Established
1818
Bicentennial
2018
We’re proud of our part in petroleum exploration, drilling and producing in the Tri-State area over the past 80 years. Continuing A Four Generation Legacy
Corner of 5th and Market, Mt. Carmel, Illinois • 618-262-4136
Dee D ee Building
Mayor J. Roy Dee
J. Roy Dee, Jr.
J. Roy Dee III
Patrick H. Dee
Dee Yard
1818 – 2018
Special Thanks
Bicentennial
Mount Carmel Illinois / 3
The Mount Carmel Register staff thanks the Bicentennial Committee for all of their help in providing photos and information for this publication. Some photos came courtesy of city and county officials and some were already in the Register’s possession. Captions were written for the historical photos as accurately as possible, but due to the passage of time and incomplete information, errors may occur.
4/ Mount Carmel Illinois
Bicentennial
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The "Maud wreck" was the subject of a lot of press coverage and even a song. The Christmas-morning, 1904, wreck caused nine casualties and was the result of a mix-up in orders. Two passenger trains collided head-on, which was made all the more tragic due to many passengers being on their way home for Christmas.
Roots on the
River
BY JAKE BETHEL THE REGISTER
T
he Mount Carmel and Wabash County area was originally settled by three Methodist ministers in 1818. Thomas S. Hinde, William McDowell and William Beauchamp were the three ministers, who founded the Methodist church in 1817. This story was recounted during a speech at the 2018 Wabash County Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet by resident Tim Raibley, whose father, Jim Raibley, was once Mount Carmel City Clerk. The way he described it, the three ministers chose to settle in the area because from the river, it resembled the biblical Mount Carmel, a mountainous outcrop in modern-day Israel along the Mediterranian Sea. Raibley punctuated his remarks during the banquet by referring to the area as a “great place to live, work and raise a family.” This sentiment is reinforced by story after story of the people of the area uniting for various causes throughout its now 200-year history. For a community to boast its ability to accommodate its citizens as a suitable dwelling place, its citizens must have the ability to come together when the occasion presents itself. From the initial settlement to this year’s Bicentennial celebrations, the residents of the area have shown
1818 – 2018
Bicentennial
Mount Carmel Illinois / 5
time and again that even Mother Nature herself will not impede their spirit of community. The incorporation of Mount Carmel as a village occurred in 1825 and as a city in 1865, but nearly five decades earlier, in 1818, the area was officially selected, surveyed and platted. What is now designated as Wabash County was once part of Edwards County, but officials from Mount Carmel and the English who settled Albion at the time negotiated and through Major Utter, a representative in the Illinois legislature, proposed an act to the General Assembly and it was passed in 1824. A Mount Carmel militia began action to Pictured is the aftermath of the 1913 Easter flood. A train traverses the flood water in the backmarch on Albion and seize ground as locals assess the damage. county records, but officials from Albion surrendered to Palmyra. In 1829, court was reconvened negotiation, which ended in the splitting seat and second courthouse had its home in Centerville, with the first in Mount Carmel, which proved to be of Edwards into two counties. having been nearer to the river, in more satisfactory. For around three years, the county
Happy Bicentennial, Mt. Carmel!
200 years ago, three Methodist Ministers founded this town on strong moral principles and faith. Mt. Carmel has continued to uphold those principles through the years, and I have faith it will grow even greater over the next 200 years. I am proud to be Mayor of this great city.
Signed, Bill Hudson Mayor 2018
6/ Mount Carmel Illinois Palmyra was a settlement on the Wabash River which ser ved mainly as a ferr y dock. The building used for a courthouse back then was not originally built for that purpose. The third courthouse — the first in Mount Carmel — was destroyed by a fire in 1857. The fourth was built in 1858 and stood for nearly 20 years. It was destroyed by a cyclone in 1877. The cyclone destroyed much of what is now referred to as Uptown Mount Carmel. According to accounts from publications at the time, the categor y F4 winds turned much of that area of the city into scattered debris. The wind, estimated at 150 miles per hour, raged for two minutes, leaving 13 casualties and as many as 80 people injured in its wake. Court was in session on the day of the storm, which meant more people were in the tornado’s destructive path. At the time, it was reported that 85 buildings covering around 14 blocks were destroyed. The tornado left an estimated $500,000 of damage behind it. The fifth courthouse is the current one, in use for 150 years having been through so many remodels that much
Bicentennial
1818 – 2018
An early rendering of the Mount Carmel Post Office. of the original building has been replaced. Allendale, around nine miles from Mount Carmel, was founded in 1869. The town boasted a thriving railroad operation and, in fact, was named after
a railroad official C.M. Allen. Bellmont was laid out in 1872 and within a decade, several businesses cropped up in the town, including a hotel, a gunsmith, a fruit nurser y and a shoemaker.
