Grand Chain Lodge

Description

The Grand Chain Precinct of Pulaski County, in which the village of Grand Chain is located, can claim to be one of the oldest settlements in Illinois. This was due in large part to a natural landmark (and navigational hazard) in the Ohio River nearby the six-mile-long chain of rocks known as the Grand Chain. In the late 1700's, the area of the Grand Chain of Rocks with its inhabitants in the wilderness nearby, had been known as "The Nation" by the river men passing it in their trips up and down the river; this name was still used even in the late 1800's. It would seem to indicate that quite a lot of settlers were already in the area at an early date. The name Grand Chain, besides referring to the chain of rocks in the Ohio River, has been used to designate four different locations inland nearby. The first of these was at the Grand Chain Landing (now often known as Haynes Landing); here there were not more than one or two wharf boats and some small huts atop a hill close by. The wharf boat at that time served as a general store as well as ticket agency and shelter for passengers on the river boats. Written accounts show that as late as 1854 at least one wharf boat was still there. By that time, the population in "The Nation" had increased so rapidly that wharf boats could not supply all the settlers' needs and the distance to the river worked a hardship in bad weather. There had long been a polling place for the settlers at the old Tucker home in Section 28, Township 14...

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