Forkeyville Newspaper Articles
Upper Alton History | Lindbergh Park
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A STRANGE VISITANT
Source: Alton Telegraph, February 4, 1848
We learn that a Banded Lynx, or American Tiger Cat, was shot some
days since in the forks of the Wood River, three miles from Upper
Alton, by Mr. Stephen Woolridge. It was a female of a light black
color, slightly mingled with white, ears erect and tipped with a
long pencil of black hair, and powerful claws. This animal was 16
inches high and measured three feet in length. Its remains are in
the office of Dr. Frederick Humbert, Upper Alton.
SALOON AT FORKYVILLE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 12, 1895
Charles Isenberg, late proprietor of the saloon at "Forkeyville,"
will move to Bethalto soon and start a butcher shop.
FORKEYVILLE SALOON KEEPER ARRESTED
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, July 26, 1904
C. A. Wildi, who conducts a saloon at Forkeyville, east of Upper
Alton, was arrested on a capias [warrant] issued from the county
court on information filed in court July 21, that Wildi was
conducting a saloon without a license. All the illicit saloon
keepers in the county have been similarly dealt with and their cases
are set for hearing before Judge Hillskotter, August 2. The saloon
keepers will be fined on a plea of guilty, will pay their fines and
costs and escape with a very light penalty. The saloon keepers in
the county throughout Madison find it much cheaper to pay a fine
biennially or even annually than it is to take out the county
license. This is an evil the county board has been trying to
correct, but so far without any success whatever. The state's
attorney should see to it the fines of these saloon keepers are made
commensurate with the amount of the license fee.
PASTOR PROSECUTES SALOON KEEPER AT FORKEYVILLE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 19, 1906
This morning C. A. Wildi, the operator of the "Forkeyville" saloon,
agreed to quit business and close up the place. Charges were
preferred against Mr. Wildi by Rev. C. C. Hall and Prof. H. C.
Tilton, and he was indicted for selling liquor without a license.
Upon agreeing to quit business, the gentlemen who preferred the
charges had the indictment quashed. Warrants were sworn out by the
same persons against the proprietors of the Fritz saloon and the
O'Leary and Purvis saloon at Yager Park, and these men were given a
hearing this afternoon in Justice W. C. Elder's court in Upper
Alton.
FIRE AT FORKEYVILLE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, October 12, 1906
The residence of Peter Edsall, opposite the "Forkeyville Saloon,"
east of Upper Alton, was destroyed by fire about 3 o'clock this
morning. Mr. and Mrs. Edsall lived in the house, which was a
two-story structure, alone. They were wakened this morning by smoke
in the house and upon investigation found that the kitchen was on
fire and that almost everything in it was burned up. Mr. Edsall
immediately began to remove the furniture from the other room upon
seeing that the house was doomed. He succeeded in saving most of it,
but valuable papers were destroyed. Nothing was saved from the
kitchen. He attributes the fire to a wall lamp which was left
burning in the kitchen. The house was owned by C. A. Wildi of Upper
Alton, and was insured. Mr. Edsall had no insurance on his household
goods.
FORKYVILLE SOLD TO BIRCH BROTHERS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 10, 1910
The property at the forks of the road east of Upper Alton, known as
"Forkeyville," has been sold to the Birch Brothers of Upper Alton.
The Birches intend to start a poultry farm on the place, and will
take charge of it immediately. Mart Smith has been living in the
property for some time, and he moved out today, coming to Upper
Alton to a cottage on Park Avenue.
FORKYVILLE SALOON BUILDING SOLD
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 25, 1913
The prospects of starting the insane hospital work has stirred up
much activity in Upper Alton real estate, and also in the vicinity.
Yesterday the old building occupied for years as a saloon of
"Forkyville" was sold to Barr Dailey by C. A. Wildi for $2,000.
WILLIAM DAILEY TO IMPROVE FORKYVILLE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 28, 1913
William Dailey, who recently bought the triangle property at the
forks of the road east of Upper Alton, sent some men out there this
morning to start work. The first job to be done is some wrecking in
the old house, where the Forkyville saloon was formerly kept.
William Oswald has taken the contract for the wrecking to be done on
the interior of the building, and he was at work there today. Mr.
Dailey will improve the property and start a saloon there. He kept a
saloon in the place before starting one in the East End.
NO SALOON FOR FORKEYVILLE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 7, 1913
The fears that there would be a saloon started in the territory
formerly comprising the old village of Upper Alton, or even in the
out building known as Forkyville, have been dashed, by the
statements of the authorities. State's Attorney J. M. Bandy has
authorized the public statement that he will not, under any
circumstances, allow an illicit saloon to be conducted in the
Forkeyville saloon building recently bought by Barr Dailey for that
purpose. Mayor Faulstich is quoted as saying that Dailey cannot
start a saloon within the limits of the old village of Upper Alton.
