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Village of Chatham

116 E. Mulberry
217-483-2451
www.chathamil.org

 

Ball-Chatham Unit Dist. #5

Administrative Center	(217) 483-2416
Ball Elementary School	(217) 483-2414
Chatham Elementary School	(217) 483-2411
Glenwood Intermediate School	(217) 483-1138
Glenwood Middle School	(217) 483-2481
Glenwood Sr. High School	(217) 483-2424

Churches

Chatham Baptist Church (1500 E. Walnut)	(217) 483-2471
Chatham Christian Church (S. Main Road, P.O. Box 527)	(217) 483-3987
Chatham Presbyterian Church (1835 E. Walnut)	(217) 483-4204
Chatham United Methodist (104 W. Chestnut)	(217) 483-2132
Chatham Worship Center (1001 W. Walnut)	(217) 691-2410
Christ Church Along The Way (10213 Palm Rd. Glenarm)	(217) 483-4943
St. John’s Lutheran Church (1225 North Main St., P.O. Box 377)	(217) 483-2612
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (629 E. Spruce)	(217) 483-3772
Sugar Creek United Methodist (1022 New City Road)	(217) 483-2270

For more information on Churches, see the Village of Chatham web site: chathamil.net.

Organizations / Activities

American Legion (Post #759) Joe Davis, Commander	(217) 483-4084
Chatham Community Building	(217) 483-2488
Chatham Food Pantry (housed in Chatham Presbyterian Church)	Carolyn Whitney (217) 483-4535
Chatham Jr. Woman’s Club	Colleen Stone (217) 793-9505
Chatham Jaycees	Doug Krones (217) 483-6930
Chatham Lodge 523 AF & AM	Howard Powell, Jr. (217) 483-3454
DAR Capt. William Penny Chapter	Marge Schroeder (217) 483-4630
Eastern Star, Mrs. Ray Reed	(217) 483-3165
Garden Club, Julie Baliva	(217) 483-3261
Habitat for Humanity, Nancy Elwell	(217) 483-5016
Illinois Elks Crippled Children	(217) 483-3020
Kiwanis Club, Abe Stutzman	(217) 544-0335
Knights of Columbus, Jim Reeves	(217) 483-3013
MOMS Club, Tara Hughes	(217) 483-2221
Prairie Quilters, Mary & Ellen Clark	(217) 483-2385
Sangamon Cty Genealogical Society	529-0542
Senior Citizen Center	(217) 483-3792
Springfield Newcomer’s Club, Teena	(217) 483-6414
VFW Post 4763, Bob Migalich	(217) 483-3267
Woman’s Club of Chatham, Mary Lewis	(217) 483-3166
Boy Scouts of America	(217) 546-5570
Girl Scouts	(217) 523-8159
4-H Clubs	(217) 782-4617
Ball - Chatham Soccer Club, Bob McGuire	(217) 787-8888
YMCA Soccer	(217) 544-6623
Chatham Baseball Inc., Tom Blackburn	(217) 483-3060
Chatham Recreation	(217) 483-4277
Youth Basketball Assn., Scott McAdams	(217) 483-6158
Youth Football Assn., Scott Lee	(217) 483-7636

Chatham Area Public Library ..... (217) 483-2713

Hostpitals

Memorial Hospital - Spfld. (217) 788-3000
St. John’s Hospital - Spfld. (217) 544-6464

Emergency Services

Police Department	911
- Non-Emergency	(217) 483-2453
Fire Dept. &Emergency	911
- Non-Emergency	(217) 483-2121
Sangamon County Sheriff	(217) 753-6666
Ambulance	911
IDOT Road Conditions	1-800-452-4368
Poison Control	1-800-942-5969

Utilities & Services

Ameren/CILCO (nat. gas)	888-672-5252
Chamber of Commerce	(217) 483-6450
Chatham Food Pantry	(217) 483-4535
Chatham Parks Department	(217) 483-3265
Chatham Time & Temperature	(217) 483-4848
Chatham Utilities (water, sewer, electric)	(217) 483-2451
Insight Communications (Cable TV)	(217) 788-5656
Newspapers Chatham Clarion (217) 483-2614 State Journal Register 788-1300 South County Publications 438-6155
Rural Electric Company	(217) 438-6197
Sangamon County Information	(217) 753-6600
Time & Temperature & Weather	(217) 483-4848
U.S. Post Office	(217) 483-3312
Verizon (Phone)	1-800-483-4000
Village of Chatham	(217) 483-2451
Voter Registration
Waste Haulers Allied Waste - 522-7797 Capitol Waste Systems -522-7797 Illini Disposal - 789-7025 Lake Area Disposal - 522-9317 Waste Management - 523-5497	(217) 753-6674

History

The first settlers arrived in the Chatham area in 1816. The village of Chatham received its name October 22, 1836.

Chatham is located in what was once open prairie between Lick Creek and Panther Creek in Sangamon County, which at that time was about the center of the new state of Illinois, approximately ten miles south of Springfield.

Farmers and their families settled Chatham. Splendid fields of corn, almost without exception from ten to fifteen feet high sprang up over the area. The high degree of fruitfulness attracted many to settle here, even considering the risk and danger of Indians.

The lives of many Chatham people were interwoven with Abraham Lincoln. In 1837, two state senators and seven representatives from Sangamon County managed to convince the General Assembly to move the State Capitol from Vandalia to Springfield. These legislators called the "Long Nine", included Lincoln and John Dawson. Lincoln was a good friend of Rev. Josiah Porter, minister of the Chatham Presbyterian church. Dr. John Lewis, of Chatham, and Lincoln surveyed and purchased rights to build the railroad from Springfield through Chatham to St. Louis.

In order to secure the move of the Capitol to Springfield, the town donated land (no less than two acres) and had to pledge $50,000 to commence building the State House. For a small town of 1100 at the time, this proved to be a struggle. Money was borrowed from the State Bank of Illinois. A note for the amount was signed by one hundred local citizens and deposited in the bank to pay the last installment of the loan.