History blog from Pat Camalliere Books- For Halloween: The Ghosts of the Quarries! October 26, 2023Halloween is almost here! A good time to rell you about the Ghosts of the Quarries! Ghost hunters sometimes describe a phenomenon called the “stone tape theory.” The theory proposes that certain rocks have the ability to imprint—or “record” —energy … Continue reading →Pat Camalliere
- Submarines on the Chicago Sanitary Canal – No kidding! September 18, 2023My last post revealed some amazing information about the building of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. If you missed that post, you can read it here: The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal | Pat Camalliere – The Cora Tozzi … Continue reading →Pat Camalliere
- The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal August 6, 2023In last month’s blog, I spoke about the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal and its tremendous importance to not only the Chicago area and Illinois, but to the opening to settlement of the entire United States west of … Continue reading →Pat Camalliere
- Illinois and Michigan Canal Celebrates 175th Anniversary. July 6, 2023In April of 1848, the I & M Canal officially opened. From April of 2023 through March of 2024, the I & M Canal Corridor Association is having a year-long celebration of this event. Continue reading →Pat Camalliere
- The Des Plaines River June 6, 2023I get excited when I talk about Lemont’s waterways, because they are so important not only to the growth of Chicago, but to westward expansion across the entire continent. The only place all these important waterways come together is Lemont. … Continue reading →Pat Camalliere
- Train Wreck in Lemont, July 1905 May 9, 2023Last month’s post was about a train wreck in Lemont on the Alton-Chicago Railroad in 1873. Today we continue the subject of train wrecks with the Santa Fe derailment that also occurred in Lemont in 1905. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa … Continue reading →Pat Camalliere
- Lemont Train Wreck: August 16, 1873 April 17, 2023Is history repeating itself? Continue reading →Pat Camalliere
- Admiral Dewey and the Battle of the Sanitary Canal March 1, 2023The I & M Canal had been a tremendous success in opening up shipping and transportation between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River. However, during dry periods the level wasn’t sufficient to float the barges and boats, and during heavy … Continue reading →Pat Camalliere
- Lemont Streetcars – The Joliet and Chicago Electric Line February 19, 2023NewsOn Sunday, February 26, at 2 p.m. I will be speaking at the Lemont Historical Society about the “Lost Town of Sag Bridge.” If you have not already attended this talk, I hope you will come. If you have attended … Continue reading →Pat Camalliere
- The Ghosts of Sag Bridge January 29, 2023Recently I’ve been speaking at libraries and other local organizations about the history of Sag Bridge, a town that once existed near Archer Avenue, where Route 83 makes a turn from a north-south road to an east-west road. Although it … Continue reading →Pat Camalliere
- For Halloween: The Ghosts of the Quarries! October 26, 2023
Tag Archives: Chicago history
For Halloween: The Ghosts of the Quarries!
Halloween is almost here! A good time to rell you about the Ghosts of the Quarries! Ghost hunters sometimes describe a phenomenon called the “stone tape theory.” The theory proposes that certain rocks have the ability to imprint—or “record” —energy … Continue reading
Posted in Illinois History
Tagged Chicago history, Ghosts, Halloween, History, Lemont, quarries
Comments Off on For Halloween: The Ghosts of the Quarries!
The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal
In last month’s blog, I spoke about the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal and its tremendous importance to not only the Chicago area and Illinois, but to the opening to settlement of the entire United States west of … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Chicago, Chicago history, History, Illinois, Lemont, local history, Northern Illinois, Sanitary and Ship Canal, Sanitary Canal
Comments Off on The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal
Illinois and Michigan Canal Celebrates 175th Anniversary.
In April of 1848, the I & M Canal officially opened. From April of 2023 through March of 2024, the I & M Canal Corridor Association is having a year-long celebration of this event. Continue reading
Posted in General History, Illinois History, Lemont History
Tagged Canal Corridor Association, Chicago history, History, I & M Canal, I & M National Heritage Corridor, Illinois, Illinois and Michigan Canal, Lemont, local history, Northern Illinois
Comments Off on Illinois and Michigan Canal Celebrates 175th Anniversary.
The Des Plaines River
I get excited when I talk about Lemont’s waterways, because they are so important not only to the growth of Chicago, but to westward expansion across the entire continent. The only place all these important waterways come together is Lemont. … Continue reading
Posted in General History, Illinois History, Lemont History, Uncategorized
Tagged Chicago history, Des Plaines River, Father Marquette, History, Illinois, Lemont, local history
Comments Off on The Des Plaines River
Admiral Dewey and the Battle of the Sanitary Canal
The I & M Canal had been a tremendous success in opening up shipping and transportation between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River. However, during dry periods the level wasn’t sufficient to float the barges and boats, and during heavy … Continue reading
Posted in General History, Illinois History, Lemont History
Tagged Admiral Dewey, Chicago history, History, Lemont, Northern Illinois, Sanitary and Ship Canal, Sanitary Canal
Comments Off on Admiral Dewey and the Battle of the Sanitary Canal
Lemont Streetcars – The Joliet and Chicago Electric Line
NewsOn Sunday, February 26, at 2 p.m. I will be speaking at the Lemont Historical Society about the “Lost Town of Sag Bridge.” If you have not already attended this talk, I hope you will come. If you have attended … Continue reading
Posted in Illinois History, Lemont History
Tagged Chicago history, History, Joliet & Chicago Electric Line, Lemont, local history, Northern Illinois, Streetcars, transportation, Trolley
Comments Off on Lemont Streetcars – The Joliet and Chicago Electric Line
Chicago’s South Side Mob – Concluded #4: The Chicago Mob, The FBI & Fun Facts
Chicago’s South Side Mob – Concluded #4The FBI and Fun Facts What effect did the government and law enforcement have on the Mob?Among the skills developed by the Outfit was the ability to avoid, minimize, and overturn criminal punishment. Money was … Continue reading
Chicago’s South Side Mob – Continued #2
CHICAGO HEIGHTS AND JIMMY EMERY This is part two of a series about the South Side Chicago mob. I hope it will provide you a moment of respite from the troubles of this trying year. Since my teen years I … Continue reading
CHIEF SHABBONA – Peacemaker in a Turbulent Chicago
One translation of Shabbona’s name is “Built like a Bear,” and from all reports the name fits. As the picture above shows, he was a tall man, with broad shoulders—a large, muscular man of commanding appearance. He was an important … Continue reading
BILLY CALDWELL (SAUGANASH, THE ENGLISHMAN) – EARLY CHICAGO LEADER
Although Billy Caldwell was an educated man, written records of his life, obtained mostly from interviews, contain contradictions, and are subject to debate. He is represented as both a hero and an opportunist. We do know he had significant effect … Continue reading