Discover Alton & Godfrey

Welcome to Alton!

In 1818, Alton was created as a river town. It is seated among the confluence of three navigable rivers: the Illinois, the Mississippi, and the Missouri. The town, designed to be a ferry port, was created by Col. Rufus Easton, who named the city after his son.

It became a bustling city, due to its location right along the water, where trade, shipping, and commerce thrived. For many years, it rivaled neighboring St. Louis and fellow Illinois city Chicago in size.

There are beautiful sights of the mighty rivers all over the Alton area. One of the many great places to view the peaceful water and to learn its history with Alton, as well as the United States as whole, is the National Great Rivers Museum.

Located at the Melvin Price Locks and Dam, it is a beautiful facility, with educational opportunities for adults and children alike. There is both a museum and outside areas for viewing.

This is a fantastic place to learn about the impact that the rivers have on the history of Alton and the surrounding area, as well as the impact it has on us today. There are interactive and computer-animated exhibits, as well as a theater and a gift shop. There is also an art gallery, where both local and non-local artists show their works.

It is a perfect spot to look for bald eagles, because they often look for fish to feed upon near the dam. In fact, it is a great location for looking for all types of local birds, due to a bird sanctuary located across the river.

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. There are also tours of the Melvin Price Locks and Dam available at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.; these tours are free and open to the public. For more information on the National Great Rivers Museum, call (618) 462-6979.

Another great way to take in the natural beauty of Alton and its surrounding area is to take

a drive or a bike ride along the Great River Road. One side provides the view of the river and area surrounding it, the peaceful flowing water, natural woodlands, and wildlife provide excellent photos and views.

The other side of the road showcases the limestone bluffs. This soaring natural structure is a true sight to behold. Just north of Alton is the fierce Piasa Bird of Native American legend, an image of the serpent-like bird painted into the walls of the cliffs.

Riverview Park, located in the historic Christian Hill District, is another great local place to view the adjoining rivers. It is open from dawn until dusk daily, and is a great place to take in views and have a picnic, weather permitting.

Due to its geography, there are great places all over the city of Alton to view the waters that split the United States and have been so pivotal in local and national history.

Alton Main Street 2024 Calendar of Events

The mission of Alton Main Street is to engage our community in the continued renewal of our historic downtown district and Mississippi River heritage by cultivating an attractive center of economic and social activity.

Here’s our 2024 event calendar:

Alton Farmers’ & Artisans’ MarketEvery Saturday from May 11 – Oct. 19

Pop-Up Clothes SwapSunday, April 14

Pup CrawlSaturday, May 18

All-Wheels Drive-In Car ShowSunday, June 9

Night Market on BroadwayEvery Thursday from June 6th – July 25th

Mississippi Earthtones FestivalSaturday, Sept. 21

Canine Carnival at the MarketSaturday, Oct. 5

Downtown Chili Cook-OffSunday, Oct. 20

First Fridays Late Night Art & ShoppingOct. 4, Nov. 1, Dec. 6

Tree Lighting at Lincoln-Douglas SquareFriday, Nov. 22

Green Gift Bazaar / Small Business SaturdaySaturday, Nov. 30

For more information: www.DowntownAlton.com

AltonWorks’ Wedge Innovation Center shaping up for 2024 opening

By Dylan Suttles

One year ago, on Dec. 7, AltonWorks began construction on the Wedge Innovation Center, AltonWorks’ signature catalytic project, and the facility is taking shape.

The project brings together two historic buildings — the Wedge and the Elfgen — and is revitalizing them into one modern collaborative space is designed to serve as a social impact incubator, accelerator, and coworking space. The Wedge will also serve as a workforce training center, digital hub for a $20 million fiber network and will help move Alton into the digital economy.

The Wedge now is scheduled to open in the fall of 2024 and will support early-stage, growth-driven companies through education, mentorship, and financing. It will house startups, space for individuals or teams, and more established companies that want to accelerate their businesses or develop new technologies, products, or systems.

account for about 65% of the total cost of renovation.

“The Wedge Innovation Center has the potential to launch Alton into the digital economy,” said AltonWorks CEO John Simmons. “We believe innovation is foundational to transformational change and underpins the overall AltonWorks strategy.

