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Vim Two XH£i TROY TRIBUNE Thursday, February 13, 1969 «■H • ■The best known landmark and undoubtedly the oldest structure in the City of Troy was lost recently when a bull-dozer pulled down the ancient blacksmith shop which stood across from the Troy Grade School. The remains were scheduled to be burned under the guidance of the Troy Fire Department, but this became impossible due to the extreme cold. More than a few oldtimers were glad because this gave them a Ettle longer to pick wooden or metal relics from the rubble. They wanted these as remem branoes of the old building whicl is so involved and interwoven in so many ways with the history and growth of our town.The building actually goes bad to 1864 when it was constructed by Elias Burk whose name is veri prominent in the progress an« civic development of Troy. Burk was an immigrant from Germany who came to this country at thlt; age of seven. He became an apprentice blacksmith at sixteen and came to the St. Louis area when he around twenty years old. after serving in the Civil War with the Union Army in an Ohio regiment, he married the former Rose Waoldey who had come to America with her family as a girl from Switzerland.Their marriage and the beginning of the old “shop” came a-bout almost simultaneously. The shop was small at first and was added onto until it became a large, lofty two-story building. The tall brick house which was the Burk’s home place and stands next to the site of the shop was also started at this time, being enlarged as the size of the family increased; twelve chidren were bom to them and nine reached adulthood. This same house still stands and at present is being ranodeled by the recent buyer, Kenneth Ziegler of Highland, who hopes to bring it up to date and stall retain some of the old-world charm by keeping as fuch as possible off the original style.The Burk’s business thrived with typical German enthusiasm and hard work and soon they were able to expand and include harness-makting; Burk also became a self-taught veterinarian whose skjlls became widespread and he was in great demand throughout the farming communities. Although, he had no formal teaching, he later became officially licensed by the state of Illinois.When the coal mines opened near Troy, Burk went there at night to shoe the mules that pulled the coal carts, and he con-timed to run his blacksmith) shop by day. Mrs. James (Alice) Bone, one of his two remaining daughters, recounts that patrons waiting for their jobs to be completed, when lucky enough to be there around meal-time, were included with the brood in a heartymeal.Mrs. Rose Peters of Troy isthe other surviving daughter.The smith) also became very well known for his racehorse shoes, and his entry and display of the different types won him first prize at the St. Louis World’s Fair of 1904.With) all this, Blacksmith Burk still found time to help build the First Evangelical Church in Troy, now the Friedens United Church of Christ, and served frequently as a lay pastor when an ordained minister was not at hand. This church still serves our community but from a different building.He was also active in politics, serving the city as Mayor On three different occasions. “One time he was elected without even running,” stated MJrs. Bone. “He didn’t know anything, about it until a crowd gathered in front of our home.”The first floor of the old building always served as workshop, but the second^ floor proved veryversatile and even was used as a dance hall. Mrs. Bone still has printed invitations adertising ‘A Grand Holiday Hop” to be held at Burk’s Hall, December 30, 1880. Music by a three-piece string band was promised and the initation asks that the gentleman attend with a lady.Christmas celebrations were community affairs, too, back then and after all had attended church services, they gathered for coffee, wine, cookies and cakes in the congenial German style that is still so much a part of the heritage of Troy and surrounding communities.The second floor was also used to build wagons, and at least one of them was still in use a few years ago according to an old life-long resident of Troy, who came across one in Wisconsin while traveling; Close inspection revealed undoubtedly that it was made in Burk’s shop and was reportedly, still in good shape.Elias C. Burk, one of the sons, who became an apprentice at the age of thirteen, in