ftistory of miflOlS HISTORICAL SURVEY

HISTORY OF BARTONVILLE, ILLINOIS

Compiled and Published by

THE HERITAGE COMMITTEE

of the BARTONVILLE BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION

HERITAGE COMMITTEE

Mr. Edward W. Rose Mrs. Bryon Ball Mr. Wilbur H. Lauterbach Mrs. Leroy Peters Mrs. Laverne Velpel Mrs. Karen Dries

BARTONVILLE BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION

Mrs. Donald J. Stewart Mr. Joe Blanquart

Mrs. Norma J. Rebbec Mrs. Isom Zachman Mrs. Virginia Blanquart Mr. Zack Monroe Mrs. David Markwalder Mr. Richard Lauterbach Mr. Edward W. Rose

This Commission was authorized by an ordinance passed by the Bartonville Village Board and Mayor Gerald A. Stuaan. Foreword

Because 1976 is the Bicentennial of our nation, all loyal Americans want to pay homage to our pioneers. This commission has published

this book and dedicated it to those who have gone before us, recognizing that without their sacrifices and hardships, our great

nation woxdd not be what it is today.

Acknowledgements

Many among us have contributed to this book. We are especially

indebted to the following who have donated photographs and specific information: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Paschon, Mrs. Hazel Randall, Mr. Stephen Barton, Mrs. Amalia Gerdes Burke, Mrs. Lottie Bruninga, Mr. Art Reidlinger, Alpha Park Library District, Peoria Public Library, Mr. Ken Hinrichs, Bethel Lutheran Church, Bartonville Methodist Church, Bartonville Christian Church, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Trinity Presbyterian Church, St. John Lutheran Church, St. Anthony's Liturgical Center, Bartonville School, Oak Grove School, Monroe School, Limestone High School, Keystone Steel and Wire, Allied Mills, Inc., Johnson Hydraulic Company, Mr. William Luthy, Mr. and Mrs. K. C. Jones, Mr. Ben Taylor, Mrs. Herman Meardy,

Eleanore Barton, Peoria Journal Star, Mr. Kenneth Lane, Anna J. Rosenbohm, Wm. Johnson - Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Haller.

Photography and photo reproduction by Mr. Lee Merriman, official photographer for the Bartonville Bicentennial Commission. CHAPTER I The Beginning

The first white men to set foot in poo, he found the land to be under- this area were Father Jacques Mar- laid abundantly with coal. Some years quette and Louis Jolliet in 1673, fol- later, in about 1765, Jean Baptiste lowed by Robert Cavalier, Sieur de Maillet received a grant from the LaSalle, who came down the Illinois British for 1,400 acres at the mouth and Mississippi Rivers by canoe in of the Kickapoo, which included one January, 1680. LaSalle constructed mile on the riverfront extending back

Fort Creve Coeur at the lower end of two miles into the country. It is Peoria Lake, where the river narrows known that the family of LaVille de in Tazewell County. Maillet farmed land in the Kickapoo Because this is now the Village of bottoms into the 1780's. Somewhat Creve Coeur, which is almost directly later, other Frenchmen occupied across the river from Bartonville, it is farms there, namely Simon Roi, An- entirely possible LaSalle may have toine Roi, Hypolite Maillet, Antoine walked and explored the site of the Cicare, and Francis Montplaiser, to- present-day Bartonville. gether with Thomas Forsyth, an In the year of 1723, when this area American. The Kickapoo, at that was still a part of French America, time, was called Gatinan (possibly Philip Francis Renault was successful Coteneau). During the War of 1812, in obtaining a land grant of one these farms were all abandoned when league on the Illinois River, extend- the Village of Peoria was burned. ing back five leagues on the Kicka- The first permanent settlers in poo. Renault was interested in the Limestone Township were Joseph development of mining. While ex- Moffatt and his three sons, Alva, ploring the bluffs along the Kicka- Aquilla, and Benjamin. They settled

