Historical Markers and War Memorials in Prairie du Rocher, Illinois
Waterloo is the county seat for Monroe County
Prairie du Rocher is in Monroe County
Monroe County(163) ► ADJACENT TO MONROE COUNTY Randolph County(118) ► St. Clair County(231) ► Jefferson County, Missouri(38) ► St. Louis County, Missouri(607) ► Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri(13) ►
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In 1722, as part of the old French colony that developed in the Mississippi Valley, a tract of land donated
by the Royal Indies Company was settled as Prairie du Rocher. The motivation for this settlement was
agriculture, mining, and a home for . . . — — Map (db m206205) HM
The Common field system was a practice that French Settlers brought with them that still has a lasting effect today. It was an agricultural system that consisted of farmland and pasture for animals that was communally owned by the village. . . . — — Map (db m206196) HM
The end of the Seven Years' War, better known to the colonists as the French and Indian War, came not by skirmish but by the Treaty of Paris signed February 1763. Through this all of France's possessions East of the Mississippi were ceded to . . . — — Map (db m206192) HM WM
"The British are coming” had a much different meaning to the villagers of Prairie du Rocher. The British took control of Fort de Chartres renaming it Fort Cavendish on Oct. 10, 1765. The majority of the residents of the villages of Chartres,
St. . . . — — Map (db m206109) HM
George Rogers Clark, under secret orders from Patrick Henry, the governor of Virginia, was sent to take the Illinois villages. This would give more protection to the eastern colonies from British attack. For the record, the Prairie du Rocher . . . — — Map (db m206167) HM WM
The formation of Randolph County in 1795 proceeded Illinois' statehood by 25 years. By act of the state legislature in 1821, the settlement of Prairie du Rocher became an official village within the state of Illinois. Trustees were appointed for . . . — — Map (db m206162) HM
A minor skirmish in the U.S. Civil War actually occurred when a group of "bushwhackers and desperadoes” came to Prairie du Rocher. Two guerillas were killed by Union soldiers and the others were captured. The subsequent actions of the soldiers in . . . — — Map (db m206123) HM
In Chicago Mr. Uranus H. Crosby built an elaborate opera house, and ran out of money. He raffled off the property, and Abraham Lee of Prairie du Rocher was the winner. It took weeks for Mr. Lee to hear of his winnings and then another month to . . . — — Map (db m206112) HM
It was a hot July fourth night in Prairie de Rocher, Mrs. Cris and her neighbor were sitting on the front porch around midnight when the two spotted an entourage coming from the old fort. It was apparently a funeral procession and though wagons . . . — — Map (db m206107) HM
In 1902, Iron Mountain Railroad laid a single track through Prairie du Rocher which provided passenger service to St. Louis daily. Far from backwards, Prairie du Rocher was as modern and up-to-date as other larger communities, and the passenger . . . — — Map (db m206106) HM
As the State of Illinois' second state park, Fort de Chartres, restoration began with the gun powder magazine in 1917. The state had
taken ownership of the grounds in 1913. Further restorative efforts followed through the 1920's by uncovering . . . — — Map (db m206031) HM
The Modoc Rock Shelter site was discovered in 1951 by archaeologist Irvin Peithmann. As a result of road grading, Peithmann
observed artifacts on the surface under or near the bluff at the site on Bluff Road. This spurred major excavations in . . . — — Map (db m206022) HM
The year was one of devastating floods all over the Midwest. Prairie du Rocher's fight to save their precious town came to precipice when a local construction company blew out a section of the river levee, thus saving the town. The homes located . . . — — Map (db m206012) HM
A strong suit of the village continues to be the respect and reverence to their traditions, both young and old. From the King's Ball, better known as Twelfth Night Ball, held every year on the first Saturday of January, to the Party in the Park . . . — — Map (db m206010) HM
Built by Charles Hauck, a well-known horse, mule, and cattle dealer, this home was built in the 1890's, with three barns added to the property in 1899. Mr. Hauck came to Prairie du Rocher to follow his new trade of butchering and opened a . . . — — Map (db m229446) HM
This business was established in 1839 by Antonine Blaise and was moved to its current building in 1872 due to flooding in the older parts of town. The store initially used a lot of bartering instead of using currency. It was taken over by W. H. . . . — — Map (db m216396) HM
Fort de Chartres, seat of civil and military government in the Illinois country for half a century, was first completed in 1720. In 1753-56 it was rebuilt of stone at a cost of 200,000 livres and became one of the strongest forts in North America . . . — — Map (db m163687) HM
This drawing shows Fort de Chartres as it looked during the last years it was controlled by France. The 15-foot walls enclosed an open parade ground and a number of buildings, including barracks for the troops, housing for the officers, a chapel, a . . . — — Map (db m163685) HM
In dedication honor and memory of those from our community who so valiantly served our country.
