Dee King DeGroh
I recently asked Dee (King) deGroh about her strong affiliation with Braidwood. Dee’s grandfather, MJ Donna, documented significant historical facts about our town, in “The Braidwood Story.” She cherishes the time she has spent in Braidwood where she actually lived from 2005 to 2016. But then Dee returned to Naperville to be closer to her daughter and only grandchild, Ryan. Below are a few memories that Dee has about her hometown.
Sounds of Braidwood
Even now, when I hear trucks rambling down a street, I think of all the trucks clambering near my grandpa’s house near Braidwood’s Main Street at night. My sister, Este (King) Woulfe and I slept on an enclosed porch on the south-west side of the house, next to the Shaughnessy house at Main Street, at Lincoln Street. Sometimes we’d both grumble or just laugh when they rambled on their way to pick-up or deliver goods during the night. We could also hear the trains clanking down the tracks from that porch. Of course they would blast their warning horns at each crossing. These sounds occurred in the daytime, also, but they didn’t have the same affect on us as during the night.
When the Braidwood Recreation Club was initiated and under construction, my sister, Este and I rode out there with our grandpa, many times. He checked the daily progress of the workers, as they built the roads. My mom didn’t like us riding behind the bulldozers, she thought the new, sandy roads might collapse. (They didn’t and still haven’t). If I recall correctly, they hired “Greer School” employees who trained truck drivers to prepare all the roads at BRC.
Summer on the Farm
Each summer, I also spent a few weeks at my dad’s family farm, south of Essex. My “0ld maid” aunt Mary, and two “bachelor“ uncles ran the farm. My sister didn’t stay as often as I. The noises bothered her. I enjoyed being awakened by the sound of the rooster welcoming the start of a new day. Soon after, I’d hear the putt-putt of the John Deere Tractor, as it was started. It had such an unusual putt-putt sound. I’d hop out of bed and get dressed for another day on the farm. After eating a quick breakfast, I’d go outside to greet the day. The dog always greeted me with his tail wagging and a huge smiley-like face.
My uncles had a John Deere and an International Harvester tractor. “Mine” was the John Deere, “putt-putt” tractor. It was just my style, and I learned to start it and drive it at age 12. Uncle Maurice drove the IH with the combine. Uncle Emmit drove the Deere pulling the wagons, filled with oats, corn or beans, to and from the fields to the crib. I got to drive the wagon to and from the crib, most if the time with Uncle Emmit hanging on the side. Uncle Emmit was older and enjoyed riding the wagon to and from, rather than driving. He was almost as happy to let me drive as I was to drive it. After I got it in the crib, he had me park the wagon so that it’d empty into the grain “elevator” in the crib. He’d tell me when to halt so the elevator was in the right location behind the wagon. Then, back to the field with the empty wagon for a full one. I loved the smell of the field in the hot summer sun. It was sort-of a “dirty job”, but I loved it!
I was there sometimes when they’d be bailing straw or hay in the Fall. They had a neighbor boy or two help them grab and place the heavy bales from the baler onto the hay rack. I‘d sometimes drive the rack back to store the bales in the barn for winter feed. Gosh they were so heavy!! I couldn’t push them, let alone lift them! But I could pull the rack behind the tractor!!
Back to Braidwood
Nothing was as great as being in Braidwood for the Summer!! We were on Lincoln Street and were close to the former coalmine hill at the north end of Lincoln St. We often walk there for an afternoon to climb the hills. Most of the time, we walked out to the Braidwood Recreation Club, and usually took a sandwich for lunch. The Recreation Club opened in the mid-1950s, as I recall. A cousin, Mary Kay Perona, from Lockport, often stayed with her grandparents, Guido and Irene Donna. She walked with us, as did Joann Frost, and/or Rita Wilson, as well. There were always many friends from the area to swim or chat with us. I took a few swimming lessons and could keep my head above water, but was not a great swimmer! I loved just being there, on the sand!
Of course, the “Comet Stop” was high on our list of places to be seen! We always had dimes or quarters to play our favorite hits….3 songs for a quarter!! Sometimes we danced to the music, but there was not much room to do so!
Joanne Frost was 2 years older than me (same age as Este). Her dad worked on cars and when she turned 16 he gave her a car. She took us all over the Coal City and Wilmington areas too, just to ride around! She usually saw some people she knew. We were always with Joanne and her many friends.
Reed-Custer Basketball
We begged our parents to take us to Braidwood for fun-filled weekends, during basketball season!!! We made it to many “home” games. (We watched our team playing some terrific basketball). Joann Frost was a cheer leader. Also Jackie Ashford, and others. We’d stay after the game for a “Sock-Hop” dance, about once a month, after a home game. We never went to an “away” game. Only those at the old Reed Custer High School.
Back to Chicago
Mom and Dad moved to Chicago so he could get a good job. Both Este and I were born there. We loved our Chicago life! We went to St. Felicitas grade school from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Then we went to Aquinas Dominican High School for four years. We rode 2 City Buses to get there and back every day. I’m still in touch with a few gals from our neighborhood. A couple of them came to Braidwood with us for the day. We wanted to take them to experience the “BRC.”
I did not actually live in Braidwood until I retired, about 2005, when I moved there from Naperville. I lived in my grandparents’ house, on Lincoln Street. My mother had moved there, after my dad died and she retired from teaching in Chicago. Unfortunately, my sister had died so she and I couldn’t spend time together as I had hoped.
I lived in Braidwood for 10 years. During that time, a group of Braidwood friends and I decided to start the Braidwood Historical Society. Within a year of doing so, Braidwoods’ Mayor Sue Grygil and the City council granted use of the Old depot building which had recently been moved from the Railroad station to the corner of Main and Center Streets. It was the perfect place for a museum! It was quite old and had been refurbished a few months before we started using it. The Museum is a great tribute to the city of Braidwood. Many people donated their information and memorabilia to be displayed. We have wonderful artifacts and photos, etc. During that time, I was also Secretary of the Braidwood Library Board, for almost 10 years. (I liked to keep busy!)
In 2016, I returned to Naperville to be closer to my daughter and my only grandson, Ryan, who was only three years old at that time. I’m so glad to be close to them, as well as my son, who lives in Chicago. It is also great to be back at my Parish, St. Thomas the Apostle. We were founding members when it started, 40 years ago. My husband and I were in the choir from the beginning. I’m still a member of our choir. I had to leave the choir when I moved to Braidwood. I sang in Immaculate Conception Parish choir while I lived there. I also sang in Essex’s St. Lawrence O’Toole Parish choir a couple of times a month.
I’ve been so fortunate to have experienced Chicago life from Birth until I married and moved to Hazel Crest. In 1975, we moved to Naperville. Then I moved to Braidwood, now I’m back in Naperville.
Such a fortunate life I’ve lived. Big City, Farm, Large Suburb, and Small Town. I loved them all!!!
Braidwood Beginnings 