1 there in 1822. The Harker family toms". At about the same time, Orin came in 1829 and settled in the Hamlin and Alva and Aquilla Moffatt southwest corner of the township, erected a dam in the vicinity of Mid- which was called Harkers Corners, dle Road to build a sawmill. The first near the present location of Lake timber sawn went into the new Camelot. Other early Limestone courthouse being built in Peoria. At a Township settlers were Henry W. later date, a flour mill was erected at Jones, James Crowe, James Heaton, the same site, which over the years and Pleasant Hughes. Other settlers became known as "Monroe's Mill". who came in the middle of the cen- Nothing remains of this early in- tury were Conrad Bontz, who came dustry. in 1844; Christian Straesser and the The area that is now Bartonville Hallers in 1847; George Ojeman in proper has been known by that name 1849; Ed and John Roelf in 1851; since at least 1878, when a Post Office and Samuel Ball in 1852. These peo- was opened there and named in ple were mostly of German descent honor of W. C. H. Barton. The Bar- and planted the first vineyards in the ton family came to Central Illinois in township. Wine was produced from 1829 and settled in northern Peoria wild grapes before their vineyards near the Mitchell Sanitarium. In reached maturity. 1850, they came to that part of In the year 1850, the people of Limestone Township that is now Peoria County voted to establish a Bartonville. They first lived in a township form of government. farmhouse near the present offices of "Limestone" was chosen as the name Keystone Steel and Wire Company. for the township because of the large In 1868, they moved to what was amount of limestone that could be known as the Barton Mansion at quarried in the northern part of the 5416 South Adams Street. This home township. was occupied by the Bartons contin- Limestone Township can be proud uously until W. W. Barton's death in of having two of the first flour mills in January, 1958. This house was prob- the county. George Sharp and John ably the oldest building in Barton- Hamlin erected a mill around 1830 ville, and was razed in 1975 to make about one-half mile north of the room for Interstate 474. bridge on Highway 116 (Plank The Bartons were a large and Road). This mill was purchased in prosperous family and it was fitting 1833 by Joshua Aiken and Robert E. that the village would ultimately be Little. They remodelled and en- named for them. They were large all larged the mill so it was able to grind landowners and farmers. Owning

fifty barrels of flour a day. They also of the rich and fertile bottomlands of obtained title to one thousand acres the Illinois River and Kickapoo of land known as "Horseshoe Bot- Creek, their holdings were in excess

2 W. C. H. Barton 1818 - 1896 Founder of Bartonville Home of W. C. H. Barton on site of Office of Keystone Steel & Wire

Barton Mansion at 5416 S. Adams St. Mike Poison Saloon

of 1000 acres reaching all the way the miners did not have far to go to from South Peoria almost to the slake their thirst, gamble, or seek Pekin grade. Their many other busi- some excitement in their otherwise ness enterprises included part inter- drab lives. Most of the miners were est in the Kickapoo Distillery, saw immigrants, whose place at the bot- and grist mills, banking, and serving tom of the economic ladder was de- in township and village government. termined by their lack of education Bartonville, in those early days be- and occupational skills. Scots, Irish, fore the turn of the century, was a English, and Italians were the na- rowdy place. One early settler de- tionalities of most of them. The Illi- scribed it as being "populated by dogs nois State Mining publications from and drunken miners." Mining was, of those years tell the sad stories of course, a hard and dangerous way to mining accidents, collapsed roofs, make a living. After a hard day in the explosions, and black damps; these mines, the young miners would re- were all the hazards these men had to lieve their boredom at the local sa- endure before safety was govern- loon. There were at least eleven sa- ment enforced. loons in Bartonville at that time, so Mining was a way of life and the 5 Winters Mine

chief occupation of the small village slope, and uncover a small vein of on the west bank of the Kickapoo coal for his own use. Oldtimers claim Creek from 1723, when Philip Fran- that the hills around Bartonville are cis Renault received his grant of land honeycombed with old shafts and from the French Crown, until 1952, drifts, many of which they can point when the Creater Peoria Airport out. Authority purchased the mineral rights to the Mohn Coal Company The following table gives the and closed its shafts forever. Mining names and opening and closing dates in the Bartonville area was not the of the most important mines: huge operation that is carried on today in other parts of the country. Edward Mohn Some of the mines did ship coal out of the area by railroad or by keelboat to St. Louis, but most of the coal that was dug was consumed locally. Many a householder merely had to go out his back door, dig into the nearest

