History
Hecker Background – 1815-1894
Settlers came to the Hecker area as early as 1815. The first known settler was German Henry Null, who settled southeast of the current village limits. The most notable was a settlement just over a mile west of the present village limits. This was an English settlement founded by Thomas Winstanley in 1816. This area was later known as the Winstanley Settlement. St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church was established on this site in 1824. Over time, the site had two churches built there, the first was a log church built in 1824, the second was a stone church built-in 1854. A rectory was built in 1862 that also served as the school. Prior to that, the log church was also used as the school. The present-day rectory was built from the salvaged stone from the second church at the Winstanley Settlement.
By the 1830s, many German settlers were arriving in the area. On December 18, 1840, land owned by Theodore Hilgard was laid out and surveyed by the county surveyor, Thomas Singleton. This new town was called Freedom. The first house was built by Jacob Frick in 1849. He operated a general store in the building. In 1850, Henry Gambach, a merchant and barrel maker, decided his space for the store in the Jacob Wagner building, which he originally occupied, was limited, so he built a new store at 110 North Main Street. Other businesses arriving at this time included a creamery and an implement business that was operated by Theodore Klinkhardt, located at 110 South Main Street. Completing the downtown Freedom square, were two buildings constructed by Mr. Rexroth and Mr. Noll. The Noll and Rexroth buildings were used as saloons during this time. The Noll building is located at 111 North Main Street. The Rexroth building was located at 110 South Main Street. Mail delivery was thought to have begun in Freedom as early as 1835, around the time when the Frick brothers settled in the area. The first known Freedom postmaster was Augustus Rittmeyer serving February 13, 1854, through February 3, 1858.
While there were several small businesses starting to operate at the time, one of the more notable was the Star Flour Mill. This frame structure was built in 1863 by Keho and Thieltges. The mill had a capacity of 80 barrels per day. George Frick purchased the mill in 1864. In 1886, a boiler exploded in The Star Flour Mill and burnt the mill down, which permanently seized operations. This site was located directly across the road from the present-day St. Augustine Church. Other businesses were operated by the following: Jacob Wagner, a civil war veteran, opened a wagon shop in 1864; Henry Diefenbach a shoemaker; 3 Blacksmith shops (Lenhardt Weis, John Grib & Joespeh Meyercough); & Henry Reismeyer a harness maker. Jacob Thum came to Freedom in 1864 and built the first two hotels. One hotel, operated by Mr. Diefenbach had seventeen rooms and was also used as a butcher shop. The slaughterhouse was located on 131 East Monroe Street, directly behind the Henry Gambach building. Also, the Diefenbach building was used as a dance hall and the first barbershop in Freedom. The first public school, a brick structure, was built in 1865 for $1,300. On November 16th, 1868, the Freedom Cemetery Association bought land from August & Catherine Stehfest for $150. The Stehfest Cemetery land was laid out on July 6, 1881, and was recorded on March 27, 1885. By the 1880s, Freedom had a Justice & Notary Public named H.J. Frick. Around 1867, the Freedom Library Association was organized. The Library Association then chartered on December 9th, 1872, and contained about 570 volumes, worth $2,500. The school served as a multi-purpose facility that housed a worshiping place for the Protestant congregation. This is where Friedens United Church of Christ originally met after forming on January 11, 1874. Two years prior, The Ladies Aid Society was organized and met in the homes of the members before the church was built. The present Friedens Evangelical Church was built in 1889, with the steeple added in 1895. In 1893, St. Augustine of Canterbury constructed their present-day church in Freedom, this was the third church building with the other two being at the Winstanley Settlement. In 1899, the original public was school abandoned, and a new school was built at the current site of the Hecker Community Center. It was a two-story, two room school housing all the grades. The average enrollment through the years was around 25 pupils.