The Mayor and City Council are so proud of Mt. Carmel. We have worked hard to continue to make this city GREAT! Happy Bicentennial Mt. Carmel lets make another 200 YEARS GREAT!
1818 – 2018
Bicentennial
MOUNT C AR MEL
Mount Carmel Illinois / 7
“A Great Place to Live, Work and Raise a Family!” Former Mayor J. Roy Dee Mt.Carmel Sesquicentennial 1968
“And It Still is Today!”
Current Mayor Bill Hudson Mt.Carmel Bicentennial 2018
“Opportunity is Here!” 618-262-5433
Craig Newman President & COO
8/ Mount Carmel Illinois
Bicentennial
Water and Oil BY JAKE BETHEL THE REGISTER
F
loods were a recurrence in Wabash County until levees were constructed in the 1960s. Notable floods occurred in 1875-1877, 1913, 1933 and 1961, as well as many other years. At times, the water works, River view Stadium’s football field and even the business district have been at least partially under water. The turn of the centur y saw the area continue its embrace of the river culture, floods or not. In the 1920s, The Grand Rapids Hotel, outside of Mount Carmel, was run by Frederick Hinde Zimmerman, grandson of Thomas Hinde, one of the first preacher settlers of the area. The hotel boasted a baseball diamond and nine-hole golf course on its grounds. Many municipal and social clubs held gatherings there. The establishment burned down in 1929 under mysterious circumstances involving a blowtorch, according to reports at the time. Following the fire, which destroyed the structure, the Wall Street Crash of 1929 occurred, making that end of an era final. The hotel was never rebuilt. In 1932, after a collaboration between the state governments of Illinois and Indiana, a through-truss bridge was erected between the two states to connect Indiana 64 and Illinois 15. That bridge was then rehabilitated in 1987 and eventually demolished in 2011, even though it was not in the way of its replacement. Courthouses and hotels were not the only structures to be razed by fire in the Mount Carmel/Wabash County community. The original high-school building
1818 – 2018
Bicentennial
1818 – 2018 burned down in 1962. Students were bussed to neighboring schools until the building was erected again. The turn of the centur y brought much new business with it into the area. Oil was one such industr y. The first producing well was drilled in 1912 about two miles Northwest of Allendale. Shell Oil and Superior Oil were two of the companies involved in the local industr y. Keensburg was another site of drilling rigs for a short period of time, mainly in 1939. Around 800,000 barrels of oil were drilled out of 120 wells at Keensburg, with “rotar y rigs” drilling sometimes on adjoining lots of land during the summer of that year despite the redundancy of having two wells within 200 feet of
The Mount Carmel-Princeton Free Bridge became operational in 1932.
County Commissioners Robie Thompson, Tim Hocking and Rob Dean
Derek Morgan Wabash County Sheriff
Janet Will Wabash County Clerk
Mount Carmel Illinois / 9
Beverly McBride Wabash County Treasurer
Shaun Keepes Deborah Gittings Supervisor of Wabash County Assessments Coroner
WABASH COUNTY GOVERNMENT Dustin Bunting County Engineer
Angie Crum Wabash County Circuit Clerk
Cassandra Goldman Wabash County State’s Attorney
William Hudson Wabash County Circuit Judge
Business Growth and development in Wabash County
HAPPY BICENTENNIAL CITY OF MT. CARMEL.
– Supporting community efforts to bring new business and industry to our area.
Working with city and community organizations – Cooperating to maintain enhanced 911 system.
Rural Water District
– Improving water resources to County citizens.
Visitor’s Bureau
– Participating with Tourism Bureau IllinoiSouth
Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission
– Continuing support of the Housing Rehabilitation Program as well as the Revolving Loan Fund that provides low interest loans to existing and new businesses.
