Odin – Little Known Facts

"Once you wash your feet in Goose Creek…you will never, never leave Odin"

By Larry D. Matthews

• It is generally accepted the community received its name in the 1850’s after Scandinavian settlers referred to the community as ODIN – a tribute to ODIN , the primary God of Scandinavian mythology.
  
  
• Legend has it that inventor, Thomas A. Edison, once worked as a night telegrapher in Odin.
  
  
• The first building in Odin was constructed in 1855 by John Hill – it was a saloon.
  
  
• During the years of the U. S. Civil War (1861 – 1885) the community grew rapidly as many southerners moved into the area.
  
  
• When Odin was served by the Illinois Central Railroad in 1856, the 705 mile railroad in the State of Illinois was the longest railroad in the world.
  
  
• In the 1860’s – the Odin-based A.M. Woodward Co. baled and sold nearly 4,000 tons of hay yearly.
  
  
• The community named ODIN appeared for the first time in the Salem Advocate on February 23, 1856, to designate the crossing of the O&M and the Chicago-based IC Railroads.
  
  
• In the 1890’s, Odin boasted six hotels for railroad travelers. Legend has it that a ghostly figure in the form of a WHITE-ROBED FEMALE would make regular appearances by passing noiselessly through the hotel door panels to surprise all guests.
  
  
• On September 19, 1867,U.S. General Phil Sheridan referred to the GATES HOUSE RESTAURANT in Odin as, "..the best railroad eating house I every saw." General Sheridan stopped in Odin on his way to Washington DC to meet with General U.S. Grant.
  
  
• A woolen mill was operational in Odin in the 1870’s. The Odin Wool Factory manufactured jeans and flannel products. It was destroyed by fire in 1879.
  
  
• Around the turn of the century (1900), the SEBASTIAN & SON BROOM COMPANY manufactured 15 dozen brooms daily in Odin.
  
  
• On the evening of April 1, 1912, Odin was the scene of a notorious gunfight resulting in two deaths and one person wounded. This gunfight issue was just prior to a local election to decide whether the community should remain wet of close its numerous saloons.
  
  
• As late as 1933, Odin was still the residence of one remaining Civil War veteran, Mr. Caleb Case (No record found of his passing.)
  
• In 1933, the Sebastian Broom Manufacturing company received a large order for products from Admiral Byrd to be used for his expedition to the south pole.
  
  
• In 1937, a contract was completed with the Illinois Power Company to furnish electricity to the entire community.
  
  
• Two Odin brothers were professional baseball players: Grover Lowdermilk, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Socks, and St. Louis Cardinals (Played 1907 – 1924). Louis Lowdermilk, Southern League, later served as Mayor of Odin (Played 1911-1912
  
  
• In the 1930’s, a well-known Odin bakery – GUTZLER’S BAKERY-baked and sold a very popular area bread called TASTY LOAF.
  
  
• Odin resident, Ed Tate, owned the discovery well for the 1940’s area oil boom.
  
  
• The Otto Moore World War I Memorial Statue was organized in 1920 by Odin townspeople and the American Legion. Originally placed in a small park behind the downtown depot, it was refurbished and moved to Peaceful Valley Cemetery in 1948.
  
  
• The 1940 census of Marion County notes that Odin was third largest community with a population of 1,847 people.
  
  
• According to the Odin News of May 1946, Mr. P.H. (Ples) Wilson held an open house at his new business establishment: the WILSON FUNERAL HOME.
  
  
• In the 1940’s the Odin Chronicler newspaper was published monthly in the interest of local churches, schools, and the community at large. The Odin mayor and other local dignitaries contributed articles every month.
  
  
• Do you remember the GEM THEATRE in Odin? In the 1950’s, you could catch the latest Hollywood movie for 14 cents for children and 40 cents for adults.
  
  
• In the 1930’s and 1940’s, the UNION TOWER AND DEPOT in Odin housed both B&O and IC Railroad Administrations. At one time the depot employed 50 people to handle freight, sell train tickets, and to serve as crossing guards. The original depot was destroyed by fire in 1946.
  
  
• Odin funeral director, Ples Wilson, played football with President Ronald Reagan at Eureka College in 1932.
  
  
• Did you know Odin once had a hobby horse manufacturing company? The ODIN HOBBY HORSE COMPANY manufactured wooden hobby horses and tables in the 1940’s.
  
  
• Local residents will long remember the clanking of Theodore "Teddy" Klingries’ newspaper cart as he walked door-to-door delivering his newspapers. He delivered the St. Louis Globe Democrat for over 30 years: two cents for the daily paper; five cents for the Sunday edition; 7 days a week.
  
  
• Odin native John Sebastian was an internationally known basketball trick shot artist in the 1940’s. He made numerous world tours on the opposing team for the Harlem Globetrotters. Once asked about his most outstanding basketball achievement, he noted, "making 63 consecutive free throws blindfolded."
  
• Did you know that Odin and Sandoval once published a joint newspaper? In the 1940’s the Odin Gazette (Sandoval Gazette) published a weekly newspaper – one page per community - $1.50 per year.
  
  
• DON’T CALL ME ROSIE is a book written by Kathleen Thomas, which features the memoirs of Odin Resident, Mabel Ward, who worked as a welder during WWII in an Illinois shipyard.
  
  
• It took Odin resident Harold Lee 1-1/2 years to carve a 6’ tall carousel horse – complete with armor – from a truckload of wooden blocks. The horse is on display at the Odin Library.
  
  
• Odin resident, Bill Hawley, long-time Salem WJBD broadcaster, was elected to the Illinois Basketball Association Hall of Fame in 2001.
  
  
  
• In December, 2007, U.S. News.com listed the Odin Community High School as one of America’s Best.
  
  
• Odin resident, Ruth Mary (Bartlett) Uhls, was elected to the Nevada Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame in 2003. Her 21 years experience in broadcasting covered active participation in national and state broadcasting activities.
  
  
• In 1987, Miss Lori Vaughn of Odin was named Marion County Fair Queen. Later that summer, she was crowned Miss Illinois State Fair Queen.
  
  
• Miss Lexi Barton was the 2008 S.I.J.H.S.A.A. Class "S" High Jump champion.
  
  
• "Old Abe" was the name of the Civil War eagle that followed Union soldiers into 29 battles. His caretaker was Odin resident, Capt. Mason Hedrick. General Grant demanded to see the ".bird that would screech its anger if a man failed to follow orders." (Also the origin of the 101^st Airborne nickname - The Screaming Eagles)