Momence, Illinois One Place Study

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Momence, Illinois
Surnames/tags: One_Place_Studies Illinois United States

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Contents 1 Momence, Illinois One Place Study 1.1 Name 1.2 Townships 1.3 Cemeteries 1.4 Geography 1.5 History 1.6 Businesses 1.7 Early Churches 1.8 Historical Homes 1.9 Markers 1.10 Museums 1.11 Schools 1.12 The Island Park 1.13 Movies Filmed in Momence 1.14 Railroads 1.15 Early Settlers 1.16 Momence Residents On WikiTree 1.16.1 Notables 2 Sources

Momence, Illinois One Place Study

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Name

Momence is a city located in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,171 at the 2000 census, and 3,310 in 2010. It is part of the Kankakee–Bradley Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Townships

Momence Township, Kankakee County, Illinois Momence Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,820 and it contained 1,655 housing units.[2]

Momence Township is one of the original six townships of Kankakee County, Illinois; when first created the township encompassed land now in Sumner, Ganeer, and Pembroke Townships. It was a township of Will County until Kankakee County was created.

Geography According to the 2010 census, the township has a total area of 42.92 square miles (111.2 km2), of which 42.45 square miles (109.9 km2) (or 98.90%) is land and 0.47 square miles (1.2 km2) (or 1.10%) is water.[2]

Cities, towns, villages Momence (east half)

Cemeteries The township contains these two cemeteries: Saint Judes and Shrontz.

Ganeer Township, Kankakee County, Illinois Ganeer Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,215 and it contained 1,411 housing units.

History Ganeer Township came into being on February 15, 1859. The township was excised from land in Momence Township.

Geography According to the 2010 census, the township has a total area of 40.25 square miles (104.2 km2), of which 39.92 square miles (103.4 km2) (or 99.18%) is land and 0.34 square miles (0.88 km2) (or 0.84%) is water.[2]

Cities, towns, villages Momence (partial)

Cemeteries

• Momence Cemetery: The early history of this cemetery has been lost through time; however, it is assumed that this particular section was used as a burial ground by the early residents because it is located on high ground and had good drainage. Also, according to Mrs. Hess, historian, this high ground was also used by the Indians of the area for their burials. In July of 1870, the newly formed Momence Cemetery Association purchased 17 acres incorporating this burial grounds located in Section 13, Township 31 North, Range 13 East from James Mix. Since then, more land has been acquired through purchase and donation until the Association now owns over thirty acres for burials. A couple weeks prior to the original land purchase, "On June 11, 1870, in the Worcester & Lane Hall of Momence, a meeting was held for the purpose of providing suitable burial grounds for Momence and vicinity. A.S. Vail was chosen chairman and E.R. Kendall, secretary. Hannibal Worcester moved to organize a cemetery organization under the provision of the Statutes of Illinois. Motion carried. Whereupon, W.A. Chatfield moved to elect officers for the ensuing year. Motion carried. Whereupon, Hannibal Worcester was elected President; E. R. Kendall, secretary and treasurer; and Slocum Wilber, A.S. Vail and Wm. Astle, Trustees. The following article of agreement was entered into: It is hereby agreed that Hannibal Worcester, Slocum Wilber, A.S. Vail, Wm. Astle, E.R. Kendall, H.J. Ballard, F. Worcester, Y.C. Brayle, Y.Wood, Wm. Snow, S.P. Burr, R.C. Stearman, Mr. or Wm. Miller, J. B.and A.M. Griswold and such others as may become endorsers hereto as hereinafter provided and owners of in said cemetery be and are hereby created a body politic ••• (copied from minutes of the organization meetings.)

The township contains these four cemeteries: Mount Airy, Saint George and Saint Patricks.

Geography

Continent: North America

Country: United States

State/Province: Illinois

County: Kankakee

GPS Coordinates: 41.166667,-87.666667

Elevation: 620'

History

Momence went for a long time unnamed. It was first called "Upper Crossing" and then later dubbed Lorain. Congressman "Long John" Wentworth,von discovering that Mr. Vail was a Whig, searched out the only democrat in the community capable of conducting the office, Dr. David Lynds, and made him postmaster. After his appointment he moved the office to his home. The name "Lorain" could not be improved upon in the opinion of the Doctor, for he had become the husband of Miss Lorain Beebe in the meantime. So, Forsaking all other titles by which the settlement at the "Upper Crossing" had been known since 1833, it gladly blossomed out as "Lorain."

Dr. Hiram Todd asked for a survey of the town-site of Momence during the summer of 1844. This survey was made by Robert J. Boylan, of Joliet. The town-site of Momence was opened for sale to the public April 22, 1845, large posters of that date, signed by Hiram Todd, announcing the fact to the public at large.

Dr. Todd gave the name of Momence to the town. Mr. Isaac Olds, was at the Chatfield mill when Mrs. Chatfield, who was present, said: "Doctor, why don't you call the place Toddsville?" He was talking about it and at the time proposed two names, ""Isadore Mo-mence" and "Saw-grets." These were the names of the two sons of the chieftain Pierre Moran. [From Tales of an Old Border Town and Along the Kankakee, by Burt Burroughs, copyright expired].

