History of BethaltoThe area that came to be known as Bethalto was first settled in 1804 by a man named Thomas Rattan. He came from Ohio in a prairie schooner, crossing the river at Shawnee town. He found good timber and prairie for corn and wheat and a water source nearby in the form of Wood River, so named for the timber around it. Game was plentiful, with an abundance of squirrels, rabbits, turkey, prairie hens and other game. It was an ideal place to build a future.
Like many towns, Bethalto existed and prospered for many years before it was incorporated. Bethalto was founded in 1834, but not incorporated until April 19, 1869 under a special charter. In 1873, Bethalto was incorporated again under the State of Illinois’ general law. Bethalto was first known as Bethel. There was a church near Bethalto for many years named Bethel, and the community was given that name. When the first post office was established, it was necessary to change the name since there was another town in Illinois with the same name. Most agree the name was formed with the first four letters from Bethel and the first four letters from Alton, a town nearby. To this day, Bethalto is the only town of that name in the United States.
On the prairie, schools were often found in the homes of residents or one-room church buildings. The village’s first known school dates back to 1818 and was a blockhouse on Rattan’s Prairie that had been built for protection from Indians. By 1866, an influx of population prompted the building of new schools, most consisted of few rooms. Renovations to current buildings and new structures followed. High school wasn’t established until 1920. Space was always in demand and often classes were also held in back rooms of businesses, homes and churches. In 1950, Bethalto Community Unit No. 8 School District was formed and the new Civic Memorial High School was constructed later at the west edge of town on Second Street. Decades later, the current Civic Memorial High School was built. Through the years, Bethalto has been built and supported by the efforts of its churches, clubs and civic organizations. These organizations and their members have repeatedly responded to the needs of their community to promote, support, assist in funding and participate voluntarily in projects too numerous to mention. Bethalto’s prosperity has always been achieved through the actions and interactions of its people, who embrace volunteerism and cooperation and strive to bring about a better quality of life for all residents. |