Alton, Illinois History

Welcome to Riverbend Treasures! Antiques, Vintage, Paper Goods, Vintage Jewelry & More! Located in the historic 1866 Kendall Cracker Factory. Where there is something for everyone!

We Buy and Sell Antiques, Vintage, paper goods, vintage jewelry & More. . . One piece or the house contents! For more details click here!

As of September 4, 2006 we closed our physical store so we can dedicate more time and effort to our online business. We will still carry wonderful items for your collection. Be sure to check back often. Thank you for your patience during this time.

Hours: 24 hours a day/7 days a week (via our website or E-bay). Phone calls accepted between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Central Standard Time.

We are in the process of updating our website. The process should be completed by the end of 2006, if not sooner. If you are looking for something in particular feel free to give us a call or e-mail us.

This is the building we were located at for four years. Click on the Picture to see what the building looked like in the early 1900's!

The Kendall Cracker Factory

Originally, Alton’s first Baptist Church (where Reverend R. R. Coon was Pastor) was located on the corner of Easton & Broadway Streets that was built in approximately 1832. Sometime after 1858 and prior to 1866, the Church burnt (whether it was completely to the ground or partially, we are not sure). The reason we brought up the Baptist Church is because of an unconfirmed rumor that during the Civil War it was part of the Underground Railroad for Slavery. With the Mississippi so close, the Underground Railroad (U.R.) had a main artery going down Broadway Street. The main hub of the U. R. was located at the Enos Apartments (located on 3rd & George Streets)--two blocks from the Cracker Factory. To date, we have not verified the Underground Railroad theory—YET! But, when we do we’ll let you know.

Hiram N. Kendall had previously been a baker in Quincy, IL in 1845 until 1850 when he moved to St. Louis. In 1852 Kendall bought the property surrounding the Baptist Church from Shurtleff College. Many people moved to Alton for its clean air along the Mississippi. It was in the spring of 1865 that the Kendall Steam Cracker Factory was built. They were wholesale bakers of biscuits and crackers. It was a prosperous business that made 150 barrels of crackers per day! There are still three of the five original ovens intact in the lower level. They are simply amazing. The street level contained the retail establishment, while the second and third floors were offices for the Cracker Factory. In 1863 Kendall re-married to Cynthia Daniels. It was shortly after this marriage that the Kendall Cracker Factory was under the proprietorship of Daniels, Bayle & Company. In approximately 1891, Daniels Bakery moved to 110 E. Second (now Broadway St.). Daniels later sold out to Schnell G. F. Baking.

In the 1890’s J. H. McPike purchased the building. The main floor housed a saloon and a retail mercantile. While the second floor contained various office spaces for doctors, insurance agents, florists, and a civil engineer, just to mention a few.

From the early 1900’s until 1972, we are unsure of all the occupants in the building. However from 1972 until 1994, Sam Thames owned the building. Sam was known in Alton as one of the “founding Fathers” of the Alton Antique District. During this time period the old Cracker Factory was filled with antique shops, with the exception of the third floor—which was Sam’s loft apartment. After his death, the building remained vacant—until recently.

For The LEGEND of the PIASA BIRD (or the Devil Among the Indians) click HERE.

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All items sold AS IS and in USED condition. NO RETURNS! NO REFUNDS!

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