Census	Residents
1850	791
1860	943
1870	1,291
1880	1,037
1890	1,635
1900	2,201
1910	1,070
1920	2,218
1930	2,236
1940	2,425
1950	2,644
1960	2,949
1970	2,836
1980	3,297
1990	2,968
2000	3,171
2010	3,310
2020	3,117

^[1]

Businesses

• 1838: Asher Sargeant erected the first mill for grinding corn
• 1844: W. A. Chatfield was building the flouring mill on the island.
• 1853: Hill's Tavern was moved to the corner of River and Market Streets
• 1869 William Graham house - Now Momence Historical Museum
• 1870: J. B. A. Paradis established a weekly newspaper, The Momence Reporter;
• 1873: C.H. Lisman began the boot and shoe business in Momence in 1873, in a building 18 x 20. He worked at his trade until 1879 when he branched out and began the sale of ready-made footwear. His was a small beginning, as his first order was for 18 pairs of shoes. He has continued to improve with the times and has always kept strictly up-to-date until now he has the best-equipped shoe store in Eastern Illinois. He has accomplished all this by industry and good business methods. He has put brains into his business.
• 1874: Dr. Milan O. Clarke took over the editorship of "The Momence Reporter,
• 1880: 201 E Washington: Jacob Ruger’s residence
• 1919: 201 E Washington: Harry Hall “the Ford Man” purchased the Ruger residence, removed it and built a garage.
• 1882: Central House, Frederick Knighthart
• 1884: Tiffany Enameled Brick Co. in Momence, Illinois -The White Castle Hamburger Company gave the Tiffany Enameled Brick Company the contract for the brick used in building all its "white castles". When the Coca Cola Company expanded and built bottling plants from New England to Georgia, it was Tiffany brick that was used.
• 1885: reporting that Steven Dennis had purchased the Momence Reporter
• 1885: Central House Hotel Livery, 1893 - Wennerholm Brothers Livery; 1911 - Wennerholm Brothers Auto Livery and Garage; 1944 - Strassenburg "Strassey's" Trucking; 1945 - Pachner and Koehler (P&K) Fishing Tackle; 1955 - Kimberly's Kaiser-Fraser Auto Dealership; 1972 - Plaque Village Ceramics; 1977 - Expansion of the A&P into Momence Finer Foods; 2006 - America's Country Restaurant; 2012 - The Earl D. Schoeffner Memorial Building; 2017 - The Earl D. Schoeffner Farm Museum
• 1889: 113 E. Washington Street: built by William Watson. In 1889 E.S. Cooke moved his Drug Store businesses from Range Street (Dixie Highway) to the east room in this building calling it the Central Drug Store and managed it until his death in 1896 in which Lynds Cooke (son of E.S. Cooke) took over the business. In 1908 Lynds Cooke leased the west store vacated by the Ward & LaRoche Tavern to enlarge his drug store and ice cream parlor. In 1913, N.P. Jensen purchased the building from the Watson estate.
• 1889: Columbia House Hotel was built in 1889
• 1890: 37 South Elm -The Old Mill: The Old Mill was used for the grinding of grain. Many residents of the community remember this landmark which was torn down in the 1950
• 1890 B. F. Tabler came to Momence and bought the J. E. Paradis Grain, Coal and Lumber business
• 1892: 127 E. Washington Street: Charles Hack came to Momence from Beecher in October 1892 and purchased the store of J.S. Ransom at 127 E. Front (Washington) Street. The store was known as Hack’s Dry Goods.
• 1894: 127 E. Washington Street: Frank Lane was in partnership with C.A. Smyth and their studio was located on the upper floor. In 1894 F.E. Lane purchased Mr. Smyth’s interested in the studio.
• 1895: 119 North Market - St. Patrick’s Church Rectory
• 1905: 118 W. Washington: Ganeer Town Hall: building built at a cost of $3600.00.
• 1889: 106 East Washington: Reins and Clapsadle: W.L. Clapsadle talks about his bargain basement in the 1905 Dry Goods Reporter. Basement as a Trade Getter – Formerly a Catch for All. Regarding my bargain basement salesroom I would say it has been in operation about two years. I carry queensware, china and all kinds of crockery, glassware, tin and granite ware, house furnishing goods, 5 and 10-cent counter goods, toys, remnants and seconds in wash goods. At present no other dry goods. My basement is used to quite an extent as a trade getter, but it also pays a profit, as expense is light. My entrance is inside the store.My basement before fixing was a dirty cellar, a catch-all for old boxes and other trash. The very marked benefit I have derived is in relieving the crowded condition of the upper floor. For instance, I was trying to carry a line of crockery in the grocery department, which was too small for groceries alone. I also had 5 and 10-cent counters in my dry goods department, which crowded it badly. In the busy season I keep salespeople in the basement all the time, but most of the time it is tended by clerks from above. Of course people expect to buy cheap articles and bargains in a basement and think that idea should be catered to. William L. Clapsadle. The Reins and Clapsadle store was in business from about 1889 to 1911.
• 1906: 118 W. Washington: Frank Lane moved his photo studio to the upper floor of the Ganeer Town Hall building,
• 1906: The First National Bank: 103 N. Dixie
• 1906 Conrad Bakery, Oscar Conrad: bakery and restaurant at the corner of Front (E. Washington) and Range Street (Dixie Highway). In 1908 Oscar Conrad purchased a lot on the Island and in September of that year started to build his modern bakery and hotel. The grand opening took place on January 1st, 1909. On November 19, 1909 he again opened the bakery and restaurant at the corner of Front (E. Washington) and Range Street (Dixie Highway) and ran both establishments.
