Rescuing the River’s Story: A Stroll Through Grafton’s Past with Jesse William Weller
- Grafton Gal
- Jan 19
- 3 min read
We are so incredibly lucky to have neighbors like Jesse Weller in our corner. If you know Jesse, you know he’s a bit of a history hound, always on the lookout for the pieces of our past that might otherwise be lost to time. Recently, Jesse went on a bit of an "attic adventure" with a friend and salvaged some absolute treasures that we just had to share with you.
From yellowed newspaper clippings of the May 3, 1973, edition of the Democrat News to a beautifully preserved tourism brochure from the late 1980s, these finds are a love letter to the grit, heart, and spirit of Grafton.
When the River Rose: Memories of May 1973
Looking at the photos from 1973, it’s a powerful reminder of what it means to live in a "Real River Town". The headlines from that week read, "River is still 13 feet above flooding stage," and the photos show our streets looking a bit more like Venice, Italy, than Illinois.
The Movable Fish Market: One of the most striking images is of Al Linenfelser. Because the high waters had inundated the bottoms of Jersey County, Al and Scott Linenfelser ran a "movable fish market" out of the back of a truck, catching fish in the adjacent fields to keep up with demand.
Life Goes On: We see images of kids treading through the few dry spots left and families navigating Main Street by boat because the "main artery" was completely underwater.
Community Support: Even back then, we took care of our own. There was a benefit dance held for the Grafton Flood Fund, an idea that honestly feels like something we ought to bring back as an annual tradition to help prepare for the "inevitable".
The Shops and Faces We Remember
The old advertisements in these papers are like a "Who’s Who" of the businesses that built our community.
Rudolph’s Gift Specials: Who else remembers heading to Rudolph’s at 116 North State to get their school gym uniforms?. They were a staple for so many years.
"Tell 'em Honey sent ya!": We got a real kick out of the Jersey County Motor ad. Does anyone actually remember who "Honey" was?. There has to be a story there!
Market Prices: It’s wild to see Sinclair’s Food Markets advertising T-Bone steaks for $1.65 a pound and bacon for just 98 cents.
The "Gold Map" and the Golden Era of Tourism
Jesse also found a "Historic Grafton" brochure that is a total masterpiece. We can narrow the date down because it features the Jersey State Bank Grafton Facility (built in 1987) but was clearly printed before the Great Flood of 1993.
The "gold" in this find is the hand-drawn Great River Road Directory map. It’s an absolute piece of history, detailing every landmark from Fin Inn and The Grafton Pantry to Duffy O’Wiley’s Restoracio and The Loft.
The brochure also reminds us of some of the quirkier history nearby, like the Green Tree Inn in Elsah and their "Kidnap a Loved One" package for $55.00 a couple!
Preserving Our Legacy
Whether it’s memories of the professional motorcycle races at the American Legion Park or the smell of homemade bread at The Loft, these items remind us that our history isn't just in books—it’s in the stories we share and the treasures we save.
A huge thank you again to Jesse William Weller for his heart and his hustle in protecting these pieces of us. Because of him, we get to take this stroll down memory lane together.
Do any of these images spark a specific memory for you? Maybe you worked at one of these spots or remember the '73 flood? We’d love to hear your stories in the comments!
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