A building was recently purchased in the north end of the old
village, over a mile from Shurtleff College, in which it was planned
to start a saloon. The mayor declares he will issue no license, as
long as he is mayor, to any person for a saloon in what was Upper
Alton territory. Thus, two buildings have been acquired for the
purposes of starting saloons and neither can be used for the
business.
WILL DAILY PLANS TO OPEN FORKYVILLE RESORT
Source: Alton Telegraph, June 19, 1913
Will Dailey has sold his saloon in the East End to his bartender, Ed
Young, and Mr. Dailey plans to re-open the "Forkeyville" resort in
big style. Some time ago the State'a Attorney, J. M. Bandy, gave his
word that the "Forkeyville" saloon would not be opened. It is within
a mile of the city limits of Alton and no license for the place can
be granted. Barr Dailey, father of Will Dailey, told a Telegraph
reported today that his son would start at once fixing up the
Forkyville place he recently bought. He will do some more building,
erect a dance pavilion, have a merry-go-round, and will sell beer
and other liquors there. It is said that the Forkyville saloon
cannot be closed unless the Yager Park saloons are closed, they,
too, being within a mile of the limits of Alton. Dailey plans to
build a concrete dike around the place from Wood River's floods. It
is very probable that the attempt to open the saloon will be
resisted by persons interested, as the Western Military Academy is
strongly opposed to any saloon at "Forkyville," and there are others
who are opposed, too.
WILLIAM H. DAILEY PURCHASES FORKEYVILLE
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 17, 1914
William H. Dailey purchased the property at the forks of the road
known as "Forkeyville." Since purchasing this real estate, Mr. Daily
has greatly improved it. All the old out-buildings have been torn
down and some new and up-to-date buildings have been put up in their
place. The main building itself has been put up in their place, and
Mr. Dailey and family are living in it. He is also building a new
house across the road on some of the ground that originally belonged
to this piece of property.
WILL OPEN A STORE AT THE FORKS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 23, 1914
Once more the building at the forks of the road will be a business
house, but the business to be conducted there in the very near
future will be entirely different from the kind of business
"Forkeyville" got its reputation from. Dry goods will be handled
there instead of wet goods. William Dailey, the new owner of the
famous Forkeyville property, is getting ready to open a general
store there, and he will handle a complete line of groceries, dry
goods and general produce. Contractor O. M. Elder is at work in Mr.
Dailey's building putting in the shelves in the storeroom and
otherwise getting the place ready to accommodate the new business
line that will soon be opened there. This store will be a great
convenience to the residents of the country east of Upper Alton,
which is rapidly building up. When the state decided upon this
location for the insane hospital and finally purchased the site east
of Upper Alton, Mr. Dailey at once recognized the fact that
Forkeyville would be a valuable location for business purposes,
being located between Upper Alton and the hospital site, and he
bought the place, improved it and is living there.
HARTNETT TO CONDUCT BUSINESS AT THE FORKS
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, May 13, 1919
Daniel Hartnett Jr. will operate a grocery store in the building at
the forks of the roads just east of Upper Alton, which was for many
years a saloon, and which was known as Forkeyville. Mr. Hartnett Sr.
has purchased the property from William H. Dailey, and he will turn
it over to his son who will conduct the business. This piece of
property has had a history owing to the saloon which was run in it
at many different times in years gone by. Henry Vahle leased the
property some years ago from Mr. Dailey, and the latter continued
the business in their property that Mr. Dailey had started. Since
the Alton State Hospital has been in operation, this location has
become quite a good business spot, and Mr. Vahle has been doing
well. When he vacates the building, Mr. Hartnett will take charge
and will continue in that line. Mr. Vahle owns a couple of lots on
the south side of the road on the "Q" hill, and he will at once
commence to build a residence and a business building upon these
lots. When he leaves the "Forkeyville" location, he will conduct the
same line of business in his new property that he is about to
commence. College avenue between Upper Alton and the State Hospital
is becoming a real business way judging from the new stores that are
to be started upon it.
FORMER OWNER OF FORKEYVILLE DIES
William H. Dailey
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, January 20, 1921
William H. Dailey dropped dead this morning about 12:45 o'clock in
his home about five minutes after coming in from his place of
business and locking the door. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Barzilla C.
Dailey, were asleep upstairs and they heard him enter the house at
the usual time when he closed his place of business. Only a few
minutes after he locked the door, they heard him fall to the floor.
Mr. Dailey hurried to the light switch and turned on the lights and
ran downstairs, finding the son lying on the floor in a corner
between the wall and the bed where he had fallen head first. The
aged father was satisfied that his son was dying and he ran out into
the street calling for help. The entire neighborhood was aroused.
The Dailey home is located on Merchant street, just off of
Washington, in the rear of the College Avenue business houses. B. C.
