The Green Tree Hotel 



In the lively days of the rafting business, in addition 

 to its coal yards, boat yard, foundry and machine shop, 

 boat stores and rapids boats and rapids pilots, LeClaire 

 had a unique feature known as "the green tree hotel," a 

 splendid elm whose spreading branches provided shade 

 in sunshine and a shield in storm to many a cook, fire- 

 man or deckhand after he had had his little fling, and 

 could find welcome and rest under the green tree until 

 a berth appeared. 



This grand old elm stands in the public landing, 

 given by Antoine LeClaire to the town when it was laid 

 out and named for him nearly a hundred years ago. 



On any warm summer night it sheltered "the makins" 

 of several raft-boat crews, and it didn't take long to get 

 them either. No baggage to arrange, no bills to pay - 

 just get up, put on the hat and follow. 



The steamer "Jennie Gilchrist" seems to guard them 

 while they sleep. She is busy every day towing barges 

 of coal from the mines at Rapids City and ties up close 

 to the green tree every night. 



Coal was discovered in Happy Hollow near Hamp- 

 ton, Illinois, in 1869, by Thomas Tagg and William 

 Barth. The next year, 1870, these same men, Tagg and 

 Barth, discovered a vein of coal at Rapids City and 

 Taylor Williams opened a mine and delivered coal in 

 1871. 



Mr. H. M. Gilchrist from Wanlockhead, Scotland, 

 and his son John, worked in this mine about two years 