• 1906: 30 Dixie Highway: Matt Clegg Shoe Store
• 1907: 30 Dixie Highway: Laura Brady Millinery
• 1908: 30 Dixie Highway: A.H. White Millinery
• 1910: 30 Dixie Highway: Flora Chipman Millinery
• 1910 Chipman Library (Edward Chipman)
• 205 North Dixie Highway: Opera House - Currently Ron's Plumbing. The Opera House, located at the corner of Second Street and Dixie Highway, was also known as Guertin Hall and was in use until about 1915.
• 1913: 30 Dixie Highway: Mattie Stetson bought Flora Chipman’s millinery
• 1914 Parish Bank
• 1918: 30 Dixie Highway: Mattie Stetson sold to Gladys Worrell millinery
• 1918: 118 W. Washington: W.C. Adkins purchased Frank Lane’s Photo Studio
• 1919: 30 Dixie Highway: Gladys Worrell sold to Carrie Hatcher millinery. The building caught fire in November of 1920 and Carrie Hatcher’s stock of millinery goods was a total loss being ruined by fire and water.
• 1920: 30 Dixie Highway: Joseph France moved his newsstand from the hotel building. When Frank died his sister Grace Lane France owned the building.
• 1922: 105 E. Washington Street: The Great Atlantic and Pacific Company (A&P) first came to Momence in 1922 and rented space in the Madsen Hotel. The article’s from October 1922. Momence is getting ready for the opening of an A&P store here after completion of a deal with one of the company’s representatives to use a room in the Madsen Hotel. A new plate glass window is being put into one of the rooms of the Madsen Hotel to be used as a display window for the Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co. In 1928 the Atlantic and Pacific Company moved to the Brassard Building at the corner of East Washington and Dixie Highway. July of 1946, the A&P moved to 123 West Washington Street. The building in 1946 was known as the Masonic building, purchased in 1944 by the Masonic Lodge. In 1965, A&P did a complete remodel of the north half of the Wennerholm building, moving into this location in 1966. 122 N. Dixie Highway.
• 1879: 120 E. Washington: Calkins Dry Goods store
• 1925: 120 E. Washington: Kral and Willis store
• 1926: 121 E. Washington Street: Kral and Willis store
• 1930: Whole Grain Wheat Company. Seventh and Market, which had recently been a ladder factory, then, briefly, a typewriter assembly plant.
• 1920: 125 N Dixie Hwy: Canaday Funeral Home
• 1933 Strongheart Products Company. Seventh and Market,
• 1940: 121 E. Washington Street: Dawson Shanholtz purchased the Variety Store business of Kral & Willis. Today this is the location of Off The Vine.
• 1940 Charles Spieth bought Peter Brouillette's grocery store at 533 Ash Street (17 grocery stores in Momence at the time)
• 1946 Fey Orr came to Momence and bought the Smith and Hobart Grain business.
• 1952 St. Jude's Seminary
• 1953 Carter-Wallace Company
• 1953: 10 Dixie Highway: Haffner’s 5c to $1.00
• 1953 Momence City Hall was built
• 1953 Fire Department was built
• 1963: 123-125 E. Washington Street: Haffner’s 5c to $1.00 which had been located at 10 Dixie Highway since 1953 moved into the double store building in August 1963.
• 1963 Island Mall, Merlon Karlock
• 1964: 201 E Washington: Ben Franklin
• 1966 F. O. Orr bought Tabler's Lumber Company.
• 1970 Old Baptist Church became Eastern Illinois Trust and Savings Bank.
• 1972 St. Jude is now Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd or Good Shepherd Manor
• 1974 the Momence Guest Haven
• Before 1925: 128 E. Washington: Momence State & Savings Bank:
• 1925: 128 E. Washington: Momence Building and Loan Association
• Before 1927: 126 E. Washington Street: Charles Styles Hardware Store
• 1927: 126 E. Washington Street: Deliere and Peterson purchased the Styles Hardware store
• 1936: 126 E. Washington Street: Kroger Leased this building.
• 1936: 19 Dixie Highway: Deliere and Peterson moved their Hardware Store to this location
• Astle's Hardware
• Hakestraw's Dram Shop
• Glover's store
• Green's Gunshop
• The Blacksmith
• Paradis Wagon Company
• W. J.Dixon's bakery and restaurant.
• Murphy Hall (where Lang's garage is now) - renamed Momence Opera House.
• Condon's Tavern, John Condon
• DuMontelle's Men and Boys Store
• Hoosegow, Hugh Butterfield
• Ray Schenk' Insurance
• Italian Village restaurant
• Plaque Village,
• Elaine's Restaurant
• Ross building
• Hess Lumber Company
• Tailor shop - Louis Buffington
• Agar Packing Company
• Baker and Taylor Company:
• Rietz and PIttman Groceries:
• Madsen Hotel:
• Theater:
• 1959: 21 N Dixie: Quigley Grocery and Market settling into its new home in the Verhines building at this location after a Sunday move from its old location at Dixie and Washington, which will be occupied by a pool hall.
• 1968: 19 N Dixie: VFW purchased building
• 1965: 19 N Dixie: Superior House Restaurant
• 1934: 19 N Dixie: Deliere Brothers, Elmer L & Howard W. Deliere, Grocery Store for the Centennial Celebration
• 1946: 19 N Dixie: Gilbert's Momence Hardware Co., Edward Gilbert
• 1955: 19 N Dixie: Cremer's pool hall
• 1959: 100 E. Washington: Cremer's pool hall, July 9, 1959 Marketto Building Sold To Cremer For Pool Hall. Al Cremer, new owner of the building at the corner of East Washington and the Dixie Highway purchased from John Marketto, intends to move his pool hall from its present location at 19 Dixie Highway to the corner store building, sometime after August 1.

