Etherly, Illinois facts for kids

Etherly was once a small town in Knox County, Illinois. It was located south of a place called Victoria.

What Was Etherly?

Etherly was a special kind of town. It was known as a "company town." This means a mining company built the town. It was built especially for its workers. These workers were miners. They dug for coal in the mines nearby.

A Town Built for Miners

Imagine a town where almost everyone worked for the same company! That was Etherly. The company often owned the houses. It also owned the stores. This made life easier for the miners. They lived very close to their jobs.

What Happened to Etherly?

In the early 1900s, things changed. The mining companies in the area closed down. This meant the miners lost their jobs. The town of Etherly was then sold.

Later, a new company came along. It was called the Sherwood Mining Company. They bought the old mines. They also bought the entire village of Etherly.

Moving the Town

The Sherwood Mining Company had a plan. They wanted to dig for coal right where the town stood. So, they sold the houses and buildings. People bought them and moved them away. Many buildings went to nearby towns. Some went to Galesburg. Others went to Victoria.

What Remains Today?

After the buildings were gone, the land was used for mining. This type of mining is called "strip mining." It involves removing the top layers of earth to get to the coal. Today, almost nothing is left of the town. Only the Etherly Cemetery remains. It is a quiet reminder of the town that once was.