
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m CENHII !][[
• • •
S(f*tafi4i4^ 0^ Sce*te^
CHORAL OVERTURECentennial Chorus—Dr. Walter B. Larsen, Director
PROLOGUESalute to Our Centennial Queen — The MountedGuard of Honor, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, DrillTeams, Drum Corps, the Township Ladies-iu-\Vait-infj; the ladies of the forty-eiy:ht states all pay theirrespects to Our Centennial Queen and the Prin-cesses of her Court of Honor.
SCENE ONE-LEATHERS OF THE BLACK ROBE"
LaSalle with French missionaries—the first whiteman to visit this area.
SCENE TWO—"COUREURS DE BOIS"Down from Canada came the traders in search offurs. The Indian council with the traders in a ges-ture of peace.
SCENE THREE—"WATCH-E-KEE"The Indian Princess of royal heritage and royalmanner.
SCENE FOUR—"FAREWELL TO KANKAKEE"The Indian trek to the west, making' way for prog-ress—the settling of the white man.
SCENE FIVE—"HAIL, PIONEERS"And come they did—from the east and north. Cour-ageous pioneers, carving a life out of the wildernessand the land.
SCENE SIX—"STRENGTH OF OUR FATHERS"Pioneers, rough and hardy, manifested their faithin God—the beginning of religion in the area.
SCENE SEVEN—"GOOD OLD GOLDEN RULE DAYS"
Readin', 'Ritin', 'Rithmetic, and an un-sparedRod!
SCENE EIGHT—"DOUBLE, DOUBLE HARNESS"
A "Twin Hitehin' "—Had to catch the circuit rid-ing preacher when he came around
!
SCENE NINE—"BOGUS ISLAND"Horse thief gangs troubled the pioneers consider-ably. Captain Seguin settled with them in his ownway.
SCENE TEN—"THE IRON HORSE"The first train arrives— two ribbons of steel nowbound Kankakee with the world.
SCENE ELEVEN—"THE COUNTY SEAT"How it came to Kankakee (and who voted for it!)
SCENE TWELVE—"MEN IN BLUE"Dark clouds of strife fall over the nation and Kan-kakee paid her share of lives to the eau.se of theUnion.
SCENE THIRTEEN—"THE COURT HOUSE FIRE"
The loss of one of the count}' 's finest early buildingsin a disastrous fire in 1872.
SCENE FOURTEEN—"THE GAY NINETIES"The tandem bike — trips up the river — and, ofcourse, the "Belles" of the 1890 's.
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SCENE FIFTEEN—"IN FLANDERS FIELD"A World War I memorial.
SCENE SIXTEEN—"THE WORLD'S GREATEST ENTER-TAINMENT"
A flash-back through the highlights of a greatcounty institution—the old Inter-State Fair.
SCENE SEVENTEEN—"IWO JIMA"A World War II memorial.
SCENE EIGHTEEN—"KANKAKEE'S HALL OF FAME"
Kankakee men and women of note, who have madetheir mark in the national scope of affairs.
SCENE NINETEEN—"PARADE OF INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS"
From an agricultural beginning, Kankakee movesforward to take her proper place in the fields of
industry and commerce with pride in her past and
a great faith in her future.
SCENE TWENTY—"CITIZENS OF TOMORROW"
Salute to those who follow—may they inherit pio-neer courage and vision!
SCENE TWENTY-ONE—"A SALUTE TO THE FUTURE"
A spectacular finale picture featuring the entireCenturama east—climaxed by fireworks.
Please remain in your seats until the conclusion of the fireworks.
