Published by admin on Mon, 01/27/2025 - 12:20pm
As with all communities, the coal fields had their ups and downs. The beginning of the 1900's saw the population of Braidwood shrinking at an incredible rate. The deep shaft mining system had removed all the coal it could from under the ground. Miners that could afford it moved west while those who couldn't, looked to urban centers like Joliet for work in the steel mills and factories.
Buildings were sold, picked up and moved to more prosperous areas. It wasn't just Braidwood that was hit. Towns like Braceville, Godley, Torino, Diamond and Coal City all suffered.