Alexander, Madison , Pulaski

  St. Clair 

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ILLINOIS AFRIGENEAS

Everyone is invited to provide information to be included at this site as long as it pertains to African Americans and one of the  Illinois. The goal of this site is to provide free historical and genealogical documents for each County.

Please consider donating any documents, pictures information you have to this site. Or if you would like to list your  surnames or  your website, just send me an  e-mail message. Visit often, as this site will be constantly modified..

KERR ISLAND

GEOGRAPHY  Kerr Island is still known today as The Island.  It is located west of Madison, Illinois.  The Mississippi River is the only separation from the Island and St. Louis, Missouri.  The beach on the riverbank has been a popular recreation area in this small African American community.  Just see how much fun my mother and friends appear to be having in the late 40's above.

HISTORY  The inhabitants have been African-American for at least the previous 50 years.  With the exception of one business and a couple of houses, Kerr Island is nearly a ghost town.  It has been at least 20 years since the small community thrived.  The Island was the home of several African-American churches of which I remember New Salem Baptist Church and a Holiness Church (Sanctified).  The popular local night club known as The Robins Nest is the only business remaining there now.

INHABITANTS   These are families I remember living at Kerr Island in the 1960’s and 1970’s.  There were many others, though.  If you know of a family name that should be added to this site, please email me.

Crawford              Ivory           Mason         Wilborn