Dailey, the father who is about 78 years old, ran all the way from
his home to the residence of Dr. L. L. Yerkes in an effort to get
help for his son when he was dying. Dr. Yerkes got out as quickly as
possible and hurried to the Dailey home. He said that death had been
instantaneous when Mr. Dailey fell to the floor. A slight mark over
one of his eyes gave evidence of the fact that he had struck his
face on a window sill as he fell forward. Will Dailey was one of the
best-known men in the city of Alton and he was widely known outside
of the city. He was 51 years old and was born and reared in Upper
Alton. All his life was spent here with the exception of a few years
he was in the West. During his boyhood days his father was engaged
in street car work for the company that operated the horse car line
in Alton for many years. With his brothers and father, he worked for
the company and was well known as a street car driver. Later he did
the same kind of work for several years in Omaha. For the last
twenty years he had been in business either in Alton or on the
outskirts. He owned the famous "Forkeyville" property at the forks
of the road east of Upper Alton for several years, and he was the
first man to convert the business of that place from a rural saloon
to a merchandise store. After establishing the merchandise business
there where a saloon had caused much trouble to educational
institutions in Upper Alton for many years, he sold the property and
engaged in business in Upper Alton. He bought the property at the
corner of College and Washington avenues from D. M. Kittinger and
last year he put up a fine new business building on a part of the
ground. He had been planning many other improvements for this
valuable piece of real estate which he would not doubt have brought
about had his life been spared. Mr. Dailey was a man whose
appearance would indicate perfect health. He was never ill to any
extent, and he weighed about 240 pounds. Yesterday all day he had
complained of indigestion. We went home at noon yesterday for his
usual meal, but his family say he ate very little. He again
complained of indigestion and requested his aged mother to give him
a small quantity of baking soda, which was an old remedy of the
family. In the evening he still complained of pain, but he did not
think his case at all serious. He was in his usual jovial mood all
evening while in charge of his pool hall on Washington avenue, and
he played billiards all evening with some young men. He closed his
place of business about the usual time and remained outside for some
little time, talking to some boys before he went home. When the word
became circulated in Upper Alton that he was dead, it was a surprise
that was really hard to believe. Mr. Dailey leaves besides his aged
parents, Mr. and Mrs. B. C. Dailey, a little daughter whom he and
his deceased wife adopted when a baby. He also leaves one sister,
Mrs. Rose Williams, of Upper Alton, and one brother, Charles Dailey
of Los Angeles, Cal. The late J. A. Dailey, whose tragic death
occurred some years ago while he was assessor of Wood River
township, was the third brother of the family. The death of Will
Dailey in the prime of life is a sad blow to his aged parents. The
sympathy of the community is with the bereaved father and mother.
While 51 years of age, in years he would have been considered a
person past middle age, but to those who knew him well he was more
of a boy than a man who had lived a half century. He was a man who
never got old, and the chances are he never would have if he had
lived many more years.
[NOTE: In 1929 the State decided to build a new bridge over the Wood
River at Forkeyville on what was then Route 160. During its
construction, due to faulty workmanship, the bridge collapsed and
fell into the river. The superintendent of the company was fired,
and construction continued. Later, in June of 1929, the bridge, more
than two thirds completed, fell in the river again. Blame was placed
on heavy rains and flooding which swept out the supporting piling.]
HISTORY OF LINDBERGH PARK NEAR
FORKEYVILLE
In July of 1927, the Maggos brothers held their grand opening of
Lindbergh Park, east of Upper Alton, , just west of Forkeyville. The
main feature of the park was Alton’s only outdoor swimming pool,
746’ long and 75’ wide. The water used for the pool was supplied by
several large springs. At one end of the pool, water was 12’ deep.
The bottom of the pool was covered with gravel and sand. Another
feature of the park was the dance pavilion with live music. A
refreshment stand was included. Swimming and dancing at the park
were free. Canoeing was also offered. In 1928 the pool was drained
and a concrete bottom was installed using gravel from the Wood
River, which was nearby. Lindbergh Park became a popular resort for
area residents, and even Robert Wadlow was seen in the pool.
In 1929, the Maggos brothers began drilling for oil on the park
property. Harry Maggos stated he had drilled to more than 100 feet.
In 1935 a fire destroyed the refreshment hall at the park, and it
was not covered with insurance.
By 1938 the park was closed, but Harry Maggos still lived on the
property. The pool was turned into a pay fishing pond. Old Christmas
trees were thrown into the water to provide fish habitat. Maggos
enclosed some of the ground, including the swimming pool, with
fencing, and kept his pet deer there, four of which he brought from
Mexico and others he brought from Texas. He constructed islands in
the pool for the deer to graze on and keep out of the water. In
1945, Harry Maggos had extensive grading done on his property to
bring the surrounding grounds around his business up to a grade with
the State highway (Rt. 140).
The location of Lindbergh Park was on the south side of College
Avenue, just west of the quarry, and approximately across from the
Alton Sportstap tavern. Lindbergh Tavern was located on the
Lindbergh Park property well into the 1970s.