WIXLIB

Central IllinoisLandmarks FoundationApril 2014National Register Status ForThe Kickapoo Building !The Kickapoo Building at Knoxville and MainStreets in downtown Peoria has been added to theNational Register of Historic Places. The buildingwas completed in 1911 by local builder John Hartwig from the designs of architect Albert Keifer, inthe Classical Revival architectural style with German Renaissance Revival influences.existence the buildinghoused a number of additional commercial functions, including hotels(Knox Inn, Kickapoo Hotel), restaurants (KnoxCafé, Ballard JohnsonAugust Busch EmblemCo.), a barber shopIts shape denotes it as a “flat-iron” building as(Frank DeFavia), a jewelit occupies a triangular piece of ground.ry store (Herman Fern), a confectioner (BaselonThe building is owned by the JumerBros.), cleaners (Whalen Bros., Margie’s), law enFamily Estate.Theyforcement uniform storesuccessfully applied for(LPD Uniforms), artificialNational Register statuslimbmakers(Jacobto qualify for historicWambsgans,Rudolphtax credits to help payJungst), automobile andfor an extensive renoparts dealers (Jeffery Motorvation which will costCar Companies, Verkleyabout 1.2 million.Curless Auto Company),and a boarding house.The second floorAmong the most prominentwill be converted to sixlong-term tenants was aapartments, which willShell Oil Company gas stabe a welcome additiontion (1930-1966), at theto the downtown houscorner of Main and Knoxing scene. Having acville, and the architecturalquired a strip of landoffice of Leslie H. Kenyonfrom the First UnitedTheKickapooBuilding—circa1930(early 1960s-2005), at theMethodist Church, theycorner of Knoxville andwill expand the parking lot along the former KnoxGlendale. The building’s current name comes fromville St. to accommodate 35 cars. The apartmentsthe Kickapoo Hotel, operated on the second storywill be available for lease near year end 2014.of the building from 1931 until the 1970s.Although built expressly as a brewery-tied(continued on next page)house for Anheuser-Busch, over the course of its

(continued from page 1)Present-day ground floor tenants include Thirty-Thirty Coffee Company and Margie’s Cleaners. The Kickapoo Building—circa 1950’sThe most recent occupant ofthe second floor was Sonny'sRecording Studio; the space isnow vacant.CILF salutes the Jumerfamily for their commitmentto this significant preservation project.The Kickapoo Building isthe 29th Peoria county listingon the National Register ofHistoric Places.Historical informationfor this article was taken fromthe application for the National Register prepared byDarius Bryjka on behalf of theJumer Family Estate. Thanksto Bob Howard of ReMax forhis assistance in preparingthis article.The Kickapoo Building today

Veteran’s Memorial Park To Be RededicatedTo Honor General ShalikashviliAs one passes the GAR Greenhut MemorialHall it is difficult for the eye not to notice how wellthe adjacent pocket park accentuates the buildingin purpose and solemnity.It was on May 14th, 1994 that Bradleygraduate General John M. Shalikashvili, Chairman ofthe Joint Chiefs of Staff,returned to his adoptedhome town for the dedication of Veteran’s Memorial Park.The event will conclude with a publicreception at the GAR Memorial Hall.The site of the park was a gasoline station until 1976. Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation purchased the property after a fund drivein 1993.In his remarks,General Shalikashvili stated, “This park is a reminder to every citizenwho passes by that Peorians stand second to nonein service to our greatnation.” The General’swords still ring true today.OnSaturday,May 17th at 11:00 a.m.the park will be rededicated to honor General Shalikashvili. This happensto be the 20th anniversary of the earlier dedicationand is Armed Services Day.Participating in the festivities will be officials of Peoria Park District, several veteran’s organizations, and a military band.The General’s widow, Mrs. Joan Shalikashvili, will travel from the state of Washington to participate in the ceremony honoring her late husband. Other family members will also attend.It was turned over to the Peoria ParkDistrict in 1998 and they own and maintain it today. Dr. George Kottemann played a key role inthe original acquisition of the park and the subsequent rededication honoring General Shalikashvili.

Peoria’s National ListingsPeoria’s rich history is reflected in the 26 listings on theNational Register of Historic Places: The Central Building/Southside Bank—103 SW AdamsChrist Church—Christ Church Rd., NorwoodCumberland Presbyterian Church/Peoria Musicians Hall/Busey Bank—405 N. William Kumpf Blvd.Judge Flanagan residence /Peoria Historical Society—942NE Glen Oak Ave.Judge Jacob Gale House— 403 NE JeffersonGrand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall/Central IllinoisLandmarks Foundation—416 Hamilton Blvd.Grand View DriveIllinois Waterway Project office—257 Grant St.International Harvester Building—1301 SW WashingtonJubilee College— US150Kickapoo Building— 726 Main St.Madison Theater—502 Main St.Peace and Harvest statues—Main and JeffersonPeoria Automobile Club/Shore Acres Park— ChillicothePeoria City Hall—419 Fulton St.Peoria Cordage Company/Tri-City Machine Products—1506 SW Washington St.Peoria Mineral Springs—701 W. Martin Luther King Dr.Peoria State Hospital—US24, BartonvillePeoria Waterworks Pumping Station—Lorentz Ave.Pere Marquette Hotel/Marriott Pere Marquette—501Main St.Pettingill-Morron House/Peoria Historical Society —1212W. Moss Ave.The Pioneers sculpture—N. Magnolia St., ElmwoodPleasant Grove School—Pleasant Grove Rd., EdenJohn C. Proctor Recreation Center—300 S. Allen St.Rock Island Depot and Freight House—32 Liberty St.Springdale Cemetery— 3014 B. Prospect Rd.YWCA Building/New Hope Apartments - 301 NE Jefferson Washington C. Wear house—Princeville National Historic Districts Northside Historic District West Bluff Historic DistrictPeace and HarvestYWCA

