Paxton History Tour Sites
Thank you for your interest in Paxton's rich history. This page is maintained by the Paxton Chamber of Commerce. To learn more about the 24 selected historic sites around our community, you can either browse this website or preferably visit the site in person and, using the camera on your phone, scan the QR code, which will be displayed at most sites. Each QR code link will bring up a brief history of the site and several pictures. Our goal is to continue to improve this project by adding more historic sites, pictures and information.
Almost all of the QR codes are up around Paxton now!
See map below for locations of QR Codes
Many of the frontiersman would buy their alcohol from the general store.
Ottawa Travel Road - Ten Mile Grove
The Ottawa Travel Road begins in Danville. Of prehistoric origin it was used until the early 1850's. It wandered northwest following higher ground, fording streams and detouring around seasonal obstructions. Here at Ten Mile Grove, it divided, one fork going west to Saybrook the other to Ottawa.
In 1848 William (Gunsmith Bill) Trickel opened a general store and blacksmith shop which also served the area as a post office from 1848 to 1857. The Grove was so named because of the distance from the nearest camping place on the Ottawa Travel Road to the southeast.
The wooded area served as a recreation area for Chanute Air Force Base until the 1990s, when it was briefly operated as a private campground. It is now all privately owned.