They gave their today for our tomorrow.
World War I
Andrew Horrell •
John W. LaRose •
Joseph Park
Vietnam War
Howard E. . . . — — Map (db m170529) WM
This store was built in 1902 by CJ Kribs. Mr. Kribs was a harness maker by trade, but this building was a convenient store that sold just about everything. When the highway was to be built through Prairie du Rocher, it is said that Mr. Kribs, who . . . — — Map (db m226480) HM
Abraham Lee, after winning the Opera House lottery, built the mansion on these grounds. A. H. Lee died two years after the completion of this magnificent home. Lee's business partner, F. W. Brickey, bought the home and since that time it has been . . . — — Map (db m206015) HM
On December 4, 1803, William Clark and several recruits passed by this place on their expedition west. In his journal, Clark noted the stone ruins of Fort De Chartres. The party continued on to pick up supplies and then meet Meriwether Lewis in . . . — — Map (db m161441) HM
As early as 8000 B.C. prehistoric Indians were camping in the shelter of this great sandstone bluff. These nomadic people, who lived by hunting animals and gathering plants for food and fibers, came here regularly for more than 6000 years. Later . . . — — Map (db m161319) HM
Modoc Rock Shelter is best known for campsites of the Archaic Period, ranging in age from 8,900 to 4,000 years ago.
During the early part of the Archaic Period, Native Americans camped here for short periods. They hunted deer, trapped . . . — — Map (db m163695) HM
This sandstone bluff provided shelter for Native American groups beginning shortly after the Ice Age, then continuing for almost 8000 years. Periodic floods from the Mississippi River and nearby Barbeau Creek buried the abandoned camps, creating . . . — — Map (db m163697) HM
This two-story brick building was built by M.H. Palmier in the early 20th Century, it was originally used as a large hall, saloon, billiards room, saddlery and barber shop. Mr. Palmier was a public-spirited individual and served on Prairie du . . . — — Map (db m216392) HM
Pierre Laclede and his business partners purchased a house here at the eastern edge of the village of Chartres in 1763. Laclede wintered in the house as he planned the new village of St. Louis which he established in 1764.
The house was later . . . — — Map (db m163672) HM
The historic village of Prairie du Rocher was established in 1722 by French settlers. It was named Prairie du Rocher, which means "Prairie of the Rocks", referencing the bluffs that surround the area. This area was an ideal place to settle due to . . . — — Map (db m224238) HM
A stranger entering the quaint village of Prairie Du Rocher, from the east, perceives, while yet descending the steep hill leading to the Great American Bottom, the quiet, undisturbed beauty of the community, with quiet fortitude, We have . . . — — Map (db m196822) HM
The first church of St. Joseph's was built in 1723 at the current day cemetery. It was built out of logs and lasted until the 1850's when it was forced to move due to flooding. The construction of the new church and Rectory was finished in 1858. . . . — — Map (db m224920) HM
The state bank of Prairie du Rocher was built in the year 1904 by the State of Illinois. The bank faced several hardships including a robbery in January of 1965 and damages to the building's exterior due to the near by Western Auto & Restaurant . . . — — Map (db m216341) HM
In 1721 a chapel to Ste. Anne was built outside the first Fort de Chartres near the river. In 1731 the villagers of Chartres constructed in this vicinity a church of post-on-sill measuring 50 by 30 feet.
The parish included St. Joseph Chapel at . . . — — Map (db m163671) HM
Christ was crucified between two thieves on a small hill called Golgotha. The name, signifies "place of the skull" in Hebrew, and in Latin "calvarie locus": in French the word "calvaire" was used to designate the hill.
In Europe three crosses . . . — — Map (db m163676) HM
Construction of this house started in 1901 by W.H. Conner, however after his death in 1902, the construction was carried out by his wife Constance. The house itself was finished in 1906 and Constance lived there till her passing in 1939. W.H. Conner . . . — — Map (db m224483) HM
The Creole House
ca 1800
Restored by RCHS
This site placed on the
National Register
of
Historic Places
1973
Plaque given
in Memory of
Ruth Robin Gilster
[Additional plaque on the . . . — — Map (db m167430) HM
The house now known as the Creole house, was originally said to be built by either Dr. Macdonald or Dr. Hill. It is unclear as to which Doctor it actually was. It was used as both a residential area and doctors office. The building is one of few . . . — — Map (db m219227) HM
U.S. Coast Guard
Sons of the American Legion
Welcome Aboard • U.S. Navy • "I have not yet begun to fight"
American Legion Auxiliary • "Service to God, our country, to veterans and their families"
This we'll . . . — — Map (db m243264) WM
Before you stands the partially reconstructed Fort de Chartres, built by the French government between 1753 and 1755.
The stone fort replaced earlier wooden forts by the same name. From 1720 to 1763, these forts served France as the military, . . . — — Map (db m163678) HM
