barefootbay: there was a series of articles in the old "Main Street" newspaper on the history of Alton.
THE HISTORY OF ALTON MOUNTAIN
By Dana Lang
reprinted from
Main Street - June 2002 - Volume XVIII Number 6
for more history CLICK HERE
At the Gilman Library there is a shelf of old Alton history stuff that isn't catalogued. Just ask and they'll let you browse.