Mt. Olive, Illinois – More Coal on Route 66
As the vast expanse of the tallgrass prairie gently yields to the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, travelers along the historic Route 66 will find themselves approaching the unassuming town of Mt. Olive, Illinois. This small community, steeped in history, offers a glimpse into the past, a time when coal mining dominated the region and the "Mother Road" served as a vital artery connecting the nation.
The story of Mt. Olive begins with John C. Niemann, a German immigrant who, in 1846, recognized the potential of this fertile land and purchased forty acres. Establishing himself as a successful farmer, he later encouraged his brothers, Fred and Henry, to join him, acquiring land adjacent to his own. This marked the beginning of a wave of German immigration to the area.
Recognizing the growing needs of the burgeoning settlement, Niemann constructed the first store, a crucial hub for the community. This store also housed the post office, with Niemann himself serving as the postmaster. The area was initially known as Niemann’s Settlement, a testament to the founder’s influence.
In 1868, a significant change occurred when Corbus J. Keiser purchased a half interest in the store, leading to a renaming of the establishment to Niemann & Keiser. Keiser, along with Mient Arkebauer, further shaped the future of the area by laying out a town plat on Niemann’s original forty acres. They christened the town Oelburg, a German term meaning "Mount of Olives," reflecting the area’s natural beauty and perhaps a sense of hope for prosperity.
The arrival of the railroad in 1870 brought about another name change, briefly known as Drummond Station. However, the name proved fleeting. In 1874, Niemann sold his interest in the store, and it wasn’t until over a decade later that the town finally adopted the name by which it is known today: Mt. Olive.
While the town’s name evolved, C.J. Keiser’s influence continued to grow. He spearheaded the development of the region’s industrial landscape, opening the first coal shaft in 1875. This was followed by the establishment of a milling business in 1876 and one of the first banks in 1882. Keiser was a key figure, holding stock in the mine works and helping Mt. Olive to develop. The promise of employment in the coal mines attracted a surge of immigrants, drawn by the allure of work and the opportunity to build a new life.
The coal mining industry brought prosperity to southern Illinois, but it also brought hardship and conflict. The relentless pursuit of profit by mine owners often came at the expense of the miners’ well-being. Years of enduring dangerous and harsh working conditions, coupled with meager wages, fueled resentment and ultimately led to the formation of the United Mine Workers of America in 1890. This nationwide union aimed to address the unfair wages and the exploitative practices of company stores.
During this era, mining companies held immense power over their workers’ lives. They frequently owned the entire mining towns, controlling not only employment but also housing and commerce. Miners were often compelled to live in company-owned houses and paid with scrip or coupons that could only be redeemed at company stores, which notoriously charged inflated prices. Furthermore, workers were forced to shoulder the burden of purchasing and maintaining their own tools, even the oil for the lamps they used in the darkness of the mines. Initially, the union struggled to gain traction against the powerful company owners, who could easily evict striking workers from their homes.
Despite facing numerous setbacks in their efforts to organize against the mining companies, union activists persisted. On July 15, 1892, Mt. Olive became a focal point for union miners. They embarked on a march southward, traversing through coal towns and calling on miners to join their cause. Holding impromptu rallies, they garnered significant moral and material support from the communities they passed through.
However, despite the support from community members, the union struggled to recruit miners due to the prevailing low wages and the pervasive fear of reprisal from the mine owners. By the time of the great strike of 1897, only a small fraction of Illinois coal miners belonged to the United Mine Workers of America. Nevertheless, the dedication of a few began to yield results, and by early 1898, an agreement was reached between the union and management. This agreement stipulated an eight-hour workday, mutually agreed-upon wages, and the elimination of company stores.
However, the fragile peace was shattered in the fall of 1898 when the Chicago-Virden Coal Company, along with others, sought to be exempted from the agreement. When their request was denied, management locked out union workers and imported black strikebreakers from the South. This act sparked immediate outrage among union activists, setting the stage for a violent confrontation.
On October 12, 1898, violence erupted in Virden, Illinois, a town located approximately forty miles north of Mt. Olive. As a train carrying 180 black strike-breakers and their families attempted to pass through a line of armed strikers, a deadly shootout ensued between the laborers and the armed guards. The tragic event, known as the Virden Massacre, resulted in the deaths of seven miners and five guards. Forty other miners, four guards, and the train’s engineer were wounded. The train, with its human cargo still aboard, was forced to return to St. Louis, Missouri.
Four of the miners killed in the Virden Massacre were from Mt. Olive and were initially buried in the town cemetery. However, the owner of the land objected to the burials, and the Lutheran cemetery barred them from burial because the minister denounced the miners as "murders." In response, the local union purchased a one-acre site, and the bodies were moved to the new Union Miners’ Cemetery in 1899. Over the years, additional land was acquired, and a monument was dedicated on October 11, 1936, commemorating the fallen miners and the struggle for workers’ rights.
The Union Miners’ Cemetery holds a special significance as the final resting place of Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, a tireless advocate for the rights of miners and children. Before her death at the age of 100 in 1930, Mother Jones expressed her desire to be buried with "her boys" – the coal miners she had championed for decades. The cemetery, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located on the northwestern edge of town, just off I-55.
Long after the tumultuous years surrounding the turn of the century, Henry Soulsby, a coal miner, lived and worked in Mt. Olive. However, an injury sustained in the 1920s forced him to seek a new occupation. He invested his life savings in two lots at the corner of 1st Street and what would soon become Route 66. In 1926, the Soulsby Shell Station opened, providing a vital service to travelers along the iconic highway.
Henry’s son, Russell, helped out at the station while in high school and later joined his father full-time after graduation. Henry’s daughters, Ola and Wilma, also contributed to the family business. The original station was a modest structure, measuring only 13 by 20 feet, with limited space for a desk, battery charger, and supplies. In 1937, a 30 by 12-foot extension was added to the back of the building. However, the station never had a garage. Instead, the Soulsbys utilized a drive-up ramp outside the station for oil changes and minor repairs. When Henry retired, Russell and Ola, both skilled at pumping gas, checking oil, and diagnosing engine problems, took over the station.
During World War II, Russell served as a communications technician. Upon his return, he began repairing radios and televisions at the station, dedicating the north side room to this new venture in the 1950s. He erected an antenna on the roof to test his work.
The construction of Interstate 55 in the late 1950s diverted much of the traffic away from Route 66. Soulsby’s Station ended up a mile away from the new highway. However, Russell’s television repair business sustained him. He and Ola continued to pump gas until 1991 when they could no longer comply with the new EPA regulations. After 65 years of serving Route 66 travelers, the gasoline storage tanks were removed. The station remained open for two more years, providing oil checks, selling soft drinks, and welcoming the growing number of Route 66 enthusiasts. Finally, the station closed its doors in 1993.
In 1997, Ola passed away, and Russell sold the station at auction, complete with its contents. Encouraged by the new owner, Russell occasionally greeted visitors. He passed away in 1999. Today, the current owner and the Soulsby Station Society have restored the building to its original historic appearance, preserving a classic example of early Route 66 for future generations of travelers.
Today, Mt. Olive‘s coal mines are gone, the remnants of old Route 66 are fading, and the town has transformed into a quiet residential community. While the bustling energy of the past may have subsided, the spirit of Mt. Olive endures, a testament to the resilience of its people and the enduring legacy of coal mining and the "Mother Road."
For those continuing their journey along Route 66, a short drive south to Staunton will lead to Henry’s Rabbit Ranch. Along the way, keep an eye out for vintage Route 66 signage, remnants of a bygone era.