By Tom Anderson, Museum Board Member
Cris and Tom Anderson
What did you first hear about St. Charles before moving here? What are some of your earliest memories of our beautiful community? One of the most amazing things about our City is how all of our individual stories connect and intertwine to make St. Charles what it is today. Each of your neighbors who live here has their own distinct story to tell.
My wife Cris, who is from Brazil, remembers a long train ride 48 years ago while she was a graduate student at BYU to visit a friend here in St. Charles. Her friend lived on a farm, but today there aren't many of those left around our city.
I am a lifelong St. Charles resident, and in my travels, I have met many people from all over who have some kind of personal connection to this City. Even back in the 50s, a woman in Florida told me she had her honeymoon at the Hotel Baker, fittingly nicknamed "The Honeymoon Hotel". Acquaintances in Chicago told me they had fond memories of fun family picnics at Pottawatomie Park.
When I went off to Augustana College in Rock Island, St. Charles would bring different memories to mind for people. When I would introduce myself and mentioned I was from St. Charles, I would pause and say, “They let me out on good behavior.” It always got a laugh because kids from all over Illinois were told by their parents, “behave yourself, or you’ll be sent to St. Charles.”
That of course, was in reference to the St. Charles Boys School, which we are exploring in our fall temporary exhibit that is on display through the end of the year.
I remember what St. Charles was like in the 1950s, and the City has certainly come a long way since then. But it is important to remember that this community belongs to all of us, whether you are a lifelong resident like me or a recent transplant. If you are new here, we encourage you to stop by the Museum and learn a bit about the story of St. Charles and get acquainted with “The Pride of the Fox”.
I will leave you with a new recent photograph that was donated to the Museum by my late friend, Don Soderquist. Find the photo and details below.
P.S. Remember to visit our Gift Shop this holiday season for all of your St. Charles gift-giving needs!
This photo, providing a unique look at some St. Charles industry and businesses, just came to the Museum courtesy of Don Soderquist. Carl, his father, built their company’s building pictured front and center and started their company. c. 1950s
Joshels Lumber and Fuel (1) with railroad boxcars and sidings.
Colonial Ice Cream plant (2), and the business my grandfather Simon started in 1901.
Storage tanks for the McCornack Oil Company (3). One of their old gas stations is now our History Museum today.
In the center of the photo is the building at 303 north on Route 31 (4), where Dick Pond Athletics is today. At this time, that building was Carl E. Soderquist and Sons construction garage. The company built road and highway bridges and constructed the bridge on Route 25, two blocks north of E. Main Street near downtown as well as the Illinois Street bridge.
