Camp Grant was built in 1917, at the southern edge of Rockford Illinois, covered over five thousand acres, included over 1,100 buildings, and at its height housed over fifty thousand men. It was used as a training center for cavalry, machine gunners, engineers and artillery personnel during World War I. After the war,

Bridget Hart held her extensive family of two girls and six boys together after the death of her beloved husband, John. That tragedy had taken place in 1891. The family lived on a farm outside Winnebago, Illinois on Wolf Grove Road, about six miles away from Rockford.

On September 5, 1893, around three o’clock in

A September tornado in 1928 hit the manufacturing district of Rockford Illinois hard, and several died when the buildings they were working in collapsed. But nearby schools were spared. In the end, 14 people were killed and 80 hospitalized; and over 360 buildings were damaged or destroyed, half of them family homes.

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens is a beautiful mansion tucked away on Rockford’s west side. Quite a few Rockfordians know it is there, and some of them even know its history. What might surprise people is that the cottage has the reputation of being haunted. The house is a very unique place for several

The Police raids continued, and in 1930 a squad of federal agents was sent to the Rockford area. Agents from the United States Secret Service joined them. The Secret Service’s main interest was one of the gang leaders in Rockford, Tony Musso. They later learned that he moved out to California, and they followed Musso

Prohibition was a dangerous time in Rockford’s History. Police conducted
raids on houses and speakeasies, seeming to be always one step behind the rumrunners. By 1923, the police were desperately trying to catch up. They developed undercover men called “snoopers” and “spotters.” These men worked from the inside of the bootlegger business and reported back

Susan Brady and Cecilia Burns were very excited. They had made plans for Susan to go over to Cecilia’s house after school. It was December 20, 1965, and it was chilly, so the girls bundled up before leaving the school. They left the school around 3:15 p.m. and walked to Cecilia’s house on Irving Avenue

There are certain images that come to your mind when you hear the word
“prohibition.” One might be sharp-dressed men driving fancy cars; the other might be wild parties with bob-haired women dressed in flapper-style dresses dancing their cares away as the bathtub gin flows. A darker image might be of the gangsters from that

Camp Grant Accident Of 1925

Camp Grant was built in 1917, at the southern edge of Rockford Illinois, covered over five thousand acres, included over 1,100 buildings, and at its height housed over fifty thousand men. It was used as a training center for cavalry, machine gunners, engineers and artillery personnel during World War I. After the war,

The Hart Family Murders

Bridget Hart held her extensive family of two girls and six boys together after the death of her beloved husband, John. That tragedy had taken place in 1891. The family lived on a farm outside Winnebago, Illinois on Wolf Grove Road, about six miles away from Rockford.

On September 5, 1893, around three o’clock in

Rockford Tornado Of 1928

A September tornado in 1928 hit the manufacturing district of Rockford Illinois hard, and several died when the buildings they were working in collapsed. But nearby schools were spared. In the end, 14 people were killed and 80 hospitalized; and over 360 buildings were damaged or destroyed, half of them family homes.

The Tinker Family Ghosts

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens is a beautiful mansion tucked away on Rockford’s west side. Quite a few Rockfordians know it is there, and some of them even know its history. What might surprise people is that the cottage has the reputation of being haunted. The house is a very unique place for several

Prohibition: Death On The Streets 1928-1933

The Police raids continued, and in 1930 a squad of federal agents was sent to the Rockford area. Agents from the United States Secret Service joined them. The Secret Service’s main interest was one of the gang leaders in Rockford, Tony Musso. They later learned that he moved out to California, and they followed Musso

Prohibition: Snoopers And Spotters 1923-1928

Prohibition was a dangerous time in Rockford’s History. Police conducted
raids on houses and speakeasies, seeming to be always one step behind the rumrunners. By 1923, the police were desperately trying to catch up. They developed undercover men called “snoopers” and “spotters.” These men worked from the inside of the bootlegger business and reported back

The Horrific Death Of Susan Brady

Susan Brady and Cecilia Burns were very excited. They had made plans for Susan to go over to Cecilia’s house after school. It was December 20, 1965, and it was chilly, so the girls bundled up before leaving the school. They left the school around 3:15 p.m. and walked to Cecilia’s house on Irving Avenue

Prohibition: The Early Years 1920-1923

There are certain images that come to your mind when you hear the word
“prohibition.” One might be sharp-dressed men driving fancy cars; the other might be wild parties with bob-haired women dressed in flapper-style dresses dancing their cares away as the bathtub gin flows. A darker image might be of the gangsters from that

 

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