Samuel Benedict Reed - Joliet, IL
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Metro2
N 41° 31.483 W 088° 04.927
16T E 409717 N 4597573
This plaque is located in front of the Will County Courthouse in Joliet, Illinois.
Waymark Code: WMC3V5
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 07/21/2011
Views: 3
Located on a rock on the left of the Will County Courthouse entrance in Joliet, Illinois, this plaque reads:
"ON THIS SPOT IN 1850
SAMUEL BENEDICT REED
CIVIL ENGINEER, PIONEER, RAILROAD BUILDER, CITIZEN OF JOLIET
BEGAN THE SURVEY FOR THE PRESENT CHICAGO ROCK ISLAND
AND PACIFIC. THE FIRST RAILROAD TO REACH AND BRIDGE THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THE FIRST TRAIN INTO JOLIET REACHED THIS
INITIAL POINT OCTOBER 10, 1852.
AS CHIEF ENGINEER OF CONSTRUCTION, HE DIRECTED THE
BUILDING OF THE UNION PACIFIC THE FIRST TRANS-CONTINENTAL
RAILROAD THE COMPLETION OF WHICH IN 1869 REALIZED THE DREAM
OF COLUMBUS: A WESTWARD TRADE ROUTE TO THE INDIES.
THIS ROCK FROM THE SUMMIT OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE
ON THE LINE OF THE UNION PACIFIC WAS PLACED HERE THROUGH
THE COOPERATION OF THESE TWO RAILROADS AND DEDICATED
OCTOBER 10, 1922."
The plaque has a green patina and its irregular shape has depictions of greenery surrounding it and a small depiction of survey equipment on the side of the text.
County: Will
Historical Society: unknown
Dedication Date: OCTOBER 10, 1922
Location: on the left of the Will County Courthouse entrance in Joliet, Illinois
Website: [Web Link]
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