Wood River:: Along the River Bend

By Roxann Read

Since the mid-1700s, Native Americans, pioneers, farmers, and entrepreneurs have made their home in the fertile plains and valleys of the Mississippi River Bend. However, it wasn't until Standard Oil opened its first refinery in 1908 that the towns of Wood River, Roxana, South Roxana, and Hartford were established. Essentially communities of refinery workers and their families, the towns thrived for decades as an influx of refineries brought more work to the area. This collection of images hearkens back to a time when there were more taverns than churches in Wood River, company homes lined the streets of Roxana, and a shoe factory made its home in Hartford.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Sep 18, 2012
• ISBN: 9781439630457

Roxann Read

Author Roxann Read frequently vacationed in the Port Charlotte area for 20 years and is currently a resident. She has held a lifelong interest in history and is also the author of Wood River: Along the River Bend, a history of her hometown. Many community members and organizations contributed time and photographs for Images of America: Port Charlotte.

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pictures.

INTRODUCTION

In the early 1900s, Wood River consisted of three distinct villages: Wood River, East Wood River, and Benbow City. Benbow City incorporated in 1907, Wood River in 1908, and East Wood River in 1909. By 1910, Wood River had annexed East Wood River, leaving Benbow City surrounded on three sides and completely lawless. Women couldn’t walk alone through the tavern lined streets and men carried clubs for protection. With the growth of Standard Oil (originally named Wood River Refinery), which was constructed in 1907 in Wood River, Benbow City became a problem for the surrounding area. At the urging of many different groups, an election was held and Wood River annexed Benbow City in 1917.

In 1917, the Roxana Petroleum Company based in Oklahoma started to build a refinery near Wood River. This refinery was also called Wood River Refinery. Richard Airey, Roxana Petroleum’s vice-president, picked the area when he discovered it was near main railroad lines and was already home to an existing refinery (Standard Oil). The town that sprung up around this refinery was named Roxana.

The International Shoe Company came to Hartford in 1917. Before that, only a handful of houses were in the area. Hartford had many names prior to 1920. Among them were Edwardsville Crossing, Oldenburg, South Wood River, and St. Marie. In 1921, the post office decided that Hartford would be the town’s name. Local residents called the Wood River Oil & Refining Company that came to town in 1941 the new refinery.

South Roxana began as a resort town. Workers from the refinery at Roxana would frequent South Roxana’s cafés, taverns, and the lone hotel. Houses began to dot the farmland south of the refinery. The original plans for the southwest portion of town called for a downtown business area with 85-foot wide streets and gas lights. South Roxana has been plagued by flooding streets and low self-esteem but never low spirits. The village banded together in 1967 to vote for incorporation in order to gain police protection and infrastructure improvements. People in the community have a long history of care and genuine concern for their neighbors.

The Wood River area has had its brushes with fame. Robert Wadlow attended first and second grades at Roxana School in the 1920s. It is reported that Grover Cleveland Alexander, pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1920s, lived in Wood River in the late 1940s. The author Carl Sandburg visited Roxana High School in the early 1950s. John F. Kennedy visited Wood River during his 1960 presidential campaign. Actor Clint Walker grew up in Hartford.

The history of these four towns is inextricably linked. Although today each community maintains its own legal boundaries, there are no boundaries when it comes to friendship. Residents move throughout the area with ease, understanding the culture that has evolved here. Police and fire departments still assist each other in emergencies and expect to work together. Communities still celebrate local homecomings in the summer as a major event.

The images in this book do not constitute a complete history of the Wood River area. These images were carefully chosen to tell the story of an area in the Midwest that is unique. Some communities had very little written history, which required much work, research, and interviewing to piece together a coherent account of what life used to be like. It is hoped that this book will encourage new historical interest and a desire to preserve current events for future generations.

The towns highlighted here grew as a result of the oil business. The advent of automobiles and two world wars created a demand for gasoline that accelerated for nearly 80 years. The prosperity it brought became a boon to workers and their families, created schools and school districts, recreation centers, and a comfortable Midwest lifestyle for thousands of people. Over the last 20 years, we have watched these refineries struggle against a changing global economy and have witnessed the transformation of our communities. As the information age replaces the industrial age, change continues to take place. This book is a tribute to all those who lived through both the prosperous and lean times and to those of us who continue to be proud to call this area our home.

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EARLY WOOD RIVER

OFFICIALS OF BENBOW CITY AND WOOD RIVER. These officials gathered for a picture on April 25, 1917, the day after Benbow City was annexed by Wood River. Benbow City officials are as follows: George Wisdom (alderman), Mike Bady (tavern owner), Police