Effingham, Il
The Austin Brothers
In the late 1800s, brothers Calvin and Edward Austin were Effingham entrepreneurs. Their investments helped bring electricity to the community and contributed to the growth of local banking, business, and education.
Their most visible legacy was the Austin Block constructed in downtown Effingham in the 1890s. The development included commercial space, apartments, banking operations, and the Austin Opera House. At a time when live performance was one of the country’s primary forms of entertainment, the opera house brought people together and helped establish downtown as the center of community life.
More than a century later, those buildings remain active. The former bank and apartments have become The Exchange, while the former opera house is home to Gopher’s Grill. Their continued use shows how one generation’s investment can continue creating opportunities for generations to come.
Rooted progress is honoring what was built before us while finding new ways for it to serve the community today.
Lammy Keller
Lolami “Lammy” Keller was an entrepreneur, petroleum distributor, landowner, and former mayor who understood the importance of transportation long before Effingham became known as the “Crossroads of Opportunity.”
Local history credits Keller with advocating for Effingham as Illinois planned the routes that would become Interstates 57 and 70. He owned property north of the city and recognized that bringing the interstate system through Effingham could transform a relatively small community into a regional center for travel, business, and hospitality.
Keller continued investing in that vision by developing property near the interstate (Keller Drive), and including a hotel and convention facilities (Thelma Keller Convention Center).
Today, the interstates support hotels, restaurants, retailers, employers, and millions of dollars in local commerce. Keller’s story demonstrates what can happen when local leadership recognizes an opportunity and works to make sure Effingham is positioned to benefit from it.
Rooted Progress is seeing where the world is going and making certain Effingham is part of it.
TREC
Most transformative community projects begin with residents who share an idea and are willing to work together to make it real.
Trail Recreation Effingham County, better known as TREC, was organized in 2004 around a vision for a countywide network of safe, accessible recreational trails. Through years of volunteer leadership, fundraising, partnerships, and community support, that vision began taking shape.
Today, the TREC trail system gives residents and visitors a place to walk, run, bicycle, exercise, and experience nature. It connects people to different parts of the community while strengthening Effingham’s quality of life. Its location near the interstate also gives travelers another reason to leave the highway and experience something distinctly local.
TREC demonstrates that quality-of-life investments are not extras. They help make Effingham a healthier, more attractive place to live, raise a family, visit, and invest.
Rooted progress is people working together to create an asset that none of them could have built alone.