New Industries – New Mines – New Rail Lines

Brought about a record growth of Hillsboro Illinois.

Timetable of Growth During Hillsboro’s Boom Decade

1903 - Contact let to create first municipal lake to cover what is now Central Park. Methodists complete new Broad Street Church.

1904 - Second railroad reaches Hillsboro. Kortkamp mine opened. Students enter new high school building on old fairgrounds.

1905 - New depot, railroad roundhouse, turntable and freight house built. Hillsboro Public Library completed.

1906 - Schram Glass Factory began making fruit jars and glasses. Electric Interurban tracks connect Hillsboro with Litchfield.

1907 - Tracks laid from courthouse to depot for city electric street cars. Main Street became first street to be paved.

1908 - Taylor Springs mine opened. County jail and sheriff's quarter completed. First two automobiles arrive in Hillsboro.

1909 - Southern Illinois Light & Power Company erects new electric generating, gas manufacturing and Ice making plant.

1910 - Hillsboro mausoleum built. Hillsboro Brick & Tile Yard enlarged. Ed Fellis, Sr. opens theater in old Opera House.

1911 - American Smelter opened in Taylor Springs and Robert Lanyon Smelter in Hillsboro. City adopts commission form of government.

1912 - Kortkamp Brick & Tile Yard and two concrete block manufacturing plants were in operation. St. Louis Union Dairy opened condensery.