“Braidwood was the foundation for my life.” Phil Weidner There have been a few famous Braidwood people that I have written about in blog posts, “Braidwood Beginnings: Growing up in a Coal Town.” (https://braidwoodguy.com) Anton Cermac, former mayor of Chicago killed by an assassin’s bullet while standing next to Franklin Roosevelt, was born in Braidwood. Labor leader John Mitchell, who … Continue reading A Truly Unique Braidwood Guy
Blog Articles
Nicknames vs “Knocknames”
Nickname: an additional or substitute name given to a person, place, or thing usually descriptive and given in fun, affection, or derision, as “Doc,” “Shorty,” etc. a familiar, often shorter, form of a proper name, as “ Dick” for “ Richard” (Merriam Dictionary) Knockname: a substitute name meant to demean, dehumanize, or otherwise degrade another human being and perpetrated by a bully. (TRK) Dear Grandkids: If … Continue reading Nicknames vs “Knocknames”
Dear Grandkids: Money Rules
“I love money. I love everything about it. I bought some pretty good stuff. Got me a $300 pair of socks. Got a fur sink. An electric dog polisher. A gasoline powered turtleneck sweater. And, of course, I bought some dumb stuff, too.” --Steve Martin Dear Kids: My letters to you and previous conversations with you … Continue reading Dear Grandkids: Money Rules
CAROLE ANN KENNEDY ROBESON: RIP 2025
"We knew that this would happen." Gravestone marker Jon and Carole Ann My sister passed away a four weeks ago but it has taken that amount of time to write about it. Nobody has known her as long as I have known her and maybe that’s my delay in saying a few words about her. There … Continue reading CAROLE ANN KENNEDY ROBESON: RIP 2025
A Conversation on the Porch
John Kalec This past summer I was sitting on our porch in Maine with our daughter Katherine and we were planning my Mom's 95th birthday party in Braidwood. I always have found that the best conversations seem to always take place on the porch and I remembered back to my grandmother's house which was right next … Continue reading A Conversation on the Porch
A Real Braidwood Person
I recently received a message from a lady in Michigan. She traces her genealogy back to Scotland and is a “Braidwood.” Thought that this might be of interest to Braidwood, Illinois historians. Her name: Stacy Kmetz Stacy Hi, Tom! I came across your post and have read some of your stories…interesting to me because I … Continue reading A Real Braidwood Person
A Memorable Braidwood Thanksgiving
John Kalec During my visit to Braidwood to see my Mom earlier this month, we talked about the wonderful family Thanksgiving dinners we enjoyed over the years at home on Division Street. My grandparents would join us, as well as aunts and uncles from both sides of the family. But the most memorable holiday was … Continue reading A Memorable Braidwood Thanksgiving
The Hero We Didn’t Know
“My Dad would be very pleased to hear that his story is shared….hopefully it can help someone suffering with the type of issues that he did.” John Kalec In Braidwood, Illinois, on May 23, 1923, my grandfather Mathew Kalec died from a sudden heart attack. My grandmother was 8 months pregnant with my Dad and upon … Continue reading The Hero We Didn’t Know
Another Walker Street Story
John Kalec The following story by John Kalec was sparked by Carole Kennedy Robeson’s tale about an old gentleman bachelor who lived on Walker Street in Braidwood. My sister, brother, and I delivered newspapers to the Kalec house in the 1950s and 1960s. John has been a friend of mine since the Braidwood days and has … Continue reading Another Walker Street Story
Mrs. Sarah Jeffrey (aka “Jeppy”)
Carole Ann Kennedy Robeson When I look back at our rented house on Walker Street, it certainly would not be something a young family would live in today. I remember the pump in the kitchen sink, the one small bedroom shared by two, then three kids, and of course, the outhouse. None of this bothered us, but … Continue reading Mrs. Sarah Jeffrey (aka “Jeppy”)
Braidwood Beginnings 