Prior to the village incorporating, the postmaster was asked to change the name of the village, as there was already another town in Illinois named Freedom. The people of Freedom had taken a liking to a local Civil War hero from nearby Summerfield, Illinois. Friedrich Hecker, a German patriot, came to the United States and enlisted in the Civil War at the age of 50. He brought leadership which allowed him to quickly move up the chain of command and become a colonel. He was involved in forming the Illinois Republican Party. After the war, he spent a night in Hecker at one of the hotels. When visiting the citizens of Freedom, he made a lasting impression on the people through his personality, intelligence, and ideas. When it became time for the people to select a new name, “Hecker” was the obvious choice. Colonel Friedrich Hecker died in 1881 and is buried in Summerfield, Illinois.
Hecker Incorporation – 1895-1940
As time passed, the citizens of Freedom realized that it was time for further progress and incorporation. With poor infrastructures, such as dirt roads, the people of Freedom sought rock streets and concrete sidewalks. Money for such improvements could be better attained if they were incorporated. Throughout this process, they chose Reiss and Reiss, attorneys-at-law, of Red Bud, Illinois to help complete this task. On September 25th, 1895, community leaders presented their petition to the firm of Reiss and Reiss to be filed at the Monroe County Clerk’s Office in Waterloo, Illinois. A request was added that the name of the proposed Village would be “Hecker”. On October 15th, 1895, in the town of Freedom, fifty-one votes were cast in favor of changing the village name from Freedom to Hecker, and four opposed the action. The votes were then taken to the Monroe County Clerk’s Office and were counted and approved by the proper officials. The Village of Hecker’s Articles of Incorporation were officially filed on November 13th, 1895, at the Monroe County Clerk’s Office. Hecker adopted the traditional style of village government with a president and six board members. The new board included President Henry Gambach Sr., and trustees Henry Heidelberg, Nicholas Joeckel, William Barthel, Henry Diefenbach, Charles D. Boll & A.C. Rexroth.
Following incorporation, the Village purchased two lots and constructed a jail with two iron cells, a tool-house, a deep well, and a hand fire pump and hose were purchased. On March 4, 1905, taxpaying citizens held a meeting to discuss providing some means of fire protection. In May 1905, a new fire engine was purchased from H.R. Howe of Indianapolis, Indiana and was delivered on Sunday, May 14, 1905. Water could now easily be thrown upon the roofs of the highest building in Hecker. A fire brigade was organized to let each know what to do in case of a fire. As time passed, an organized fire department was necessary. On December 14, 1933, the first meeting was held to organize the current Hecker Fire Company. The Farmer’s Telephone Company was established on November 7, 1905. John Keller was hired as the switchboard operator, and it was in his home. One year later he resigned, and the switchboard was moved into the Charles Boll residence. His daughter Eliza Boll, worked as the operator for over 50 years and became known as “Aunt Lizzy”. In addition, Hecker was able to improve their streets with rock and construct sidewalks. In 1907, the sidewalks were laid by William Melly of Red Bud, Illinois. In 1912, a Molasses Mill was built by Henry Hill, a short distance east of the current HCC building. In 1913, the State Bank of Hecker opened in the Noll Building (NW corner of Main & Monroe Streets), however, due to the depression and a bad investment it became defunct and closed in 1933. In 1901, St. Augustine of Canterbury built a school next to the current church. The school was torn down in 1930 and replaced with a new schoolhouse consisting of four classrooms and a multipurpose room. This building currently operates as the Parish Center. Illinois Light and Power Company lit up Hecker in 1935. Prior to that, part of town had electricity generated by Kammler’s Tavern and the other part used kerosene lanterns. Over a twenty-three-year period, until Prohibition (1918), the Village of Hecker never levied any taxes to be used for Village purposes. All expenses for officers and improvements were financed out of revenue from saloon licenses. Leonard Mertz’s general store opened in the Gambach building in 1933. As business rapidly grew, the need for a new building existed and was constructed at 140 North Main Street in 1939. The need for expansion also occurred in 1952, when the Diefenbach Hotel building was demolished and an addition to the south was constructed by Leonard and Hilda Mertz. Nearby Hecker, north on Rt.159, Nu- Deal Oil company was established in about 1929. In 1936, Lester Gregson joined Nu-Deal-Oil Company as an agent selling to farmers. At the time, it was owned by A.F. Budde. After Budde was killed in a wreck in December 1940, Lester Gregson bought half of the company’s interest from Budde’s widow. Around 1957, longtime Village President Virgil Gregson bought the other half of the company from Budde’s widow. Nu-Deal Oil Company is a third-generation, family-owned business, which is currently operated by Joe Gregson, son of Virgil Gregson. Nu- Deal Oil Company still operates as a full-service gasoline and tire service.