Resource Conservation and Development Area
– Participating with Edwards, Lawrence and Crawford counties.
Cindy Poland Judy Wissel Wabash County Health Dept.
Gerald Brooks WEMA Coordinator
Regional Superintendent of Schools
– Cooperating to bring educational services to the county.
RIDES
– Supporting mass transportation for county citizens.
Wabash County Animal Control
– Coordinating efforts so more animals will be adopted.
Bicentennial
10/ Mount Carmel Illinois
1818 – 2018
Pictured is Riverview Stadium from the air.
CONGRATS CITY OF MT. CARMEL ON 200 YEARS.
HAPPY BICENTENNIAL! FIN 27-4313320 Repairer# UDL 8006
10207 Wabash 10 Ave. Mt. Carmel, IL 62863
Charlie Swain, Owner Shawn Swain, Owner
Telephone 618-262-5976
1818 – 2018
Bicentennial each other. Another lucrative oil deposit was discovered in Lancaster the following year. The Mount Carmel oil boom took place after ward, with delays during World War 2 due to a lack of potential employees in the town. Territor y north and west of Mount Carmel has been drilled extensively and the advent of waterflooding techniques only helped the area to prosper more from oil production. Dee Drilling, which still exists on Market Street, was one of many oil contractors during some of these boom years. Others included Mt. Carmel Drilling, T.M. Bane, Francis L. Beard, Hayes Drilling, Houchins Drilling, RK Petroleum Corp., Taylor Drilling, Triangle Oil Company and West Drilling Company.
Mount Carmel Illinois / 11 Coal mining has ser ved as a prominent industr y in Wabash County as well. At least 35 mines have operated in the county since the 1800s. The oldest of the mines, Chapman Coal Mine, operated around 1865. The Twentieth Annual Coal Report of the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 1901, lists specific locations for many of the mines that operated in the county in the 18th centur y. Most mines in the county only produced between 3 and 10 years before they were shuddered. The Illinois State Geological Sur vey lists only one operational mine in 2018 in Wabash County, the Friendsville Mine, operated by Vigo Coal.
Two coal miners from the time of Amax Coal company, likely in the 1970s, smiled for a photo in their overalls and helmets.
703 West 9th Street • Mt. Carmel, IL 618-262-8522
Happy Bicen tenni a l Ci t y of Mt. Ca r m el
• Construction-New Homes & Remodels • Shaw Flooring
• Cabinets-Quartz & Granite counter tops • Hardware and building materials
12/ Mount Carmel Illinois
Bicentennial
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Always Growing BY JAKE BETHEL THE REGISTER
The Chamber of Commerce was photographed here sometime around 1920, when the organization was not yet incorporated.
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The Mount Carmel City Pool was first constructed in 1937 by the Works Progress Administration. The pool was renovated in 1996 and 1997.
A
long-time Mount Carmel business still in existence is Smith Jewelers. Beginning in Effingham in the 1920s, the store
relocated to Mount Carmel in the 1930s, out of the then-owner’s home. The operation moved to Market Street in 1953. The third generation
of jewelers now works to make and fix jewelr y in the store. Bernard Joseph Smith, the original owner and operator, known
Wabash CUSD #348 wishes Mt. Carmel a Happy Bicentennial!
14/ Mount Carmel Illinois
Bicentennial
Pictured is the former Mount Carmel City Hall building.
801 Walnut St Mount Carmel, IL (618) 262-7774
CONGRATULATIONS
CITY OF MT. CARMEL
1818 – 2018 as Joe, passed away in 1977 and his daughter, Yvette Smith-Wilkinson, took over. Smith-Wilkinson was the jeweler in 2018 when store personnel celebrated 65 years in business at the Market-Street location. The company has also boasted a watchmaker for all of its existence. The watchmaker in 2018 was Colette Grigsby, who had been the watchmaker there for 46 years. The other jeweler on Market Street is Gottman’s Jewelr y, who began business on Market Street in 1995. Another industr y, which came into local existence in 1937 was Snap-On Inc., closed in early 2004. Hundreds of local jobs were supplied by the company, which sat on Oak Street. Along with industr y come community efforts
Happy Bicentennial City Of Mt. Carmel!
