The area known as Royal Lakes was land once owned by two farming brothers. When they retired, they turned it over to a real estate agency in Chicago so that they could divide the land and sell the lots. In 1956, the Royal Lakes Resort Properties were plotted and laid out in Sections 26 and 27 of Hilyard Township.
Royal Lakes was founded in 1961 by a small group of people from St. Louis who wanted some peaceful country living. The first people to settle there were Mr. Chetam, Mr. Stoddard, Ike Lovings, and Miss Butler. In 1973, this community was incorporated and took the name of Royal Lakes. Part of this area is within the Bunker Hill School District.
Three lakes have been constructed in this community, Shad, Shadrack, and Meshack. Shadrack supposedly had been formed from a strip mine once located there. A creek, Crooked Creek, running thought the property connects with Coop's Creek, which was the location of the earliest settlers in Macoupin County.
The land on which Royal Lakes is located is said to have been a part of Centerville at one time. It is told that Abraham Lincoln, while traveling the Old State Road, stopped at the Bullman property (on Section 27) north of the church and drank from the well -- a well much used by the travelers in those days.
The First Baptist Church of Royal Lakes was organized and built by seven members. Some of those helping in this project were Miss Butler, Miss Rossetta Gel, Miss Bruce, and Mr. Halloway, a carpenter from Shipman. In 1965, Mrs. Jackson let the church people use her chicken shed to hold services until the church building was completed. Under the leadership of Reverend Wallace, this was completed in 1968. The first services, led by Reverend Wallace, were held in the new church on May 24, 1968. The name was then changed to First Community Baptist Church.
The fist store was opened by Mr. and Mrs. Earl Keitz in 1970. It closed a few years later. A second store, owned by Mr. Miller opened in 1977. Sherman Clay had a service station from about 1970 to 1975.
The first mayor of Royal lakes, and the first politician was John Stoddard. Electricity was brought in about 1965. The water project and tower brought water to the community in 1978 through the efforts of ex-mayor, Ed Dorsey.
From Macoupin County, Illinois History & Families
During 1956 property in sections 27 and 28 in Hilyard Township was purchased by an investment group in Chicago as developers and they platted the property laying out lots to sell in what they claimed to be a resort. Along with the lots the property also include three small lakes named Shad, Shadrack and Messhack. Although the lots only measured 50 ft. in width, lots were purchased mostly by people living in St. Louis and East St. Louis. Some weekend homes and a few permanent houses were built soon after by the lot purchasers. In following years the population gradually increased.
Pictured: Royal Lakes Church
In 1973 the village was incorporated and took the name of Royal Lakes. At one time the village had a small grocery store that no longer is in operation. The village now consists of a church organized as the First Baptist Church of Royal Lakes, of which the first membership met in a converted chicken house standing on the property until a church building was erected in 1968 and at that time membership took the name, "First Community Baptist Church of Royal Lakes". The village also has a fire house, a small retirement nursing home and a playground park for children. Over a period of years a few more permanent residences have been built by owners.
...Read this and other Bunker Hill, IL historical stories at https://bunkerhillhistory.org/
--Cite this story: The Bunker Hill IL Historical Society. "A Look Back in Bunker Hill History." Bunker Hill Gazette-News, April 9, 2020.
"Francis, Charles, "Macoupin County Illinois, History & Families", 1829-2016, In Histories of the Towns of Macoupin County, p. 44. Acclaim Press, 2016. Provided by the Bunker Hill Historical Society.
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