Village of Carbon Hill

from MDH_Grundy County Chamber Guide_2022-2023

Libraries

WELCOME TO CARBON HILL

Nestled between Morris and Coal City, our neat homes and friendly faces will welcome you. Bike through our area, play ball in our fields, and come celebrate our annual homecoming in June. We boast good food, good times, crafts, parade, athletic events and hometown camaraderie. Good schools, nearby city access, and charming homes make our city yours. Mayor: Adam Johnson Carbon Hill Village Hall 695 N. Holocomb St. Carbon Hill, IL 60416 (815) 634-4968 villageofcarbonhill-il.gov Carbon Hill Village Board meets the first Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. at Village Hall.

A Brief History of Carbon Hill

Situated in Felix Township, Carbon Hill was surveyed and platted in June, 1891, by Streator’s Star Coal Company, and organized, January 25, 1892. The village had a population of 1,800 and Robert Fleming became its first president. The original buildings near the EJ&E roundhouse were south of Rathburn Street, in an area called Runcie’s addition. During later mining strikes, the area was dubbed Bunker Hill. Prior to incorporation, Carbon Hill was a coal mining camp known as Scotch Hill. In 1900, four coal mines operated around and under the village and the population hovered near 2,000 with Scotch, Welsh, English, Irish, Italian, Austrian, Slovenian, as well as African American mining families. Families concentrated in their own neighborhoods and the men met in the dozens of saloons to socialize in their native tongues. The town’s bakeries provided a pleasant aroma in the morning. Many evenings, the town band performed in the park’s bandstand. Soccer and Bocce were the prominent sports. Wooden sidewalks and gas lights enhanced a business district which included stores, a post office, meat market, opera hall, hotel, livery stable and blacksmith shop. There was the Carbon Hill Athletic Club, a doctor’s office, fire house, beer house, the depot and roundhouse. Backyards held grape arbors, root cellars, chicken coops and wells. The local school opened in September, 1893 and closed in 1955. The town remains familiar and friendly, maintaining its own identity and government. Citizens pay taxes to the Coal City library, fire, and school districts, and the village purchases its water supply from nearby Coal City. The former Carbon Hill school serves as a local public museum. The coal company gifted the community park to the village. Thus our well maintained park has been used for family reunions, picnics, ball games, and various fundraisers for over 100 years.

CARBON HILL SCHOOL

The 1893 schoolhouse displays original artifacts depicting turn-of-the-century immigrant and community life. Items include the jailhouse’s iron doors, soccer trophies, bocce balls, mining tools, furniture, household items, coal reports, maps, plats and plenty of family memories. The north room represents the coal fields of Grundy and Will Counties. The south classroom, with desks, old books and photos, depicts our school history. There’s also local memorabilia, kitchen, bedroom and store displays, and a diorama of Carbon Hill in it’s heyday, circa 1900.