Belknap, IL - community of olde
Belknap is a quaint community of a few houses. At first glance, there's nothing else here. Glance again. We think it's neat.
Just south of Cypress on Rt. 37, where the Dongola road goes west, turn east, instead. West Eden church is along the bluff loop of the road. Especially if you pass here in the early morning, with dew or frost on the pumpkin, you'll catch why they named it "Eden".
Just south, between here and Karnak, is former swampland and timber logging, where the Ohio River once ran. Some stately houses are still visible in Belknap. At the turn of the previous century there were at least a couple grocery stores. It may still have its post office.
A sign to the north, in town, points you to headquarters for Cache River State Natural area. What looks like a bus stop is a former railroad, now the Tunnel Hill hiking/biking trail, to rest your bones a bit, along the trail.
Click here for a tour of the Tunnel Hill trail
This part of Johnson County once had several railroads, with sidings, spurs, interchanges, depots. Joppa Junction was west. Forman, with several sidings, was east. The only depot that survived is one that a farmer had kept a good roof on, to store hay. They moved it recently to the east side of Vienna, where it's well worth a visit. It houses the local tourism office. It's near the depot that now serves as the Tunnel Hill trail main office.
Belknap's access from the east is off US 45. The Cache River Valley winery is on this road. Just behind it is a nearly hidden marker that says George Rogers Clark's men passed here when going from Fort Massac to Kaskaskia to capture it from the British, in 1778, at the same time George Washington's troops were leaving Valley Forge to rout the Redcoats from Philadelphia.
Put on your old vision imagination and visit Belknap. See why they call this simple place "Eden".
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Belknap, Beginning of 1900
Vienna Times, January 25, 1900
Alighting from the train at our depot you will find yourself in a town of about 500 inhabitants. The obliging agent in the office is Mr. Joe Morgan, one of our boys, who has been in the employ of the Big 4 at this place about 3 years. Looking to the left, we take notice how in the past few years South Belknap has grown and spread till it has reached the forest-covered bottom land. This large two story building is our school house. We employ three teachers, and when our children complete the course of study prepared for them they are well fitted for any occupation in life. Observe our broad, clean streets and six foot sidewalks all through the town, with never a saloon to pay expenses.
Turning from the depot up Main Street, we stop at the Belknap House, where we are greeted by the smiling landlord, Uncle Jim Bob Evers, and his wife, who will make you welcome and comfortable. In the front of this building the Herod Brothers keep a large stock of dry goods and groceries.
Just beyond is the large flour mill owned by W. L. Williams and managed by his brother, S. T. Williams. Here you can buy the finest of flour. Farther up the same street we read from a modest sign "Cottage Hotel." This place is widely known for its wholesome meals and nice treatment of the traveling public.
We retrace our steps across Main Street and enter the store belonging to W. Particular Brown. Now we know why "Particular" is attached to his name, for in his large stock of goods, where you can purchase anything, from a toothpick to a parlor stove, he is particular to have everything in its place and give you the best of bargains.
Belknap - Southernmost Illinois
The next door is W. A. Burns, one of our old citizens, coming here when our town was in its infancy. He keeps a large stock of goods. Back to the corner we pass up Main Street; here is our drugstore. The owner, S. H. Rees, bids you enter where everything has a fresh appearance and he can furnish you with any kind of patent medicine, paints, brushes and jewelry.
The next door is the barber shop, run by Lewis Tapley. This restaurant, where fruit, candy and other good things are displayed, belongs to W. F. Weeks. Just above, we enter the large store of W. L. Williams. Here the post office is kept, also. The clerks, W. H. Gibbons and Miss Myrtle Williams will sell you anything from a side of bacon to the finest silk or satin.
We cross the street and enter the store of our enterprising spokesman, O. M. Fraim. Not many years ago Mr. Fraim came to our town a poor man. Now he owns several hundred acres of land, a large store well stocked with goods__showing what any man can do in Southern Illinois when he tries.
Next door above is the office of Dr. O. P. Martin, where you will find all the up-to-date medical journals, mysterious mixtures and dangerous looking instruments.
Just a few steps from this we enter another office, with the neat sign of Dr. A. I. Brown; very much like the other office, save the owner is more active, being a much younger man. Our doctors are both church members; so are all our business men with one or two exceptions.The saloon question has been submitted to our people but once in more than twenty years.
Our churches, of which we have two, the M. E. and Christian, are well attended.
If you will climb to the summit of this large picturesque bluff you will find a beautiful view spread out before you. Looking to the southwest, we see the white buildings in Grand Chain; also the smoke from the steamboats on the Ohio river, the highlands in Massac, Pulaski and Union counties; while below us is our own little town, the smoke curling up from many chimneys, speaking of warmth and happiness within.
________Author unknown
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