History of Joliet, Illinois, USA

1854 - Joliet
Joliet, a thriving town, capital of Will county, Illinois, on both sides of the Des Plaines river, and on the Illinois and Michigan canal, 37 miles S. W. from Chicago. The town is handsomely built, and contains, be sides the county buildings several churches, one bank, and 2 newspaper offices. The canal and river afford motive-power for mills. Joliet is surrounded by fertile and cultivated prairies, the produce of which is shipped here by the canal. Quarries of good building stone are worked in the vicinity. The Chicago and Rock Island railroad passes through the place. The value of the grain, &c., received here in 1852, was estimated at $550,000. Population in 1853, about 3500.

Joliet, a post-township in the N. W. part of Will co., Illinois. Population, 2659.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

1857 - He Died At His Post.
A sad, but beautiful and touching, scene was witnessed at the accident at Du Page bridge. On the morning after the accident the slow tolling of a bell was heard. On looking to see whence it came, it was discovered to proceed from the engine as it lay submerged in the water. The waves as they foamed and surged over the sunken engine swayed the bell, which alone with the smoke-pipe appeared above water, and caused it to give it a tolling sound. When the engine was raised from the water the engineer was found in a standing posture, with his stiff, cold, icy hand firmly grasping the throttle valve, as though amid the thick darkness he had discovered the perilous condition of the train, and had sprang to avert the wreck. But it was too late, the engine and train, with its precious freight of life and property, went down, and during the dreary night, the engine bell and the mad rushing waters rang out a solemn requiem for the dead. It is probable that had not the freight train gone down as... Read MORE...

1886 - The Storm at Joliet
JOLIET, Ill., May 13. - One of the most severe storms ever known here struck Joliet about 6:30 p. m. yesterday evening. A deluge of rain, thunder and hail were deafening and the electric display unparalleled. Burr Robbins' circus was showing here, and in the midst of the performance the storm struck the tent and turned it upside down. The women screamed, the animals raved, and a general stampede amid sheets of lightning, drenching rain and a resistless gale resulted. Three persons were seriously injured and a number slightly hurt by the panic occasioned thereby.
Decatur Republican
Decatur, Illinois
May 13, 1886

1890 - WORKMEN SLAIN. COLLAPSE OF A BIG BLAST FURNACE AT JOLIET, ILL. NINE MEN KILLED AND MANY HURT. THE VICTIMS CRUSHED TO DEATH BY PONDEROUS MASSES OR IRON.
Joliet, Ill., Dec. 5. - One of the most distressing calamities that have ever befallen Joliet occurred at the works of the Joliet Steel Company in this city at noon Thursday, resulting in the death of nine men and the wounding of nine others. The cause was the giving way of the columns which support the huge blast furnace known as No. 2, and the consequent collapsing of the great 200-ton retort. The blast had been blown out, and the men were at work on the inside taking out the brick lining preparatory to relining it when the accident occurred.
The killed are:
GUS BOONE.
NELS LARSON.
JOHN PETERSON.
HANS FASMEEK.
THOMAS SWANSON.
FRANK MILLER.
JOHN UMIDSTADIS.
Two men unidentified.
The dangerously injured are:
PATRICK KILRULLEN, leg taken off above the knee, is not expected to live.
OSCAR WENBERG, dangerous injuries to the head.
OLAV JOHNSON, leg broken and other injuries.
U. LIND, badly crushed.
AUGUST DIRIENOR, seriously injured.
R. SISMER, leg badly injured.

A... Read MORE...

1895 - Joliet
Joliet, jo'le-et, a city, the capital of Will co., Ill. in Joliet township, on Des Plaines River, and on the Illinois & Michigan Canal, 37 miles S.W. of Chicago. It is situated on several important railways, whose main lines or branches converge at this place, including the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fé, the Chicago & Alton, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern, and the Michigan Central. It contains many handsome stone buildings, 12 churches, 3 chapels, a Catholic academy. 3 high schools, 3 national banks, 3 other banks, a convent, and a state prison. The last is a magnificent structure, built of fine gray limestone quarried in the vicinity. Five newspapers are published here. Joliet has extensive flour-mills, machine-shops, 3 breweries, lime kilns, brick-yards, a foundry, manufactories of boots and shoes which employ 450 men, cigar-factories (135 men), Bessemer steel-works and rolling-mills (2000 men), carriage-shops, marble-works and manufactures of... Read MORE...

1905 - ROCK ISLAND TRAIN IS WRECKED AT JOLIET
MORNING MAIL TRAIN STRIKES AN OPEN SWITCH JUST WEST OF COAL CHUTES AND CRASHES INTO GRAVEL TRAIN--SEVERAL PEOPLE SERIOUSLY INJURED, ONE OR TWO, PERHAPS, FATALLY.