1818 – 2018 to facilitate businesses in the area. The Chamber of Commerce was organized in the early 1900s to do just that. The organization was unincorporated until 1947. Until that year, it was comprised of volunteer managers. For over 100 years, the Chamber of Commerce has welcomed businesses into the community. In 1944, a fire of unknown origin demolished the historic First Methodist Episcopal Church at Fourth and Mulberr y streets. A cornerstone was laid for a new facility in 1948, and the new structure is now known as Trinity United Methodist Church. Another fixture of Wabash County is Wabash General Hospital. Beginning in 1951, the hospital has expanded consistently over the last 67 years to the point that the hospital petitioned for a referendum in 2018 to expand beyond the county’s borders, which the community honored with a ‘yes’ vote.
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The first library was installed in Mount Carmel in 1911, with funding from the Carnegie Fund. It was not open to the public until October of that year. Services to citizens and children continue in 2018, and were a fixture of the library when it was reported in the city's adopted sesquicentennial year, 1965.
Providing strong, innovative design to our clients in southern Illinois and Indiana Educational • Financial Health Care • Libraries Municipal • Residential Worship 512 Market Street, Mount Carmel, Illinois | 618.263.3254 | www.adg-design.net
16/ Mount Carmel Illinois
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Pictured is Wabash General Hospital in its first iteration.
An old photo of Bank of Mount Carmel taken just after a snowfall.
In business since 1945 and in Mount Carmel since 1955, Pacific Press has long been a fixture on Walnut Street.
This is a newspaper clipping from an early Ag Days celebration on Market Street. The Ag Days Festival has run for over 50 years, with its first installment in 1961.
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Snap-On was one of the largest employers in Mount Carmel. It closed in 2003, leaving about 270 jobs lost.
Over 150 Years of Progress Since 1865
MT CARMEL 400 Market Street | 618-263-5200 firstmid.com
18/ Mount Carmel Illinois
Bicentennial
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A family got in the sesquicentennial spirit in 1965 with this homemade banner and other promotional materials for the community celebration. Back in 1951, the capacity of the hospital was 52 beds for adults and 18 for infants. The women’s auxiliar y was part of the hospital since its inception. In 1982, ground was broken on a new facility after renovation to meet safety codes was deemed nearly as expensive as a new structure. Since then, the hospital has upgraded its ambulance ser vice and won many awards in various healthcare capacities and fields. The beginnings of what would become Wabash Valley College emerged in 1959 in the
form of a study and then a proposed referendum to add a junior college to Wabash District 348. The referendum passed in December of 1960 by a margin of 3 to 1. The original WVC building was the Bluff Cottage, which sat behind Mount Carmel High School. On July 1, 1969, WVC became part of College District 529, which would become the IECC, or Illinois Eastern Community Colleges. Over the next 50 years, WVC would change locations to Northwest Mount Carmel and expand to a campus of 120 acres.
While Mount Carmel was founded by three Methodists, it has also boasted a Catholic culture almost as long as the city has been around. St. Mary's serves as evidence of just some of the denominational diversity in the area.
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20/ Mount Carmel Illinois
Bicentennial
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Since the
Sesquicentennial BY JAKE BETHEL THE REGISTER
D
uring his speech at the annual Chamber Banquet, Tim Raibley recounted a tale from Mayor J. Roy Dee’s time in the 1960s, which exemplifies the community’s knack for coming together for a common cause. Mayor Dee had been diagnosed with cancer and it was unknown whether he would be around for the 1968 Sesquicentennial year, so he opted to hold the celebration in 1965. And the community wholly backed him up on the change. The community not only showed up for the celebration, but the official Sesquicentennial book came out in 1965 and all of the businesses that advertised in it or participated in the celebration at Riverview Stadium came together under the unified umbrella of a 1965 Sesquicentennial. A contingent of Mount Carmel folks traveled to Texas to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s ranch for six steer to make a grand barbecue. The five Mount Carmel men stayed over one night in order to meet LBJ on their trip. Those six steer were the only ones to ever leave the ranch. They traveled in Dee’s convertible and a large flatbed to haul the steer back.
During his keynote address at the Chamber's Annual Banquet, Tim Raibley blew the same horn he claims he blew out the window of then Mayor Dee's convertible window on their return trip from President Lyndon B. Johnson's cattle ranch in Texas.