“The primary reason we moved our development priority from the Grand Entertainment District to the Jacoby Arts & Innovation District was to bring an urban innovation hub to Alton to ignite entrepreneurs, attract remote workers, and encourage students and families to consider Alton as a place to establish roots.”

Approximately 170,000 hours of labor will be spent on the renovation of the Wedge over about 18 months of construction, according to AltonWorks. Labor will

were walls, fixtures, and even old office furniture to prepare for future construction.

Infrastructure for new electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and stormwater systems are also being installed.

Tuckpointing throughout the building has occurred on the brick on the Broadway face of the Elfgen. Roofing has been removed from the building, as all roofs will be replaced in preparation for the rooftop patios that will be added to the buildings. The original Wedge entrance was revealed and is in the process of being restored.

2023 construction

Bringing the Wedge and the Elfgen buildings, each over 100 years old, up to modern codes has been a tremendous undertaking. During the last 12 months, the two buildings have undergone dramatic changes inside and out.

The first steps in the Wedge Innovation Center renovation was work that was not visible to the public because it involved internal stabilization and remediation. Mold and asbestos were removed as

New historic wood windows and wood windows with transoms are scheduled to be installed in the 1904 portion of the Wedge building, as well as new storefront windows in the Elfgen facing Broadway.

What can you expect in 2024?

A new Vitrolite façade will be added to the Elfgen at the ground level. The rooftop will continue to take shape, too — new rooftop mechanical will be installed, a new skylight and roof access will be added on the Wedge building, and rooftop terraces on the Wedge and Elfgen buildings will be built. Three new elevators will also be added to the building

The Wedge will include 15,000 square feet of office and workspace available for lease. AltonWorks is currently in talks with various organizations who have expressed interest in establishing a presence at the Wedge. More information about leasing opportunities will be available after the first of the year.

Once completed, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) will partner with the Wedge and provide management, operations, and programming. Programs

could include GeoMarc, Geospatial Program, Center for Predictive Analytics, Center for Sustainable Communities, Cybersecurity, Clean Energy, Food/Ag Tech/Plant Science and Climate Tech companies.

The Wedge was constructed in 1904 as a wedge-shaped building designed by Victor J. Klutho. It resides on the “Y” at East Broadway and Henry Streets. The Elfgen Building (602-604 E. Broadway), built in 1868-69, spans the west half of the triangular block known as the Wedge, from East Broadway to East

Third Street.

BSI Constructor’s Inc. of St. Louis is the construction company hired to renovate the Wedge, and Crossroads is BSI’s demolition contractor.

Once open, it will create 249 permanent full-time and 62 permanent parttime jobs, with an average wage over $43,000 per year. Eighty-four percent of the permanent jobs created will have a living wage, 20% will be accessible to people without a four-year college degree, and 90% will be hired from the surrounding community.

Construction workers remove non-original parts of the Wedge Building, exposing columns that have been hidden for decades. The columns were covered up when a teller window was installed on the point of the building many years ago.

Clark Bridge

Alton is home to some of the most breathtaking natural sights in the region. It is also home to a manmade structure well worth the view.

The Clark Bridge, connecting Alton, Illinois, with West Alton, Missouri, was opened in 1994. It replaced the Old Clark Bridge, which had been built in 1928.

This new bridge shares the same name, referencing the explorer William Clark, who began his Western expedition with fellow famous adventurer Merriweather Lewis just down the river. It is the northernmost river crossing

in the St. Louis area.

The old bridge was a truss bridge that had just two lanes of traffic, measuring only 20 feet wide. The new structure features four lanes, divided in the middle for two lanes going each way, as well as two bike lanes. It is a cable-stayed bridge, and is 108 feet wide.

This 4,620 foot long towering structure connects U.S. Route 67 across the rushing confluence, providing easy travel across the river for locals, tourists, and commercial use.

The designing of the structure began in 1985, and construction began in

1990. It is also known as the “Super Bridge” due to the difficulties of building it. There was even a 1997 Nova documentary about the different problems and concerns that arose during its assembly.

It is a unique bridge in the United States, and was the first of its kind. The engineers who designed it used techniques that had not been used before in American bridges. The construction also coincided with the Great Flood of 1993, adding other complications along the way.

