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Route 1 connected Crete to Chicago,
bringing settlers and business growth
The Chicago & Southern Traction Company provided 32 daily trolley runs between
Chicago and Crete from 1906 to 1927. The growing number of cars on the road in the
1920s and the paving of Dixie Highway resulted in a decrease in passengers using the
trolleys. The trolleys ran down Columbia and Vincennes Streets. Circa 1915.
Farmers gathered together to thresh the oats when the grain was ripe. Their horses wore
netting to keep the flies off as they turned the threshing machine. Circa 1899 at the
Ernest Rinne farm.
The C.&E.I. Railroad (formerly the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes Railroad) had 5 passenger trains each day as well as boxcar trains arriving at the Crete Depot. Circa 1915.
Crete’s growth was spurred by
farming, railroads and Sears homes
Crete loved parades as this Main Street scene recalls. Buggies and floats were
decorated, including the water sprinkler wagon. A photographer on the right documents
the parade while a family enjoys the floats. Circa 1905-1910.
The 1936 Centennial Celebration marked 100 years since the arrival of Willard and
Dyantha Wood. Decorated for the Centennial were the Main Street Garage and the
Billiards & Pool buildings on the east side of Main Street between Exchange and Cass
Streets. A bookie operated in a room behind the pool hall.
The growth of Crete
Early Pioneers. The early men and
women who left their homes in the
East to face the hardships of life on
the Illinois frontier were the brave
and determined pioneers of Crete.
When Willard and Dyantha Wood finally
haulted their wagon in 1836, Crete
was still a wilderness. There were
no crops planted, no cabin to shield
them from the storms, no stores
and no close neighbors. But they were
determined to build a life here and as more
settlers followed, the community grew.
Farming and businesses
Beginning in 1848, German
immigrants joined the earlier settlers
from New England and New York. As
more land was farmed or used to raise
cattle and hogs, new businesses were
established, including blacksmiths,
harness makers, brick yards, saloons,
doctors, undertakers, and stores
selling dry goods, meat, shoes,
furniture, threshers, hay presses and
other goods.
Crete’s first factory, the Crete
Manufacturing Company, was formed
in 1869 and made wood products such
as doors, molding around windows and
sashes for homes until fire destroyed it
in 1895.
Crete’s first newspaper, The Crete
Enterprise, was started in 1875.
Transportation
The railroads helped Crete’s farmers
and businesses. In 1869 the Chicago,
Danville & Vincennes Railroad was
built through Crete with a depot on
First Street. The railroad shipped grain,
milk, poultry, hogs, cattle, butter and
eggs to Chicago.
By the early 1900s, the railroad
had five passenger trains each day
between Crete and Chicago. East of
the Village, the Chicago, Terre Haute
& Southeastern Railway was built
in 1907 with switching yards and a
roundhouse.
The railroad settlement of Faithorn
for workers cropped up at Burville Road
and State Street. In 1906 trolley cars
from the Chicago & Southern Traction
Company started running from Chicago
to Crete with a depot on Vincennes
Street.
Growth in the 1900s
In 1925 the newspapers reported
that Col. Matt Winn, “Father of the
Kentucky Derby,” bought 635 acres
on Dixie Highway. Lincoln Fields
with its grandstand, clubhouse and
thoroughbred race track opened its
doors on August 9, 1926 to a huge
crowd that Crete had never before
seen.
Another land deal occurred in 1925
– over 1,000 acres were sold for golf
courses, clubhouse and future home
lots. Lincolnshire Country Club’s first
of three 18 hole golf courses opened
in 1927 and the clubhouse in 1928.
Except for the Depression & World
War II years, Crete has seen surges
of residential growth. In the older
areas of Crete about 40 homes, and
a few in the original Lincolnshire area,
were ordered from the Sears catalog.
Over 30,000 pieces per home and
plans were then delivered to Crete
via railroad boxcars to construct each
home. Significant subdivision growth
of homes expanded the population
of Crete from the 1950s to 2007,
causing the need for new schools.
Photos and text by the authors of five Crete Remembered books. Additional services contributed by: Crete Chamber of Commerce, Village of Crete, Crete Public Library and Piepenbrink Historical Collection.
Willard Wood (1808-1899), a founder
of Crete, farmer, hotel owner and
respected attorney served as Crete’s
first school teacher, postmaster, Will
County Commissioner, Crete Township
Supervisor and Justice of the Peace.
Dyantha Wood (1811-1865) another
founder and an educated lady,
journeyed to Crete with her husband and
3-month-old baby, endured hardships
on the frontier, gave birth to 10 more
children and raised and clothed them.
The Rohe Drug Store was established by William and Charles Rohe in 1889. It was a
pharmacy and store selling tobacco, wallpaper and other products. It was also the Post
Office because William was the postmaster. Circa 1898.