National
Road
Association
Of
Illinois
National
Road
Association
Of
Illinois
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Saint Elmo
St. Elmo was founded in 1868 and for the first twenty-five years, the population never numbered more than 300 people. That changed in 1894 when construction of the Chicago, Paducah, and Memphis railway began. The community actually owes its beginnings to the building of the National Road. A small village (Howard’s Point), just to the west of present day St. Elmo, began as a service provider for workers on the road. In the 1860’s people found the land to the east (St. Elmo) to be suitable for homes and businesses. Main Street is a remarkable collection of buildings from the 1930’s giving the town a definite period look. The oil wells scattered among the nearby fields are reminders of the oil boom of the 1930’s. You’ll find a charming bit of nostalgia at Larry’s Barbershop – check the unique hat collection in the shop. Today, St. Elmo is best known for its greenhouses and the 1930s architecture found downtown.
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