Dowell was founded as a coal town and named by Du Quoin attorney George Dowell and William Lafont. Landmarks include Kathleen Coal Mine.
- CountyJackson County
- Population368 (2020 U.S. Census)
Dowell, Illinois gifts and souvenirs: 16 designs made from Dowell's own map, landmarks and history, from $16 to $95. Printed to order and shipped free in the USA.
| Popular | Price |
|---|---|
| Dowell Hometown Ornament | $23 |
| Dowell Varsity Crewneck | from $57 |
| Dowell Est. Tee | from $33 |
| Dowell Town Line Mug | from $26 |
| Dowell Market Tote | $37 |
Ceramic keepsake, gold ribbon
The town's story in dates, from its own records, for home or classroom
Heavy-blend fleece, street map printed on the back
Soft Bella+Canvas jersey
Kids' Bella+Canvas jersey, youth sizes
Bella+Canvas toddler jersey
Bella+Canvas baby bodysuit
Glossy ceramic, dishwasher safe
Weatherproof, for the front walk
24″×16″, printed coir-look fibers, rubber back
12″×12″ printed wood, ready to hang
Soft-touch, zip cover
Sturdy all-over-print tote
Glossy top, cork back
Soft fleece, 50″×60″
20 oz, double-wall stainless
Dowell was founded as a coal town and named by Du Quoin attorney George Dowell and William Lafont. Landmarks include Kathleen Coal Mine.
Dowell was founded as a coal town and named by Du Quoin attorney George Dowell and William Lafont. They requested bids for property development as early as 1917. In 1922, the town's population was over 2,000.
In February 1920, the Dowell State Bank was opened in the town. Town founders George Dowell and William Lafont were among the first directors of the bank. It was the scene of a bank robbery on September 30, 1924. The bank closed in 1932 following embezzlement charges against its president, William Lafont.
Coal mining brought many eastern European immigrants to the village, including Rusyns. At one time there was a Russian Orthodox church located east of the railroad tracks on Vogel Avenue. This church was closed prior to 1989., The area is still served by the Holy Protection Church church in nearby Royalton. In the 1930 census, 30% of the respondents indicated they descended from Eastern Europe and/or spoke a Slavic language.
The village was host to violence in the 1920s and 1930s, including robberies and murders. Bootlegging was common in the village during Prohibition.
The town has supported miners from local coal mines. The Kathleen Coal Mine was located northeast of the village. It was opened and operated by the Union Colliery Company.
It was the scene of a disaster in 1921 and again in 1936. In early 1937, it was the largest producing mine in Jackson county, producing over 5,000 tons of coal per day and employing over 500 men.
The mine workers were members of the United Mine Workers union led by John Lewis. Its miners went on strike from 1933 to 1937. They struck for the right to join the Progressive Mining Union. The period was marked with occasional violence related to the unionization movement.
The mine was closed in November 1946 after the coal vein was no longer accessible. On the site as of December 2021 is Cobin's Salvage Yard. There are few remaining signs of the mine that once built the village of Dowell. A small concrete structure, the mine tipple, is the only structure that remains from the mine.
A second mine, known as the "New Kathleen", was opened in January 1946. This second mine closed by 1958., Land scars are still visible from this mine.
At one time, oil companies conducted research to determine if oil could be extracted from the coal seams around the Kathleen.
The town hosted a baseball team that consisted of players who worked in the Kathleen Mine. The team was named the Dowell Kathleens. They occasionally played against the St. Louis Browns, a professional team, as well as the Belleville Stags, a minor league team.
With the departure of the Kathleen Mine, Dowell has become a quiet residential community. The mine has been suspected of causing sinkholes in the village.
Adapted (trimmed) from the Wikipedia article Dowell, Illinois, revision 1379968231 by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Dowell's population was 368 in the 2020 U.S. Census, down from 408 in 2010.