Stronghurst
In 1887 the Chicago, Santa Fe and California Railway Company built a line from Kansas City to Chicago through Henderson County establishing several towns, one of which was Stronghurst. Known as the "Magic City," the town arose out of nothing and grew quickly as people wanted to live in a town where the railroad stopped. Commercial endeavors skyrocketed-three grocery stores, a hat shop, a clothing store, a barber, a blacksmith/machinist, two liveries, a lumberyard, a meat market, a shoemaker, a laundry, a drug store, a photography studio, two hardware stores, a furniture store/ undertaker, restaurants, a harness shop, a blacksmith and wagon shop, a jewelry store, three doctors offices, a paint shop, a tin shop, a carpenters shop, implement dealers, a grain elevator, two hotels, two banks, a theater, an opera house, a half-mile racetrack, a city park, a baseball diamond, a drayage service, ice delivery business and a stockyard that handles more stock than any other point between Kansas City and Chicago. In 1918 the Hereford Association Pavilion was built and was the site many top quality livestock sales until it burned in 1923. As much a manufacturing town as it was a farming village, Stronghurst boasted several creameries, a novelty and envelope factory, a tank factory, a windmill factory, three cigar factories, a brickyard and a canning factory that remained in operation until 1933. In 1896 an electric company offered service from 7 to 10 pm each evening warning its customers by flickering the lights when the power would be shut off. In 1903 Stronghurst made an attempt to remove the county seat to its location. Plans were drawn for an elaborate Victorian two story building, but at the November election the proposition failed by 121 votes. Construction of State Highway 94 began in 1924 and was given permission to pass through the village in 1925. Culturally, Stronghurst was noted for the yearly Chatauqua (a caravan of lecturers, artists, musicians, and talent from other countries). Local residents eagerly took part in plays and musicals held at the Opera House. Each year in the village park the IOOF sponsored a huge picnic featuring a carnival with booths, rides, musicians, skits, acrobats, balloon ascension and lectures. For children, this was the highlight of the year. Today, for one week in July in Stronghurst the Henderson County Fair offers county residents a chance to compete in 4-H and Open Classes in many categories as well as enjoy carnival rides. In September Stronghurst hosts the Old Tyme Tractor Show where old farm machinery, tractors and engines are the star attractions. Stronghurst is located along Illinois Highway 94. It is 70 miles south of the Quad Cities and 20 miles east of Burlington, Iowa. The village is home to four churches, West Central Middle School, Oaklane Nursing and Rehab(a 60 bed nursing and rehab facility), The Henderson County Farm Bureau offices, Henderson County Highway Department, three insurance agencies, the USDA Farm Service Agency/Soil Conservation office/Social Security branch office, an implement dealer, a lumberyard, a funeral home, a tire service, an interior decorator, a law office, a health clinic with a doctor and dentist, a chiropractor, a newspaper, a furniture, television and appliance store, cold storage locker, two banks, Farm Credit branch office, University of Illinois Extension Office, auto repair shop, four beauty shops, a grocery with a deli, a flower shop, a TV sales and repair shop, collision center, a vet clinic, two building contractors, a plumber, a recycling center, a daycare/preschool, two real estate offices, farm supply/convenience store, two restaurants and oh, yes...the Santa Fe Burlington Northern Railroad still runs through the heart of town.
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