Let's Talk Kankakee County History

This towering dragline crane strips off overburden, 30 cubic feet at a time, to expose the coal seam at a Peabody Coal Co. strip-mining...

S. M. Hawk published the sheet music for his composition, “On The Beautiful Kankakee” in 1911. (Kankakee County Museum Photo Archive) By...

Early in the morning of November 28, 1946, Kankakee’s Labor Temple at Court Street and Washington Avenue was destroyed by fire. Four...

This array of lines and hooks was lowered into the water and slowly dragged across a clam bed.. When touched by hooks, the clams would...

<p>In this image from the 1950s, Knights of Columbus lead the procession of pilgrims past St. Anne Church on the Feast Day of St. Anne. (Kankakee County Museum Photo Archive) By Jack KlaseyMarch 29, 2025 On Monday afternoon, July 26, 1909, the Catholic Church of St. Anne was packed with worshippers celebrating the annual feast &hellip; <a href="https://kankakeecountymuseum.wordpress.com/2025/03/29/a-miracle-at-st-anne/" class="more-link">Conti...

<p>A parade of horse-drawn decorated wagons on Chestnut Street, about 1900. The reason for the parade is unknown, but might have been Independence Day. The view is to the north, toward the tall Carrington &amp; Hannah grain elevator. (Kankakee County Museum Photo Archive) By Jack KlaseyMarch 22, 2025 “A Lively Grain and Stock Center, Full &hellip; <a href="https://kankakeecountymuseum.wordpress.com/2025/03/21/a-look-at-manteno-in-1900/" class=...

<p>A jumbled pile of derailed locomotives and train cars marks the site of the fatal March 15, 1999, “City of New Orleans” train wreck. Eleven people were killed and more than 100 injured in the crash at the McKnight Road grade crossing. (Kankakee County Museum Photo Archive) By Jack KlaseyMarch 15, 2025 At approximately 9:45 &hellip; <a href="https://kankakeecountymuseum.wordpress.com/2025/03/14/a-tragedy-at-bourbonnais/" class="more-link">Co...

<p>This Old Gold cigarette ad, promoting “Two fine and healthful treats” appeared in the Kankakee Daily Republican on December 12, 1928. (Kankakee County Museum Photo Archive) By Jack KlaseyMarch 8, 2025 A large advertisement on Page 12 of the Kankakee Republican-News’ issue of October 5, 1943, appeared to contain a cryptic message. The ad featured &hellip; <a href="https://kankakeecountymuseum.wordpress.com/2025/03/08/up-in-smoke/" class="mor...

<p> The Kankakee YMCA Marching Squad posed for this group photo in the building’s gymnasium in 1910. (Kankakee County Museum Photo Archive) By Jack KlaseyMarch 1, 2025 On Monday, February 18, 1907, at the end of a highly successful six-week-long revival meeting in Kankakee, charismatic evangelist Billy Sunday dedicated his final preaching session as a fundraiser &hellip; <a href="https://kankakeecountymuseum.wordpress.com/2025/02/28/the-ymca-c...

<p>Sheriff Carl McNutt, center, is shown entering a courtroom at the Kankakee County Courthouse during his 1962 trial on misconduct charges. At left is Kankakee County State’s Attorney Edward Drolet. (Kankakee County Museum Photo Archive) By Jack KlaseyFebruary 22, 2025 On Friday, November 3, 1961, Kankakee County Sheriff Carl McNutt was arrested and charged with &hellip; <a href="https://kankakeecountymuseum.wordpress.com/2025/02/22/arresting...

<p>/This building across Court Street from the courthouse housed the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office and the county jail. It also served as the residence of the sheriff. (Kankakee County Museum Photo Archive) By Jack KlaseyFebruary 15, 2025 “Report Mystery Sack of Money Found In County Jail,” headlined the Kankakee Sunday Journal on September 10, 1961. &hellip; <a href="https://kankakeecountymuseum.wordpress.com/2025/02/14/a-mystery-sack-of-m...

