Belleville in St. Clair County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Kastel Electric
Photographed by Jason Voigt, July 15, 2020
1. Kastel Electric Marker
Inscription.
Kastel Electric. . At age 18, Fred Kastel began his career as an electrical contractor in 1906. He would remain in the business for 50 years. For much of his career he installed electrical wiring and fixtures in buildings constructed before the use of electricity was widespread. To encourage people to convert to electric power, he had this building constructed in 1923 to showcase electric lighting. Terra cotta framed the picture windows. Above these windows were squares of prism glass that refracted light deep into the building. Above the showroom Kastel had a pressed metal ceiling installed. Kastel Electric remained in business until 1983. , An antique mall, beauty shop, candle shop, and a coffee house followed Kastel into this location. In 2012 Eckert Florist began operations here.
At age 18, Fred Kastel began his career as an electrical contractor in 1906. He would remain in the business for 50 years. For much of his career he installed electrical wiring and fixtures in buildings constructed before the use of electricity was widespread. To encourage people to convert to electric power, he had this building constructed in 1923 to showcase electric lighting. Terra cotta framed the picture windows. Above these windows were squares of prism glass that refracted light deep into the building. Above the showroom Kastel had a pressed metal ceiling installed. Kastel Electric remained in business until 1983.
An antique mall, beauty shop, candle shop, and a coffee house followed Kastel into this location. In 2012 Eckert Florist began operations here.
Erected by Belleville Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.
Location. 38° 30.823′ N, 89° 59.22′ W. Marker is in Belleville, Illinois, in St. Clair County. It is at the intersection of West Main Street and North 2nd Street, on the right when traveling west on West Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 W Main St, Belleville IL 62220, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Regarding Kastel Electric. Fred Kastel died on August 18, 1957 and is buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Belleville. Mark Eckert, who has served as the Mayor of Belleville since 2004 (as of 2020), along with his wife own Eckert Florist.
Photographed by Jason Voigt, July 15, 2020
2. Kastel Electric Marker
Marker is mounted on the right, at Eckert Florist
Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 270 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 15, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
