Carbon Hill 'relatively' friendly

Micetich grew up in village with 'a lot of grandmas and grandpas'

CARBON HILL – In 1880, Michele (Enrietta) Micetich's great grandparents came to Braidwood to coal mine.

By the time Carbon Hill became a town, they had moved to the area and joined the other 2,000 residents that made up a booming community.

"I live in the same house I was born in," Micetich said. "My father lived in the same house he was born in for most of his life, except when he lived in the house I do now."

The Enrietta family made a place for themselves in the town filled with coal miners.

"My grandpa was the constable at one time," she said. "He also owned a saloon. That was passed to my dad, and then my brother, who later sold it."

When her brother sold Bum's in 1994, it had been in the family almost 90 years.

Times changed and, by the time Micetich was born, the town only had about 150 people. Most were older, she said.

"There were a lot of grandmas and grandpas. I thought I was related to everyone," she recalled.

She said her earliest memories of the town were of root cellars, chicken coops, and outdoor toilets.

"In the park, there were wild violets and strawberries and I remember walking along the path," Micetich said.

She said she spent her time playing with the older people in town and going to everyone's house to visit.

"Kids would help pick bugs and weeds from everyone's gardens," she said. "The children were invited to help garden."

She said many of the families came from Northern Italy and were friends in the old country before their families settled in Carbon Hill and continued the family friendships.

"If you weren't related, you thought you were," she said.

Everyone had their family reunion in the park where Carbon Hill Homecoming – the 60th edition of which is currently under way – is held today.

Frank Sistek was mayor and owner of Frank's Bait Shop and Grocery Store when the Homecoming got it's start.

The first homecoming was held in 1949 in the park, which is across the street from Micetich's home.

"The first homecoming was just for the families of Carbon Hill, so everyone could come back home," she said. "They decided after that to open it to the public to bring in revenue to the community."

Micetich said she has been to every homecoming and has watched it change over the years.

She remembers a time when there were real ponies and Gypsy fortune tellers.

"The Gypsies were colorful people dressed in bright colors and they ran the games and told fortunes," she said. "There was no water in the park at that time, so my father ran a hose across the street and just let the water run for them. That was before there were water meters."

When thinking of the best times in the town, she said, Homecoming Sundays are hard to beat.

"The best part of town is the sense of community and feeling safe," she said. "People ask why I would want to live and grow up in Carbon Hill. They think it's a dump, but it's home."

Homecoming celebrations continue through this weekend. Music and entertainment are provided tonight, Friday, by Brat Pack and Saturday night by The Silohuettes.

Saturday at noon is Touch a Truck, with the carnival open during that time. Sundayʼs big parade will begin at 1 p.m., with longtime Carbon Hill resident Thelma Wickman as this yearʼs grand marshal.

Following the parade, the Joliet American Legion band will give a concert in
the park, under the tent. Fireworks are Sunday night at about 9 p.m.