The amount of materials required to make the

structure is staggering. These materials include:

• 8,100 tons of structural steel

• 44,100 cubic yards of concrete

• Over 160 miles of cable

• 4 acres of yellow plastic piping

There are great views of the bridge all over Alton and West Alton, with beautiful pictures of the crossing being captured both during the daytime and when lit up at night. For photographers and viewers alike, the structure seems to

resemble the flags of a ship.

Recently, the city of Alton approved a nearly million dollar project in order to add LED lighting technology to it. This improvement will replace the many burnt out lights with new bright white LEDs as well as colored lights for holidays and special occasions. It will also be more energy efficient.

The bridge has become a symbol of Alton, an image of the innovation, hard work, and commercialism that shaped the area that we know and love today.

Welcome to Godfrey!

A safe haven that is growing by the day

Incorporated in 1991, the village of Godfrey is one of the newest municipalities in Illinois. It is a great place to settle down and plant your roots.

Despite it being one of the newest municipalities, the area has lots of interesting history. A family from Kentucky was the first to make Godfrey their home, but when “Yankees” disagreed with them based on slavery and engagement in whiskey making, the Southerners left.

New Englanders came

to the area next, growing crops and partnering with neighboring Alton. There was still strife between the locals, especially about the issue of slavery.

Benjamin Godfrey was a man who had made his riches in the slave trade, and came to the area with money to spend on development. He began a commercial empire, and philanthropic reform projects.

In 1850, Godfrey began construction on the longawaited Alton-Sangamon

Railroad with the help of the Illinois Senate, including one Abraham Lincoln. It was completed in 1852 and renamed the Chicago and Mississippi Railroad. It helped to bring new opportunities and hope for the area.

One part of Godfrey has stood as a safe haven for the marginalized for hundreds of years. The Rocky Fork area was a refuge for runaway slaves, where Native Americans provided safety until the end of the War of 1812. Abolitionist whites also

assisted the enslaved that were escaping for freedom, with the area eventually becoming a significant part of the Underground Railroad.

Godfrey is one of the safest towns in Illinois. LendEDU, a website that provides educational resources and does research for the likes of The New York Times and Forbes, recently released a ranking of the top 100 safest places to live in each state. In Illinois, Godfrey was ranked third.

This statistic, coupled with its proximity to a major city, signals that the village will be growing over the coming years.

More and more people are looking for homes outside of major cities for several reasons, including safety, affordability, and privacy. Godfrey offers all of these things and more.

There is plenty of room in the area as well. There are 36 square miles of land in the village, making it the eighth-largest municipality by geographic size in Illinois. There is plenty of space for more families and businesses.

Several highway projects are being completed, such as Illinois Route 255. These highways will serve to increase the ease of travel to and from the area, as well

as the commercial potential of Godfrey. Another signal that this village is primed for expansion in the next few years.

Many religions have a place of worship in the area, and there are two private schools that offer pre kindergarten through eighth grade, as well as one that offers pre kindergarten through seventh grade. There is also a local community college, Lewis and Clark, that has a campus right in Godfrey.

The town motto is “You can see your future from here.” This is a perfect description of this quiet area north of Alton.

Inside look at the $7.5 million firehouse under construction in Godfrey

By John Badman

They say that any place you hang your hat is home: That was true for Godfrey firefighters Friday except it was “hang your helmet.”

It was moving day for firefighters from both village stations into the new consolidated station at 3023 Godfrey Road.

The station cost just over $7 million and gives the department room to breathe. The new digs have a large drive-through truck bay, day room, kitchen, sleeping quarters, offices and training room.

At station 1 on Godfrey Road, firefighters were stacking and cleaning equipment to be moved to the new station. Godfrey Fire Chief Eric Cranmer was unloading boxes

in his office.

The plan included moving over the radio system to the new station on Friday and being able to start making runs from the 15,000-square-foot station by Friday night.

New options

The large training room was a big improvement and will allow firefighters to gather together in one place, an option they did not previously have, Cranmer said.

Inside the training room there is a large map of the streets in the village.

In the public entrance there is a mural of firefighters in action with large letters saying “established 1946.” Across the hall is the fireman’s prayer on display. There is a special room for refilling tanks of breathing

air and that room can withstand 250 m.p.h. winds from a tornado.

