The History of Golden Gate

The following article was printed in 1963 in a booklet called Historical Booklet of Wayne County, Illinois A brief, But Exiting History of a Freedom-Loving People published by Wayne County Good Old Days, Inc in 1963

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The History of Golden Gate

By C. A. Knodell

Transcribed by Laurie Selpien

“In the following article, Mr. Knodell recalls some of the early history of Golden gate. The article was prepared on the early occasion of the 50^th anniversary of his being commissioned Golden Gate Postmaster, March 3, 1913.

My wife and I came to Golden Gate to make our home in the year 1907. The little village of Golden Gate located near the Little Wabash River, was yet young in years but very industrious little town. During the early years prior to 1900 the chief employment in and around Golden Gate was that of working in the timber, cutting logs and clearing the bottom land for future use.

The Carey Stave Mill was located near Golden Gate which converted much of the timber into staves and other timber products. There was a hickory factory for quite a while at Golden Gate converting timber into various kinds of timber products which gave more employment for the working man.

During these early years of 1900 and continued for years was the George Leach Brick and Tile Factory at Golden Gate which was a means of employment. In later years the brick and tile factory was purchased by the late Rolly B Hocking who was also a merchant at Golden Gate during the early years of 1900. I also had the pleasure of serving as one of Mr. Hockings clerks along with the late Ira L. Christy, who was a resident of Golden Gate at that time, but later resided in Fairfield. During many of these yesterday years the only means of transportation was that of the Southern trains; all mail and express was conveyed in and out of Golden Gate by passenger trains with steam power.

MUD AND PLANK WALKS

When we came to Golden Gate in 1907, Golden Gate was still in the mud with plank sidewalks where there were any at all. We were also in the dark with gasoline and kerosene lamps and there were three saloons doing business.

The old time dances were still in progress in many of the houses during the building up and expanding of Golden Gate. During these early years of Golden Gate was the time when the little town received that fictitious name of “Barefoot” which continued under that name for some years and then forgotten.

While some of the Barefoot folks were called bottom rats during the early years of 1900 and you would see Dad, Mom and the kids with clothing on in various places of business, quite a contrast today, fifty years hence.

The population of Golden Gate when we came in 1907 were near the 500 mark and today the population has decreased to around 275 to 300.

During the 1920’s, 1930’s and 1940’s Golden Gate had proven to be one of the best small business places along the Southern Railway.

In the early years of 1900 Golden Gate business places were of the following nature and none of them exist at this time and they were short lived – hardware store, drug store, furniture store, auto sales, undertaking establishment and lumber yard. There were years when the old passenger and freight trains were all driven by the old steam locomotive engines

LOOKING BACK

As we look back upon the gone years of yesterday we still posses within our memory some of the railway mail dispatchers that were on the Southern passenger trains during the years that I was Postmaster and acting Postmaster of the Golden Gate Post Office. In behalf and respect for these gentlemen I am glad to have an opportune time to recall them…Luther Calkins, Gordon Childress, W. H. Davis, Johnnie Carter, Walter W. Childress and Ralph Collins, of Albion.

These years of yesterday were the years when Dad, Mom and the Kiddies would make a run for the railroads station to see who came to town or left and we would wave bye bye to the train men. It gave them a real thrill.

In 1931 the old gasoline and kerosene lamps were discarded in the Golden Gate business places and also in the homes. They were replaced with electric lights which lifted the Golden Gate folks out of darkness into the marvelous light.

My business career in Golden Gate covers a span of fifty years as a clerk in a general store or merchant. During a period of these years I also served as Postmaster and acting Postmaster of the Golden Gate Post Office. On March 3 1913, I received my commission of appointment as Postmaster at the Golden Gate Post Office. My predecessor was the late Robert D. Murphy, who was merchant and Postmaster at the time in Golden Gate. Robert D. Murphy was the first Postmaster to be appointed to the golden Gate Post Office after the site of the post office had moved and designated as the Golden Gate post office by the Government. This being true my appointment on March 13, 1913, would be the second postmaster appointment to the Golden Gate Post Office.

FIRST RURAL MAIL COMES

The first rural mail carrier appointed to Golden gate mail route was the late Emery A. Scott and also Miss Trula Scott of Fairfield. Mr. Scott was the rural mail carrier at the time of my appointment as Postmaster. After serving around two years under President Wilson’s first term my time terminated. At the close of President Wilson’s second term, I was appointed acting postmaster of the Golden Gate Post office. My predecessor was the late Oscar T. Hoffee who was postmaster and merchant of Golden Gate at the time.

The rural carrier at the time of my appointment as acting postmaster at the Golden gate Post Office was John Hoffee, a well know business man in Fairfield.

Mrs. Ethel Fitch of Golden Gate, served as Postmistress of the Golden gate Post Office for some time prior to the present postmistress Mrs. Margaret Hicks who has a credit of twenty years service for Uncle Sam.

The present rural mail carrier from the Golden Gate Post Office is Harold Rigg, one whom we call the twofold veteran of Uncle Sam. Harold, as we all know him best, was in World War I and he is a veteran mail carrier of nearly forty years service.

Speaking of veterans of various kinds we want to register as a fifty year veteran subscriber of the Wayne County Press. It would be very hard for us to do without the Press, also WFTW with radio which comes into our home that we may keep up with the news.

We will close with the sixty-four dollar question, who will be shuffling the mail and licking stamps at the Golden Gate Post office fifty years hence…not Khrushchev we hope.”

ADDITIONAL NOTES: Chester A. Knodell was born in 1881 and died in 1964 the year after the article was published. He married Maude F. who was born 1885 and died in 1968 both are buried in the Bethel Cemetery.

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