^e9ttun/^9KCi ^^ut ^*td Sfr
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Bonita HeineKaren DorisPatricia MenseAlice AdamaMarilyn BassPeggy KingCarol MindockPatricia Ann Nally
Dolores CornegaySandra AzzarelliMarjorie GiffordCarol Pru«Janice GulczynskiSue NolteMarilyn ToplifE
Drill Team—Women of the MooseMarguerite CryerLucille HendricksButh OttoOline StrawnGoldie CryerLillian CryerHarriett GullettConnie BoudreauMyrtle Haj-hurst
Nellie ReimersEdith NeveauMildred SmithMyrna KavaneyEnth PetersonBarbara JutziTyyne HanesLeoua FrancoeurBernice Poskins
Drill Team—The Gleaners Life Insurance Company
W. H. Maitland, Drill MasterPauline MUoneRuth WrightSue DuboisNellie GoodknechtAlice SchepplerLorrine HernsMargaret McBroomMarie Williams
Drum and Bugle Corp
—
American Legion Post No. 85
Laurine GustinHelen DabnMabel SippelEUa ButzElvira KathmanAnnette TunksMargaret AsherGloris Schoth
Indians for Scene One, Scene Two, Scene Three andScene Four, sponsored by the Wi-IIok-Sila Tribe
101 and Girl Scouts of America
Mrs. H. L. LaugblinHeidi JobansonJuanita SchothSusan JacksonMrs. Harley BaldwinBilly BochViva Lee McCartyDavid SwainMrs. Ed. SnyderMrs. A. J. EicchiMrs. C. G. KendaULynette KendallBetty HuggansCarol Ann McCartyJoseph GuistiDarrell MartinClaude LemnaEugene TinneyConnie GensonCynthia SchothJoyce CarpenterMrs. Harold NallyVirginia EicchiJulia CotsonesNellie KahntEdna StutzPat KahntMrs. Cletus McCartyMrs. Franklin StutzMrs. Clarence JacksonMrs. John W. SmithMrs. Euth Fenner
Linda LauglilinEichard AllenLloyd WilkinsonLorraine BaldwinLeta PenceMrs. Ralph JohansonMr. Roy KlemaMary KlemaLee FredricksonMrs. C. G. CoykendallLynette CoykendallMrs. Edward SnyderMarian TaylorFlorence BurnsConnie BurnsTerry Ann SnyderMary EobeyTeddy KahntMarion DandurandMrs. Olive FarmanBonita DelbertEobert NicholsDenzle PainterEonald EuchnerRichard PetryJohn CoyThomas NallyDavid EichardEichard EolfeEoger WilsonGeorge EdwardsGeorge Ingalls
Ladies Representing the Forty-eight States
—
Sponsored by the Kankakee Business and Profes-
sional Women's Club
Eunice EogersEdith BakerEuby OdleEula ManauElma BedellVida KirkLiUian YonkeGertrude G. ShineMildred DuvalJennie WebbGrace NourieCecil MeentsMabel GriceKatie ChapmanMarjorie DavyHortense KusinskiLeona H. RingeringEvelj-n M. PorterViolette ShimminAva CassidyMary MellMargaret EewertsDorothea CaseyIrene DevineOlga Hodgson
Antonia FritzMarie CarsonLouise MercierMildred MenardLola McMullenLula McMullenWerlyne KeelerMargaret McBroomThelma MillerHelen PalmerBeverly DevineClara TaylorVelma ShimminDoris PrattEuth PrattPearl McCorkleDelia AudetteDarlene HultsLillian GingerVinnie ColemanFrances DePatisGladys ThompsonNina MinerGeraldine McCuenEsther Tripp
Kankakee Townships Ladies-in-Waiting
—
Sponsored by the Ja3'cee WivesCredit Women's Breakfast Club
Wilma RenterRosemary WadleyMarion StouderMarcella Downs
Vivian HarveyBarbara AzzarelliLois Shaunnessy
SCENE ONE—"FATHERS OF THE BLACK ROBE"
Principals sponsored by Holy Name Society,St. Patrick's Church
Cavalier de LaSalle..