<p>Maternity BVM Catholic Church in Bourbonnais was built by its parishioners in the mid-1850s. It is the oldest church building in Kankakee County. (Kankakee County Museum Photo Archive) By Jack KlaseyFebruary 8, 2025 No, the “limestone” being praised is neither Limestone Township (which has been around since 1853) nor the Village of Limestone (which was &hellip; <a href="https://kankakeecountymuseum.wordpress.com/2025/02/08/in-praise-of-lime...

<p>Timeline In 1869, the Illinois Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities advocated for another state hospital to care for the insane.&nbsp; In February 1877, the Illinois Legislature generally agreed that another hospital for the insane was needed in the state. In May 1877,&nbsp; Illinois Eastern Hospital for the Insane was being built. There needed &hellip; <a href="https://kankakeecountymuseum.wordpress.com/2024/03/28/illinois-east...

<p>First hospital in the area. Background information of how the hospital was built and created.&nbsp; The construction of the Emergency Hospital was finally being built. It was located on West Merchant Street and North Fifth Avenue in Kankakee County.&nbsp; Father Ambrose Granger, the pastor of St. Rose church was the person who came up with &hellip; <a href="https://kankakeecountymuseum.wordpress.com/2024/03/21/st-marys-hospital-emergency-ho...

<p>Early Life He was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, and In 1870, the family moved to Kankakee, IL. He was the son of Reverend Joseph Barnard. He spent his boyhood and grade school years in Kankakee. He started as a jewelry engraver. At the age of 17, he attended the Chicago Art Institute. He wanted two &hellip; <a href="https://kankakeecountymuseum.wordpress.com/2024/03/14/george-grey-barnard-1863-1938/" class="more-link">Continue reading <...

<p>Before&nbsp; In 1818, the Illinois Constitution outlawed slavery. The escaped slaves had to head up to Canada to be free because there were laws in Illinois where if a slave was captured they were returned to their owner. Kankakee County was a part of the underground railroad. The escaped slaves hid in Wilmington, Kankakee State &hellip; <a href="https://kankakeecountymuseum.wordpress.com/2024/03/07/civil-war/" class="more-link">Continue re...

<p>The museum focuses on the French involvement in the history of Kankakee, IL, and the surrounding areas. They have stories about the first explorers of Kankakee, coureur de bois, and fur traders. The pioneer settlers came from France, Quebec, Canada, and Belgium. They were mostly focused on getting wealthy in the fur trade. The museum &hellip; <a href="https://kankakeecountymuseum.wordpress.com/2024/02/29/french-heritage-museum-and-famous-fr...

<p>Hickox Warren R. Hickox Sr. was a pioneer of Kankakee. He was also a Civil War Veteran, later a banker, and an owner of the original abstract title records in the county.&nbsp; Anna Hickox was the daughter of Warren and Georgia Griffith Hickox. Her mother was a native of Vermont and her father was a &hellip; <a href="https://kankakeecountymuseum.wordpress.com/2024/02/22/hickox-and-bradley-family/" class="more-link">Continue reading <span cl...

<p>He was a controversial religious figure from Kamouraska, Quebec, and he founded St. Anne, Illinois in 1851. His early life and his family life Father Charles Chiniquy was born in Kamouraska, Quebec on July 30th, 1809. He died on January 16, 1899. He was the eldest of three sons to notary public figure Charles Chiniquy &hellip; <a href="https://kankakeecountymuseum.wordpress.com/2024/02/15/father-charles-chiniquy/" class="more-link">Continue...

<p>Stephen B. Small was a Kankakee businessman known as the Kankakee Media heir. He was the grandson of Illinois Governor Len Small and Nancy Pederson Small. Governor Len Small was a Republican governor for two terms from 1921 to 1929. In September 1987, Stephen B. Small was kidnapped and held for 1 million dollars in &hellip; <a href="https://kankakeecountymuseum.wordpress.com/2024/02/08/stephen-b-small-and-the-trials-of-edward-j-daniels-and-...