Early Churches

• 1851 First Baptist
• Methodist
• 1863 St. Patrick's Catholic Church
• 1895: 119 North Market: St. Patrick’s Church Rectory
• 1897 Danish Lutheran
• 1870 Church of the Good Shepherd
• 1970 when the new Baptist Church on South Dixie Highway was completed,

Historical Homes

• 1841: Chauncey Chipman, first frame house built it was erected on the east side of Range street, not far from Second, probably on the lot owned by N. Cantway, north of the old Knighthart livery stable.
• 127 North Pine: Currently owned by Mrs. Roger Elliott. It is not known when this home was built but it was the home of Mayor Hamilton. It was also known as the Brassard family home.
• 1850: 203 North Pine: Built by Mr. William Brown. Currently owned by Martha Woollett. It is largely the same today as it was then. The 1% story part on the south of the house was originally a school which stood across the street from its present location. Mr. Brown moved it across the street and attached it to the rest of the house. Later the wing at the north was added. The home has been owned exclusively by the Brown and Scramlin families.
• 1869: 177 North Dixie Highway
• 512 N Locust: Sam and Flora Calkins: 1944 - Nels Christjansen / 1945 to early 1950s - George Ward / 1956 - Lloyd Bender Jr.
• 1870: 524 West Fourth: Built by B.F. Gray. Currently owned by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Borggren. B.F. Gray's daughter married A. J. Kyle and lived in the home until her death. The home was in the Gray family until 1958 when the James Mackin family refurbished the home and added the screened porch. The house has also been occupied by the Dorn and Willis families. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Borggren purchased the home in 1977.
• 1872: 327 North Pine: Currently owned by Harold and Nadine Clem (Harold Clem is now deceased). Built by Lewis B. Clark. The first record of the property at 327 North Pine was in 1865 when Hiriam Todd sold the “premises” as platted by James Mix, to George Simmonds. The property sold again in 1867 to Jacob Ruger, and in 1869 to Lewis B. Clark. In 1922, Mr. Clark died and left the property in his will to his daughter, Carrie Paradis. (She and husband Henry Paradis lived at 125 North Maple, the Melby home). The home sold again in 1929 to Mr. and Mrs. Rush Sherwood and was left again in a will to their daughter-in-law. She sold the home in 1962 to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Hoeferlin who sold it in 1974 to the Harold Clem family. The home appears on an 1880 artist’s view of Momence and looks exactly as it does today. An old newspaper account dated 1877 states that Lewis B. Clark hosted an Episcopal men’s sociable at his residence. Clark had a livery in the back yard where the garden is now located, and wood from it was used to build the present garage which has a coal or cob bin at the rear of it. Lewis B. Clark had a brother Fred and a sister Amelia and they were the children of Silas and Mary Clark who came to Momence in 1850 and lived on the south side. Amelia married and moved to Mattoon, Illinois, where her husband, John King, worked for the railroad. Fred and Lewis married sisters: Lewis married Mary Griffin in 1859; Fred married Emma Griffin in 1866. They were the daughters of Asa Griffin who lived on what is now known as the Loitz home at the edge of Grant Park.
• 1875: 220 North Market: Currently owned by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Wille. Little is known of this home except that the following people have owned it since it was platted by James Mix in 1853: Helen Mix, Henry Baldwin, Amy Hadsel, Solomen Kenrich, David Shrontz, Hannibal Worcester, Job Cox, Margaret Cox, Hattie Cox, N.C. Anderson, Ivan D. O’Brien, Elsie Jensen, and the Louis Wille family. As a point of interest, Hannibal Worcester was a member of the Anti-Horse Thief Association along with William Parish. This group traveled throughout the community in search of horse thieves.

• 1883: 218 West Third: Built by a carpenter named Ritter. Currently owned by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bishir. Mr. Ritter also built the home at 327 North Pine - just through the alley. The attached garage on the Bishir home was once a barn which was located at the rear of the lot.
• 1886: 403 North Elm: Built by Walter Brown.
• 1888: 409 North Elm: Built by Mr. and Mrs. Scramlin, grandparents of the late Lucy Brown. Currently owned by Lyle and Della Brown [Currently Janine Loftus] The Scramlin’s son-in-law, Walter Brown, built the house next door (403) in 1886. Lyle and Della Brown purchased their home from Mrs. Walter Brown in 1945. It is believed the lilac bush south of the house was planted a long ago by the Scramlins and that some of the trees are very old as well.
• 1889: 227 West Third: Built by Edward Sherman and Susan Lynds Cooke. Currently owned by Robert and Christine Fry. [Currently owned by Fran LeBeau & Hermes] According to tax records, the earliest construction on this property was in 1870. That home was destroyed by fire and the present home was built in 1889. Traces of the earlier construction can be found to the east of the present building and also on the 1880 artist’s view of Momence. The 1889 date of the present home is based on the Eastlake style of construction; the escutcheons on the upstairs doors have 1888 stamped on the back; and in 1889 the Cooke’s borrowed $2,000 from Momence Federal to pay for the building of the home. The sidewalks were installed in 1893. The home was built by Ernest Sherman and Susan Lynds Cooke. He was an early druggist in Momence and operated the “Corner Drugstore,” now the location of Jensen’s Drugstore. Susan Lynds Cooke was the daughter of Loraine Beebe (the first teacher in Momence) and Dr. David Lynds (an early physician here). Edward Cooke died in 1896, but the home remained in the family until the teens when it became the Younglove home. In 1958, Elizabeth and Clarence Hall purchased it and used it for rental property until 1970 when it was purchased by Alexander and Fay Delk. In 1978, it was purchased by Robert and Christine Fry. The house has seen at least two major remodeling projects, but, with the exception of bathrooms and kitchen, has never been modernized. All renovation has been “in spirit” restoration in keeping with the original Eastlake style. Small print wallpaper and period furniture add to the original charm of the home.
• 1890: 225 North Elm: Built by L.J. Tiffany. Currently owned by Lester and Karen DuMontelle. This interesting Victorian home, complete with eight-sided cupola and turret, was built around 1890 by L.J. Tiffany. The house was constructed of “seconds” from the family brickyard which were hand chipped and laid enamel side in to simulate stone—a popular building material of the Victorian period. A very unusual feature of the interior of the home is the standard two-person elevator which is still in operation between the first and second floors. The original carriage house, with its small window for the horse stall, is now in use as a garage. Josephine Tiffany and her husband Phillip Marcotte lived in the home after the death of her parents. In the 1970’s the home was acquired by the Lester DuMontelle family.

