Frankfort Community High School - Red Bird Yearbook (West Frankfort, IL)

Page 11 text:

Through the veins of the cool mines has run the life blood of West Frankfort. Shown in the first picture is a machine which spreads rock dust in the mine to lessen the danger of on explosion. In the second, is shown a Joy loading machine. These pictures ore typical of mines, for along with the ‘black gold goes dust, gas, and danger. In the bottom picture, Mr. S. B. Sullivan, former high school principal, accepts a check for the first Chamber of Commerce from Superintendent McPhoil. Coal has been important here. Coal mines brought ivealth to West Frankfort The chief coal vein of Illinois and Franklin County is coal vein number six. I his vein has produced nearly 69 per cent of all the coal in the State. The extreme depths of the richer veins was the reason for the relatively late development of commercial coal mining on a large scale in this area. In Southern Illinois the coal veins average 500 feet below the earth’s surface. In Franklin Countv, the maximum dip of coal vein six, which is about 10 feet thick, is from the southwest corner, where the vein is located at a depth of about 140 feet, to the northeast corner, where it is located at a depth of about 600 feet. 1 his depth accounts for the fact that the county has had only one slope mine. Though West Frankfort is not the biggest town in the area, it is one of the busiest, being still important as a shopping center. Its streets are filled with cars, indicating that business is good.

Page 10 text:

Frankfort was prosperous and industrious Liberty Church is in o colorful and historical location, for it stands near where Frank Jordon and his brothers built the fort which was to be the first settlement in Franklin County. Near by is the grave of the first white man buried in this area. One of the famous stopping places for travelers along the Shawnee Trail was Moses Garrett’s Tavern. B. Curry is examining the inscription on the stone which morks the site of the famous inn. It may be seen about four and one-half miles southeast of the city on the Number Nine Blacktop Road, which is port of the Old Shawnee Trail. 1 laving an imposing location and being near the center of the largest settlement concentration in the area, the place where Logan School now stands was chosen by a committee of five as the location of the first county scat. Moses Garrett, who owned the site, donated it to the county. The town was located here in 1821, and a court house and a jail were erected in 1826. Old Frankfort thrived in those early days, being the principal trading post within a radius of 20 to 25 miles. The first store was opened by Dorris and Elstun. and soon afterwards Edward and John Moberly opened one. William and John Gardner built a castor-bean press, making the production of castor oil an important industry for Frankfort! Solomon Clark dealt in groceries and liquors. Adams and Brainerd’s gristmill-sawmill combination was located on what is now the site of the city water plant, and a flour mill was located on E. St. Louis Street. This was a thriving community. 6

Page 12 text:

The school year was spiced with a variety This year, entertainment for students and faculty of FCI IS was of two kinds—that furnished by persons outside of the school and that furnished by the students themselves. The outside entertainment was of a particularly high calibre. Many timely subjects were presented in six lyccum programs. New Frontiers in Space, Wonders of the Sea, and Hypnotism were thought-provoking, while the programs provided by the Spanish dancers, a sleight of hand artist, and concert pianist Theodore Ullmann were unusually fascinating and educational. Two extra programs—the Southern Illinois University Opera Workshop’s production of Verdi’s Aida and the Mormon Melody Men’s Music—delighted the audience. Finally, the Key Club-sponsored film, “Communist Encirclement—1961,” deeply impressed all students with the seriousness of the situation. This year, for the first time in the history of one school, all freshmen were officially initiated. That it was all just good, clean fun is shown by this picture. Entertainment on the classical side was provided by concert pianist Theodore Ullmann, who captivated his audience as his fingers danced over the keys. The exotic dances which were done with both skill and grace by Soragenz and Rodriguez, fascinated everyone. 8