1818 – 2018 Tim Raibley’s father, Jim Raibley, was City Clerk at the time and both went to Texas as part of the contingent. Four of them rode in Dee’s convertible, which was constantly filled with smoke, so Raibley tells it. At the time, smoking was about as common as not smoking. Once they arrived at their destination, the contingent stayed over in Texas in order to meet Lyndon B. Johnson the next day when they picked up the steers. There were many media appearances on the way back to Mount Carmel. Raibley described the large hometown gathering that followed fondly. His band played the event and, as he recounted it, the community showed up to eat and celebrate together.
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Market Street has changed a lot over its two centuries in existence, along with the automobiles that line it each day.
MEXICAN-AMERICAN FOOD “PUT A LITTLE SPICE IN YOUR LIFE” SINCE 1977
Happy Bicentennial Mt. Carmel Mt. Carmel Princeton Fairfield 729 N. Market 1130 S. Main 1100 W. Main Mt. Carmel, IL Princeton, IN Fairfield, IL 618-262-8226 812-385-8996 618-842-3377
22/ Mount Carmel Illinois
Bicentennial
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Tommy Stroup waves to citizens lining the street. Stroup became Mayor of Mount Carmel in 1975.
NATURAL DISASTERS
In the last 50 years, Mount Carmel has had fewer consistent devastating natural disasters than in its earlier periods, but one stands out in recent history, the 1989 Allendale tornado. Allendale Consolidated School building, originally built in 1926, with an addition added in 1965, was demolished in January of 1989 after the storm. Other buildings effectively destroyed by the tornado were the firehouse, a new Ruritan Center, the village hall, Ingram Funeral Home and many houses. A 5.2-magnitude earthquake rattled the county on April 18, 2008, and tremors were reported into July. Wabash County was the epicenter of the quake, but no major injuries were reported at the time in the area. Reports of minor damage were reported to local authorities, including in Edwards County. The quake was felt as far away as Atlanta, Mount Carmel native Jaleigh Jeffers was Miss Illinois in 1982 after becoming Miss Southern Georgia. Illinois. She performed a piano solo at the Miss America Pageant.
Bicentennial
1818 – 2018
Mount Carmel Illinois / 23 DEVELOPMENT
TIF Districts, the state-recognized Enterprise Zone and other workforce development tools have been implemented in the area to spur big business in Mount Carmel. Tax incentives for employers and financial institutions are just some of the benefits businesses have used to develop business and the workforce in the area. The city approved plans in 2018 for TIF 7, which helped The Villas of Holly Brook to bring a facility to the city, and B&D Independence with an expansion of its plant. George Woodcock served as Mount Carmel Mayor twice, for two terms each time, from 1979 to 1986 and from 1995 to 2003.
Smith Jewelers, Inc. 4th Generation Business
CONGRATULATIONS CITY OF MT. CARMEL D and R Rentals LLC. would like to wish the city of Mt. Carmel a Happy Bicentennial. We strive to make the city greater as a small business and love the support we have been shown through the years as business owners. Bernard “Joe” Smith
406 N. Market Street 618-262-4339 Mt. Carmel, IL
Thank You D and R Rentals LLC. 618-263-7200
24/ Mount Carmel Illinois
Bicentennial
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Featured in this photo is Allendale’s Main Street prior to the 1989 tornado. The tornado tore a path through town from the bottom right to the top left of this photo, injuring 55 residents.
1818 – 2018
Bicentennial
Mount Carmel Illinois / 25 SPORTS
One of the most prominent stories out of Mount Carmel in recent history is the the phenomenal basketball legacy of Tyra Buss. Buss set a state record during her high school career, amassing 4,897 points over her four years at Mount Carmel High School. The previous record was 4,031. She also holds both the No. 1 and No. 2 spots for most points in a season for her junior and senior years, 1,285 and 1,466 respectively. Her sophomore and freshmen years were ranked fifth and eighth in the state. Her high-school records, awards and accolades are numerous, but some of them stick out for exclusivity reasons. Buss scored the most points ever scored in a single season by a freshman in Illinois with 1,025 during the 2010-11 school year. Over her four years at Indiana University, she set multiple program records with 2,241 points, 551 assists, 274 steals and 598 free throws. Continuing its tradition of supporting its own members with vigor, the community rallied around Buss’ success, hosting events for her and contributing to a special publication in the Mount Carmel Register. Hometown sports phenom Tyra Buss poses with her special publication from the Mount Carmel Register.