The station was made possible when voters approved a bond issue in 2021.

The fire protection district is a separate entity from the village, employing 17 full-time and 12 paid-on-call staff. The district covers 36 square miles and 18,000 people.

It currently has two rescue pumpers, a reserve rescue pumper, a reserve pumper, a water tanker/tender, two EMS vehicles, two brush trucks and a command vehicle.

Plans call for the Village of Godfrey to take possession of the old Station 2, 1712 W. Delmar Avenue, and the department is selling the old Station 1 at 6011 Godfrey Road.

Accounting

Architectural Technology

Automotive Technology

Child Development

Criminal Justice

Dental Assisting

Dental Hygiene

Digital Streaming and Broadcast Media

Drafting and Design

Environmental Science

Exercise Science

Fine Art

Science

Graphic Design

Health Information and Medical Coding

Industrial Electricity

Information Technology

Management

Medical Assisting

Music Performance

Music Production

Nurse Assistant

Nursing (ADN)

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Paralegal

Paramedicine

Pharmacy Technician

Process Operations Technology

Restoration Ecology

Truck Driver Training

Web Design and Development

Welding Technology

Beverly Farm

Godfrey is a safe, nice place to live, filled with wonderful people. Some of these fantastic members of the community are the people that run and work at Beverly Farm.

Beverly Farm is a fantastic place for adults with developmental disabilities. The workers here provide a loving, caring environment that nearly 400 people call home.

In 1897, Dr. William H.C. Smith and Elizabeth, his wife, found the perfect location in Godfrey for a place where they could provide an alternative

form of care for those with developmental disabilities.

They wanted to provide all of the things that someone with a disability could need in one place. Medical care, housing, careers, fun, socialization, and a healthy lifestyle were all things that they wanted to offer for those they cared for.

William was born in Beverly, Massachusetts, and they named their new home in honor of that. They began their practice with two residents and two buildings.

At the 1904 World’s Fair, Beverly Farms gained recognition for its groundbreaking work with people who have disabilities. This recognition helped spur more growth for this great institution.

Today, Beverly Farm has so much to offer for those who live there. They have many different housing options for their beloved residents, such as apartments, group homes, and cottages.

For fun, they have the Groves B. Recreation Center. This houses a gym, stage, and indoor, heated pool. There

is always something fun being offered, like swimming, dance, theater, karaoke, and art club.

There is also an Equestrian Center for the residents, which is open to the public as well. Horsemanship is an activity that is fun and engaging, while also providing therapeutic benefits for those who participate. All the information for visiting and enjoying the horses at Beverly Farm is available on their website.

Beverly Farm gives their residents training and

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opportunities that very few other programs can. They offer a developmental center, which trains their residents in skills that will help them grow and become skilled employees for a variety of jobs.

They also run Buzy Bee Bakery, where residents help out the baking process in a variety of ways. The staff want to help them achieve goals. They want every resident to be able to perform as well as they possibly can. Some of the menu items include classics like brownies, banana bread, and cupcakes. There

are some other tasty treats that might interest you as well, like maple butterscotch brownies, gooey butter chocolate chip cake, and pistachio cake.

Some local businesses in the area employ Beverly Farm’s workers through contracts. For additional information, contact Krystal Gruenenfelder at 618-466-2134 or email us at info@beverlyfarm.org.

Beverly Farm is just one example of the care and compassion that the town of Godfrey has to offer. Volunteer opportunities are available, and donations are always appreciated.

