Then & Now: Hadley General Store in Mokena

MOKENA – In 1880, George L. Haley helped to layout and survey the triangular sixteen-acre tract of land which would soon be known as Marley.

The growth of Marley can be traced to the construction of a railroad right-of-way in 1881, which became an extension of the Wabash, St. Louis, and Pacific Railway from Forrest, Illinois to Chicago.

A depot was constructed on the east side of the tracks near Maple Street, and soon other businesses followed including a granary, stockyard, blacksmith shop and general store.

In 1893, C. F. Haley constructed a new general store, shown in the thenphotograph, at the north east corner of Main and Valley Streets. This larger store included a hall above the store for community activities. The store burned down in 1918.

The now hotograph shows a view of the old store lot from Main Street, and still visible in the image is what is believed to be part of the store’s foundation or part of the scale on the track side of the building.