6 Company #2 CHAPTER II

The Turn of the Century

With the coming of the Twentieth opening the new Illinois Asylum for

Century, Bartonville was still the the Incurably Insane. This hospital boisterous mining community that it was the largest and most modern of had always been. The miners still la- its kind. bored in the mines every day and The most exciting news was the walked to and from work on the suggestion by some of the community muddy streets, still unpaved. House- leaders to incorporate. The muddy wives did the family wash on a wash- little mining town wanted to have a board, carrying water by hand from government of its own. By a close the well or cistern and heating it on a vote of 1 14 to 110, the referendum cookstove. The youngsters attended passed and, in 1903, Bartonville was a school on Coal Hollow Road taught officially on the map. With its new by Simeon Ward. But, there was a status, it was necessary to elect offi- change in the air. Acme Harvesting cials and organize a fire department. Company was operating on the site The new Village Board appointed that later became Keystone. The Henry R. Gerdes as its first mayor. Marsden Company, a cellulose plant, Mr. Gerdes served for a short term, had located in Bartonville at a site and then his partner in grocery firm that would become that of Allied of Gerdes and Barton, W. W. Barton, Mills. These new industries offered was elected the new mayor. Mayor some diversification, as the village Barton served in that capacity for the

had relied so long on mining and next eighteen years. During all of farming. Mayor Barton's tenure, the village

Upon the hill, the State of Illinois lived within its income, which was

had just finished constructing and derived primarily from liquor li- 8 This home on Roosevelt St. was originally a school moved from Coal Hollow perhaps the oldest building in Bartonville

censes. No deficit financing or letting Argonne. These places would soon of bonds was tolerated, as Mr. Barton become known first-hand by many was well-known for his thrift in his sons, fathers, and husbands from personal life as well as in village af- Bartonville. Although not much was fairs. known about Bartonville's contribu- Shortly after the advent of the tion to the Civil War, many local men twentieth century, electricity came to did serve their nation in World War Bartonville. Telephone service made I. I, with its appearance around 1910, al- Following World War and though very few families could af- the passage of the Volstead Act, this ford such a luxury at that time. As country entered one of the most tu- the years rolled by, Bartonville con- multuous eras in its history. Barton- of tinued its slow growth. International ville was not spared the trauma politics were beginning to be felt lo- prohibition. There was bootlegging cally. War had broken out in Europe in the area and all the problems that and many small-town people across went with it. Almost everyone knew America began to hear of far-off where home-brew and moonshine places such as St. Mihiel and Meuse- could be obtained. Many old-timers 9 Randall Brickyard

MtttBfS^^^^T..

Hoffman Blacksmith Shop site of present Municipal parking lot

10 Adams St. at the turn of the century look back fondly on those exciting ment. Bartonville had city water of years with a sense of nostalgia. The sorts; a main ran down Adams Street "great experiment" failed and pro- to Keystone and Allied Mills, and hibition was repealed, to be followed people living a short distance off by a greater tragedy, the Great De- Adams Street ran lines to tap on to pression. the main. Those living further away Progress of any type was minimal or up on the hills had to rely on wells or non-existent during those years. It and cisterns. The water mains were was enough of a struggle to eat and extended to the side streets in 1923. clothe one's self on a regular basis, In 1937, during Mayor Stoker's ad- much less have any money left for ministration, the village was finally improvements. Some men worked a served with municipal sewers. Prior ten to twelve-hour day, seven days a to this time, people had privies or week, for as little as twenty-nine cents drilled sewer drainage lines into the an hour, in a local factory. It did no old mines. good to complain about such working One of the worst problems the vil- conditions, because there were sever- lage faced was washed-out streets. al men waiting for every job that was Bartonville was built to a great extent available. on hills, and every time there was a The village government was in the heavy rain, the streets washed out same position as individuals with re- and the street department had to duced revenues and high unemploy- haul all the gravel and cinders back