Hecker Growth – 1940 –1995
The Hecker Sportsman’s Club was organized on June 1st, 1940. The Sportsman’s Club meetings were held in the old schoolhouse (built 1899), until they erected their own building in 1958. The Village was graced with doctors such as Heidelberg, Dinges, Reis, Trappe, and Eckert (Last Doctor-1949). In 1956, the public school was relocated to East Back Street in a two-room schoolhouse that consisted of a kitchen and a large multi-purpose room. In 1970, two additional school rooms were added, along with a front entryway and a principal’s office. By 1980 enrollment had dropped to 17 pupils and the Waterloo CUSD closed the school. The building still stands to this date. While the need for homes was increasing in Hecker, the Home Sites Addition was developed (North Park Street, North Orchard Lane, and North Nike Street) in 1951. This development consisted of 26 parcels. Utilities soon became available like natural gas, public water, and public sewer. Water was pumped to the homes and businesses in Hecker beginning in 1956. This was accomplished by the placement of three wells. Public sewer came to Hecker in 1961, and updates to the treatment plant occurred in 1971 and 1993. In wartime preparation, the Nike Hercules Missile Site was built in 1959 to help defend the St. Louis area from high-level air attacks. The site closed in 1969 and has been used a student center since 1972. The former barracks is currently used to house ‘Career Center of Southern Illinois’ and the missile launch site was purchased for $227,000 in 2014 by Ron Mertens. These sites are located approximately four miles from Hecker. After the death of Theodore Eicheenseer in 1965, his store, located in the Theodore Klinkhardt building, was purchased by Hecker Crossroad’s Inc. Also, Hecker Crossroads Inc. purchased 38.7 acres south of the village limits fronting on the east side of Route 159, and purposed plans included construction of a motel complex, shopping center, and a 64-unit multiple home complex. Ninety percent of the stock of this corporation was held by area residents. This deal apparently fell through prior to construction. In 1970, Basic Industries was founded at 351 South Main Street by John R. Hottenrott. This business continues to operate under the direction of sons, Rick, and Roger Hottenrott. The Eldondale Subdivision was developed by Elmer and Edna Haudrich dating back to 1969. The development consisted of three streets and a total of 48 parcels. Another major development was led by John Donahue in 1976. The Country Village development consisted of six apartment buildings and twelve residential lots. Hecker Jaycee’s started printing the “Hecker News” in 1976. Although originally operating out of people’s homes, the Hecker Reading Center was housed at the Hecker Public School beginning February 18, 1980. On May 5th, 1985, the Village of Hecker conducted an open house to dedicate the renovations to the Village Hall and the addition of the public library. The library began printing the “Hecker News” and the Hecker Commercial Club, now the Hecker Community Center, sponsored the free paper. In 1978, Hecker abandoned their wells and joined Freeburg & Smithton to form the Freeburg-Smithton-Hecker Water Commission (FSH). Many businesses came to Hecker in this era including the State Bank of New Athens branch in 1983. An old Sinclair service station on South Main Street was retrofitted into a bank. Others included Roy & Betty’s Creamy (closed September 1989), Sportsman’s Inn, Mavers Tavern (Formerly the Thum Hotel on Main Street at West Washington demolished in the mid-1980s), The New Broom (located at Main Street at East Washington demolished in 2004), and Hecker Commercial Club in 1962. In 1989, longtime Village President, Virgil Gregson, retired after 26 years in office. In 1991, Hecker added the current water tower as well as updated the water mains to provide more capacity and better fire protection. In 1995, Hecker celebrated its 100-year anniversary. The centennial consisted of a fish fry, craft fair, festival/parade, German cooking contest, firemen’s muster, and a special stamp cancelation. Fredrich Hecker’s descendants and German Troop were in attendance and participated in the parade. The parade consisting of 82 entries, was held in conjunction with the three-day festival on September 1-3.
