Galesburg is installing plaques to honor the Mexican immigrants and families who lived in boxcars on railroad property during the first half of the 20th century.
The Hispanic Latino Student Association at Carl Sandburg College has been researching Galesburg’s boxcar families for years.
That work is culminating with four plaques that help to honor the immigrants’ contributions to Galesburg and the railroad, and help to remember they struggles they endured.
The plaques will be installed at the sites of the former Davis Camp, Tie Plant Camp, Santa Fe Camp, and West Humps Camp.
Descendants of boxcar families were on hand at city hall for the unveiling of the plaques.
“My grandparents raised twelve children at the Davis Camp,” said Regina Gutierrez Hodge.
Around 20 families lived at the four camps between 1917 and 1959. Three are within the city limits.
Tianna Cervantez is a descendant of a boxcar family and a member of the Galesburg District 205 school board.
She hopes the community can both honor immigrants’ contributions and find a way to incorporate this history into classrooms. She said representation matters.
“Growing up in District 205, I didn’t understand the contributions that my own family made to this community,” Cervantez said. “You grow up with your Ferris and Kellogg and Gale. You hear all of these names. We should also be hearing Vega, and Vasquez, and Padilla.”
The city’s street division will install the plaques on concrete markers at the sites of the former camps.
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