11 •tfimiflfllllH IIIIIHIHIIIIII tllltlMIIIHIH

(. i

I 5. B. Winters Home

up the hill. The first streets to receive again, the young men went off to war. blacktop had to be paid by resident Bartonville contributed its fair share contributions, collected by an ap- to the war effort, and many of the pointed leader who would go door- men sent did not come home again. to-door soliciting contributions. Resi- With the ending of the war and dents then took their portions of the with employment at a high level, citi- assessment to the bank. These first zens and the village turned to a better

blacktopped streets cost as little as standard of living. Wilbur H. Lau- sixty cents per frontage foot. terbach was elected mayor in 1945 As the 1930s wore on, the Depres- and began an aggressive program for sion lessened, but War was again be- the betterment of the village. One of ginning in Europe. With the bomb- his first goals was a continuation of ing of Pearl Harbor, the economy the street improvement program. was put on a war footing and unem- Street after street was blacktopped ployment diminished. Bartonville with curbs and gutters until eventu- citizens, as well as their fellow Amer- ally nearly every street was improved. icans, had other problems to cope Some of the improvements were paid

with . . . such as ration books for gas- for with assessments or motor fuel oline, meat, coffee, and shoes. Once tax funds, or a combination of both.

12 Gerdes & Co.

Interior Gerdes 8c Co. 13 MONUMENTS

: -

Karl Frank Monuments corner of McClure & Adams St.

Randall Brickyard 14 Felix Kuhn Butcher Shop

The street department could now Since the incorporation in 1903, spend its time on meaningful main- the Village limits had always been the tenance, rather than having to repair same. The town was approximately all the hills each time it rained. three miles long and one mile wide, Bartonville's first village hall, which the north end being about one-half was built in 1906 at a cost of $800.00, mile north of the top of Harrison Hill was not adequate for a growing pop- and the south boundary in the vicin- ulation, so in 1954, a new hall was ity of Allied Mills. The east side ran built across the street from the old parallel to the Kickapoo Creek at the one. This new white stone structure north and behind Keystone's Wire was large enough to house the police, Mill on the south. The western limit street, and fire departments, council extended behind the houses on Mad- chamber, village clerk, and mayor's ison Street. It was realized by the office. The cost of this attractive Village Board and Mayor Lauterbach building was approximately that if Bartonville was to grow and

$60,000.00. About two-thirds of the prosper, it had to expand. The first amount was raised by soliciting local annexation was Monroe Street, which industries and the remainder was was added to the village by ordinance paid for from taxes in the general on December 8, 1949. At this time, fund. Wil-Mar Knolls subdivision was being

15 Martin & Tjarks Grocery

developed and it was annexed on December 28, 1950. In the years fol- lowing, many other large and small areas were annexed. The largest area was on September 12, 1957, when the State of Illinois consented to the an- nexation of Peoria State Hospital. Other additions in later years ex- tended the boundaries out as far as Lauterdale and part of Mardell Manor.

16 Bartonville Volunteer The first fire apparatus used were Fire Department hand-pulled carts containing hose. When a fire was reported, the bell in The Bartonville Volunteer Fire the belfry on top of the old village Department was organized by Henry hall was rung and the firemen pulled R. Gerdes some time after the incor- the hose carts to the fire or they were poration reference. The department pulled by a car, if one was available. was divided into two companies: In 1926, the department obtained its first fire truck. That year, both fire companies were organized into one Number One Company company with Sam Ball being elected chief, a position he held until Jan- Henry R. Gerdes, Chief uary, 1962. He was succeeded by Joe Arrenholz Wilbur Lauterbach. John Lane In 1957, the village built a new William Barton village hall and garage for the fire Sam Pye trucks; and, in 1974, built a new William Lane three-stall firehouse on Garfield Av- Bert Higgins enue. Today, Bartonville has two Phil Schindler modern fire houses and a modern George Sanderson fleet of firetrucks and a rescue vehi- Louis Weiman cle.

Number Two Company

Nick Arrenholz, Chief Sam Ball George Racine Wes Ball Henry Lauterbach John Tester Chris Tester Frank Collier

A I Randall George Ewing

17 Mil MM .ililliili

John Roelfs Home

Dr. H. L. Williams and Al Randall Homes Randall home now Stone Mortuary 18 Barton & Gerdes Homes decorated for fourth of July

H. E. Lauterbach Lumber Co. 19 Threshing wheat on site of Oak Grove West School

First beer arriving at the Airport when prohibition ended

Mr. K. C. Jones third from left 20 CHAPTER III

Bartonville Today

Bartonville of the 1970s is a far cry between Bartonville and Peoria has from the little village of 1903. With a been an eyesore of junkyards and population of 7,216, according to the dumps. With the highway occupying

