Time Was

No big company mine, the Young-Oswald mine

Published by admin on Mon, 08/10/2026 - 11:30am

One of the worst of times in Braidwood happened when most shaft mines had closed down, and the technology for strip mines had not been perfected yet. Money was scarce as hen's teeth, but there was still one small light for local miners. The locally owned Young-Oswald mine was that light.

It's all in the pen of the writer, perspective

Published by admin on Mon, 08/10/2026 - 10:50am

I guess I haven't gone two days in a row without hearing that dreaded word - “AI”. Not even a word at all really, just a couple of letters. But these letters have the whole world talking. One group of folks seem to think that it is the greatest thing that mankind has ever evented. While another group think that it signals the end of civilization as we know it.

They don't make them anymore, what used to be

Published by admin on Mon, 08/03/2026 - 10:36am

This whole topic started with a conversation with a friend. He was trying to balance a foam box of food on his lap while watching TV. He said what we needed was some folding TV dinner trays. I had to inform him they don't make them anymore. After I thought about it, there are so many things that “they don't make” or “they don't do” anymore. These are a few.

Roughing it was the only way to go, travel

Published by admin on Mon, 08/03/2026 - 10:27am

Ah, summer! The time for vacations and week-end travel to fun places. Look on the internet to provide the perfect spot, book a hotel on your phone, get reviews from others who have stayed there, get directions as to the quickest route and exactly how much time it will take to get there. But it was not always so. The first white settlers to come to this area had to rough it. Today we look at “hotels” of the early 19th century.

The company stooge, beware the bribe

Published by admin on Mon, 07/27/2026 - 11:32am

The above term does not refer to a guy who does slapstick comedy with his brothers, but rather a man being paid by the company to do their bidding, whatever that might be. As the winter of 1877 came on, the demand for coal started to rise. With little coal being dug in the Wilmington coal fields, the companies started to lose money in a big way. They needed the striking miners back at work and soon. The tactic this time was the company stooge.

Never underestimate the water, the result may be death

Published by admin on Mon, 07/27/2026 - 11:26am

A few years back I was called to the South Island by a television reporter who was reporting on the death of an elderly woman and her relative, who had both drowned in the river near the dam. They wanted a historians' take on it, asking me how many people have drowned there. I couldn't give them a number, nor had I kept track. It came to my mind again, so I did look back in my files. Warning, some descriptions in this article may not be for the faint of heart. Today's topic - death by drowning.

I owe my soul to the company store

Published by admin on Mon, 07/20/2026 - 11:42am

The above statement is not just a line from a popular Tennessee Ernie Ford record; in the late 1870's it was true for most of the population of Braidwood, Coal City, and Diamond. For those too young to be acquainted with Mr. Ford's works, Google him, you might like what you hear.

Scandal at the Soldiers' Widows Home, real or made up?

Published by admin on Mon, 07/20/2026 - 11:36am

Scandal? At the sainted Soldiers' Widows Home? Not possible you say, this was a charitable institution, not a brothel. The intentions of everyone concerned were always charitable, and the inmates were the darlings of the town. We treated them well, loved and respected them, took care of them. Well, gentle readers it wasn't always so.

350 years after Columbus, the Italians discovered Braidwood

Published by admin on Mon, 07/13/2026 - 10:25am

There has been much controversy about Columbus and the holiday that was meant to honor him and the Italian Community. Many states have changed it to Indigenous People's Day. Personally, I have no objection to celebrating that fact that we are all immigrants if we go back far enough, but I also believe that each nationality should be able to celebrate their achievements and milestones. There is no doubt that the sons and daughters of Italy have made a great contribution, but it wasn't easy. Today we look at the Italian immigrants that called Braidwood their home.

Life in the big city, a trip to Joliet

Published by admin on Mon, 07/13/2026 - 10:14am

I have said little in these columns about big city life and the sprawling city to the north. By car, just a half hour away, and even in the 19th century it was only a short train trip. Today we will look at a few places that might have drawn early Wilmintonians into the big city.
As early as 1840 Juliet, now known as Joliet, was a booming town. There were factories, saloons, hotels, and shops with everything imaginable. One dry goods merchant advertised the following in 1840: