Gl in wf winter 2015 issuu

Good Living In

West Frankfort No. 25 Winter 2015

Showcasing the People, Places and Pride of West Frankfort, Illinois

Merry Christmas from

J & S Professional Pharmacy

Photo by Rich Phillips

Back row L-R: Jacob Woolard, Nick Minor, PharmD, Audrey Denham; Center L-R: Steve Heyder, Sheila Blackwood, Karen Bennett, Callie Stoner, PharmD, Darci Mandrell, RPh, Joyce Fogleman, RPh/Owner, Angela Triplett, RPh, Jordan Moschino, Tammy Woolard, Wendy Blades; Front row L-R: Tyler Mathews, Judi Markwell.

(Not pictured: Felicia Mortag, Lisa Claunch, Marianna Woodland, Mandee Davis, John Dimmick, Ian Davidson, Julie Butler)

• Daily delivery to homes and businesses • 2 Drive-up windows

Now 5 Pharmacists to Serve & Counsel You Joyce E. Fogleman, R.Ph./Owner

937-2416

309 W. St. Louis • West Frankfort, IL Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

Publisher’s Letter

Good Living In

West Frankfort

W

inston Churchill said, “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.” When we decided to make history the focus of this issue of Good Living in West Frankfort, it didn’t seem like such a big deal. All of our magazines contain a lot of West Frankfort history, and as s gift to the community, we thought in this issue we would just dig a little deeper, reach back a little further and share some stories and details that hadn’t been shared yet. It was something of a shock to me as I looked through an old issue of the Southern, reading an article about the ways the mines have left their mark on the community. I was thinking, “This is interesting. I think this is worth using.” I turned back to find out to whom I needed to give credit. Who did this research?

Who wrote the article? Oh, it was me.

That happened more than once in the past couple of months as we put the magazine together. I searched Google hoping to stumble on something interesting about early West Frankfort businesses.

I’d strike gold, but only to be directed to the book,” West Frankfort Back in the Day, by Michael and Gail Thomas. I’m not saying that we have written all the history on West Frankfort ourselves, but I do feel like I am running in circles with one foot glued to the floor.

I want some new history. That may seem like a contradiction, but it isn’t. It makes me sad to realize that we’ve used up all the history for a while. After 23 years as a feature writer for the Southern, 10 years of magazines and then our book, we’ve been at this for a while. In writing about the eight different movie theaters in West Frankfort that existed from 1919 until 1970, I wanted to ask some new questions and hear some new answers from some new people. But it just didn’t work that way.

The people who have made this job so much fun through the years with their anecdotes and descriptions of the early days of West Frankfort are either gone now or I have used them as my sources over and over again.

I wish I had asked Goebel Patton and M. C. Odle a lot more questions. Oh I asked them plenty, but I was always on a mission to follow a certain trail or solve one mystery. I wish now I could have sat down with pen and paper and just said, “Tell me everything you know.” West Frankfort has such a rich and exciting past. Perhaps every town does, but I just don’t think so.

In the prologue to our book, West Frankfort Back in the Day. I copied a quote from writer, John Gardner. “History doesn’t seem like history when you’re living it.” I’m begging every one of you, Dear Readers. If there is someone in your life old enough to remember the past longer ago than you do, ask questions. Pass your stories on to your children, your grandchildren, anyone who will listen.

This is history. You’re living it. The little bit of history in this issue of Good Living is our Christmas gift to you. Along with God’s blessing in this holy season, it is the greatest treasure we can give.

Gee, it seems like I’ve said that before too.

Gail Rissi Thomas, Publisher Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015 3

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS THEY MAKE THIS MAGAZINE POSSIBLE Aaron Hopkins, Attorney ....................... pg. 8 All American Hearing .............................. pg. 31 Baldwin Piano ........................................... pg. 12 Banterra Bank ....................................... pg. 4 Browning Clark Automotive .................. pg. 28 Burg’s Hair Parlour ................................ pg. 14 Calico Country Sew & Vac ...................... pg. 15 E. R. Brown Furniture Co. ................. pg. 15 Frankfort Area Historical Museum ..... Back Gandy’s Auto Body Shop ..................... pg. 23 G. L. Williams Real Estate ...................... pg. 24 Glass by JenRuss ................................... pg. 6 Good Life Publications ........................... pg. 19 Heights Market ........................................ pg. 17 Herron Rehab & Wellness Center ....... pg. 30 Honker Hill Winery .................................. pg. 17 J & S Professional Pharmacy ..................... pg. 2 Johnson Real Estate ................................. pg. 29 Lance Brown, Attorney ............................. pg. 24 McCollom Real Estate ............................ pg. 8 McCord’s Market ..................................... pg. 29 McDonald’s ............................................... pg. 15 Mike Riva, Attorney .................................. pg. 12 Murphy’s House of Tattoos ...................... pg. 14 Nolen Chiropractic ................................... pg. 14 Parker-Reedy Funeral Home ................... pg. 9 Paul Lawrence Insurance .......................... pg. 24 People’s National Bank ............................. pg. 24 Ramey Insurance ....................................... pg. 19 ReMax Realty ............................................ pg. 14 Sandy’s Flowers & Gifts ............................ pg. 15 Severin Garden Center ............................ pg. 21 Southern Illinois Bank ............................. pg. 14 Stone Funeral Home ............................... pg. 29 Stotlar-Herrin Lumber ........................... pg. 21 Union Funeral Home ........................... pg. 28 Watsons Jewelers ................................... pg. 13 Weeks Chevy-Buick-GMC ...................... pg. 30 WF Chamber of Commerce ...................... pg. 29 Your Heart’s Desire ................................. pg. 4 Contact Michael A. Thomas at 937-2019 if you wish to advertise in “Good Living in West Frankfort”.

Pam Munsell, Owner

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season

Shop over 40 Booths • HOURS: Tues-Sat 10-5

antiques crafts jewelry designer jeans clothing primatives collectables glassware furniture

Lots of Great Gift Ideas & Holiday Decor 501 W. Main • West Frankfort • 618 937-0015

4

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

Good Living In

West Frankfort 6 10

IN THE NEWS

o-

20

No.26 Fall/Winter 2015

Table of Contents

9

6 9

Bob Ellis pays a tribute to paper carriers everywhere.

Table Pride Bakery and the Zavich family was a fixture in West Frankfort for many years.

This year relatives return to West Frankfort to retrace their family roots.

16

10 16

An old issue of the Daily American takes on a trip along Main Street in 1903.

No TV? No Internet? No problem. In the 1920’s West Frankfort was bustling with entertainment in a surprising number of theaters.

22

ries

26

Good Living in West Frankfort is a magazine about the people, places and pride of West Frankfort. Our goal is to showcase interesting, unique and previously unpublished stories about the citizens, events and places in our community in a positive manner.

Good Living in West Frankfort provides businesses the choice to advertise in a high-quality full-color venue at affordable prices. This magazine is free to our readers because of those advertisers.

No portion of this publication, including photos and advertisements, may be reproduced in any manner without the expressed consent of Good Life Publications . ©2015 ON THE COVER: Old newspaper ads from the West Frankfort Daily American set the tone for this issue of Good Living in West Frankfort as we examine city life in the 1920’s.

Collage by Michael A. Thomas

20 22

West Frankfort makes headlines big and small across America.

What a place to shop! While we may find Daily American ads from the 1920’s quaint and intersting, they point to a town that claimed to be the ‘best for its size in the state.”

26

Ever heard of a Hupmobile or an Apperson?

How about a Whippet? West Frankfort car dealers were busy in 1923 putting the roar in the Roaring Twenties with some long forgotten models.

Good Living In

West Frankfort A production of

Good Life Publications 309 East Oak Street West Frankfort, IL 62896 Ph: (618) 937-2019 E-mail Contact: GoodLifePublications@Gmail.com Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

5

A Tribute to All Paper Carrriers

Paperboy’s Bad Luck is Ended by Good Deed Bob Ellis (l) has worn many hats during his years in West Frankfort including a stint as mayor of our fair city. Although the Daily American no longer exists, Ellis will always be remembered in his role as Managing Editor of the paper.

(File photo by Michael A. Thomas)

Ed. Note You never hear people say there’s one born every minute. I’m talking about Good Samaritans here, but that may not be entirely true. West Frankfort has had more than its share of them over the years. In 1974, local journalist, Bob Ellis, exemplified the Good Samaritan by reaching out to a young Mt. Vernon boy with a “from the heart” act of kindness that he never expected to be made public. The Mt. Vernon Register News however was so impressed that they featured the incident in their paper. In researching some old newspapers, we were fortunate enough to happen upon the account and we too were impressed. It is a pleasure to share it here, a forty-year-old story, the kind of story that never gets old.

Kevin Edwards, 423 Herbert St., a (Mt. Vernon) Register‑News carrier boy, suffered a stroke of bad luck last week when a bag containing his weekly route collection was stolen from his bike. He estimated the theft at $20 to $30.

But the 11 year‑old learned this week that there really is a silver lining in a dark cloud, when he received a check for $25 from an unexpected source. Bob Ellis, managing editor of the West Frankfort Daily American newspaper.

Ellis had read in The Register‑News of Kevin’s misfortune, and took it upon himself to

make up the loss, and to offer some words of encouragement. The letter Ellis sent to Kevin with the check follows:

Dear Kevin, What happened to you while delivering your papers Friday was most unfortunate. As you grow older you will learn that there are such people in the world. However, you mustn’t be discouraged. I assure you that for every thief there are a thousand people with hearts full of Christian charity. We live in a nation of good, not evil.

Every day you deliver newspapers which bellow an anguished cry of violence and death in the nation and world. That is the nature of the business; so don’t let your personal misfortune lead you to a pessimistic view of life.

The fact that you have the initiative to deliver papers, a most difficult way to make money, speaks well for your character. Many great men in this nation, presidents not excluded, have begun

Merry Christmas • Hand Engraved Glassware • Custom Jewelry • Personalized Wedding Gifts • Pre-Engraved Items • Pet Memorials

6

Good Living in

their business careers in similar fashion.

It is an honorable effort.

You see, Kevin, the simplicity of truth is that honesty and hard work will pay off. Put to a mathematical formula, it reads—H plus HW equals I. (Honesty plus hard work equal integrity.)

The enclosed check is not meant as a charitable overture. I hope you will accept it as a token of my apprecia­tion for the contributions that people like you make to my profession. Accept it, on behalf of all paperboys, as a thank you from the fellas who print them, before you take them out, in all types of weather, to the most important guy in the world— our customer.

Respectfully, Bob. Ellis Managing Editor Daily American Newspaper West Frankfort, Illinois

from

16498 Mine 25 Road • Ph: (618) 932-3035

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

Coming Home

Zavich Family Retraces WF Roots

Above: members for ashot Zavich Zavich Family Family members pose forpose a group group shot at Max Morris Gym where brothers at Max Morris Gym where brothers Vlado and Vlado and Vello Zavich played in the 1950’s.

Vello Zavich played in the 1950’s.

Right: Vlado Zavich studies his team picture in the lobby of Max Morris Gym.

T

By Gail Rissi Thomas he last 4th of July dawned bright and sunny, a beautiful day to go time traveling. In Town and Country, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, approximately 40 members of the Zavich family were boarding a chartered bus for West Frankfort, a day of family fellowship and a journey through more than seventy years of memories.

Vlado Zavich, the oldest son of Pete and Joann Zavich had planned the trip down to the last perfect detail. It had long been his dream to bring the family’s children and grandchildren, along with his four living siblings back to West Frankfort, where his parents settled, raised their family and established the long successful Table Pride Bakery, a pillar of the community which supported their five children and became known and loved throughout Southern Illinois.

The Zavich Family were immigrants from Yugoslavia. That itself was an accomplishment fraught with delays and uncertainties. . Pete was the first to follow his own father to America; however. It was 1839, and he came alone, unable to get permis-

Photos by Michael A. Thomas

sion for his wife and two sons to accompany him. It was 1948 before his wife was granted passage and then could only bring one son. She chose Vlado, the older of the two, fearful that he may be drawn into military service if the aftermath of WWII brought unforeseen events and not knowing how long it would take before her last child could leave Yugoslavia. Vlado would be at an age where he might be more vulnerable to being drawn into service in the aftermath of WWII. In 1948, Pete’s wife followed, leaving Vello in Yugoslavia with her sister for two years. Vello made the trip alone, an 11-year old boy, traveling from Yugoslavia to America, meeting a father that he didn’t remember, who had not seen him since he was a baby. A sign that Vello wore and a Yugoslavian beret aided them in finding one another at the airport.

Three daughters were born in America, Vida, Vera and Nancy. Vida Zavich relates the story of establishing their life in West Frankfort, as well as the trip back to rediscover those roots. “The first thing my dad did was to change his last name from Zdravkovich to Zavich,” she laughs.

“It was just too many letters to work for a business. My brothers both wanted to play

basketball, and imagine trying to announce a high school basketball game with a player on the team named Vlado Zdravkovich.”

Both boys were successful athletes, playing on some of FCHS’ most successful basketball teams, instrumental in helping to lead them to state competition. A photograph of their team still hangs in the lobby of Max Morris Gymnasium. Both brothers were awarded basketball scholarships to Southwest Louisiana Institute in Lafayette, and both became engineers at McDonnell Douglas in St Louis. Vello passed away several years ago and Vlado, now retired, is still a consultant at Boeing Aircraft in St. Louis.

“I really wonder how they did it,” Vida says now. “Neither of them spoke any English at all. Of course it was the same with us girls, even though we were born here,” Vida adds. “I started kindergarten not knowing any English. We didn’t speak English at home. I guess just playing and being with other kids, we got by, just like a lot of others have before us and after us.”

In spite of the language, cultural barriers, and meager beginnings, Table Pride Bakery was hugely successful. “The story is that when Dad wanted to open the business, he

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

7

Merry Christmas from

Aaron and Amanda Hopkins and The Law Office of Aaron M. Hopkins

Aaron M. Hopkins Attorney and Counselor at Law GENERAL PRACTICE

402 East Main Street • West Frankfort, IL 62896 DUI Family Law Criminal Law 15 Years Experience Driverʼs License Reinstatement

618.932.3900 fax: 618.937.3182

hoplaw1@gmail.com

www.aaronhopkinslaw.com

Residential • Commercial • Land • Lake Serving ALL of Franklin County for over 40 years!

Michael Crites Broker 927-7145

Sandy Russell Broker 218-6985

Tany Steckenrider Broker 927-1176

Angela Brown Broker 922-4039

Roger RaubachBroker 937-3757

1301 W. Main • West Frankfort, IL 62896 Ph: (618) 937-4029

Wishing You and Yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year David McCollum Managing Broker 218-3700 www.mccollumrealestate.com

8

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

Lynette Ing Broker 215-1989

Frank Grounds Broker 218-5575

Terrie Morris Broker 927-5531

Cheryl Leadingham Broker 218-3587

Pam Tippett Broker 246-3946

811 N. Main • Benton, IL 62812 Ph: (618) 435-5531

went to Detroit for help from friends and relatives who had settled there,” says Vida.

“Supposedly he came back with $120,000 and a pistol in a brown paper sack. I don’t know about the pistol,” Vida says, “but I know he returned home with the money he needed. He had everyone paid back in about 5 years.”

At one time, during its peak, the bakery sold over 4,000 loaves of sliced, wrapped bread a day, employed over 30 people and ran about 10 delivery trucks to area towns.

In addition, they sold several hundred loaves of French bread and became locally famous for pastries such as brownies, cakes, breakfast pastries and cream horns that older residents still talk about today.

“Pete was definitely chasing the American Dream,” Vida says. “My dad always wanted to come to America and own a Cadillac.

He did that. He owned two Cadillacs in his lifetime. He wanted a Zenith television when he first saw one. He did that too.

Many times he bought Zenith TVs from Waltons’ TV in West Frankfort.”

So on July 4, of this year, Pete’s son, Vlado fulfilled one of his own dreams, to bring his family back to the community where the dreams of his father were realized. He set the date long in advance, chartered a bus, gathered the family and headed south to West Frankfort. It seemed only appropriate that the community he loved should welcome him home, so a small reception was planned in honor of the Zavich Family. Darla Patterson, who had just opened her business, fittingly a bakery on Main Street, offered it as a meeting place, and word of mouth along with notices on Facebook brought approximately 30 residents, old friends and local historians to welcome “The Table Pride Bakery people.” Refreshments were served, pictures taken, and memories exchanged. Vlado led a contingent of siblings, grandchildren, nieces and nephews on a two-block walk up Main Street to the site of the old bakery across from the post office, where he pointed out points of interest and told stories.

No trip to West Frankfort would be complete without a visit to Max Morris Gymnasium, where Redbird Athletic Director, Richard Glodich was on hand to open the doors for the family to get an up close and personal view of the venue where Vlado and his brother Vello were local basketball stars. That visit became even more personal when relatives found the photo of the team on which they had played in the lobby and the pennant recognizing that team’s

trip to the state tournament in Champaign still hanging high above the gym floor. “It was a wonderful moment for Vlado,” Vida says. “The kids were really impressed, and you could almost hear some of them gasp in surprise when they saw the splendor of that beautiful Max Morris Gym where Grandpa had played ball.”

Siblings Vlado Zavich, Vida Zavich, Vera Geiger, Nancy Jovcevski pose for a picture outside the Main Street Bakery & Mercantile.

Not pictured is brother, Vello Zavich, who died Oct., 2010.

The journey continued its way around town to other important historic sites, such as the old homestead at 1408 East Oak, a tour of that neighborhood and past the site of the old Lincoln School that they all attended, now replaced by houses. The bus took them to the next planned stop, the West Frankfort Community Park, where they had reserved a shelter to enjoy an ample picnic lunch, planned in advance. The adults enjoyed the beautiful day and reminisced again while the kids were delighted to expend some of their pent-up energy on the awesome play-

ground. They were met there by old friends who brought cream horns, still made from the old Table Pride recipe and distributed

by Town Bakery in Herrin to several businesses in West Frankfort.

After lunching and visiting for over an hour or so, the bus was loaded again and began its way back to St. Louis, but not without first making stops in Zeigler, Christopher, Johnston City and Valier at the sites of former businesses owned at times by their father and grandfather. A short side trip to Marion made a stop at the gravesite of the parents of Vlado’s wife.

It was nearly 8:30 that night when the weary travelers pulled back into their starting place at Town and Country. “What a wonderful day,” Vida says. “You know, Vlado was so prepared. He told stories after stories all the way there and all the way back.

He shared every memory. He really wanted to make the kids feel the appreciation for how our parents worked and suffered to provide for all of us the values and the life that they gave us. The highlight of the whole day, according to Vida was a midday trip to the Heights Cemetery, where the bus wound its way along the narrow, curving road stopping near a granite stone engraved with the name, Zavich. When the passengers disembarked, they walked the short distance and gathered around the graves of Pete, Joann and Vello.

“Well Mom and Dad,” Vlado said. “Here is your family.

Wishing the Blessings of the Season to the West Frankfort Community

604 E. Main Street •

Parker - Reedy Funeral Home • (618) 932-6500 Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

9

A Trip Through Frankfort 1903

Editor’s Note: Researching local history is labor intensive with unpredictable results. You can search details of a family or a community event for days or even months, with no success. Then, at times, a treasure trove of facts and memories falls in your lap when you least expect it. Naturally, those times are few and far between, but that is what happened a couple of months ago when Good Life Publications became the fortunate recipient of some successful digging by local resident and talented historian, Lois Short Short may not be known, even to all of her friends as a historian. But for no reason, other than her love of history, she has preserved and recorded in minute detail many of the most prominent incidents in West Frankfort’s past. Her work has been exhaustive, and she has generously shared much of it with us, that we have in turn shared with our readers. That is why when she came upon this volume of work from a l924 issue of the Daily American (left), she knew that Michael and I would not only treasure it, but also be eager to share it with the community. Much of this issue is dedicated to her efforts. Much of the detailed description has been edited out, due to lack of space.

Remember that while this writing is taken from a paper printed in 1924, it is actually describing the town as it looked in 1903.

While we have taken the most relevant parts of the story for this article, Walter Collins reprinted the entire account in his book “The Report of The History Committee” available at the Public Library.

10

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

The Daily American, Wed., December 24, 1924

TODAY IS OUR TWENTY FIRST BIRTHDAY: “Trip through Frankfort” Reveals Business Houses Here Twenty One Years Ago As we come in from the east, we see that popular butcher, Lee Dorris, of meats, sausages, etc., ready to serve to his many customers, good meats, good weights and courteous service.

Next on our trip, we found the new clothing store of C. A. Murphy, where may be found at all times a complete stock of gent’s furnishing goods at reasonable prices. Just across the street, we see the old, reliable Dr. Rotramel, with a full line of drugs, stationary, etc. He receives a liberal patronage as a physician and a good trade as a druggist.

Next we come to W. S. Dorris’ General Merchandise Store in the Odd Fellows’ Building, where we find an abundance of

goods, attentive clerks and an air of prosperity and good business. Just to the north is the post office. Here too is located the stationary store of John A. Coleman. Mr. Coleman is also the able representative of the German Insurance Co., of Freeport, Ill., and does an extensive business.

Across the street is the livery and feed stable of W. S. Dorris where good rigs, gentle horses and attentive drivers insure him an extensive and liberal patronage. Just to the south is the livery and feed stable of Throop Bros., who do an encouraging business.

Back on Main Street again, we stop in and take dinner with John Cabaness at the East Side Hotel, where we find everything up-to-date. Then we come to Rain’s Barbershop, where we find Clarence Rain and William Clark busy at their chairs. Next door is the Senate Saloon, where a fine line of liquors, cigars, etc., are constantly kept

on hand. The proprietor is George Moore.

We find L. R. Martin very busy with the duties of his restaurant. Next on the west is the Glad Hand Saloon, now owned and controlled by Chas E. McCullum.

On the other side of the street is the Mammoth dry goods and general merchandise store of Brugess and Dorris. Hard by we see workmen busily engaged in erecting an immense, modern, two-story brick business block for J. L. Smith. This will be a great improvement to the town and will be filled with business enterprises as soon as completed. Crossing the street, we find G. D. Dimmick with a good stock of fancy and staple groceries, also an immense line of wagons, buggies, farming implements, coffins, etc. He also deals extensively in livestock. Next door is Citizen’s Bank, a solid banking institution, doing an extremely satisfactory business. Here we meet L. P. Blake, the cashier, who by the

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015 11

way, is also president of the West Frankfort Concert Band.

Further down the street we find the new general store of Richardson and Boner with a full stock of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes. Just south we come to the blacksmith shop of S. W. Parrish. Next we see the large general store of Rotramel, Gardner and Grimes, recently purchased from J P. Robertson. Next we enter the office of Dr. J. T. Harris, one of the oldest and most respected gentlemen of the town as well as

of J. R. Parrish. We now enter the store of Murphy and Jordan, where is found a complete stock of general merchandise. Going south down the railroad, we come to the large sawmill owned and operated by Chas Weaver. Mr. Weaver owns an immense quantity of lumber, which by the way, is one of the most needed articles in Frankfort at present. The rapid growth of the town requires an enormous amount of building material.

Thus our trip is finished and we are

well pleased with what we saw. The sun shines bright on Frankfort’s future. With the opening of the coal mines, which is not far distant, we will experience a healthy and substantial boom that will startle even our “oldest inhabitant.” Our city is even now steadily growing which is evidenced by the large number of houses in course of construction. Frankfort will soon be a city clad in the brilliant apparel of abundant prosperity.

“Frankfort will soon be a city clad in the brilliant apparel of abundant prosperity.” one of the best doctors in the county. Next door is the millinery shop of Miss Flora Mosley, who handles a full line of everything that is up to date in millinery.

Then we come to the restaurant known as “the Pharis Place.” The proprietor, W. E. Pharis is just recovering from a serious illness, during which time the restaurant has been closed. Close by is the barbershop of Jerry Arms. Mr. Arms is an old soldier.

Next the Union Meat Market owned by C. L. Leming with a line of meats and sausage. Next is J. R. Dorris’ Saloon, where a full line of fine wines and whiskeys are constantly kept on hand. Turning north, we come to Lee Girten, an experienced tinner, who can make anything from a hinge to a heater. Further north we come to the mammoth lumberyard of J. I. Smith. Next we come to the Frankfort Roller Mills, where lots of good wheat is made into good flour.

We meet Dr. Chas Summers on the north side of the street.

Crossing to the west of the railroad, we come to the large general merchandise store of T. A. Henson. Further on we come to the Majestic Saloon owned by E. L. Matthews.

Just on the west is the large hardware store of B. F. Murphy. Where everything in the hardware and furniture line can be found.

Next on the east we come to The Wright House, where weary travelers can find rest and enjoyment, good meals, comfortable beds and a pleasant landlord. Mr. Wright also owns and controls the large general store to the east of the hotel.

We now come to the big clothing store of D. Goldstone, where we find a full stock of clothing, gents furnishings, ladies’ jackets, furs, notions, etc. Next is the feed store of W. Osteen. We now come to the shoe and harness shop of Wm Campbell, where all kinds of leather repairing are quickly and satisfactorily done. Next is the barbershop

12

Good Living in

May The

Joys of the Season be wiTh you.

Hours:

Tues-Fri 9-5 saTurday 9-3

piano & organ cenTer during The holidays, we like To Take a MoMenT To Thank Those who MaTTer MosT: our cusToMers— pasT, presenT and FuTure.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Attorney At Law Since 1974

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

herrin, illinois

(618) 942-5115 www.baldwinofherrin.com

(618) 937-2404

226 East Main • West Frankfort, IL

Today might be termed a birthday for The Daily American. The first issue of the paper, which at that time was a weekly, was published on the 18th day of December 1903. The plant was then located in the small frame building on North Anna street, which is standing today just to the southwest of the Logan McFarland Building on West Main Street. The old frame stable building that stood next to the American Building on the south also yet stands on North Anna Street. The Daily American is indebted to the genial R. P. Blake, president of the First National Bank, for a copy of the first issue of the Weekly American. He has kept it safely filed away in the vault of the bank since that day in 1903. The paper is somewhat faded with age and yet in a fair state of preservation, and in order to obtain this copy in order to get a few items for publication in our paper today as they occurred at that time, we had to be sworn, obligated and agreed to sign all our relatives property rights away if we failed to return it to the bank vaults where it has rested in peace all these 21 years. The paper was a 6 column folio—4 pages all set by hand; half of it being published at Benton and the other half at West Frankfort where an old fashioned Washington hand press was used for the purpose. A. E. Martin, the present editor of the Benton Standard, was the publisher.

An article in the first issue, under the caption, “A Trip Through Frankfort” first appeared in that issue, but among the “new items” we find in that article are the following: The coal shaft will soon be completed, it being only a number of days now before coal is mined.

The band is soon to present “A Soldier of Fortune,” a military drama. The public should assist the boys by their attendance.

Wm Pharis and his wife have been sick for the past few weeks and are on the road to recovery. —(Editor’s note 1924) Billy and wife, at that time lived in a frame building on the corner where the Burg Store now is located. Billie conducted a cheese and cracker joint below in the same building, and the boys of that day said that he could cut a Limburger cheese sandwich so thin

that you could not smell the cheese on the knife blade. The pr4esent editor of the Daily American can vouch for the truthfulness of this statement, for we lived here at the time and bought some of the cheese.

W. B. Crawford is in Plumfield conducting a clothing sale.

A coal miners’ union is to be organized in Frankfort in the near future.

Mr. Joseph Moore and Miss Della Wright were married earlier this week.

C. L. Leming has purchased the meat market formerly owned by Mr. Lee Rice.

The revival meetings which have been in progress, closed last Sunday with about 30 conversions. Elders Poole and McClintock conducted the revival.

Prediction of West Frankfort’s future attainment of the position that it now holds as “the nation’s coal bucket” appears in the first copy of the American in an article headed, “Nearing Completion.” Work on the shaft of the Frankfort Big Muddy Coal and Coke Company will be completed very soon. The mine referred to in the article which reads as follows is the present (1924) Mine No. 19. (Industrial coal Co. Number Eleven.) Work on the shaft of the Frankfort Big Muddy Coal Co. is fast reaching completion, having reached a depth of about four hundred and forty feet.

When down four hundred feet, a layer of soft slate was struck and the task of excavating was greatly lessened for about thirty-two feet, when a vein of very hard rock was struck, which impeded the progress

and it was found necessary to again lower the steam drill. The hard rock has been passed and the workmen are again in soft slate. The managers are quite hopeful that fifteen or twenty more days will let them to the long looked-for black diamonds, when all the whistles will lose their manners, bells will cease to be silent and the whole countryside will be ablaze with glory.

SALUTATORY: This morning we present for the people of West Frankfort and vicinity, Volume 1, Number 1 of the FRANKFORT AMERICAN. THE AMERICAN is a non-partisan newspaper and is launched for the purpose of giving the people of West Frankfort and the southern part of Franklin County the news, regardless of party or creed. THE AMERICAN stands for the advancement of West Frankfort in particular and Franklin County in general.

The subscription price has been placed within reach of all—50 cents a year—and we respectfully invite all into whose hands this number may fall to closely examine THE AMERICAN, and if they think it is worth the price asked, come in—let us enroll you as a regular subscriber. It is truly a home paper.

The latchstring in our office, which is located in the Bowling building, west of the railroad, is always hanging on the outside, and our friends are invited to call and see us.

Respectfully, A. E. Martin, Publisher

Santa Knows Where To Find...

• Clocks • Bridal Sets • Jewelry Repairs • Diamond Earrings • Diamond Pendants • Seiko & Pulsar Watches • Authentic Venetian Glass Jewelry

JEWELERS

Since 1948

128 East Main Street • West Frankfort Ph: 618-932-2210

STORE HOURS: M-F 9AM - 4PM Additional hours available by appointment Ph: 618-923-2889 Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015 13

How about Professional Chiropractic Care instead of General.

Also remove the Health and welless Program and add- Now doing CDL/DOT Medical Exams

Nolen

Chiropractic Clinic

Happy Holidays from

The Nolen Gang

Everybody’s Hometown Bank Johnston City, 1012 W. Broadway (618) 983-8433 Thompsonville, 21394 Shawneetown Rd. (618) 627-4400 West Frankfort, 404 S. Logan (618) 932-8536 Zeigler, 202 N. Christopher Rd. (618) 596-8028 www.southernillinoisbank.com

Member FDIC

14

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

Equal Housing

Lender

Professional Chiropractic Care Now doing CDL/DOT Medical Exams

937- 4164

107 S. Van Buren • West Frankfort, IL

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from

E. R. Brown Furniture

Bottom row l-r: Kyle Brown, Jane Brown, and Matt Brown. Top Row: Terri Brown, Sloan Brown, Andy Brown and Molly Brown.

401 E. Main West Frankfort Hours: Mon-Sat 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

(618) 932-2012

Merry Christmas ”& Happy New Year

Sandy’s Flowers & Gifts

New! • Copper Leaf Jellies & Sauces New! • Fannie May Candy

• Keeper of the Light Candles • Wind & Willow • Gifts for all Ages • Personalized Ornaments • Christmas Cemetery Silks

“When You Think of Flowers...Think of Ours” Hours: 8-4 Mon-Fri • 8-12 Saturday

105 S. Gardner • West Frankfort, IL 937-4561

Merry Christmas &

Happy New Year

OPEN for the Holidays McDonald’s of

West Frankfort, West City, Herrin, McLeansboro, Johnston City, Marion, Carterville, Harrisburg, Fairfield, & Albion, Il Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015 15

With several theaters featuring films, plays, animal acts and sporting events, West Frankfort residents found plenty of ways to be entertained.

A

By Gail Rissi Thomas s the mining industry developed, and the population of West Frankfort grew rapidly, it was inevitable that the town would become not only a center for shopping and industry, but for entertainment as well. Restaurants, both of the friendly cafĂŠ and the fine dining variety cropped up from Frankfort Heights to the western edge of the city limits.

One of the facts that many residents find the hardest to imagine is that West Frankfort at various times supported at least eight different movie theaters. It is hard to know when each of the theaters were established and obviously the existence of many of them overlapped.

16

Good Living in

The Rex - The Rex Theater, located across from the post office on East Main closed sometime in the early Thirties. You could watch a double feature for only a nickel. Carletto Bernadoni opened it as the Rex Beer Parlour, using only the concession area in the front some time before 1935. All the seats and the screen were left as it had been when it was used as a theater. When the Beer Parlour closed, it was reopened as The Roxy, and was still operating in the Fifties.

The Family Theater- It is possible that the Family Theater in Frankfort Heights was one of the earliest if not the first to be opened. Etheredge Tharp, now a resident of Christopher has shared many memories of the early days of West Frank-

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

fort, giving us valuable information. The family theater was a thriving movie house for several years, and Tharp recalls being hired with a couple of friends to assemble the seats for the theater when he was only a young boy. Since Tharp was born in 1910 and is approaching his 106th birthday, we can only assume the theater must have been opened in about 1920. “My uncle owned the theater and promised that if I would get some friends together and put together all the seats, he would pay us in free passes.

Well it seems now like we worked forever,” Tharp says. “ I think maybe a got a free pass when we were done,” he laughs.

James Carrier, author of several of his own books about West Frankfort, recalls going to the silent movies at the Family Theater. “The piano would play, and as the words came across the screen, we would all read them together at the top of our voices. That’s probably how all the little kids learned to read.”

Paul Minton was one of the piano players at Family Theater.

Dora. My mother had died when I was very young, and the lady who took care of me would take us to the theater, which was no longer in use at the time. We used to have a great time playing in the big old empty building, running up and down the aisles, shouting from the balcony and acting out on the stage. I don’t know when the building was torn down, but his house was on the east side of the street about a block away, where Worden meets Taft. The house still stands today.”

The Lyric is described as a picture show

near the corner of East Main and Sunnys-

lope Streets at approximately 1800 block of East Main Street. It was in existence about 1920

Liberty – The Liberty, we believe from

the few sketchy details that exist, opened January 2, 1919 at the corner of South Jefferson and East Main. This location sounds as if it were very close to the Rex, which may have opened at about that time, but we have no way of confirming that information.

Airdome - “The History of West Frank-

Wishing You The Warmth of Christmas

The Old Opera House -: The Old Op-

era House was located in the second story of The Pharis Building. Opened some time before 1916, it was used for all purposes: movies, traveling shows, civic gatherings and even the earliest services of St. John’s Catholic Church. During the Twenties, “Merry Maker” dances, perhaps marathon dances, were held almost every weekend.

Marathon dances, where couples entered to win a small cash prize or a trophy if they were the last couple on the floor, could last anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days.

Live Music Every Sunday

4861 Spillway Road Carbondale, IL 62901 (618) 549-5517 Fri - Sun Noon - 6pm

Daily Specials Mon. Mostaccioli

The Grand- The Grand Theater was

Penne noodles w/Kelly’s own sauce,small salad and garlic breadstick. $5.54

located on the southeast corner of Emma and Main, actually in the same block and at about the same time as the Rex.

Home Theater – Lifelong resident of West Frankfort, Zella Spani is the only person I know who remembers anything about Home Theater, and even her knowledge of it was after it had closed. The Home Theater was located in about the 500 block of Taft Street. “The theater was owned by Dr. Koonce,” Zella remembers. “He lived about a block away from where he built the theater. He had 12 children, as I recall from two different marriages. His first wife had died. In about 1928, when I was about 11 years old, I was friends with his daughter,

Tues. Loaded Potato

The Friendly Little Market on The Hill

1720 East Main West Frankfort (618) 937- 4921 Mon - Sat 5 AM to 9 PM / Sunday 5 AM to 8 PM

Owners: Kelly & Eric Kirk • GROCERY • DELI MEATS and CHEESES

CATERING SERVICES AVAILABLE ORDER EARLY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Call-in Orders Always Welcome Lunchtime Delivery Available M-F 11-1

Served hot with butter, cheese sauce, bacon, sour cream and chives. $4.62

Wed. Taco Salad Seasoned ground beef over tortilla chips with all the usual goodies! $4.62/$6.47

Thur. Italian Beef Slowly cooked in au jus with thinly sliced onions, green peppers & seasonings. $4.62

Fri. Pulled Pork BBQ Extra tender pork loin with Kelly’s special sweet and tangy BBQ sauce. $2.77

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015 17

fort mentions two “airdomes” which for a time, before the advent of air-conditioned theaters, provided outdoor theater entertainment. One was located at East Oak and South Emma Streets. Mrs. Bess Fleming Hill remembers playaing piano for a while at another airdome at 218 East Main, In winter, they moved to the Opera House in the upstairs of the Pharis Building.

The Majesstic / The State –The State

Theater—which many of us remember on the West Side of Town next to Glodich Honda—was originally The Majestic. Although it seemed the least “majestic” of the three theaters that existed in more recent history, in its heyday the Majestic was a booming center of entertainment, not only featuring the leading movies and double feature matinees, but vaudeville acts, magicians, and all types of traveling shows.

We know that it existed in 1925, because Charles Bernadoni tells us that his father, Carletto Bernadoni owned it during the tornado of 1925. On the day of the tornado they had a visiting vaudeville act that used mules in the show. The mules were out back, but when the tornado came through, somehow it blew two of the mules to the roof of the building. They had to use block and tackle to get them down.

The Strand - In 1919 a group of six businessmen formed the West Frankfort Amusement Company and purchased both

the Strand and the Rex. The Strand had seating for 850 and the Rex/Roxy 650.

The Strand’s elegant décor and top quality entertainment brought in patrons from all over Southern Illinois.

While many theaters employed a single piano or organ player to create background music for silent films, the Strand used a live theater orchestra.

Several ads from the 1923 Daily American mention live music at the Strand

by Barber’s Orchestra.

George Barber, who may have owned or been employed by a piano dealer in town, served as director of the orchestra.

The Strand was the last remaining theater in West Frankfort. Located at the present location of The Strand Park on East Main, it had its heyday from the 1930’s to the 1960’s. It was demolished by the city after years of neglect made it a health and safety hazard.

Actors who became stars of silent movies were no different than the movie stars of today in their fame, popularity and an almost guaranteed box-office draw. Charlie Chaplin, Lillian Gish, Harold Lloyd and others soon became household names. Pola

Negri (bottom left) was a Polish immigrant who ended up becoming one of the most popular Hollywood actresses of the silent film era and certainly the richest woman of the film industry at the time. She lived in a mansion in Los Angeles modeled after the White House. While in Hollywood, she started several ladies’ fashion trends, some of which are still fashion staples today, including red painted toenails, fur boots, and turbans.

“Mysterious” Smith (above left) was one of several mentalists/ magicians who traveled the country. Smith and his troupe would play in moderate size towns for a week at a time and his show in 1923 was well publicized by the Daily American with large ads. His publicity stunt was a coffin escape. He wife and chief assistant, as Madame Olga, did a mentalism act in the show.

The Mysterious Smith’s last performance was in Nashville, Tennessee in 1942. He had done in his lifetime 28,800 public performances in 42 states and traveled around the world twice. He died in St. Petersburg, Florida. (source Magicpedia)

(Below) Theaters in West Frankfort also featured vaudeville and magic acts as well as sporting events such as boxing or wrestling. In 1920 the Pharis Opera House held a boxing match between Jimmy “One Punch” Kaid of West Frankfort and “Cyclone”Brodsky of Chicago. Kaid won the match in three rounds after the referee stopped the fight. It is not known if either of the wrestlers pictured above were local boys.

18

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

Happy Holidays From The Friendly Staff at

Ramey Insurance

Top Row: Danny Ramey • Cheryl Tindall • Jim Johnson • Bethanne Chance Bottom Row: Cathy Short • Corine Ramey • Karissa Borowiec

www.rameyinsurance.net

(618) 932-2730 110 North Logan West Frankfort, IL 62896 Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015 19

IN THE NEWS

Stories That Made West Frankfort Famous In Other Places

W

By Gail Rissi Thomas est Frankfort was a fascinating town dur-

ing its boom years. Progress and growth occurred rapidly, earning it a reputation as a place to go for shopping, entertainment and business opportunities. During certain periods, it also earned it the infamous notoriety as a rough and rowdy city where lawlessness and even danger prevailed. Even after the Italian/American race riots were a distant memory, that image of a “tough town” remained. Perhaps that is why any news of West Frankfort, regardless of how trivial it was, seemed to be worth reprinting.

Probably the main reason that news of this community was so wide spread, was that we had a thriving newspaper, “The Daily American,” and even “The Frankfort American,” a weekly, before that. Associated Press was a driving force, and if they picked up a newsworthy, interesting or even humorous story from the Daily American, it may be printed from coast to coast, sharing it with readers from California to New York before it was laid to rest.

For example, we stumbled across these articles in the following publications: The Daily Journal Gazette, Mattoon, Ill. November 21, 1931 WOMEN’S FASHION SHOP AT WEST FRANKRFORT RAIDED. Mrs. Sam Arsht, proprietor of the Fashion Shop, one of the largest women’s ready to wear stores in Southern Illinois, is today wondering what became of $5,500 worth of her stock stolen last night. The loss includes 36 fur coats, all the silk dresses and the Christmas stock of hosiery, lingerie and kid gloves. Southern Illinois police are engaged in an effort to locate the stolen property.

20

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

The Daily Free Press, Carbondale, Ill. December 3, 1926 GANG BURNS ROAD HOUSE IN FRANKLIN CO. The hamburger joint and filling station known as “George’s Place” just south of the roadhouse that was burned on Route 37 between West Frankfort and Johnston City is no more. It went the way of its more prosperous neighbor this morning long before daylight. According to reports, a gang of men, presumably one of the Birger or Shelton outfits, passed the roadhouse early this morning and fired a volley of shots into the building. An hour or so later, they returned and set fire to the little shed- like structure and were seen no more. So far as can be learned, the proprietor of the place has never had any affiliation with the Williamson County gangsters.

John and Fred Wharry of West Frankfort left home early this morning on a hunting trip. They drove through Marion, and about a mile and a half west of the city, the lights on their car went out causing them to run into a ditch at the side of the road. While they were trying to get their car out of the mud, two other cars bearing 12 men, all armed to the teeth, stopped. The late comers questioned the two men as to what business they could have out on the road at such an hour of the morning, and after satisfying themselves that the men were not dangerous, they helped to get their mired car back on the road, apologized for any rudeness they had shown, admitted they were of the Birger gang and went on their way.

One of the interesting factors about the newspaper accounts of some of the more bizarre incidents, such as the Italian/American race riots that made their way through the press to distant parts of the country is the discrepancy they seemed to bear to the actual facts, at least as far as we can trust what we think we know. Those riots, incited by a love

triangle in which two young men were killed did go on in the streets of West Frankfort for nearly a week. And while it is true that “armed bands of men roamed the streets, buildings were burned and anarchy prevailed the stories were reported with exaggeration that seemed to dramatize the situation.

The Daily Republican, Belvidere, lll.

August 6, 1920 ILLINOIS MINING TOWN IN STATE OF ANARCHY AND RIOT “Seven are dead, 65 wounded, the foreign section of West Frankfort, a Franklin County mining town a mass of glowing embers, and mob of 5,000 controlled the municipal government, as state militia was expected momentarily to arrive.

The outbreak occurred following the finding of the two mutilated bodies of two boys who had been brutally murdered.

All roads to West Frankfort were crowded with armed men rushing to join the mob.

The mob began burning the homes of foreigners at about 11 O’clock last night. They disarmed all authorities, seized telegraph and telephone lines and established a censorship to prevent news of their activity from reaching the outside world. One of the dead was a Valier, Illinois photographer who was trampled to death as he attempted to take pictures of the mob in action. Every house in Frankfort Heights, the foreign establishment was destroyed, while homes of foreigners in other parts of the city were set on fire. ….”

Undoubtedly, some of the description in this article is true, some is close to the truth, and some is very questionable. We have never found a local account of a Valier photographer being trampled to death or of every house in Frankfort Heights being destroyed. Nevertheless, this same article appeared in the Morning Register in Eugene, Oregon, as well as similar accounts in New York and California papers. West Frankfort was the big news of the day.

Merry Christmas SEVERIN GARDEN CENTER, INC LANDSCAPING

TREES • SHRUBS • EVERGREENS SHRUB TRIMMING • SPRAYING “CALL THE PROFESSIONALS”

721 NORTH GARDNER STREET WEST FRANKFORT, IL 62896

DALE & PEGGY SEVERIN PHONE: (618) 932-3017

The Daily Review, Decatur, Ill. January 25, 1943 WEST FRANKFORT HOTEL DESTROYED BY FIRE The Commercial Hotel and two adjoining business rooms occupied by The West Frankfort Mercantile Co., were destroyed yesterday by fire of undetermined origin. Several hotel guests were injured when they jumped from second story windows.

On the lighter side, I found this exact story in 13 different newspapers coast to coast before I quit counting.

The Daily Notes, Canonsburg, PA April 23, 1952 West Frankfort, Ill. UP FIRE DESTROYS DOGHOUSE A fire in a doghouse brought out West Frankfort firefighters at 2 a.m. Their report: cause unknown, house destroyed. $10 damage and occupant escaped injury.

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015 21

We’ve Got The Goods n 1923, shopping in West Frankfort was a very different experience than we find today.

While today we have still have many fine stores in town, we do not have the rich diversity that our citizens had available to them 82 years ago. Browsing through the advertisements of the Daily American one sees a town with an amazing array of businesses and for good reason. The payroll from just coal mining put over $325,000 into the economy every 2 weeks. That amounts to about $4.5 million in today’s dollars. No wonder the Daily American touted West Frankfort as “the best town for its size in the state.”

