a little photo history lesson...
about Collinwood Subdivision ~
Collinsville, Illinois...
I recently framed 3 photos of the Collinwood Subdivision.
The color photo shows the subdivision as it stands today. The photo was recently taken for the Collinsville Historical Museum by Mark Ahlvers using a drone. The blue water of Pine Lake is visible in the upper right-hand section of the image.
Photo History of Collinwood Subdivision
Now let’s step back in time, the year - 1914. The Collinwood Subdivision is the St. Louis Refining and Smelting Company, a thriving business with workers traveling from St. Louis and other surrounding communities to their jobs at the plant.
This photograph is an aerial view of the plant taken from the same location as the color photograph. Pine Lake is visible in the upper right-hand corner. This photo was taken in 1914 by Photographer Rissi.
In order to get a good aerial view of the plant, Mr. Rissi climbed the
smokestack, which towered over 300 feet into the air (see the tall smokestack located on the left in the next photo? That’s the one).
Apparently the base of this 300 foot smokestack was so large, it could not be removed when the subdivision was built. It was left at the site, buried underground, under the road, now Raintree Trail.
The map shows the layout of the plant. There was also a roominghouse on the grounds for the workers, who traveled from the St. Louis region, so they could live on site during the work week.
visit ...
the Collinsville Historical Museum to learn more about the rich history of our community.
The Art Loft Gallery, LTD., a locally owned and operated business in Collinsville, Illinois, has been open since 1984. In addition to offering custom picture framing services, The Art Loft Gallery, LTD. is an authorized dealer for renowned artist, Patricia Buckley Moss, and also has a wide variety of antiques and giftware for sale. Come in for a unique shopping experience and enjoy a cup of Starbucks and a cookie while you shop. Contact Us