Health Insurance Associates Representing clients across Southern Illinois and Southern Indiana
Specializing in Medicare Supplements - Life Insurance Long Term Care - Medicare Part D
Office: 618-263-4200 Toll Free: 888-263-4200 2002 College Dr. Mt. Carmel, IL 62863 www.hiaagents.com
Congratulations City of Mt. Carmel For 38 years, Jeff Guisewite, Inc. has provided each one of our residential and commercial customers with the highest quality of service. Services Products • Excavation & Demolition • Dump Truck & Low boy • Clearing & Site Preparation • Environmental Clean-up • Wabash County Transfer Station • Dumpster Rental
• Sand • Pea Gravel • Rock • Topsoil • Fill Dirt
JEFF GUISEWITE, INC. Mt. Carmel, Illinois 618-262-4933 OR 812-455-3351
Bicentennial
26/ Mount Carmel Illinois
1818 – 2018 BY JAKE BETHEL
The
City
Turns
200
I
THE REGISTER
nstead of staging one grand shin-dig for the community to celebrate its 200th birthday, the Bicentennial Committee and local officials decided to make the Bicentennial year a full year of festivities for area folks. Many of these events are held each year, but organizers and participants worked all year to find ways to give the events a Bicentennial flair. Ribber fest — April 27-28 The annual event boasted fun for ever yone with games and activities for children like a climbing wall and inflatables, as well as concerts both weekend nights and vendors. Special events included the Cannonball Downhill Derby, a wine garden, local art exhibit and Thunder on the Hilltop, a motorcycle show. Trophies were awarded to the top participants in a rib contest, Cannonball Derby and the motorcycle show. The event’s proceeds benefited to the Wabash County Senior Center. Fantastic Fourth — June 30-July 4 Several events comprised the Fantastic Fourth weekend. A picnic was held June 30, with activities set for all ages of Wabash Countians. Lots of grilled food was handed out over the course of the afternoon in the Mount Carmel City Park. Next was the Bicentennial Parade, with
Mayor Bill Hudson advised a group of Mount Carmel students as they set out to design the Mount Carmel Bicentennial logo.
Bicentennial
1818 – 2018
Established
Bicentennial
2019
1819
many floats designated to the special year. The fireworks show lasted for around half an hour with hundreds of citizens of all ages watching from River view Stadium. Bicentennial Concert — Oct. 12 The Kentucky Headhunters bus was parked in Uptown Mount Carmel on the evening of Oct. 12, 2018. The Smoke Rings were set to open for
the rock legends in the heart of the bustling community. Citizens showed out, lining the streets despite a constant drizzle of rain falling on the brisk fall night. Lots of food was sold to vendors as organizers tried to salvage the concert, but with the risk of ruining all of the equipment by simply turning it on, the concert was called off. Many of the spectators
l u a t t a io r g n
Congratulations to the City of Mt. Carmel on their Bicentennial
el
Years
Ca
Mt
gathered inside Homan’s Barbershop on Market Street, though, where The Kentucky Headhunters met community members and officials to reminisce about shows the band played 20 years before, right across the Wabash River. Ahead of the event, Headhunters members expressed excitement at being able to return to the region to play their
ns
Co
0 0 2 rm on
Mount Carmel Illinois / 27
Wabash Counties oldest Financial Institution Established in 1890
400 Chestnut St | Mt. Carmel Il. 62863 | 618-263-3276
Family Owned & Operated Since 1946 Supplying Petroleum Products To Southern Illinois & Southern Indiana for 73 Years.
28/ Mount Carmel Illinois
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Organizers of all of the year's Bicentennial festivities, the Bicentennial Committee poses in this shot with the Mount Carmel Bicentennial logo t-shirts, which were available to citizens durings some of the year's events. grammy-award winning rock music, but Mother Nature had dif ferent plans. Luckily, community members were able to snap some photos and share stories with the band, though. Trivia Night — Nov. 24 Do you know what year the Easter flood occurred? This and many other questions were asked of Mount Carmel and Wabash County folks
at one of the Bicentennial-year exclusive events. The Elks hosted the event. While not all of the questions were centered on local events and histor y, all of those playing were Mount Carmel citizens vying for the title of most knowledgable. Bicentennial Committee Chairman Shawn Storckman per formed hosting duties, asking each question as the
rounds persisted. Christmas Parade — Dec. 1 Many of the floats in the Christmas Parade paid homage to the community’s 200 years in existence. A bicentennial flavor added to some of the traditional winter festivities and Mayor Bill Hudson called for community involvement with the city’s birthday in mind.