• 1891: 427 North Elm: Currently owned by Bonnie Gilbert. This home was remodeled in 1973. It is owned by Bonnie Gilbert. She remembers the very small rooms in the house. The bedrooms were barely large enough for a bed.
• 1892: 304 West Second: Built by Axel and Deal Stratton Wikstrom. Currently owned by Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Suprenant. The Wikstrom home at the corner of Elm and Second was built as a town house for Axel and Deal Stratton Wikstrom. They made frequent trips to Europe and filled the home with furniture and souvenirs of their journeys. The Wikstroms had no children, but their home was often open for social functions such as the traditional Christmas party in Swedish style for small children of the community. Mr. Wikstrom died soon after the fine home was built, but Mrs. Wikstrom lived there for many years and took an active part in the social life of the city. The Sisters from St. Patrick’s Academy acquired the home from the estate of Mrs. Wikstrom in 1922 and it was used as a girls’ boarding school. It was later used as a home for the Sisters. In 1964, the home was sold to Henry Mackin and in 1966 to Hilbert Strassenburg, although it is believed no one lived there 1964-66. In 1967 the home was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Suprenant.
• 1894: 219 North Pine: Built by William J. Nichols. Currently owned by Greg and Jone MacDonald. The property was originally owned by James Mix, who sold it to William J. Brown in 1853. Mr. Brown sold the property to Mr. Nichols in 1893. Mary M. Lloyd purchased the house and property in 1909. Subsequent owners were Belle Younger in 1916; Arthur P. Lambert in 1919; Neil Jensen in 1920; and John Doyle in 1975. The MacDonalds purchased the home in 1982.
• 1894: 225 North Pine: Built by W.G. Nichols. Currently owned by Mr. and Mrs. Fey R. Orr: Lot 1, Block 56, or 225 North Pine, was one of several lots purchased by James Mix from the government in about 1850. In 1853, James Mix sold the lot to W.J. Brown, and in 1893, Mr. Brown sold it to W 7 .G. Nichols. In August, 1894, Mr. Nichols started construction of a new home on this lot. Helen Nichols was his wife, and he had two sons, William R. and Fred M. After Mr. Nichols death in 1913, his wife had to pay $50 inheritance tax on the house. In 1914, the son Fred and his wife Jessie acquired the home. It sold in 1929 to Mr. and Mrs. E.O. Herman for $8,000. Mrs. Herman died in 1941, and Mr. Herman lived in the home until his death in 1966. In March, 1969, Mr. and Mrs. F.R. Orr purchased the home from the Herman estate. The building on the back of the lot, which is now the garage, was for the carriage and horse. The stone addition on the back was the manure shed.
• 1900: 519 North Pine: Built by Ralph Hardy. Currently owned by Blanche Tremore. The building of the brown stone home at 519 North Pine Street was started in 1900 by the Ralph Hardy family. The enclosed porch was added in 1917. It is believed that this home was one of the first at that time to have indoor plumbing. Mr. Hardy was employed at the Tiffany Brickyard, and the white glazed bricks used around the windows and pillars on the front porch were made there. Ralph Hardy had three daughters: Alice Hungerford, Gladys Hertz, and Irene Hardy. In May, 1949, the house was sold to the Wilmont Tremore family, and Mrs. Tremore still resides there.
• 1900: 527 North Pine; Built by Ernest Hardy. Currently owned by Mrs. T.H. Bartholomew. In 1864, the lot at Sixth and Pine Streets was purchased by a Mr. Anderson who sold it and repurchased it through the years. Finally, Mr. I.E. Hardy purchased the lot in 1900 and proceeded to build the house. He was a son of Issac Hardy (Tiffany Brickyard) and was superintendent of the brick yard after his father returned to England. Ernest and his wife had four children: Issac, Helena, Lucille, and Grace. Originally the front entrance was on Sixth Street. Later the house was remodeled and the entrance was changed to face Pine Street and the lovely screened porch was added. A “sleeping porch” was added upstairs in the back of the house for one of Mr. Hardy’s daughters who had health problems. This lovely home was purchased by the T.H. Bartholomew family in 1955.
• 1902: 15 N Pine St: The house was built by Barsalou's Bros., and cost about $4000. Among the many beautiful homes in Momence, the new residence which Mr. C.H. Lisman had just completed takes a high place. Mr. Lisman selected a valuable lot on Pine Street, which is located near his place of business and therefore very convenient. The house is two story with a basement and attic. On the first floor is the parlor, sitting room, dining room, kitchen, and pantry. These rooms are large well lighted with large windows and are finished with hard pine which has received several coats of varnish. They are connected with large double doors arranged for portieres. Above each door is a beautiful piece of ornamented grillwork. In the front parlor is an ornamental mantel in imitation of a gate, which is much to be admired. The floors are finished for rugs being highly polished. The pantry contains shelves, flour chests and everything convenient while the kitchen is provided with a porcelain sink and hot water tank. From a spacious hall, a stairway splendidly carved and ornamental leads to the second story, and another hall leads to three nice, large airy bedrooms. Every room is finished with admirable taste and the large windows are especially attractive features. The basement is a network of pipes and machinery. Here is located the furnace from which pipes extend to every room and a radiator is also placed in each room as the entire house will be heated by steam. The basement is arranged for a washroom and has places for wood and coal. City and cistern water is conducted to every part of the house. On the outside numerous porches and porticoes add to the appearance and comfort. The lot has been filled and from the house to the street concrete walks extend, ending at the street with a concrete curb and gutter. It is certainly a good home and Mr. and Mrs. Lisman are to be congratulated on their success.
• 1912: 211 Hill Street. Owned by Charles Hack in 1927 until he died in 1941. About 1943/44, William and Ova Parish purchased this house. McGills lived in this house, after which is was moved into the country. The Fire Protection District built it's new Fire Station on this location.