David A. Goins

Mayor (618) 463-3500

Cheryl L. Ingle City Clerk (618) 463-3522

Cameo C. Holland Treasurer (618) 463-3540

Jarrett Ford Chief of Police

John Franke Deputy Chief of Police

Jessie Jemison Fire Chief

Matthew Fischer Deputy Fire Chief

Elizabeth C. Allen 1st Ward (618) 567-1451

Carolyn L. MacAfee 2nd Ward (618) 465-0859

Raymond C. Strebel 3rd Ward (618) 531-6418

Rosetta L. Brown

4th Ward (618) 433-9976

John Meehan

5th Ward (618) 920-9008

Stephanie J. Elliott

6th Ward (618) 462-8150

David D. Gan

7th Ward (618) 401-2347

Your Godfrey Government

Mike McCormick Mayor

(618) 466-3324

Susan Robbins Village Clerk (618) 466-3381

Jeffrey Weber Trustee (618) 462-4991

Karen McAtee Trustee (618) 830-4232

Rick Lauschke Trustee (618) 444-9182

Sarah Woodman Trustee

(618) 830-1098

Mike Fisher Trustee

(618) 407-3786

Craig Lombardi Trustee

(618) 530-1500

Judy Peipert Village Administrator (618) 466-3324

Richard Beran, PE Village Engineer (618) 466-4319

John Uhl Engineer Technician

(618) 466-4319

Jim Mager Director of Economic Development (618) 466-3325

Animal Control

(618) 466-5211

Streets/Public Works Dept. (618) 466-3133

Parks & Recreation Dept. (618) 466-1483

Building and Zoning Dept. (618) 466-1206

Madison County Government

County Board Members

Kurt Prenzler Chairman

Dave Tanyzus Administrator

Ryan Kneedler District 22

Fred Michael District 1

Michael Holiday Sr. District 8

Terry Eaker District 15

Paulo Nicolussi District 23

Stacy Pace District 2

Bill Stoutenborough District 9

Robert Meyer District 16

Skip Schmidt District 24

Frank Dickerson District 3

Shawndell Williams District 10

Victor Valentine, Jr. District 17

Chris Guy District 25

Bobby Ross District 4

Dalton Gray District 11

Alison Lamothe District 18

Michael Madison District 26

Michael Madison District 5

Robert Pollard District 12

Nick Petrillo District 19

Valerie Doucle District 6

Mathew King District 13

Denise Wiehardt District 20

Michael Turner District 7

Michael Babcock District 14

John Janek District 21

What Are My Choices for Child Care?

• Alton Day Care & Learning Center, 3048 Godfrey Road, Godfrey

• St. Francis Day Care Center College Ave., Alton

• Marcia’s Child Care 1053 College Ave., Alton

• Maxines Daycare, Inc. 739 Silver St., Alton

• Noahs Ark Child Care Center 4500 Humbert Rd., Alton

• Riverbend Head Start 1802 East Broadway, Alton

• Step by Step 2400 Locust Ave., Alton

• Toddle Towne Learning Center 3839 Humbert Rd., Alton

• Ywca of Alton’s Child Enrichment Program 304 East 3rd St., Alton

• Upper Alton Baptist Church & Preschool 2726 College Ave., Alton

• Little Knights Daycare 1100 Airport Rd., Godfrey

• Kreative Kids Learning Center 3048 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey

• Bright Tomorrows 5518 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey

• Montessori Children’s House 5800 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey

• Faith Lutheran Preschool 6809 Godfrey Rd., Godfrey

Where Can I Worship?

