The Folkers Hotel--Frankfort

History:

Located on the southeast corner of Kansas and Hickory streets, the Folkers Hotel was owned and operated for many years by Johnson Folkers and eventually his three sons, William, Frank, and Peter. The partnership formed by these three brothers carried on numerous businesses begun by Johnson that were important to the growth of the community of Frankfort, including a livery stable, a slaughter house and contracting the construction for the EJE railroad tracks and locating the first telephone exchange on the 2nd floor of the hotel. These picture postcards show Kansas Street looking east from Hickory Street. Folkers Hotel is the two-story building on the right in both photographs.

Source Credit:

These photographs are part of the Lewis University Canal and Regional History Special Collection.

We Need Your Help:

David Belden is a history teacher at Minooka Community High School and is currently publishing local postcard books with Arcadia Publishing in his Local History classes, including Grundy County, Joliet, Will County, Princeton and I&M Canal.  He and his students are currently looking for I&M photos and postcards and Joliet photographs. If you are interested in contributing a postcard image, please email him at: dbelden@mchs.net or localhistory@mchs.net call 815-467-2140 x260. To view more postcards and images, visit www.localhistoryproject.org or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/localhistory