Markers

• 1927 - Gettysburg Address: Erected 1927 by Worcester Relief Corps, No 111 at 103 North Dixie on the Historic First National Bank Building.
• Hubbard Trail Marker located on Illinois Route 1 just north of East River South Road. This trail was blazed by Gurdon S. Hubbard, 1822–1824, connecting the trading posts of the American Fur Company between Vincennes and Chicago. Momence, near the upper crossing of the Kankakee River, is on this trail. Known also as the Vincennes Trace, it is perpetuated today in State Highway No. 1.
• Dixie Highway Connected Chicago to Miami in the Early Days of Automobile Travel: Erected 2015 by Main Street Momence; the City of Momence; and the A's R Us Model A Club. Marker is in Momence, Illinois, in Kankakee County. Marker is at the intersection of Dixie Highway (Illinois Route 1) and West River Street, on the right when traveling south on Dixie Highway. Marker is located near the northwest corner of the Kankakee River Bridge, in Momence, Illinois.
• 1906 - First National Bank: 103 North Dixie Highway, Momence IL 60954. Inscription 1906 First National Bank has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior. Contributing property to the Downtown Momence Historic District.
• 1912 - Edward Chipman Public Library: 126 North Locust Street, Momence IL 60954. Inscription 1912 Edward Chipman Public Library has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior. Contributing property to the Downtown Momence Historic District.
• Walter, Andrew and George Hess, Pioneers: Inscription. [Click to hear the inscription.] In honor of Walter Andrew and George Hess, Pioneers, whose frontier courage, strength and spirit typified the early days in the Kankakee Valley. — Settled here 1839 — Marker is on County Road N 232 East (Illinois Route 114) just east of N River Isle (N 14500E) Road, on the right when traveling east, in Momence, Illinois.

Museums

• Memorial Train Depot and Military Tribute Museum: 691 N. Dixie Highway; This building served as a depot from 1890 to the 1950’s, and served the Chicago, Indiana & Southern Railroad and the New York Central lines. It features an extensive collection of train memorabilia and a miniature train display. The military tribute room contains displays of photographs of local veterans, uniforms and memorabilia .
• Graham Historic House Museum: 117 N. Dixie Highway; Depicting everyday life in the late 1880’s, this 1869 home features period furnishings throughout. It originally served as a private residence. The Momence Women’s Club was instrumental in preserving this lovely house museum. The home is maintained by the City of Momence. The arbor and gardens were created by the Momence High School Shop Class and Main Street Momence. After undergoing extensive renovations, the museum reopened to the public in December, 2014.
• Mt. Airy School: 125 W. 5th Street; Built in 1853, moved to its current location, and originally called the Mount Airy School. is a red brick one-room schoolhouse which was built in 1853, and served as a school until 1921. It is filled with authentic desks and artifacts.
• Earl Schoeffner Farm Museum: 105 E Second Street; Built in1885 it was originally the Central House Hotel Livery. At the Farm Museum, the vintage farm equipment on display pays tribute to more than 150 years of Momence farming.
• 1891: The Hay Palace: Corner of Franklin, Second, and Hill Streets. The Interstate Hay Palace, Momence, Illinois, 1890-1891Perhaps the most ambitious “castle” for the size of its community was the Momence Interstate Hay Palace. Momence, fifty miles south of Chicago, had only 1500 citizens in 1889 but its city fathers had noticed that over fifty-thousand head of cattle and horses had passed through the town in that same year! So, Charles McNichols, editor of the Momence Reporter, began planning an exhibition that would feature a giant structure made of baled hay to advertise the town’s position as the center of the eastern-Illinois, western-Indiana timothy hay growing region. And, through the plans of the few and the labor of the many, The Hay Palace was built on an acre of ground on the corner of Hill and Second Street, surrounded by a grove of Walnut trees. The 1890 Palace was impressive-206 feet long and 166 feet wide-and had the look of a feudal castle. It had a circular central hall, soaring a thatched dome 87 feet high, and three wings, each fifty feet long, housing agricultural displays, while a central hall featured a bandstand and dance floor. So successful was the exposition that over $6,000 was distributed to stockholders…. the following year and even bigger palace was constructed, using 210 tons of hay. The second structure was lighted day and night with hundreds of electric lights, which “studded the immense vaulted roof like stars in the evening sky.” The resources and products of six Illinois and four Indiana counties were featured and were interesting enough to draw over 100,000 people to the 1890 festival alone. The pictured aluminum medal shows the 1891 palace, with U.S. flag flying atop the highest tower of baled timothy hay. Manufactured by Childs of Chicago, it was holed to form the metal portion of a ribboned badge worn by the exhibition promoters, who traveled to nearby counties by railroad cars decked in bunting and flamboyant posters, The reverse of the piece is, appropriately enough, a curled stalk of ripened hay and festive lettering.

Schools

• Old Brick School House
• 1853 Mt. Airy School: The Mt. Airy School was built circa 1855 and was used as a school until the 1920’s. It was moved to its present location in 1983 to be preserved as a school museum.
• Union School
• Central Grade School - same as
• 1870 Central High School: Dixie Highway, between Fourth and Fifth Streets. This beautiful building was one of the tallest schools in the county. It was located on Dixie Highway, or Range Street, at the site of the modern Range School. It was in use until approximately 1936 when the present high school was built.
• 1894 Lorraine School built
• 1906 St. Patrick's Academy built
• 1936 Momence High School built
• 1939 June 10: tear down the old high school building
• 1965 Junior High School opened
• 1966 Lorraine School, was torn down. 72 year old school
• 1983 Mt. Airy School moved to its present location to be preserved as a school museum.
• 2015 Range Elementary School closed
• 2010 St. Patrick's Academy closed

The Island Park

Movies Filmed in Momence

• Downtown Momence served as a setting for scenes in the 2002 movie, Road to Perdition, starring Tom Hanks.
• Momence’s downtown and neighborhood also served as the setting for the fourth season of “Fargo”, starring Chris Rock.

