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When John Wood built his first log cabin in 1822 at what is now Front and Delaware Streets, he began a settlement that would become Quincy, Illinois.To the east was a high bluff, and to the west, the Mississippi River. As the town grew, it moved eastward onto the bluff. In Qunicy's early days, the settlers depended on the Mississippi River for their livelihood. Today's residents still depend upon the Mississippi, but now more for transportation and for pleasure. It is difficult today to imagine what the area looked like in those early years. As with many American towns, Quincy has experienced change through the years, dramatic and subtle, both captured here in the unforgettable images of Then & Now: Quincy, Illinois.
About the author
Quincy historian Carl Landrum has for many years recorded Quincy's historical events, and has written a weekly historical column for the Quincy Herald- Whig newspaper. His earlier works include Quincy in the Civil War, Historical Sketches of Quincy, Quincy: A Pictorial History, and Gem City Scrapbook. His wife, Shirley, joined him as co-author for his later books, Landrum's Quincy series, as well as Images of America: Quincy, Illinois published in 1999 by Arcadia. Then & Now: Quincy, Illinois is a fascinating nostalgic trip into the past, illustrating how life in Quincy used to be, and how it is now.
