Did You Know There’s a Slew of Old Abandoned Tunnels Under Rockford?

I don't know if it's pure ignorance or one of Rockford's best-kept secrets.

Apparently, there are a bunch of old tunnels underneath Rockford.

If you haven't been in the tunnels of Rockford, you have a right to be skeptical. I mean, "Why would there be a whole system of tunnels in Rockford anyway?" is a reasonable response.

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It's such a secret in Rockford that a Facebook post from 2013 is one of the only things on the internet asking or talking about the tunnels.

On July 10, 2013, Our City, Our Story asked:

"There are/were tunnels under Rockford?"

Surprisingly (or unsurprisingly depending on who you are) there were answers, locations, and some explanations on the Rockford tunnels.

Here are some rumored locations and descriptions of tunnels in Rockford according to Our City, Our Story on Facebook:

• Briggs Mansion
• Buckbee School
• The tunnels "used to deliver from river bank companies to center city."
• Under East State by the bridge
• Steam tunnels "at Reed-Chatwood."
• Barber Colman
• A tunnel "under Karlberg Tan" by the mall.
• "Rockford was also an underground railway safe place."
• The old Caffe Greco on South Street. "Three tunnels that led to several railroads tracks were used to roll out the barrels to be shipped out on waiting trains."
• This tunnel was "underneath my Dad's street when he was a kid" and "each would have a fake fireplace with a pit underneath."
• Tunnels under "the courthouse and one under West State to Lincoln Park School."
• Tunnels on "Pershing Street by the Orthodox Church."
• Another tunnel "into the old Elks Lodge" that "runs across from the boarded-up shop on the corner of Main and Jefferson."

Then there's this, found on Reddit.

I have never been in the tunnels of Rockford. Have you? Do you have any more tunnel locations in town?