On April 1, 1861, the people in the village known as Illinoistown went to the polls to choose a new name. On that day, with 183 votes for and 89 votes against, the map had a new place"a bustling town called East St. Louis. This wonderful collection of photographs and memorabilia (some published for the first time) shows the exciting history of this once-mighty industrial town, as well as the people who made it work and shaped its destiny.