Father Ilennepin
.Lloyd Williamson
John C. Brown
Gerard L. DandurandLouis R. DandurandEobert SterrJerry BertrandAdrian RivardGeorge LaEocqueEoland CaronJohn LaneThomas LafifeyE. HoachL. DonovanT. MulcahyHubert OchsHoward GormanEonald McCannTerry DwyerDonald GundAlfred M. OlivettiDallas D. Miller
Indian Dancers
Ken DouglasRobert StonerJerry HessDennis DessRobert Buhrmester
Oscar PapineauDonald FrakeEalph EichardMarvin CnuddeWilliam YatesEdw. KilbrideAnthony L. KillipsJack BattagliaMose ArseneauPaul CardosiDon DandurandLarry SkelleyTim MeyerWilliam YonkeDominick CiaccioEon MarcotteTom KeigherGerald KilbrideJohn Yonke
Harry BuhrmesterBilly DankersEddy ChipmanG. W. Bedell
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SCENES TWO, THREE, AND FOUR—"COUREURS DE BOIS"
Principals sponsored by Men's Club,St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Princess Watch-e-kee Mrs. Ruth Fenner
Medicine Man Jerry MessierGuerdon Hubbard Pete Azzarelli
Noel LeVasseur Bud Rivard
Traders
—
Stanley Kohan, Bruce Brown, Herbert Meyer,Lyle Harshbarger
Indian Chief Paul Burkhalter
Bergeron Edgar Donar
SCENE FIVE—"HAIL, PIONEERS"
Principals sponsored by Kankakee Chapterof the American Red Cross
Eloi Marcotte Frank Sullivan
Samuel Davis Ralph Josephson
Violinists
—
William Custer, Paul Wieliczko, J. Russell Harp,
C. C. DummerSquare dancers and townspeople in Scene Five,
Scene Eight, Scene Nine, Scene Ten, Scene Eleven,
sponsored by Kankakee Squares—Mr. Frank Sulli-van, Director
Square Dancers
Mr. and Mrs. Guy BlanchetteMr. and Mrs. Clarence BlakeMr. and Mrs. Ed. BushMr. and Mrs. Art Deneau, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Don DandurandMr. and Mrs. Al FournierMr. and Mrs. Ed. HamljiiMr. and Mrs. Paul LeggMr. and Mrs. Kenneth KraftMr. and Mrs. Woodrow BloomquistMr. and Mrs. Clj'de EahideanMr. and Mrs. James HorchemMr. and Mrs. Paul BisaillonMr. and Mrs. Leopold ZulloMr. and Mrs. George SarakineMr. and Mrs. Floyd AndersonMr. and Mrs. Ray AndersonMr. and Mrs. George Sar.akineMr. and Mrs. Earl MayesMr. and Mrs. R. M. KayMr. and Mrs. J. P. HudsonMr. and Mrs. Wm. B. BrownMr. and Mrs. Carl DummerMr. and Mrs. John EriksenMr. and Mrs. Dave PhillipsMr. and Mrs. Martin CaiseMr. and Mrs. Ralph EkstromMr. and Mrs. Lawrence MetzMr. and Mrs. F. R. BevanMr. and Mrs. G. WilsonMr. and Mrs. R. B. KronMr. and Mrs. J. A. KonrathMr. and Mrs. J. R. BakerMr. and Mrs. Carl HughesMr. and Mrs. G. A. RobertsonMr. and Mrs. Clyde HartMr. and Mrs. John RossMr. and Mrs. C. L. DrummMr. and Mrs. Robert WUhoytMr. and Mrs. Howard Thompson
