Belleville IL History

1801 - Settlements were made in the vicinity of Belleville. Many of the pioneers were of
Pennsylvania Dutch descent.

1813 - Thomas Harrison built the first cotton gin in Belleville.

1814 - Frenchman George Blair founds Belleville. George donates an acre of his land for the Town Square and an additional 25 acres that adjoined the Square for the new County Seat.

Belleville becomes the county seat of St. Clair County, replacing Cahokia. George names the city "Belleville" for "Beautiful City" in French.

1814 - Joseph Kerr opens the first store in Belleville.

1817 - James Tannehill opens a distillery, Belleville's first industry.

1818 - Illinois becomes a state.

1819 - Belleville is incorporated as a village. Population: 150.

1821 - The first state hanging takes place in Belleville near the site of the Henry Raab school. Timothy Bennett is sentenced to death for the murder of Alphonso C. Stewart on September 23.

1821 - Belleville Academy is established to provide young gentlemen with an opportunity for higher learning.

1822 - Whipping posts constructed in the public square. Used once. Later used as hitching posts.

1825 - William Fowler opens the first commercial coal mine.

1832 - Belleville's first brewery, and the first in the state of Illinois, was opened by Jacob Fleishbein in 1832.

1836 - Residents established the Belleville Public Library. Today it is the oldest Public Library in the State. The first books purchased were Sparks 'Life of Washington', a 12
Volume set. Today, the volumes are held in the Library vault.

1841 - Belleville's first Fire Department is organized with 2 stations and and a team of volunteers.

1842 - The Cathedral of St. Peter at 200 W. Harrison Street is founded.

1849 - Cholera epidemic hits Belleville. Town Trustees purchase land from Philip B. Fouke for $400.00 to found the Walnut Hill Cemetary as a municipal burial plot.

1850 - Belleville is incorporated as a city. Population: Estimated at 4,000. Theodore Krafft is the first Mayor.

1861 - The first national miners' union in the country took place in Belleville when the American Miners' Association was formed.

1862 - Eckert's Country Store and Farm opens on Route 15. Today it is the largest Pick-Your-Own orchard in the Country.

1864 - Belleville Philharmonic Socity is formed. Today it is the second oldest Philharmonic Orchestra in the Country.

1874 - Belleville's first street railway is operated.

1891 - Land is purchased for a City Hall and the structure is completed in 1892.

1904 - The Belleville Shoe Company is founded. They produce their first military footwear for the Great War in 1917. Today they are the largest suppliers of military footwear to the U.S. military.

1913 - The first automobile accident victim is buried in Walnut Hill Cemetary.

1917 - Scott Air Force Base opens for formal flying instruction. The base is named after Corporal Frank S. Scott. The Air Service Balloon and Airship School opens later in 1922.

1920 - The Belleville Jaycees are founded. Today they are the 4th oldest chapter in the World.

1921 - The Lincoln Theatre at 103 East Main opens as a vaudeville house. In 1927 the orchestra is replaced by a theatre organ.

1937 - The Veteran's Memorial Fountain was built in 1937 by local Veterans of Foreign Wars as a memorial to American servicemen at a cost of $600.00 because of donated materials and labor.

1945 - Belleville Parks and Recreation Department is founded.

1958 - The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows at Route 15 and 157 is founded by Fr. Edwin J Guild.

1958 - Belleville Pool opens on Hecker Street.