Bicentennial
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Mount Carmel Illinois / 29
Doug and Rachel Hawf performed during the Bicentennial picnic on June 30, 2018.
Ouurr 4421 O nsdt YYe eaarr Serving the Tri-State Area
We want to take this to salute the Happy Bicentennial Citytimeof Mt. Carmel. members of FFA and recognize the
Happy Bicentennial Mt. Carmel
contributions they make to promote the Here’sandto progression another great 200 years. education of agriculture.
Wabash County Farm Bureau “Serving Farmers Is Our Business” 1128 Oak Street 618-262-5865 Mt. Carmel, IL
Kyle and Connie Day, Owners
Kyle and Connie Day, Owners
1004 Landes 1004Street Landes• Mt. Street Carmel, • Mt. Carmel, Illinois Illinois (618) 263-3936 (618) 263-3936 • (812) 385-5624 • (812) 385-5624
30/ Mount Carmel Illinois
Bicentennial
There was a Community Picnic Bicentennial event held over the summer of 2018. The community showed out to eat grilled food and join in on many activities, including live music and a climbing wall.
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Mount Carmel Illinois / 31
All entrants in the 2018 Bicentennial Fantastic Fourth parade traveled under a big American flag.
St. Mary - Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church 125 W 5th St., Mt. Carmel 618-262-5337 www.stmarysparish.net Founded 1836
Happy Bicentennial Mt. Carmel
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
St. Mary’s Catholic School 417 Chestnut St., Mt. Carmel 618-263-3183 www.smsrockets.net Founded 1880 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
St. Sebastian Church 4921 N 1400 Blvd. Mt. Carmel, IL 618-298-2589 Founded 1870 https://saintsebastianparish.wordpress.com
SHARP & WILLIAMS, INC PLUMBING, HEATING, & AIR CONDITIONING Your Comfort and Happiness is Our Top Priority
202 West 9th Street Mt. Carmel, IL 62863 • 618-263-3231
32/ Mount Carmel Illinois
Bicentennial
The Bicentennial fireworks display lasted for around half an hour on Independence Day in 2018.
Shriners zipped around on go-karts for the Fantastic Fourth parade on Independence Day.
1818 – 2018
Bicentennial
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1913
Mount Carmel Illinois / 33
2013 A Ce n tu r y o f S e r v i c e
Proudly Serving Our Community Since 1913 316 N Market St. I PO Box 220 Mt. Carmel, IL 62863 (618) 262-5151 www.mtcpu.com
34/ Mount Carmel Illinois
Above: Community members gathered in the Wabash County Courthouse for the commemoration of a portrait of Abraham Lincoln Aug. 9, 2018. Among those in attendance were three Illinois judges and many community officials. Right: Not only were there an abundance of humans at the parade, but a few canines also joined in the Independence Day celebration.
Bicentennial
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Bicentennial
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Mount Carmel Illinois / 35
Mayor Bill Hudson cuts the Bicentennial cake ahead of the night's festivities Oct. 12, 2018.
Celebrating 100 years of service.
Congratulations
City of Mt. Carmel 528 Market St 618-263-3567 • www.watler.com Offices in: Brazil, Terre Haute, Evansville, Bloomington, IN and Mt Carmel, IL
Proud to be a part of Mt. Carmel’s History.
Happy Bicentennial
36/ Mount Carmel Illinois
Bicentennial
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Above: Mayor Bill Hudson waves to the crowds gathered on either side of the Fantastic Fourth parade. Left: Pictured are City Commissioners Joe Judge and Justin Dulgar grilling up hot dogs for the Fantastic Fourth Community Picnic, along with Bicentennial Committee member Shawn Storckman.
1818 – 2018
Bicentennial
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Community members ran one of the booths at the Bicentennial Concert. Despite the rain, vendors sold food to a steady line of customers before the show was cancelled.