Railroads

• Formerly, the Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad and the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad operated commuter service on this line out of Dearborn Station to Dolton and Momence, respectively. The Chicago and Eastern Illinois commuter line to Momence ended in 1935, while the Chicago and Western Indiana service to Dolton was discontinued in 1964. Michael_Boorda|Admiral Michael Boorda, USN on Wikipedia

Chicago, Attica and Southern Railroad The Chicago, Attica and Southern Railroad (reporting mark CAS), nicknamed the "Dolly Varden Line", was a railroad linking small towns in west central and northwestern Indiana to the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railway (C&EI) near Momence, Illinois (where traffic continued on to Chicago). Never financially strong, the CA&S nevertheless continued operating through World War II before abandonment.

• The Chicago & Eastern Illinois
• 1882 Illinois, Indiana and Iowa Railroad
• The Chicago & Southern
• Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota
• 1871 Chicago, Danville and Vincennes railroad

Early Settlers

• 1833: William Lacy put up a log cabin on the north side of the river at the crossing;
• 1834: Robert Hill put a cabin on the south side of the river and opened a tavern; Asher Sargeant built a log cabin on the north side of the river; built a dam on the north fork of the river and set up a sawmill;
• 1835: Mr. McKibben, Enoch Sargeant
• 1836: Algernon Sidney Vail, [first postmaster, built first schoolhouse], Newell Beebe, Hardin Beebe, Judge Orson Beebe, Loraine Beebe [first school teacher], Caleb Wells; Col. Lyman Worcester,
• 1837: William Nichols settled near the trail on the north side of the river
• 1838: James Graham settled near William Nichols, William Graham, Daniel Beebe, Silas Metcalf settled on the land where Lacy had put up a cabin just four years earlier
• 1839: Walter B. Hess arrived from Canada, A.B. Parish, Dr. Mazuzan
• Enoch Sargeant
• 1840: W.W. Parish, Benjamin Lamport and James Nichols;
• 1841: Dr. David Lynds [second post master - married Loraine Beebe], James M. Perry, David Perry and Philip Worcester,
• 1855 William Astle - , hardware store
• 1852 M.A. Atherton , Mayor, tinner's trade
• 1845: Isaac Olds built the first bridge over the north channel of the river, purchased the first lot of land
• Peter Brassard
• F. X. Longpre
• Peter Blanchette
• J. B. Paradis
• 1850 William J. Brown built a cider mill
• 1855 William Astle hardware store
• 1869 Frederick Knighthart
• Philip Worchester
• 1865 Axel Wikstrom
• Village becomes a city and J. J. Kirby becomes first Mayor
• at least 1843 Dr. Hiram Todd
• Edward Chipman
• 1849 and 1853: J.L. Clark, Slocum Wilbur
• 1892 Charles Hack

