The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-09-18
SEES A LESSON
FOR kENOSHA
Conrad shearer Visits
Braceyille and Makes Some
Discoveries That May .
Help Kenosha Today.
NOT LIKE YEARS AGO
Illinois Mining City Had Promise of
Becoming a Metropolis But Filtered
1t Away and Now Garden Plots Take
Places Once Sought AS Home Sites

When Conrad Shearer goes visiting
ne does not entirely forget Kenosha.
This was demonstrated today when Mr..
Shearer returned from Braceville, Hi
nois, where he has been spending sew
eral days as the guest of friends.
While in the Illinois village-it used
ito be city-he was reminded of the
housing problem of Kenosha and many
other cities not by its presence there
but by its absence. There is one
thing worse than having a housing
problem like the one in Kenesha,.'
said Mr.. Shearer, "it is having mo
housing problem at alto have houses
by the score empty for years and with
prospects for being empty much long
err His deductions on the situation
in this Illinois city, less than sixty
miles from Chicago, are of especial in
terest to Kenosha at the present time.
Mr.. Shearer admits that he found time
while visiting there to make some COM
PARSONS and contrasts to the situation
IL lACnUcud anu III UIu0I tuSI bu0 IN
ferences from them may be of value to
the Kenosha public, he has given the
following account of the rise and fall
of a modern city:
Several years ago BraeeviI1e, Illi-
Inois, was a prosperous and growing
city. Among the mining towns of
Grundy county, it was the leader. It
had three fine schools whose teaching
force numbered twelve. There were
five large groceries, two meat markets.,
two drug stores and twenty saloons.
Religion was not overlooked, for six
churches took care of the spiritual
needs of the population. Through the
Office of the mining company thousands
of dollars were handed out twice each
month to the large force of employees.
All went well for years until continued
strikes closed the mines for good.
"Contrast such conditions with those
of the present. Today there is but
little left that savors of former pros
perity. In short the town has gone to
pieces. Most Of the houses have been
moved away, and those left are for
sale. One school with four teachers
takes ample care of, the rising genera
ton, Other needs are cared for with
two grocery stores and two saloons.
There are no drug stores nor doctors TO
minister TO the sick, and the one church
has no regular pastor. City lots SO by
100 feet without buildings ssll for $40
to SIS. Houses and lots bring $3.50 to
5000, and the buildings now being
moved away are purchased for from
$50 to 800. Most of these houses are
of the one-story type and have from
five to seven rooms. They are 4well
built and the lumber is worth MANY
times the price of the building. Some
fine two-story houses, which, if located
in Kenosha on our principal residence
streets, would sell for $4,000 to $4,000,
bring but $500 to $500 on the market
here. The city lots, which are of black
soil, are very productive and garden
vegetables grow abundantly. Residents
who do not care to leave the town have
purchased several lots fer a song and
now own good sized garden tracts u
All this change has taken place
within comparatively brief space Of
time, which goes to show what may
come to any thriving municipality. In
spite of all misfortune the people are
alive and can set some example to
other cities. On every Saturday even
ing the regular community dance is
held, and it is an event that draws the
people from miles around. Had such
cooperative spirit entered into the
business as well as the social affairs of
the town, the story might be different.
All said, like the people here inn
mensely, and for vacation resort, it
knocks the quiet of Sheridan Road all
hollow"
RAIN TEACHERS ENTERTAIN.