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
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
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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
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ILLINOIS! 200 YEARS YOUNG TODAY!
On December 3, 1818, Illinois became the 21st state in the Union. Last month’s blog was part one of an excerpt from my mystery novel, The Mystery at Black Partridge Woods. Today’s post is the conclusion, and depicts what … Continue reading
Posted in Illinois History, Lemont History
Tagged 1818, American Indians, Chicago, Chicago history, early Illinois, Fur trade, Happy Birthday, History, Illinois, Illinois Bicentennial, Illinois frontier, Lemont, local history, Northern Illinois, Potawatomi
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Illinois Bicentennial: Life in Northern Illinois Two Hundred Years Ago
ILLINOIS BICENTENNIAL LIFE IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO PART ONE After the Revolutionary War, the Northwest Territories were set aside as lands belonging to the newly-formed United States. The territories were Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. … Continue reading
Posted in Illinois History, Lemont History
Tagged 1817, American Indians, Chicago, Chicago history, Des Plaines River, Fur trade, History, Illinois, Illinois Bicentennial, Lemont, local history, Northern Illinois, Northwest Territories, Potawatomi
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Three-year-old Elsie, 1893-1896
Three-year-old Elsie, 1893-1896 The first permanent settlers came to Northern Illinois in the 1830s and by the mid-1800s many nearby towns had grown to be of significant size. On 127th Street in Lemont is St. Matthew’s Cemetery. Cemeteries like St. … Continue reading
Posted in General History, Illinois History, Lemont History
Tagged cemetery, Chicago, Chicago history, childhood hazards, childhood mortality, children, History, Illinois, Lemont, local history, Northern Illinois, young girls
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America’s Love of Air Racing – 1930s – Rudy Kling, “Speed King”
With the Chicago Air and Water Show about to begin, I thought it a good time to tell the story of a giant of Air Racing and local boy made famous! In the late 1920s and the entire 1930s, America … Continue reading
A Walk along the River
Yesterday afternoon my husband pulled me away from my computer to take a walk on what might turn out to be the last warm day before the onset of winter. I picked the place though. I had done a … Continue reading
Posted in General History, Lemont History
Tagged American Indians, bike trails, Centennial Trail, Chicago, Chicago history, Des Plaines River, History, I & M Trail, Illinois, Illinois trails, Lemont, local history, Northern Illinois, Potawatomi
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Join Me at A River Thru History Rendezvous September 10 & 11
Those of you who follow this blog are well acquainted by now with the importance of the area’s rivers and waterways to the Chicago area. This weekend you have a unique opportunity to see this history first-hand at A River … Continue reading
Posted in General History, Lemont History
Tagged Chicago, Chicago history, Chicago Rivers, Des Plaines River, Fur trade, Illinois, Lemont, local history, reenactments, voyageurs
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The Chicago Portage and Its Importance
My new book release, The Mystery at Black Partridge Woods, has a number of scenes where the characters travel through the Chicago Portage. It was this arrangement of bodies of water and ground level that was responsible for the City … Continue reading
Posted in General History, Lemont History
Tagged Chicago, Chicago history, Chicago Portage, History, Lake Chicago, Lake Michigan, Lemont, local history, Mount Forest Island, Northern Illinois, Sag Bridge, The Mystery at Black Partridge Woods
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Announcing The Mystery at Black Partridge Woods
I am very excited to announce that The Mystery at Black Partridge Woods is now available for purchase at Amazon! It is also available on Kindle and Kobo now, and soon will be available for Barnes and Noble and iBook. … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 1817, American Indians, Chicago, History, Illinois, legendary beast, Lemont, local history, mystery, Northern Illinois, novel, Potawatomi
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