his father's shop, kept the shop ustil 1951 when at the age of 84, he died while walking back to the work that he loved. The younger Burk was also civiq-mdnded and worked eagerly for community organizations and following in his father’s footsteps, serving as city treasurer when Troy was featured in a Pictorial Supplement of the St.Louis Post-Dispatch in January of 1936. He was also baptized and confirmed in the EvangelicalChurch of which his father was a charter member. His passing was noted with deep regret by his many friends and neighbors who had seen him bn his walks to the shop every day for over seventy years.The old shop was sold to a loca hardware dealer about twelve years ago, at which time it was still weather-proof, but was used from then only for storage, and the passing years, winds and rains finally took their toll.r■spBi:«A midweek cruise to Nassau aboard the Norwegian cruise ship M/S Sunward was part of a recent vacation for Mr. and Mrs.William spent : tween and balt;Candidate Favors*East Side AirportIn a statement last week, Patrick W. Riddleberger, a Democratic candidate for the State Senate from the 53rd District, came out in favor of construction of a major airport on the East Side. The candidate said he would support and/or sponsor the necessary legislation and called for the immediate release of the $50,000. already appropriated for the airport study so that the project could proceed without further delay. He invites the support of the people of the district in forwarding this vitally important project.ST. JOTROJUNEBrendeBaibarjTRO ST. JAMrs. her hu;who is sistantNew \Miss Sharon the B BrookJj105 East MainPhone 344-0060Free Parking In RearThe statement also contains material on the possible effect of the airport and legislative suggestions. A study off Chicago’s O’Hare Airport shows that it has resulted direictly in the creation of some 35,000 jobs, in addition to the thousands of jobs from related construction trades. The establishment of such an airport on the East Side would be a great inducement to other industries to locate here — especially if air freight facilities are provided. Informed sources show that air freight has increased by 400% nationally during the past six years.Abou only a U. S. swarmlt;AfricadecadeNationsshows.The dation 30 yea to the“Collinsville's Only Complete FamilySHOE SERVICE CENTER”FEET HURT?s:R O C C OyoD have tired* aching feet; weakbrokendown arches, weak ankles, corns, callouseslmtniw STOjP at Rocco’s for foot relief. We have large selection of Dr. Scholl Arch Supports and Foot Remedies and a large selection of HealthShoes for the whole family. We fill many doctorsf. * • •for new shoesCORKS tAUOUSIS •UNIONSOOOIIS ( VOIfLegislation, to bring a major airport to this area should provide for supersonic transportation for zoning to protect residentsfrom excessive noise, and forample space to accommodate commercial and industrial expansion.Soph*Feb. 1’ Feb. % Feb. 2‘ Mar. ST1106 N. Secoimift,-ACMIMfUTprescriptionswarik.orthopedictoiA* AtCMU*s carry a complete line of orthopedic shoes for n and children. Now, we also carry the NATURALBRIDGE HEALTH SHOESSAVE UP TO 50% AND MORE ON BEST BRANDSSHOES FOR ENTIRE FAMILY DURING OURYEARLY SHOE SALE NOW IN PROGRESS.FIR*Corrective Shoe (Prescriptions and doing OrthopedicWork for over 85 years.Free 'Pedograph Print of Stocking Feet.The old building just had to be taken down, as it had indeed become a menace, a safety hazard, almost flapping in the wind like an old scar e-crow. However, Mrs. Bone still can remember it when it was a pretty building with criss-crossed whitepa'inted balustrades and a balcorik wonderful for watching parades,\and lined in front with rows of liMy trees, long since surrendered in\the name of progress and city streeTHE ished } $3.01 ance.Sentimentalists and seekers of town Wstory were sad indeed when the old building had to go, hoping until the very end that perhaps, it could be maintained as a public building which would have been interesting for townspeople and Visitors alike tc have enjoyed, but sadly, it was beyondsalvaging.THURHEA ByRadiOne thing we are sure of, the builder, Elias Burk, would neverhave wanted to stand in the wayI of our city’s progress.
Newspaper Details
Troy Tribune
Troy, Illinois, US
Thu, Feb 13, 1969
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Hayner P.
IL, USA 22 Dec 2022
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