The Story of G-shaft Back in the 1800’s, a couple immigrated from England to the coal mining area, south of Joliet, il, where, alas, the man met his death in a mining accident. To support herself and her children, his widow made and sold a unique candy from a recipe she had brought from England.  She called it G-shaft for that was the mine shaft opposite her home. Source~ Braidwood, il. library