1970 federal census, one-half of Bar- this space, it should provide the town tonville's working force is engaged in with a much more pleasant appear- manufacturing, with an average in- ance, particularly to travelers and come of $10,408.00 and a median newcomers to the community. educational level of 10.4 years of Living in Bartonville offers many formal schooling. advantages to its residents. Being a

Bartonville is typical of many su- part of the Central Illinois metropol- burban communities located on the itan area, Bartonville enjoys a good edge of a much larger city; its old business climate and steady employ-

"downtown" is at a standstill with ment, as compared to many parts of

very little new business activity. the country. The community has However, West Garfield Avenue is good schools and streets and an ad- expanding, and the new Bartonville ministration that is responsive to the Square Shopping Center, containing needs of the people and is ably led by a Kroger Store and a Super X Drug Mayor Gerald Stuaan. The fire de-

Store, is the newest addition to the partment is considered one of the businesses locating there. best volunteer fire departments in

With the completion of Interstate the state and is led by Chief Donald J. 474, Bartonville will have easy access Stewart. to the vast interstate highway system. The police force is on duty twenty- Construction of this highway has a four hours a day, with nine full-time second benefit. For years, the grade and one part-time officers, and four 21 full-time dispatchers, commanded by Chief Gene Skotnicki. Some important anniversaries are approaching. 1978 will mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of the first post office in Bartonville and will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the village's incorporation. In recog- nizing these important occasions in village history, one can appreciate what past generations have enjoyed,

that Bartonville is a great place to

live.

New Fire Station

, -^ ^^d«^

Village Hall Limestone Township Hall

22 Bartonville Village Board in session

Bartonville Police Chief Gene Skotnicki 23 Henry R. Gerdes 1903 - 1904 24 W. W. Barton 1904 - 1922

25 William R. Guppy ' 1922 - 1929 26 Wm. J. Stoker Jr. 1929 - 1941 27 William Guppy Jr.

1941 - 1945 28 Wilbur H. Lauterbach 1945 - 1961 29 Chester A. Poison 1961 - 1969 30 Gerald A. Stuaan

1969 - present

31 Village Officers

1903

Mayor Henry R. Gerdes

Clerk J. A. Logan

Treasurer J. T. McGurchen Marshall Michael Corey

Trustees

William Amsler William Crots Tobias Gerdes Beecher Ricketts Seibold Schick Thomas Huxtable, Sr. Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner Joseph Tester, Sr. Police Magistrate Unknown

1904

Mayor W. W. Barton Clerk Elmore Morse Treasurer John Hill, Sr. Marshall Michael Corey

Trustees

John Powell Frank Moffatt Joseph B. Barton Frank Collier Henry R. Gerdes Lott Hurst Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner John Hiltrop, Sr.

Board Health J. A. Logan Police Magistrate William Myers

32 1905

Mayor W. W. Barton

Clerk J. A. Logan Treasurer John Hill, Sr. Marshall Michael Corey

Trustees

J. B. Barton Henry R. Gerdes Frank Collier John Powell Lot Hurst Frank Moffatt Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner John Hiltrop, Sr. Police Magistrate P. M. Koener

1906

Mayor W. W. Barton Clerk Chris Leston Treasurer John Hill, Sr. Marshall Michael Corey

Trustees

Frank Collier Oscar Morse Martin Thome Lot Hurst

Frank Moffatt J. B. Barton Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner John Hiltrop, Sr. Police Magistrate Frank Adkins

33 1907

Mayor W. W. Barton Clerk Chris Tester Treasurer John Hill, Sr. Marshall Michael Corey

Trustees

Frank Collier Oscar Morse Martin Thome Lot Hurst

Frank Moffatt J. B. Barton Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner John Hiltrop, Sr. Police Magistrate Frank Adkins

1908

Mayor W. W. Barton Clerk Chris Tester Treasurer John Hill, Sr. Marshall Michael Corey

Trustees

Frank Collier Martin Thome

J. B. Barton Karl Franks Lot Hurst Frank Moffatt Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner William Smith, Sr. Police Magistrate G. J. Blandin

34 1909

Mayor W. W. Barton Clerk Chris Tester Treasurer John Hill, Sr. Marshall William Smith, Sr.