Abundant Life

3986 Humbert Rd., Alton

Enjoy Church

3303 Homer M Adams Pkwy, Alton

The Bridge Church

504 E. 12th Street, Alton

Heartland Baptist Church

4500 Humbert Rd., Godfrey

Alton Church of God

65 E Elm St., Alton

Main Street United Methodist Church

1400 Main St., Alton

North Alton Southern Baptist Church

2245 State St., Alton

First Presbyterian Church

E 4th St & Alby St., Alton

First Christian Church

760 Washington Ave., Alton

River Church

3401 Fosterburg Rd., Alton

Word & Spirit Family Church

5012 Humbert Rd., Alton

Calvary Baptist Church

1422 Washington Ave., Alton

St. Mary’s Catholic Church

519 E 4th Street, Alton

Alton Bible Church

3047 Alby St., Alton

Church of Good Samaritan

3418 College Ave., Alton

College Ave. Presbyterian Church

1702 Clawson St., Alton

St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church

717 State St., Alton

Alton Community Church of God

2508 Johnson St., Alton

Beltline Christian Center

310 Oakwood Ave., Alton

Grace United Methodist Church

702 Henry St., Alton

St. Paul Episcopal Church

10 E 3rd St., Alton

Greater St. James Baptist Church

2016 Belle St., Alton

Bread-Life Fellowship Church

The Church of the Living God

101 W Elm, Alton

Tabernacle Missionary Baptist 2621 Amelia St., Alton

Open Door Fellowship 929 Milnor St., Alton

Community Christian Church 2345 Union School Rd., Alton

Monroe Memorial Church 1901 Belle St., Alton

5000 Humbert Rd., Alton

Morning Star Baptist Church

1 E. 6th St., Alton

Union Baptist Church

320 E. 7th St., Alton

Victory Baptist Church

909 Brown St., Alton

Upper Alton Baptist Church

2726 College Ave., Alton

New Beginnings Outreach International 2201 State St., Alton

Messiah Lutheran Church 920 Milton Rd., Alton

St. John Missionary Baptist Church

427 Market St., Alton

Trinity AME Church 626 E. 4th St., Alton

Greater Glory Tabernacle Church

713 Washington Ave., Alton

Elm St. Presbyterian Church 101 W Elm St., Alton

Trinity Episcopal Chapel 1901 State St., Alton

Brown’s Faith Temple Church 2603 Main St., Alton

Alton Seventh-day Adventist Church

4870 Humbert Rd, Alton

Brown Street Baptist Church

3125 Brown St., Alton

BASIC

Crisis Food Center

21 E 6th Street, Alton (618) 462-8201

The Salvation Army

525 Alby St., Alton (618) 465-7764

The Storehouse 929 Milnor Ave., Alton

HOUSING

Alton Housing Authority

2406 Crawford St., Alton (618) 465-4269

Booth House

525 Alby St., Alton (618) 465-7764

Madison County Urban League

408 East Broadway, Alton (618) 463-1906

Alton Township

100 E Broadway, Alton (618) 462-0091

The Salvation Army 525 Alby St., Alton (618) 465-7764

Senior Services Plus, Inc.

2603 N. Rodgers Ave., Alton (618) 465-3298

Call For Help Inc.

235 E Delmar Ave., Alton (618) 462-0552

Brightpoint

6 Crossroads Ct., Alton (618) 462-2714

Social Security Administration

501 Belle St., Alton (885) 285-6006

YWCA of Southwestern Illinois 304 E 3rd St., Alton (618) 465-7774

Challenge Unlimited

4 Emma L. Kaus Ln., Alton (618) 465-0044 COMMUNITY SERVICES

River Bend Adventist Community Service 4870 Humbert Rd., Alton (618) 462-7227

FAMILY SERVICES

Catholic Charities

3512 McArthur Blvd., Alton (618) 462-0634

Riverbend Head Start

550 Landmarks Blvd., Alton (618) 463-5946

Madison County Urban League

408 East Broadway, Alton (618) 463-1906

Where To Find Mental Health Resources

Centerstone

2615 Edwards St., Alton (877) 467-3123

Alton Mental Health

4500 College Ave., Alton (618) 474-3800

OSF St. Anthony’s Healthcenter Psychologist Services

1 St. Anthonys Way, 4th Floor, Alton (618) 474-6240

Alternatives Counseling

200 W. 3rd St., Alton (618) 288-8085

Angela McDowell Counseling Service

322 State St., Ste. 201, Alton (618) 558-0296

Community Counseling

307 Henry St., Ste. 407, Alton (618) 462-2331

Lovejoy Legacy Counseling

307 Henry St., Ste. 407, Alton (618) 374-0176

SIHF Healthcare

4 Memorial Dr., Bldg. B Ste. 2, Alton (618) 463-5905

Rekindle Drug Rehabilitation

602 E 3rd St., Alton (618) 248-0342

New Horizons Behavioral Health

611 W. Delmar Ave., Alton (618) 920-5212

Care and Counseling

1710 Clawson St., Alton (314) 688-8639

Calmwaters Counseling

5090 Humbert Rd., Godfrey (618) 466-0295

Are you interested in lear ning about the RiverBend Grow th Association?

Watch this video about current members.

W E ’ RE READ Y T O CARE FOR Y OU

W hen seconds matter, get top-notch care at the Emergenc y Depar tment of OSF HealthCare Saint A nthony ’ s Health Center.

With telemedicine access to neurolo g ists and specialized care for kids, we provide prompt , high-quality care tailored to your needs, whether a minor injur y or a ser ious situation.

C hoose the Emergenc y Depar tment at OSF Saint Anthony ’ s for quick , efficient help when you need it most .