and Reginald Harman-giving Olney the nickname of Town of “The Generals.” The 1950 Census placed the U.S. Center of Population a little west and north of Dundas, on the Carl Snider farm. On October 18, 1951, a large parade and celebration brought out 25,000 residents and visitors, including Gov. Adini Stevenson, Sen. Paul Douglas and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Olney was a typical county town of the nineteenth-century Midwest. With stores strung along the main street, the bustling area was the hub of activity for the surrounding countryside. The real growth of Olney began in 1855 with the completion of the O & M Railroad. On once occasion in 1858, 17 carloads of immigrants, with their household goods and faming utensils, landed at the Olney depot. Through Lincoln and Douglas never debated in Olney, both presidential candidates spoke at separate political rallies in Olney on the same day, September 20, 19856. A special plaque commemorating the occasion is located on the courthouse lawn. Most Richland County natives have no idea the Village of Claremont was once a resort town. A large lake once extended on both sides of the railroad tracks on the west side of Claremont. The lake-supporting boat rides, a large hotel and summer resort-was a popular center in “Sundaying” the 1880’s and 1890’s. Special train excursions ran from St. Louis to the Claremont resort. Claremont had its spot in national politics. Miss Marie Brehm, a teacher at Claremont School during the 1887-88 term, was an ardent advocate of prohibition and women suffrage. Her interest and enthusiasm in temperance and moral welfare cause her to travel widely throughout the world. She worked her way to the top of the National Committee Prohibition Party in 1920 and was on the Prohibition Party’s ticket as candidate for vice president of the United States in the 1924 national election. Another big attraction of the decade of the 1880’s was the Illinois State Fair, held in Olney in 1887 and again in 1888.
and Reginald Harman-giving Olney the nickname of “The Town of Generals.” The 1950 Census placed the U.S. Center of Population a little west and north of Dundas, on the Carl Snider farm. On October 18, 1951, a large parade and celebration brought out 25,000 residents and visitors, including Gov. Adini Stevenson, Sen. Paul Douglas and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Olney was a typical county town of the nineteenth-century Midwest. With stores strung along the main street, the bustling area was the hub of activity for the surrounding countryside. The real growth of Olney began in 1855 with the completion of the O & M Railroad. On once occasion in 1858, 17 carloads of immigrants, with their household goods and faming utensils, landed at the Olney depot. Through Lincoln and Douglas never debated in Olney, both presidential candidates spoke at separate political rallies in Olney on the same day, September 20, 19856. A special plaque commemorating the occasion is located on the courthouse lawn. Most Richland County natives have no idea the Village of Claremont was once a resort town. A large lake once extended on both sides of the railroad tracks on the west side of Claremont. The lake-supporting boat rides, a large hotel and summer resort-was a popular “Sundaying” center in the 1880’s and 1890’s. Special train excursions ran from St. Louis to the Claremont resort. Claremont had its spot in national politics. Miss Marie Brehm, a teacher at Claremont School during the 1887-88 term, was an ardent advocate of prohibition and women suffrage. Her interest and enthusiasm in temperance and moral welfare cause her to travel widely throughout the world. She worked her way to the top of the National Committee Prohibition Party in 1920 and was on the Prohibition Party’s ticket as candidate for vice president of the United States in the 1924 national election. Another big attraction of the decade of the 1880’s was the Illinois State Fair, held in Olney in 1887 and again in 1888.
Olney_Memories_123.docx