Recent Years – 1996-2021
After the New Athens bank branch seized operations in Hecker, Commercial State Bank bought the building on South Main Street and opened a branch in November of 1998. In 2008, Commercial State Bank was sold to Midland States Bank, in which they continued to operate the branch until June of 2013. After Midland State Banks seized operation, the Hecker Fire District purchased the building. In 2018, the office space was torn down to create room for the fire department’s addition. The Hecker Fire Department moved into their addition/renovation in November of 2019. In August of 2002, the Hecker Post Office moved from the L.D. Mertz building into a newly constructed facility on 140 West Monroe Street. In November of 2002, Friedens United Church of Christ burnt their mortgage. In addition, Hecker Shopping Center closed on November 16th, 2002, after a 26-year run. In May of 2004, the Hecker Police Department seized operations. The final two chiefs of the department were Fred Sauerhage and Franklin Kohler. Currently, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department is contracted to patrol the Village. Around the same time, The Freedom Subdivision development was launched, consisting of 19 lots plotted on property previously owned by the Hecker Community Center. The original plans consisted of constructing an additional ball diamond. The contractor was Dennis Brand of Waterloo, Illinois. A few restaurants came into the spotlight starting with Mary’s Hecker Sandwich Shop, Honky Tonk Bar & Grill, and Back Street Wine & Dine. The Honky Tonk was housed in the Rethrox building and was occupied from 2000-2007, after taking over from Sportsman’s Inn. The Honky Tonk tragically burnt in May of 2007. Another vital business in town was The Hecker Country Store, which was housed in the Gambach Building. The store served deli sandwiches, general grocery items, and liquor. The Country Store served as the go-to community gathering spot during its 7-year run. The store closed in November of 2014. In August of 2008, the Village of Hecker hosted the Moving Vietnam Wall at the Hecker Community Center Park. This was quite the honor for a small village, as they received the Governors Hometown 1st place award in 2009. In May of 2011, the Hecker News and the Hecker Public Library ceased operations. The library space was renovated to create a much-needed Village meeting room. Along with this renovation, the Village Park added a restroom facility and another playground set. In 2017, the Village of Hecker purchased the ‘Lou’ Burkhardt (burned down in 2003) property to create an adequate parking lot and a drive-through payment box. Also, renovations to the roof and entrance were completed to the Village Hall. In May of 2016, Hecker was graced with the establishment of BackStreet Wine and Dine, serving as a locally owned bar and grill. In October of 2016, the Hecker Feed Service closed permanently after a 60-year run. The Mill is currently operated by Lohrberg Lumber and Alliance Crop Services. In 2020, Basic Industries celebrated its 50-year anniversary.
Our Celebration – 2020-2021
In 2020, the Village of Hecker began its Quasquicentennial Celebration to help commemorate Hecker’s anniversary of incorporation. The first event, a banquet, was held on January 4, 2020, at the Hecker Community Center. This event attracted 450 individuals to help commemorate Hecker’s anniversary. The night consisted of a dinner, presentation, and entertainment by The Three Amigos and Kentucky Straight. A large display of history was available for the guests to view. The next event was a Fish Fry that took place on February 28th, 2020. Once again, this event was a huge success that gathered 350+ people. The parade and festival were scheduled to be held on September 12, 2020. Sadly, due to COVID-19, the Village’s Celebration was cut short. Plans to reschedule the events in 2021 quickly surfaced. On July 17th, 2021, a Firemen’s Muster took place at BackStreet Wine and Dine in Hecker. The event gathered 150+ people, with 7 local fire departments participating.
The Village of Hecker continues to strive through the adversity of being a lowly populated Village. With the help of dedicated volunteers and town residents, Hecker is still going strong 125 years later. The Village of Hecker will continue to strive for prosperity and what is best for its residents. Hecker is making great strides towards a promising future in the next 125 years. The Village has always been open to new ideas and adapting to the current standards that have been presented. We hope this history rekindles memories of your childhood or stories that you have been told over the years. We can assure you that we enjoyed writing this history and we hope you enjoy it as much as us!
Sincerely,
Aaron E. Eckart & Charles W.Kujawski
