In 1834 Thomas Cox, one of the earliest settlers of Will County, acquired from the government about 400 acres of land. He built a sawmill, and later a corn cracker, a gristmill, and a carding machine. The enterprise took on the name Cox’s Mills. In the spring of 1836, Cox laid out the town of Winchester and began selling lots for homes and businesses. One of the first buildings to go up,
which still stands today is the Eagle Hotel. In 1837, the town was renamed to Wilmington.
Wilmington and the down town district grew over the years. Water street over time was home to several businesses including The First National Bank, Eagle Hotel, The Begay Shop, and Kadeneys Pharmacy.
Downtown Wilmington business was expanding, prompting the development of Winchester Green Shopping area. Some of the downtown businesses moved, the others either left or closed. About 1976, the Antique Stores started moving into the existing downtown buildings, to create a unique shopping experience, in an atmosphere of days gone by.
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The first school in Wilmington was a private one and was started in 1836.
The post office was established in 1837.
In 1860, the Prince of Wales hunted here as the prairies were full of all kinds of game birds. As a matter of fact, he was mulcted for hunting on Sunday!
In 1875, a butter and cheese factory was built. It produced 75,000 pounds of butter and 365,000 pounds of cheese a year, much of which was sold on the European market.
The automobile made its debut in the city in 1903.
The first telephone was installed in the early 1900's. In 1907, the Wilmington Light and Power Company was incorporated
In 1937, the Mar Theatre opened at 121 S. Main Street containing 500 seats.
1960 saw the Launch Pad Drive-In open, which at first sold only hot dogs and ice cream.
The funeral train bearing the body of Abraham Lincoln stopped here on its way to Springfield. The depot was draped in mourning, as was the entire town for that matter.
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