Mr. and Mrs. Merwin ShearMr. and Mrs. Richard BalgemanMr. and Mrs. A. J. SuprenantMr. and Mrs. Ray JepsenMr. and Mrs. Glen ChristianMr. and Mrs. Anthony SuprenantJosephine Bliss and Arnold W. CookMr. and Mrs. Vin BowersMr. and Mrs. Leonard DemersMr. and Mrs. Lloyd GrangerMr. and Mrs. Harold JensenMr. and Mrs. Roland E. Kehr, Sr.Mr. and Mrs. Walter PrayMr. and Mrs. Wilbur SmallMr. and Mrs. Wilmont TremoreMr. and Mrs. Earl WitthoftCarol Legg and Gene GreeneMr. and Mrs. Emery BaronMr. and Mrs. Jamjes BlakeMr. and Mrs. Glen KingMr. and Mrs. Robert WismaMr. and Mrs. Bill HesterMr. and Mrs. Robert WilhoytMr. and Mrs. Paul GrinsteadPaul Herms and Delores GrinsteadMr. and Mrs. Niel EskildsenMr. and Mrs. Robert WhiteMr. and Mrs. Rusa BehrendsMr. and Mrs. Novval DurandMr. and Mrs. Eddie SnodgrassMr. and Mrs. Rene RaymondMr. and Mrs. Melvin SwaimMr. and Mrs. Ed PoitrasMr. and Mrs. Herb MorseMr. and Mrs. Hallie AllenMr. and Mrs. Don SiefertMr. and Mrs. Noel MartellMr. and Mrs. Lester SiroisMr. and Mrs. Everett MeyersMr. and Mrs. Wilfred ArseneauMr. and Mrs. Ralph EkstromMr. and Mrs. C. DrummMr. and Mrs. Wendell MarrMr. and Mrs. Dewey DutourMr. and Mrs. Frank BarbieriMr. and Mrs. Ed HebertMr. and Mrs. Harry BowersMr. and Mrs. George BazeMr. and Mrs. Perry NoelMr. and Mrs. Raymond CoashMr. and Mrs. Frank MeredithMr. and Mrs. Lesley HulseMr. and Mrs. Earl LockwoodMr. and Mrs. Arnold GebhardtMr. and Mrs. Gene RaymondMr. and Mrs. Orville DamboldtMr. and Mrs. Ernie ZeimerMr. and Mrs. Joe LardiMr. and Mrs. Donald R. SmithMr. and Mrs. Donald JeffersonMr. and Mrs. Leslie StyekMr. and Mrs. Julius Dal CantonMr. and Mrs. Boniface Grey
Children
Celeste WieliczkoMarsha WieliczkoJanet RubyJon CusterTom RivardBobbie KurthSusie KurthDavid KissackKaren EicchieNorman Palow
Townspeople
Mrs. Paula WieliczkoPhylliss GruverLane LongJohn LaGesse
Roylene GruverYolanda GrangerMarilyn NelsonDean WingfieldJudy WingfieldBub WingfieldDonnie AndersonSusie DrazyBilly ByrnesJimmy Haigh
Melvin NelsonJerald GruverTheodore BaU
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A. S. Vail John LaGesse
Judge Orson Beebe Lane LongVail's Assistants....Willard Drazy, Clifford Kissack
Clark Earl RubyRoberts Carl Winfield
Philip Bacon Joseph Larde
SCENE SIX—"STRENGTH OF OUR FATHERS"
Sponsored by Holy Name and St. Anne Society,St. Rose of Lima Church
Priest Adelore J. LaPlante
Couples
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas BalthazorMr. and Mrs. Gilbert Breault
Mr. and Mrs. Albert D. Brosseau
Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Coash
Mr. and Mrs. Herman ChefferMr. and Mrs. Paul LeCuyer
Mrs. Lawrence Raiche
Mr. Alexis Boisvert
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lockwood
Children
Nancy LockwoodJoLn LaPlante
Linda LeCuyer
Celesta Raiche
"STRENGTH OF OUR FATHERS"
Sponsored by Women's Society of the FirstMethodist Church
and Trinity Methodist Church
Minister William C. Bohne
The Congregation
Harry Cole
Melvin Nelson
Ellis Tobey
W. B. MalloryM