I

22

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015 23

Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays

and

Happy New Year

Linda Hogan, Shannon Browning, Kert Williams, Gay Morton and Coltun Williams

Personal Injury and Death Cases 800-917-1771 618-932-2772 618-937-2662

P.O. Box 280 • 115 East Main Street • West Frankfort, IL 62896

FOR SALE

937-3124

A Unique collection of Purses, Jewelry, Collectibles and more!

119 E. Main West Frankfort, IL 62896

Insurance A Puzzle For You?

Let us solve your insurance puzzle for you.

We’ve been solving them since 1982!

Paul Lawrence Insurance 305 E. Broadway, PO Box 118 • Johnston City, IL 62951

(618) 983-6953 e-mail: paul.lawrence.by9j@statefarm.com

Have A Merry Christmas and A Safe New Year 24

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

outside. The newspaper also awarded two “Baby Overlands” as prizes to two other lucky contestants.

The Overland / Willys / Whippet

This Apperson was similiar to one given away by the Daily American in 1923.

I

By Michael A. Thomas t didn’t take long for America’s love affair with automobile to take full hold across the country. Henry Ford built his first car in 1896 and introduced his very affordable Model T Ford to the common workingman in 1908. It wasn’t long afterwards that automobile manufacturers sprang up in city after city, hoping to cash in on Ford’s success. By the 1920’s there were dozens of Ford-wannabes trying to stake their claim that their auto was better, faster, safer and more luxurious than the Model T. West Frankfort was not immune to this phenomenon; in fact, it was a microcosm of what was taking place in American cities big and small. One only has to peruse the back issues of the West Frankfort Daily American to discover that the citizens of this fair city had several local choices when it came time purchase a new car. At least 10 car, truck or motorcycle dealers were active in West Frankfort during this time period.

When possible, we can pinpoint their exact location, but several ads only mention locations on ‘West Main Street’ or ‘East Main Street’. All ads relating to this article were taken from West Frankfort Daily American newspapers published in 1923.

The Apperson was produced in Kokomo, Indiana, from 1902 to 1926 and as the

Photo Wiki Photos

above ad bears testament, the West Frankfort Daily American deemed the vehicle worthy of ‘Grand Capital Prize’ status in a contest designed to garner subscribers to the newspaper. Participants were urged to view the car at Bagley & Malandrone Garage, 405 West Main Street.

After several weeks of promotions (and hopefully adding several new subscribers) the Daily American awarded the car to Herbert Anderson, “ crippled son of Alderman U.S. Anderson, now recovering from a recent operation at Union Hospital.” The paper further reports that Anderson was so excited about winning the car that he asked the nurse to remove 2 beds from his ward in order that he might more easily gaze out his window and view the new car parked

As competition in the automobile industry grew, it became painfully obvious that some manufacturers were better situated to withstand competition and the effects of the Great Depression of 1929. Some didn’t even survive that long. In 1903, Claude Cox established the Overland Automobile Company in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1908 John N. Willys purchased it. In 1912 it was renamed Willys-Overland. Overlands continued to be produced until 1926 when it was redesigned and emerged as the Willys Whippet. By 1928 the Whippet (named after the lightning fast Greyhound-like dog) was the third best-selling car in America.

According to longtime resident George Cotter, now deceased, a Whippet dealership was located in the ground floor of a hotel that occupied the corner of Main Street and South Jackson, which is now a city parking lot but was once the location of Hammer’s Tire Store. Since there was not nearly enough room to stock a wide selection of vehicles in such a small space,

it seems probable that customers would view the cars in the showroom, order their choice and have them shipped directly from the factory in Indiana to West Frankfort.

The hotel, along with the dealership, was destroyed in a fire in the 1930’s. Thomas Gray is quoted in the History of West Frankfort Illinois that “O. L. Skelly sold Whippet cars. I remember he wore a duster with the name ‘Whippet’ on the back to advertise his cars. An ad we discovered in a 1923 Daily American indicates that there was a Skelly’s Garage at 105 S. Jackson Street which would confirm the location of the Whippet dealership.

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015 25

After Willys sold his shares in the company to become ambassador to Poland, sales of the Whippet slumped. Willys continued to manufacture automobiles and was most famous for producing the Jeep of WWII fame.

Durant / Star was an automobile as-

sembled by Durant Motors Inc. from 1921 to 1932 in the United States. We use the term “assembled” automobile because so many of its parts were purchased from other manufacturers. It was not a business model followed exclusively by Durant as several other automobile manufacturers used a similar approach. William “Billy” Durant, one of America’s leading automobile pioneers, founded Durant Motors.

Originally, Durant was highly skeptical of cars, thinking that they were stinky, loud, and dangerous, to a point where he would not let his daughter ride in one. By

brokered a deal to buy Ford for $8 million but bankers turned the deal down and the board of directors of GM fired him. After he was terminated as the head of General Motors, it was his intent to build an automotive empire that could one-day challenge General Motors. However, the assembled automobile proved to be a flawed business model. Durant Motors was found insolvent and automobile production ended early in 1932.

West Frankfort residents could buy their Durant at Jack Ulrich Motor Company at the corner of Oak and Ida, which is the current location of the First Baptist Church Family Life Center. The ad mentions the Star, which is a cheaper model Durant and was designed to appeal to someone who might be considering buying a Model T.

lished a new mid-winter transcontinental record from New York to Los Angeles in 4 days, 17 hours, and 8 minutes in a Gardner.

By 1927, when the major producers of automobiles gained control of many supply sources of parts, Gardner began losing money and it stopped production in 1931,

Studebaker can trace its roots to 1852.

1900, public outcry for government regulation of gasoline-powered horseless carriages was significant. Durant heard this outcry, and rather than relying on government regulations to improve their safety, saw an opportunity to build a successful company by improving on the safety of these new machines.

In 1904, Durant began realizing his vision of building the car industry. Starting from virtually nothing, he used his sales skills to enter Buick (which had only built 37 cars to date) into a New York auto show, returning with orders for 1,108 cars. By 1908 Durant used $500,000 in Buick stock to found General Motors. By 1909 he had

26

Good Living in

Gardner

The parking lot next to Max Morris Gymnasium was the former location of the E. W. Smith Motor Company where one could purchase a Gardner, an automobile maker based in St. Louis, Missouri, between 1920 and 1931.

Without a dollar in his pocket, founder Russell E. Gardner left his home state of Tennessee for St. Louis in 1879.Three-anda-half decades later he was a multi-millionaire. He started in the auto business by building new Chevrolet bodies and by 1915 Gardner controlled all Chevrolet trade west of the Mississippi River.

In early 1924 Cannon Ball Baker estab-

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

Five Studebaker brothers from South Bend Indiana formed the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company that eventually became the world’s largest manufacturer of wagons and buggies. The Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company entered the automobile market with an electric car in 1902. One of their earliest customers was famed inventor Thomas Edison who purchased the second electric car produced.

Unfortunately, electric vehicles did not prevail and Studebaker switched to gasolinepowered models in 1904. The 1920s were very profitable years for Studebaker.

West Frankfort had a Studebaker dealership at 501 West Main where the Gasfor-Less filling station is currently located.

Despite innovative design concepts in the 1950’s such as the distinctive and futuristic bullet nose hood and the introduction of the compact car Lark in 1959, stiff competition from Ford and General Motors eventually forced the end of Studebaker which rolled their last car off the assembly line in 1966.

Indian Motorcycle.

After a successful stint as a manufacturer of bicycles George M. Hendee originally founded the misspelled “Indian Motocycle Co.” During the 1910s, Indian became the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world. Indian’s most popular models were the Scout, made from 1920 to 1946, and the Chief, made from 1922 to 1953. The Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company went bankrupt in 1953.

