Romeoville and Joliet, Illinois - Romeo and Juliet of the Illinois Plains

ILLINOIS LEGENDS

Romeo and Juliet of the Illinois Plains -

Romeoville and Joliet

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Romeoville, Illinois, some 30 miles southwest of Chicago, was first called Romeo when nearby Joliet was still called “Juliet.” At this time, the settlement was a twin and rival community of Juliet, unlike the romantic pair of Shakespeare's era. Founded in the 1830's, the area was home to abundant farmlands and stone quarries. A post office was established on October 29, 1833.

In 1845, the city of Juliet's name was changed to Joliet to honor the famous explorer Louis Jolliet. When this happened, Romeo acknowledged the busted romance by becoming "Romeoville".

Bridge of I & M Canal in Romeoville, Illinois, vintage photograph courtesy Library of Congress.

Located on the west bank of the Des Plaines River, Romeoville supplied Chicago with produce sent to the city along the historic Illinois & Michigan Canal System, which was opened to commercial traffic in 1848. However, it’s main economic source were the numerous limestone quarries in the area, soon gaining it the nickname “Stone City.” In its heyday, two trainloads of limestone were shipped from Romeoville every morning on the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. One of the most famous buildings constructed with Romeoville limestone was the Illinois State Capitol Building in Springfield.

During the early 1900's, Romeoville thrived as a resort town for wealthy Chicago area residents who flocked to Isle La Cache and Romeo Beach. At that time a streetcar line ran from Chicago bringing along the folks who supported Romeoville’s three taverns.

Prohibition and the Depression also helped to shape the character of Romeoville when saloons along the canal became numerous.

The coming of concrete as a building material spelled the decline of quarrying and Romeoville's importance was greatly diminished. Lacking new industries, the town's population gradually declined during the first half of the twentieth century.

However, in the late 1950's, Romeoville annexed several parcels of land, on which, were built new subdivisions. The new homes soon filled up and Romeoville began to grow again, the population increasing from 197 in 1957 to more than 3500 by 1960.

Today, Romeoville is called home to more than 20,000 residents with several distribution centers, national companies, and corporate offices.

Continue your journey through Romeoville to nearby Joliet which provides a number of historical buildings and vintage Route 66 icons.

Greetings From Joliet Vintage Postcard

Joliet, Illinois

Joliet originally bore the name "Juliet" which was probably a corruption of the of French Canadian explorer Louis Jolliet's name. Jolliet first explored this area in the fall of 1673, describing the game as abundant and the prairies wide, surrounded by lush forests.

Though the settlement already existed, the official town wasn’t laid out until 1834. Attracted to the Des Plaines River and the fertile soil of the area, early settlers found ample reason to stay and the town began to grow.

The National Hotel, built in 1937 burned down in

1958. By that time it had become a second rate hotel. Photo courtesy Joliet History.

Work on the famous National Hotel began in 1837, which soon became an important social center for the town, hosting many balls and social gatherings for the burgeoning city. By 1838, Joliet boasted a courthouse with a jail in the basement sunk into solid rock. At times the courthouse also served as a church. A new and better courthouse was built in 1848. The opening of the Illinois & Michigan Canal in the same year welcomed Joliet into an era of aggressive growth in both industry and residential development. Unfortunately this building burned down in 1958.

Soon, mills and factories sprang up and the discovery of rich limestone deposits created a new quarrying industry that flourished. Joliet, like its counterpart, Romeoville down the road, was also called “Stone City.”

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Route 66 Signs - Dozens of great metal signs to decorate that office or den. Makes a great gift for Route 66 enthusiasts and car buffs. See them all HERE!