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    Vandalia, Illinois
    Vandalia, Illinois
    Vandalia, Illinois
    Ebook173 pages46 minutes

    Vandalia, Illinois

    By Brenda Baptist Protz

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    About this ebook

    Situated on the Kaskaskia River is the community of Vandalia, Illinois, a town proud of its place in history and excited about its future. Vandalia has proved that as the place where Abraham Lincoln began his political career, and the location of the terminus of the Cumberland Road, it is a town of global historical importance.Vandalia, Illinois contains many previously unpublished photographs, and not only highlights Vandalia's place in Illinois state politics, but also touches on those unique individuals, families, events, and businesses that helped shape it. Vandalia served as Illinois' capital from 1819-1839, when Springfield took over that honor. During the 20 years it served as the capital of Illinois, Vandalia became the starting point for many political and professional careers-most notably a young, beardless Abe Lincoln.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArcadia Publishing
    Release dateSep 18, 2012
    ISBN9781439627983
    Vandalia, Illinois
    Author

    Brenda Baptist Protz

    Jacksonville, Illinois native Brenda Baptist Protz received her bachelor's degree in communication and mass media, and her master's degree in interpersonal and organizational communication from the University of Illinois at Springfield. An award-winning journalist, she became interested in Vandalia's history while a newspaper features editor. Now affiliated with the local Main Street Program as well as the Fayette County Museum and Historical Vandalia Inc., she continues to promote Vandalia's rich history and assist in bringing historic downtown Vandalia back to its original splendor.

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      Book preview

      Vandalia, Illinois - Brenda Baptist Protz

      all.

      INTRODUCTION

      Growing up in Jacksonville, Illinois, as a child, I can remember visiting the Governor Joseph Duncan Mansion and hearing the stories of Governor Duncan making the long trek by horse to perform his duties as governor in Vandalia, then the state capital. I often wondered how that town of Vandalia came to be and how it was today.

      In 1994, I was able to see for myself when my husband and I moved to Vandalia. I have had the opportunity to find out first hand about many of the people, places, and history that have made Vandalia the community it is today. While there are many historical books about Vandalia, including Vandalia Remembered, celebrating Vandalia’s 175 years, and the Souvenir Book of Vandalia, from the early 1900s, this book, Images of America: Vandalia, Illinois, was designed not as a comprehensive history of the community, but as a sort of community scrapbook. It is a place for those people who had stories to tell and for those who had pictures that may have never been seen. But it was also a project for myself, an out-of-towner who wanted to learn a little more about this community that I now call home.

      The city of Vandalia, and much of the rest of Fayette County, has been very good to me. In many ways, this is sort of a present to all of those who live here. It is important to remember that Vandalia really began in what is now our downtown area, so a lot of this book revolves around the downtown. And because the town began in this locale, I found it fitting to start the book there and to end it there. But the downtown area isn’t the only thing that Vandalia is known for.

      Many influences, such as the railroad system, helped to create Vandalia, and for the most part made downtown Vandalia what it is. The oil industry was very important, and it helped to improve the tax structure in the area. Additionally, other notable events occurred when Vandalia was the capital city. For example, Chicago received its formal city charter during that time.

      Vandalia, however, is most known for its place in the beginning of Illinois politics. After the capital was moved from Kaskaskia to Vandalia in 1819, three capitol buildings were eventually built here. The first, located at 229 South Fifth Street, where the Leader-Union newspaper is today, burned down in 1823, under what Paul Strobel’s book High on the Okaw’s Western Bank describes as mysterious circumstances. The second building was located on South Fourth Street, where today’s Trail’s End Saloon is located. This building was considered to be poorly built and was torn down in 1836. The current Vandalia Statehouse served as the state capitol from 1836–1839. And, during the time that Vandalia served as capital, a young, beardless Abraham Lincoln, from Sangamon County, came to town. Lincoln served in Vandalia as a representative from his county of Sangamon, and in 1837 made his first statement against slavery. It was also here that many political and other prominent figures lived, and in some cases, remained for life. Such sites in town as the Fayette County Museum, the Little Brick House, the Old State Cemetery, and of course the Vandalia Statehouse have been restored and preserved to show the city’s place in history.

      But this is also a town that wants to look towards the future. With growth on the north side of town increasing consistently, with quality factories, and with a revived commitment to improve the historic downtown area, the residents of Vandalia have shown that this is not only a community that is proud of its past, but one that knows what needs to happen to ensure a bright and prosperous future.

      I hope that this look down memory lane is a pleasant one. And as I said previously, it can’t possibly be a complete history, but a look back at some of the significant events that made Vandalia the place many were and are still happy to call home.

      Pictured are author Brenda Protz, daughter Brandy Michelle, and husband Randy in 1997. The Protzes moved to Vandalia in 1994. Brenda has held positions at the Leader-Union and the Vandalia Main Street Program. Her husband became a math teacher and successful football and basketball coach at Vandalia High School beginning in the fall of 1994. Daughter Brandy was born January 18, 1996 to make the Vandalia family complete.

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      VANDALIA’S CAPITOL

      Looking northwest from Gallatin Street, this is the Vandalia Statehouse early in the 1900s. Sections of the limestone slab

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