A Proud HeritagePeoria Musician’s HallJudge Jacob Gale houseChrist Church

Thanks to Marjorie SchwebelWalt Whitman’s LincolnAfter many years of dedicated service to CILF,Marjorie Schwebel is stepping off the board of directors to spend more time with her family. Her contributions of time, ideas, and energy will be sorelymissed.Brian “Fox” Ellis will present “Walt Whitman’sLincoln” at the G.A.R. Hall on Monday, April 14 at7:00 p.m.Springdale Clean-upThe historic Springdale Cemetery will have aclean-up on Saturday, April 12, starting at 9:00 a.m.Gloves will be provided to the first 60 volunteers.Let’s support our historic sites!Fourth Annual Jazz on a Sunday AfternoonProvides Loads of EnjoymentOn Sunday afternoon, November 3rd over 90music lovers and supporters of CILF gathered at thehistoric Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall indowntown Peoria.In a cabaret like setting, seated around whitetable cloth tables with close friends, they were entertained by vocalist Stephanie Aaron accompaniedby Larry Harms on saxophone, Mike Nellas on keyboard and Cory Flanigan on drums. At the conclusionof their performance an appreciative audience gavethe performers a standing ovation. The fundraisercleared 2,140.Lincoln was a fan of Whitman’s “Leaves ofGrass”, reading excerpts to clients in his Springfieldlaw office; the one time he took the poetry homeMary Todd threatened to burn it! Whitman’s mostfamous poems, “Oh Captain! My Captain!” and“When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” werewritten as eulogies for this martyred hero. After Lincoln’s assassination Whitman gave regular lectureson Lincoln to rave reviews. Fox recreates a programWhitman delivered on the Life of Lincoln wovenwith his Civil War poems and recollections of theirmisty morning encounter during the war.Admission is 5.00 per person or 10.00 perfamily. It’s a great program for children.To Learn More.Keep up to date on CILF and G.A.R. Hall news on Facebook (GARHall) and our new website address:CILFPeoria.org — or use the QR code at rightCILF Officers and Directors—2014Bill Ordaz, presidentJim Bateman, vice presidentPaul Day, secretaryMarjorie Klise, treasurerJason BreedeTom BiederbeckBrittany BrownMarvin Forssander-BairdCreta HarperTim HartneckLinda HerronTheo KenyonTom LanePaula LewisLisa MancusoCindy McLeanIrma NewmanSusan ParrRose PasquelChristina SmithGlenn Zipp

As Time Goes ByBy Susan K. Parrwas considered an experiment that lasted sixty years.Get out your timepiece and let's go back toWill Rogers, Lincoln and Douglas, and P.T. Barnumearlier days in Peoria. lf you were working downplayed there. Soprano Christine Rouzard's magnifitown in the 1960's or before, early mornings werecent voice attracted huge crowds to the theater. Winbustling. Retail stores like Bergner's and Block &dows were flung openKuhl‘s beckoned us with awhen she sang so peoplevariety of goods andcould enjoy her magnificharming window displays.cent voice. The crowdslf lucky, you could find awere so large they blockedseat at the restaurant inMain Street.the back of the Bergner'sstore, or for lunch, youNow, fast forward yourmight order a hotdog,timepiece from 1857 tofries, and a Coke at theOctober 16, 1920. Strollcounter in Kresge's dimewest one block fromstore and then ride up andRouse's Opera House todown on Peoria's first es502 Main Street. There oncalator. Another popularthe corner you look up torestaurant was the Palacesee stretched out over theCafeteria where tiny tablesidewalk the marquee of alights were switched on tonewly constructed Madisummon the waitress.Bergner’s Dept. store—Photo courtesy of Peoria Historical Societyson Theater. You pull outCollection, Bradley University Libraryyour wallet and purchaseAnother favorite eara ticket. lt's opening nightly downtown spot in Peoand a Joan Crawford film "Humoresque," is playingria was Walgreen's located in the First National Bankaccompanied in the pit by Monsieur Beaucaire andbuilding. In the wee hours of the morning, many ofhis Orchestra. The house is packed and not a seat isus entered WaIgreen's through a corner door,to be had.where we grabbed a cup of coffee and a donut. Currently Commerce Bank, the First National Bank wasFast forward one last time to 2017 or thereachartered in 1863, and its first President was Lydiabouts Once again you find yourself standing underBradley's husband, Tobias. Built in the 1920's for Pethe marquee of the newly restored Madison Theater.oria Life insurance Company, it was the grandestYou've just come from eating dinner in the eleand tallest building in downtown Peoria.gant Table 19 restaurant in the Pere Marquette HotelRewind your timepiece even further back toonly a short distance across the street. Lining up atthe turn of the century.the box office, you pull out your wallet to purchasetickets. You swing open the double doors and walkSitting on the corner of Main and Jefferson wasover the threshold into a glittery and lush room filledRouse's Opera House and Theater later to be calledwith arabesques medallions and crystal chandeliers."Main Street Theater" Built in 1857 by the secondYou hurry to your seats. Musicians are ready withdoctor to settle in Peoria, Dr. Rudolph Rouse, it wasinstruments poised. As the Maestro raises his baton,the center of social activity. On the second floor wasthe audience sits silently waiting to hear a well knowna stage and seating for 1200 patrons. The theatermelody. The strings begin playing softly.played host to dances, church bazaars, weddings,and political rallies while the first floor housed shopsDvorak's "Humoresque" Symphony No. 7 anyand offices.one?The theater that housed the doctor's home