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Alton Catholic Churches

Replies: 15

Re: Alton Catholic Churches

Posted: 23 Jul 2005 4:33PM GMT
Classification: Query
Ok, the homes on that part of Belle Street were probably not built until the 1940's. I don't think any have any history prior to WWII. The neighborhood was not taken care of in the 1970's, 1980's and early 1990's. Some homes were so run down that you wonder how anyone could live in such a structure. Some even had windows boarded up with people living there.

Some of the homes may have been removed by this time for new business buildings but if they are still there I'm not sure if even the house numbers would be visible. But remember to be careful and not to get our of your car. In fact there isn't any good parking on either side so you may not have the option to do anything but just drive past the addresses. Alton did have some name changes in their streets, but unfortunately Belle was not one of them.

If it were me, you could take Belle Street where it meets 9th Street in the instructions from the Old Cathedral to St Joseph's Cemetery. Within 3 blocks you'd have the 1228 address and going another 6 blocks have the 1801 address. However at this point I would strongly advise you to watch the street very carefully. Actually Belle Street will curve off to the left and if you go straight you are on Piasa Street. Go straight and when you come to the crest of a hill which is most likely marked as a bad intersection you would turn right onto 20th Street. You can follow 20th Street over to Alby Street (stop sign for 20th Street drivers only unless they have changed it to a 4-way) and then crossing over Alby to continue to MLKing Drive and continue going straight at this intersection which will put the hospital grounds (St Anthony's) on your left and go up to the State Courthouse circle and follow the directions in my previous message.

It appears that even back in 1880 there was a little mix in parts of that area where the Doyle's lived. However during the years since the minority is now the total majority.

I didn't find any evidence of Plank Road existing today. With the rural area having an Alton PO, Plank Road may not be known by a different name or may have even been totally wiped out by industrial take over or a subdivision developed. There is also another possibility - somewhere in the area which is known as downtown Alton (State on the west, Broadway on the south, Easton on the east and probably 9th on the north). During the Civil War there was a prison close to the downtown area. There is one cell or block which I believe is still visible but other than that you wouldn't know that one existed if you were told or didn't read about it. Plank Road could have been a road which was near the prison site or possibly a little west of downtown Alton.


Debbi
SubjectAuthorDate Posted
MelanieGilb 17 Jul 2005 1:33PM GMT 
Muelgrad 18 Jul 2005 2:14PM GMT 
MelanieGilb 18 Jul 2005 9:28PM GMT 
dageer 22 Jul 2005 1:27PM GMT 
MelanieGilb 22 Jul 2005 6:59PM GMT 
dageer 22 Jul 2005 10:27PM GMT 
MelanieGilb 22 Jul 2005 11:56PM GMT 
dageer 23 Jul 2005 1:41AM GMT 
MelanieGilb 23 Jul 2005 10:46AM GMT 
dageer 23 Jul 2005 10:33PM GMT 
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