Congratulations City of Mt. Carmel David Miller, DDS • Bryce Miller, DMD •Elisa Perez, DDS 325 East 13th Street • Mt. Carmel, IL• 618-263-6555
38/ Mount Carmel Illinois
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The stage was set Oct. 12 for the Bicentennial Concert, but rain plagued the evening's festivities, causing the event's cancellation.
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Hundreds gathered for the Fantastic Fourth parade along Market Street on Independence Day.
Congrats City of Mt. Carmel on 200 Years. Rotary Club Mt. Carmel Established February 1920
2018-2019
District Governor - Janice Alka - 6510 Assistant Governor - Bill Hackler - Area 9 Club President - Robin Dean
702 Market
262-8333
Club meets at 12 on Mondays at Hogg Heaven
40/ Mount Carmel Illinois
Bicentennial
1818 – 2018
Members of the Bicentennial Committee posed for a photo with the Kentucky Headhunters at Homan's Barbershop on Market Street after the show was rained out.
City and county officials met up with the Kentucky Headhunters after the concert was rained out Oct. 12, 2018. Citizens lined the streets awaiting the concert for an hour or longer in the rain before the announcement that it had to be cancelled due to the constant drizzle. Sheriff Derek Morgan and Mount Carmel Commissioners Justin Dulgar and Eric Ikemire flanked guitarist Richard Young as he describes shows he played in the area decades earlier.
1818 – 2018
Bicentennial
Mount Carmel Illinois / 41
Lots of locals gathered Nov. 24 for the Bicentennial Trivia Night at the Elks Lodge in Mount Carmel.
Congratulations City of Mt. Carmel on 200 years. 210 E. Elm St. • Albion 618-445-3329
Happy Bicentennial Mt. Carmel Hwy 1 Mt.Carmel, IL FFL# 3-37-09712
618-262-8092
Bicentennial
42/ Mount Carmel Illinois
Established
1818 – 2018
Bicentennial
2019
1819
Mount Carmel Bicentennial Partners
DIAMOND LEVEL PARTNERS
Dee Drilling Company The First National Bank of Allendale
The City of Mount Carmel
PLATINUM LEVEL PARTNERS Mt. Carmel Public Utility
Wabash General Hospital Hogg Heaven BBQ
GOLD LEVEL PARTNERS
Wabash County Tourism Board MotoRad Kieffer Brothers Construction Mt. Carmel Stabilization Health Insurance Associates WSJD FM - 100.5 Mt. Carmel Rotary
SILVER LEVEL PARTNERS
Hours of Operation Tues. Thurs. & Sun. 2 to 5 pm. Other times by appointment. Check Us Out On Facebook 320 Market Street, Mt. Carmel, IL 62863
618-262-8774 www.museum.wabash.il.us
Wabash County Chamber of Commerce Sara Storckman Realty, Inc. J. Wilderman Autoplex Sharp & Williams Wabash County Retail Merchants Committee HLR Engineering Banterra Bank The Mt. Carmel Register Mt. Carmel Rural King
BRONZE LEVEL PARTNERS
Buehler’s Buy-Low Waterbury Enterprises, Inc. Kelli J. Storckman, Attorney at Law, P.C. Taco Tierra Borowiak’s IGA Dan Schonert - State Farm Harris Insurance Agency M&S Oil Well Cementing
Craig & Sue Newman Mundy Insurance and Real Estate Area Economic Alliance Matt Pyatt - Edward Jones Corporate America Family Credit Union Premium Rock Bit Corporation Comprehensive Dental Short Cunningham Funeral Home Mt. Carmel Lions Club DHI RealtyHandsome Rooster Coffee Company
SUPPORTING LEVEL PARTNERS
Toni Brines - Edward Jones Pacific Press Technologies First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust Country Financial - Tia Morgan Mobley & Grant Auctioneers Tim Phillips - Jade Investments White Land & Mineral Fearheiley Lumber Company ADG Architecture Ryan Masterson - Kemper CPA First Bank Famous J’s Drive-In Corwin Printing
FRIENDS OF THE BICENTENNIAL LEVEL PARTNERS
Josh Farley - Edward Jones Country Financial - Dane Schmucker 8th Street Liquors
1818 – 2018
Bicentennial
Mount Carmel Illinois / 43
44/ Mount Carmel Illinois
Bicentennial
1818 – 2018