Momence Residents On WikiTree

Resident	Birth	Occupation	1910	1920	1930	1940	Marriage	Death	Connected
Walter Blakely Hess (1819 - 1904)	Cayuga County, New York	Farmer				√	Ontario, Canada	Momence	Yes
Jacob Hess (1842 - 1899)	Momence	Farmer						Lake Village, Indiana	Yes
Charles Hess (1846 - 1906)	Momence	Farmer					Kankakee, Illinois	Momence	Yes
Mahlon Robert Hess Sr (1848 - 1923)	Momence	Farmer	√				Kankakee, Illinois	Winifred, Montana	Yes
Wallace Hess (1852 - 1918)	Momence	Farmer	√				Kankakee, Illinois	Momence	Yes
Walter Blakely Hess Jr. (1852 - 1918)	Momence	Farmer	√				Kankakee, Illinois	Momence	Yes
Emory W Hess (1855 - 1913)	Momence	Farmer				√	Sumner, Illinois	Independence, Kansas	Yes
Clinton Grant Hess (1886 - 1954)	Momence	Laborer	√	√	√	√	Kankakee, Illinois	Momence	Yes
Margaret (Laking) Hess (1914 -1996)	Grant Park, Illinois	Housewife		√	√	√	Green Castle, Indiana	Momence	Yes
Wallace Hess (1909 - 1988)	Momence	Stunner	√	√	√	√	Green Castle, Indiana	Momence	Yes
Edmund Hess (1913 - 1979)	Momence	Mailman		√	√	√	Lake County, Indiana	Momence	Yes
Jesse Blakley Hess (1876 - 1943)	Momence	Farmer	√	√	√	√	Kankakee, Illinois	Ganeer Township, Illinois	Yes
Elmena (Hess) West (1840 - 1913)	Momence Township, Illinois	Housewife	√				Kankakee, Illinois	Momence	Yes
Jacob Hess (1842 - 1899)	Momence	Farmer					Indiana	Lake Village, Indiana	Yes
Charles Hess (1846 - 1906)	Momence	Farmer					Kankakee County, Illinois	Momence	Yes
Mahlon Robert Hess Sr (1848 - 1923)	Momence	Farmer	√				Kankakee, Illinois	Winifred, Montana	Yes
Alice (Hess) Ward (1850 - 1886)	Momence	None					Kankakee, Illinois	Lawrence, Kansas	Yes
Elizabeth Beatrice (Childers) Pyle (1894-1986)	Campbell Township, Missouri	None	√				Los Angeles, California	Glide, Oregon	Yes
Jesse Yandell Darr (1873-1912)	Mendocino County, California	Stock Loader - Stage Co.	√					Andersonia	Yes
James Edward Lilley (1870-1925)	Little River, California	Mill Watchmen	√				Mendocino County, California	Leggett, California	Yes
Mary Loretta (Monroe) West (1894-1979)	Fortuna, California	Cook - Boarding House	√				Los Angeles, California	Alameda County, California	Yes
Charles Clark Kirk (1887-1962)	Washington, DC	Farmer - Gen Farm		√	√		Andersonia	Humboldt County, California	Yes
Leila Alice (Medcalf) Kirk (1892-1971)	California	None	√	√	√		Andersonia	Garberville, California	Yes
Rosalie Iness Kirk (1916-2000)	Andersonia	None		√	√		Garberville, California	Eureka, California	Yes
Robert Lee Kirk (1918-1932)	Andersonia	None		√	√			Willits, California	Yes
Levi Curtis Rogers (1873-1927)	Lockport, New York	Civil Engineer - Railroad	√				Little River, California	St Helens, Oregon	Yes
Emily Bolles (Stoddard) Rogers (1872-1937)	Elk, California	None	√				Little River, California	Ukiah, California	Yes
Vivien Elaine (Rogers) Smith (1894-1975)	Little River, California	None	√				Mendocino, California	Ukiah, California	Yes
Charles Myron Rogers (1895-1981)	Fort Bragg, California	None	√				San Francisco, California	Mendocino County, California	Yes
Mabel Jeanette (Rogers) Lundin (1899-1953)	Fort Bragg, California	None	√					Mendocino County, California	Yes
Irving Stoddard Rogers (1901-1976)	Fort Bragg, California	None	√				Niagra County, New York	Paradise, California	Yes
Mary Jane (Hall) Stoddard (1852-1918)	El Dorado County, California	Housekeeper	√					San Francisco, California	Yes
Alfred Cyphers (1865-1951)	Shawville, Pennsylvania	Timber Contractor	√				Clearfield County, Pennsylvania	Humboldt County, California	Yes
Mary Marie (Rowles) Cyphers (1871-1949)	Clearfield County, Pennsylvania	Timber Contractor	√				Clearfield County, Pennsylvania	Fortuna, California	Yes
Frederick Glen Cyphers (1893-1966)	Clearfield, Pennsylvania	None	√					Kneeland, California	Yes
Daniel Cyphers (1894-1911)	Humboldt County, California	None	√					Humboldt County, California	Yes
Nadine T (Cyphers) Gill (1895-1987)	Humboldt County, California	None	√					Humboldt County, California	Yes
Delores Gussie (Cyphers) Frye (1898-1993)	Piercy, California	None	√				San Francisco, California	Eureka, California	Yes
Georgia Eileen (Cyphers) Beaudette (1900-1971)	Humboldt County, California	None	√					Humboldt County, California	Yes
Melba Zoie (Cyphers) Wallan (1902-1954)	Humboldt County, California	None	√					Willits, California	Yes
Alfred Carlton Cyphers (1905-1965)	Humboldt County, California	None	√					Humboldt County, California	Yes
Kenneth Gerald Cyphers (1906-1988)	Andersonia	None	√				Medford, Oregon	Humboldt County, California	Yes
Wendell Homer Cyphers (1912-2002)	Andersonia	None						Kneeland, California	Yes
George Hillog (1844-1909)	Ohio	Lumberman						Andersonia	No
C L Marchael (abt.1871-1910)								Andersonia	No
Amos Nelson Orr (1876-1943)	Bocabec, New Brunswick	Blacksmith					Mendocino County, California	Mendocino County, California	Yes
Cora Ethel (Lindsay) Orr (1886-1981)	Piqua, Ohio						Mendocino County, California	Mendocino County, California	Yes
Helen Madeline (Orr) Russel (1910-1994)	Albion, California						Caspar, California	Marin County, California	Yes
Grace Lindsey (Orr) Hawkins (1918-1981)	Andersonia						Sacramento, California	Sacramento, California	Yes
Hee-Tom (Wailaki) Bell (1849-1939)	Mendocino County, California							Mendocino County, California	Yes
Sally (Wailaki) Bell (1844-1935)	Petrolia, California							Humboldt County, California	Yes
Jenny (Wailaki) Young (abt.1849-aft.1935)	Petrolia, California								Yes
Hattie (Young) Bomsel (1870-1961)	Petrolia, California							Humboldt County, California	Yes
Arthur Somerville (1878-1967)	Phillipsville, California							Humboldt County, California	Yes
William Oliver Hamilton (1859-1937)	Mendocino County, California						Mendocino County, California	Mendocino County, California	Yes
Jane (Sanderson) Hecker (1862-1928)	Orleans, California						Humboldt County, California	Eureka, California	Yes
Hazel Florence (Hecker) Borges (1893-1940)	Elk, California							Eureka, California	Yes
Mable Dorothy (Hamilton) Soares (1899-1944)	Mendocino County, California							Humboldt County, California	Yes
John Archibald Hamilton (1905-1997)	Andersonia							Napa County, California	Yes
Joseph Follansbee Colburn Jr (1854-1936)	Pittston, Maine						Ukiah, California	Caspar, California	Yes
Horatio S Colburn (1861-1939)	Pittston, Maine							Mendocino County, California	Yes

Notables

• Admiral Michael Boorda, USN on Wikipedia
• Representative Don Bacon, House of Representatives on Wikipedia
• Musician Eddie Condon, Jazz musician on Wikipedia
• Preacher William Crook turned politician on Wikipedia
• Bandleader Orbert Davis and jazz trumpeter on Wikipedia
• Actress Janet Hubert from Cats and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on Wikipedia
• Offensive lineman Ted Peterson of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wikipedia
• Naval Reserve captain Malcolm Ross, United States atmospheric scientist, and balloonist on Wikipedia
• Architect William B. Taylor Sr., Hotel Designer on Wikipedia
• Chairman John D. Zeglis and President of AT&T on Wikipedia

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momence,_Illinois : accessed 6 February 2023). "Momence".

• Momence, Illinois on Wikipedia