Trustees

Frank Moffatt Lot Hurst Karl Franks Martin Thome

Frank Collier J. B. Barton Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner William Smith, Sr.

Police Magistrate George J. Blandin

1910 Mayor W. W. Barton Clerk Otto Hiltrop Treasurer John Hill, Sr. Marshall John Powell

Trustees

Frank Collier Cole Herman James Dawson Karl Frank Frank Moffatt Lot Hurst Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner John Powell Police Magistrate Frank Adkins

35 1911 Mayor W. W. Barton Clerk Otto Hiltrop Treasurer John Hill, Sr. Marshall William Smith, Sr.

Trustees

Martin Thome Karl Franks Frank Moffatt Frank Collier Cale Herman James Dawson Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner William Smith, Sr. Police Magistrate Frank Adkins

1912

Mayor W. W. Barton Clerk Charles Hoffnagle Treasurer John Hill Marshall Richard Bowen

Trustees

Frank Moffatt Karl Franks Martin Thome Frank Collier Cale Herman James Dawson Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner William Smith, Sr. Police Magistrate Albert Troth

36 1913 Mayor W. W. Barton Clerk Charles Hoffnagle Treasurer George W. Herman Marshall W. B. Ricketts

Trustees

James Bridgeman, Jr. Louis Weiman Nick Backes Frank Collier James Dawson Cale Herman Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner William Smith, Sr. Police Magistrate

1914 Mayor W. W. Barton Clerk Charles Hoffnagle Treasurer George W. Herman Marshall W. B. Ricketts

Trustees

Martin Thome Frank Collier Cale Herman James Bridgeman, Jr. Louis Weiman Nick Backes Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner William Smith, Sr. Police Magistrate Albert Troth

37 1915 Mayor W. W. Barton Clerk Charles Hoffnagle Treasurer George W. Herman Marshall William Smith, Sr.

Trustees

Frank Collier Cale Herman Martin Thome Karl Franks George W. Racine Otto Hiltrop Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner William Smith, Sr. Police Magistrate S. L. Winslow

1917

Mayor W. W. Barton Clerk Charles Hoffnagle Treasurer George W. Herman Marshall James Sparks

Trustees

George Racine Otto Hiltrop Karl Franks Frank Collier Cale Herman Martin Thome Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner James Sparks Police Magistrate S. F. Winslow Health Officer Dr. H. L. Williams

38 1918

Mayor W. W. Barton Clerk Charles Hofnagle Treasurer George W. Herman Marshall James Sparks

Trustees

Martin Thome Frank Collier Cale Herman George Racine Otto Hiltrop Karl Franks Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner William Smith, Sr. Police Magistrate S. L. Winslow

1919 Mayor W. W. Barton Clerk Charles Hoffnagle Treasurer George W. Herman Marshall James Sparks Police Magistrate S. L. Winslow Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner James Sparks

Trustees

George Racine Karl Franks Martin Thome Frank Colllier Cale Herman Otto Hiltrop

39 1920

Mayor W. W. Barton Clerk Chris Tester Police Magistrate S. L. Winslow Marshall Charles Hoffnagle

Attorney E. J. Galbraith Street Commissioner Charles Hoffnagle

Trustees

Frank Collier Louis Weiman Robert Guppy Martin Thome Frank Schindler Cale Herman

1921

Mayor W. W. Barton Clerk Chris Tester Treasurer George W. Herman Marshall Harry Bornhold Police Magistrate S. L. Winslow

Attorney E. J. Galbraith Street Commissioner Harry Bornhold

Trustees

William Poison C. E. Ward Frank Schindler Frank Collier Louis Weiman Robert Guppy

40 1922 Mayor Robert Guppy Clerk George Racine Treasurer George W. Herman Marshall Edward Honold Polite Magistrate S. L. Winslow Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner Edward Honold

Trustees

H. E. Lauterbach Herman Keopple John Parr William Poison C. E. Ward Frank Schindler

1923

Mayor Robert Guppy Clerk George W. Racine Treasurer George W. Herman Marshall James Sparks Police Magistrate S. L. Winslow Attorney Robert Scholes Street Commissioner Herman Rosenbohm