Joliet, Ill., July 31 - The morning mail train, passing Morris, going east, shortly after 5 this morning, was wrecked near the coal chutes in Joliet.

While running at a high rate of speed the train struck an open switch and crashed into a gravel train. Several cars were thrown from the track and the engine badly smashed up.

On the train were a large number of excursionists from the east, who had been on a western tour and were on their way home. Some eighteen of those were injured, some seriously, but none believed to be fatally.

Fireman Chappel, of Englwood, was badly injured, perhaps fatally, and John Smith, a colored porter, had a leg broken.

The accident was caused by an open switch. The brakeman on the gravel train had thrown the switch to let the gravel train on a siding, and failed to close it after the... Read MORE...

1912 - Man Killed in Joliet.
Joliet, Ill., May 10 - Frank F. Viers, a former Ottawa business man, was killed in Joliet yesterday when he was thrown from a horse he was riding. The accident occurred on Jefferson street near Cass street. Viers' horse became frightened at a steam roller and jumped in front of a street car. Viers' skull was crushed when he was thrown from the horse.

Viers was manager of the F. A. Smith livery in Joliet. A number of years ago he resided in Ottawa and was in the dry goods business in partnership with William Rising. Viers was nearly fifty years old and born at Lima, Ohio, where he will be buried.
Morris Herald
May 10, 1912

1916
Joliet, jo'le-et, a city, the capital of Will co., Ill., on the Des Plaines River and on the Illinois and Michigan Canal, 37 miles SW. of Chicago. It is situated on several important railways, including the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, the Chicago and Alton, and the Michigan Central. It contains many handsome buildings, two Catholic academies (St. Francis and St. Mary), high schools, a convent, and a state prison. The last is a magnificent structure, built of fine gray limestone quarried in the vicinity. Joliet has extensive flour-mills, machine-shops, breweries, lime-kilns, brick-yards, manufactories of boots and shoes, cigar-factories, Bessemer steel-works and rolling-mills (employing several thousand men), horseshoe-works (employing 500 men), tin-plate mills, nail- and marble-works, carriage- shops, and manufactures of builders' hardware, engines, cooperage, farming-implements, stoves, sash, doors, and blinds, and cereal foods. The extensive barbed-wire plant, employing upward of ... Read MORE...

1920 - Tornado
John Denver, of Joliet, Ill., was injured when his automobile was turned upside down by the wind. More than a score of barns in the neighborhood of Plainfield were demolished.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 29, 1920

1928 - Joliet Township
The early history of the Des Plaines Valley has been given in chapters one, two, and three; the aborignes have been accounted for at some length; the Red Man has had attention; these accounts are, to some extent, the history of Joliet. However, we are interested in the early history of the white settlers. The following table is interesting because it gives dates pertaining to so many families which are represented in Joliet now (1928). It was prepared with much care in 1877 and recorded in LeBaron's History of Will County. It is reproduced here from that work:

Major Robert G. Cook, New York, 1831; John B. Cook (his father), New York, 1831; Philip Scott, New York, 1831; Reason Zarley, Ohio, 1831; Robert Stevens, Indiana, 1831; David Maggard, Indiana, 1831; Benjamin Maggard, Indiana, 1831; Jesse Cook, Indiana, 1831; Daniel Robb, 1831; William Billsland, Indiana, 1831; Aaron Moore, Ohio, 1832; R. E. Barber, Vermont, 1832; Col. Sayre, New Jersey, 1832; Seth Scott, New York, 1832;... Read MORE...

1942 - June 5 - Elwood Ordnance Plant near Joliet Illinois kills 54

historyorb.com
June 5, 1942

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Joliet:
Joliet Iron Works Historic Site: Explore the remains of a once-thriving iron and steel manufacturing complex. The site features walking trails and informational signs detailing the history of the area.

Rialto Square Theatre: Catch a show or concert at this beautifully restored theater, known for its stunning architecture and diverse entertainment lineup.

Joliet Area Historical Museum: Learn about the rich history of Joliet through exhibits, artifacts, and interactive displays. The museum covers everything from the city's early days to its role in the Prohibition era.

Harrah's Joliet Casino: If you're feeling lucky, try your hand at the slots or table games at Harrah's Casino. They also have restaurants and entertainment options.

Chicagoland Speedway: Racing enthusiasts can visit this NASCAR track for thrilling events. Check the schedule to see if there's a race or event happening during your visit.

Route 66 Raceway: Experience the excitement of drag racing at this... Read MORE...