As is evident in the Daily American ad, the company was still producing bicycles along with motorcycles. It beckoned the reader to view them at South Logan (Rte. 37) and Main Street and included the puzzling claim that riding an Indian was ‘Cheaper Than Walking’.

Hupmobile was an automobile built from 1909 through 1940 by the Hupp Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan. The ad below indicates that somebody in West Frankfort was a distributor to several associate dealerships in the area but the identity of this person and the location of an actual dealership in West Frankfort is a mystery.

million and the company was one of the four wealthiest automobile manufacturers in the country. Due to competition from Ford and General Motors, REO abandoned the manufacture of automobiles in 1936 to concentrate on trucks.

The rock band R.E.O. Speedwagon, which began in Champaign, Illinois, took its name from a Reo truck model. By 1975 the company was defunct, however, the band is still performing.

Hendrickson Truck

An often-neglected fact of the invention of the automobile was its effect on the transportation of goods. A study completed in 1911 indicated a motor truck could do the work of two horse-drawn wagons and would pay for itself in a year. Another study that year indicated an International motor wagon cost $128.45 a month to operate and two horse-drawn wagons cost $171, including crew wages.

The economic advantages of the motor truck were so compelling that all sorts of companies stampeded to build them. A few specialty manufacturers did well. One of the most successful was Magnus Hendrickson, a self-taught Swedish engineer and bicycle builder who wound up in Chicago in 1900. A year later he became enamored with horseless carriages and built his own car. Jacob Lauth & Co., a tannery, hired him in 1903 to build some vehicles, and Hendrickson designed hollow-spoked wheels and three-speed transmissions.

The ad from the Daily American (below) shows an impressive Hendrickson designed

The company initially produced 500 vehicles. A bit of Hupmobile Trivia: in 1914, Eric Wickman tried to establish a Hupmobile dealership but couldn’t sell them so he started transporting miners in one of the vehicles and founded Greyhound Lines.

The Hupmobile did leave another impact on America; the National Football League was created at Ralph Hay’s Hupmobile dealership in Canton, Ohio in 1920.

REO Motor Car Company was a Lansing, Michigan, based company that produced automobiles and trucks from 1905 to 1975. Ransom E. Olds, one of the original organizers of Oldsmobile, founded REO in 1904. Ransom used his initials to name his auto company in order to avoid confusion and a lawsuit from Oldsmobile.

The company’s name was spelled alternately in all capitals REO or with only an initial capital as Reo and was pronounced as a single word.

An advertisement in a 1923 Daily American, which did not reproduce with enough quality to print, mentions Garrison Motors on West Main Street as the Dodge and Reo dealership in West Frankfort.

By 1907, REO had gross sales of $4.5 Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015 27

truck featuring a motor that runs on kerosene. The proud distributor of this truck was E. E. Jacobs, who came to West Frankfort as Superintendent of the Southern Gem Mine. His son, Charlie, later became part owner of Jacobs-Lane Jewelry Story.

Hendrickson trucks were well-built, sturdy vehicles and featured many innovations such as a truck-mounted stone hoist for heavy lifting and a tandem axle suspension system. Both devices are still in use in the industry. Those devices helped the company survive the Depression and Hendrickson Trucks are still being built today.

Ford

It is believed that W. E. Pharis & Son Ford was located on the south side of the 300 block of East Main St. in the former Coleman-Rhoads Bldg Perhaps all Pharis did was sell Fords not repair them, but Skelly’s Garage (see ad bottom left) stocked Ford parts and had ‘the only’ trained Ford mechanic on staff.

If you read the ad you might also notice a bit of an oddity. It seems that in 1923 a black cat was considered good luck.

Merry Christmas

The dealerships researched and described here were chosen because they are obscure and historically interesting. We find it a fascinating glimpse into a bygone era and a testament to the men and women who helped shape the business climate of West Frankfort.

We know readers will be quick to point out other car dealerships that sprang up in West Frankfort in later years, particularly after WW II. We will save those for a future issue of Good Living in West Frankfort.

from Our House to Yours

Browning Clark Automotive

13190 Harmony Church Rd • West Frankfort • (618) 932-6032

28

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year 201 East Nolen Street • West Frankfort, IL 62896

wfchamber@frontier.com

Ph. (618) 932-2181 Fax (618) 932-6330 www.westfrankfort-il.com

McCord’s Market

Merry Christmas

Locally Owned & Operated Since 1974

from the

McCord Family & Staff

501 South Logan

• Butcher Block Quality Meat • Free Carry-Out • Convenient Parking

Ph: (618) 937-4616 Hours: Mon-Sat 7-9 • Closed Sunday

G. David Green, Broker • (618) 923-1111 Kurt Avripas, Broker • (618) 923-2379 Steve York, Broker • (619) 200-2243

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

112 E. Main Street West Frankfort, Illinois 62896 (618) 937-3040 Fax (618) 937-3099 Ryan Ridgeway, Owner & Broker

1201 E. Poplar Street, West Frankfort, IL

Bob Wilson Pre-plan Today… For Tomorrow Pre-arrangements are As Easy as 1, 2, 3…

Dave & Pam McReynolds Glenda & Jim Rotramel 1. Gather Information 2. Select Personal Choices 3. Fund The Arrangement

We offer unique opportunities for families to create healing moments after loss. Our experience, coupled with our perspective on the importance of ceremony, will guide your family in creating a meaningful ceremony to honor the life and memory of a loved one and help you discover ways to pay tribute. Whether traditional or unique, these tributes allow us to love, laugh, and live well again.

- Staff Members of Stone Funeral Home

StoneFH.com (618) 932-2161 Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015 29

Herron Rehab & Wellness Center Our New Services Meridian Stress Assessment Neurofeed Back

• ADD/ADHD • ANXIETY / DEPRESSION • Early Stage Dementia

Class IV K- Laser

• The drug free / surgery free solution • Advanced pain relief • Accerates the healing process • Relieving pain, reducing swelling & increasing range of motion

West Frankfort, IL 607 W. Oak Street Phone: (618) 937-3509

Benton, IL 106 W. Washington Phone: (618) 439-2225

Get Your Life Back!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

WEEKS CHEVROLET • BUICK • GMC RIGHT ON THE PRICE RIGHT OFF I-57

30

Good Living in

10881 State Highway 149 • West Frankfort, IL

www.gregweeks.com

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015

618-937-2446 Open Mon-Fri 8am-7pm • Sat 8-6

Advanced Hearing Center

Proudly Serving the People of Franklin County

ALL AMERICAN HEARING OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS PROVIDES STATE-OF-THE-ART HEARING INSTRUMENTS

• VIRTUALLY NO MORE WHISTLING • HEAR CLEARLY ON THE PHONE • HEAR BETTER IN NOISE • HEARING TESTS ARE ALWAYS FREE!

STEVEN SAWALICH HEARING AID SPECIALIST

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION 800-634-8364

HE A R I N G MEMBER OF

All American

DR. PAULA HARRIS, Au.D., CCC-A, F-AAA DOCTOR OF AUDIOLOGY

UMWA Provider

OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

ADVANCED HEARING SYSTEMS

TRENT HUDGENS HEARING AID SPECIALIST

BARB CAGLE PATIENT SERVICES COORDINATOR

FACTORY STORES OF AMERICA MALL WEST FRANKFORT, IL (618) 937-6419 TOLL FREE: 1-800 634-8364

Your Trusted Hearing Health Care Professionals Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 26 Fall/WInter 2015 31

Please Support The

Frankfort Area Historical Museum

Preserving our Past Building for our Future

This Ad Sponsored by Brandon and Stacy Sawalich 32

2000 E. St. Louis St. West Frankfort, IL 62896 Phone:(618) 932-6519