Mission Statement:
To Benefit 'Old Bernadotte Bridge,'
Dam, & other Historical Projects
Bernadotte Historical Society
Bernadotte. Illinois
Bridge photo courtesy of John Loebach
The steamboat and paddleboat "Ruby", named after Henry Zoll's daughter, provided summertime weekend cruises upstream on the Spoon River in the late 1800's. and early 1900's. As shown here, the two level boat, was over 80ft long. The lower level had a dance floor big enough for many squares of dancing and the like. Many groups, picnickers, party-goers and sightseers often had to reserve the boat well in advance.
Pictured here is Henry Zoll's Grist Mill as it looked in the early teens of the 1900's. At that time is was called the Bernadotte Flour Co.
Loebach ... The current steel bridge is eighteen feet wide and one hundred fifty-five feet long. The Bernadotte Historical Society proposes to replace the damaged planks, twisted steel rails, certain-aged steel beams, damaged stones on the pier and abutments, An entire new coat of rust-colored paint is planned. Please click on the button "Bridge" button and then click on the 'Vision' slide show to see a similar bridge redone.
The steamboat and paddleboat "Ruby", named after Henry Zoll's daughter, provided summertime weekend cruises upstream on the Spoon River in the late 1800's. and early 1900's. As shown here, the two level boat, was over 80ft long. The lower level had a dance floor big enough for many squares of dancing and the like. Many groups, picnickers, party-goers and sightseers often had to reserve the boat well in advance.
Bernadotte Historical Society, Inc. gives credit to the following::
1)-Excerpts were found in the Booklet, "Through the Years In An Early
Pioneer Town, BERNADOTTE", by Ms. Cameron.
-2) Excerpts also were found in the Booklet by Donald L. Barrett,
"Bernadotte-The Villiage of Seven Hills", Fulton County Historical & Genealogical
Society, Canton, Illinois, November 26, 2002
3) Additional information can be found in "History of Fulton County, Vol. 507"
4) Information can be found in "History of Spoon River Country": by Josephine
Craven, Chandler, Vol. XIV, No. 3-4.
5)Further readings and research can be found in "Welcome to A Collection of History on
BERNADOTTE, ILLINOIS Called: Bernadotte Memories'. ", by Charles O. Parkinson, aka Spoon River Charlie,
Lewistown, Illinois
Cover Image for text description and date or click to view expanded image.
Bernadotte is known for many other historical facilities besides the 100 year old, Iron Pratt Truss Bridge, such as the historic Grist Mill site where the Bernadotte Public Park and Dam are now located. Bernadotte has the distinction of having once been considered as the site for the capital of Illinois, prior to the capital being located at Vandalia in 1820. Vandalia was selected over Bernadotte by the difference of one vote in the state legislature. In addition, remnants of the World War II Camp Ellis Prisoner of War Camp water supply still remain next to the Bernadotte Dam. The huge concrete wall known as the Camp Ellis Firing Range still remains on the hilltop above Bernadotte on Rifle Range Road. The area is also known as part of the historic-Indian Woodlands Period. Artifacts are consistently found throughout the Spoon River Valley near Bernadotte.
The historic Spoon River Bridge is a national historic site currently being recognized, by Landmarks-Illinois, as one of the Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois. It is number six in the top ten list of endangered places in Illinois. In the past, Bernadotte Bridge has served as a pedestrian connector during the popular Spoon River Drive, which draws thousands of tourists every October and contributes greatly to the county's economy. The bridge area is also well-known for its popular and successful fishing throughout three seasons of the year.