Trustees

C. E. Ward William Poison William Stoker H. E. Lauterbach Herman Keopple John Parr

41 1924

Mayor Robert Guppy Clerk John Parr Treasurer George W. Herman Marshall James Sparks Police Magistrate S. L. Winslow Attorney Joseph L. Johnson Street Commissioner Jess Higgins

Trustees

Warner Pye Louis Weiman H. E. Lauterbach George Sanderson C. E. Ward William Stoker

1925

Mayor Robert Guppy Clerk John Parr Treasurer George W. Herman Marshall James Sparks Police Magistrate John Sanderson Attorney Joseph L. Johnson Street Commissioner Jess Higgins

Trustees

George Sanderson William Smith William Stoker Warner Pye H. E. Lauterbach Louis Weiman

42 1926

Mayor Robert Guppy Clerk John Parr Treasurer George W. Herman Marshall James Sparks Police Magistrate John Sanderson Attorney Joseph L. Johnson Street Commissioner James Sparks

Trustees

H. E. Lauterbach Warner Pye Louis Weiman George Sanderson

William Smith, Jr. William Stoker

1927 8c 1928

Mayor Robert Guppy Clerk John Parr Treasurer George W. Herman Marshall James Sparks Police Magistrate John Sanderson Attorney Joseph L. Johnson Street Commissioner James Sparks

Trustees

H. E. Lauterbach William Stoker Warner Pye William H. Smith George Sanderson Louis Weiman

43 1929 & 1930

Mayor William R. Guppy Clerk Louis Weiman Treasurer George W. Herman Attorney Joseph L. Johnson

Trustees

H. E. Lauterbach Warner Pye George Sanderson William Stoker William H. Smith John Parr

1931

Mayor William Stoker Clerk Louis Weiman

Trustees

John Parr Albert Monroe Elmer Thompson William Poison George Sanderson William Smith

1931-32

Mayor William Stoker Clerk Louis Weiman

Trustees

William Guppy William Poison George Sanderson John Parr Albert Monroe Elmer Thompson

44 1932-33

Mayor William Stoker Clerk Homer Rhoads

Trustees

John Parr William R. Conn William Harris, Jr. William Guppy George Sanderson William Poison

1933-34

Mayor William Stoker Clerk Homer Rhoads Treasurer W. W. Barton

Trustees

William Cuppy George Sanderson William Poison John Parr William R. Conn William Harris, Jr.

1934-35

Mayor William Stoker Clerk L. G. Fishel

Trustees

William Guppy George Sanderson William Poison John Parr William R. Conn William Harris, Jr.

45 1935-36

Mayor William Stoker Clerk L. G. Fishel

Trustees

William Conn John Parr William Poison William Harris George Sanderson Henry W. Mohn

1936-37

Mayor William Stoker Clerk L. G. Fishel

Trustees

William Conn John Parr William Poison William Harris George Sanderson Henry W. Mohn

1937-38

Mayor William Stoker Clerk L. G. Fishel

Trustees

William Poison Otto Hiltrop George Sanderson William Conn Henry Mohn Burgess S. Hayes

46 1938-39

Mayor William Stoker Clerk L. G. Fishel

Trustees

William Poison Otto Hiltrop George Sanderson William Conn Henry Mohn Burgess S. Hayes

1939-41

Mayor William Stoker Clerk L. G. Fishel

Trustees

William Poison Otto Hiltrop George Sanderson William Conn Henry Mohn Leslie A. Taylor

1941-43

Mayor William R. Guppy, Jr. Clerk Homer Rhoads Attorney Jessie Weast

Trustees

William Poison Otto Hiltrop William Conn Leslie Taylor William Claudin Walter Swardenski (resigned in April of 1942) (resigned in September of 1942)

47 1943-45

Mayor William R. Guppy, Jr. Clerk Homer Rhoads

Trustees

Wilbur Lauterbach Otto Hiltrop William Conn L. G. Fishel Clyde Higgins Benjamin Taylor

1945-47

Mayor W. H. Lauterbach Clerk Homer Rhoads Attorney Charles Ullrich

Trustees

Gordon Swardenski A. R. Siddle William R. Conn Wilbur Schuller Fred Ewers Lawrence Fishel (Resigned January, 1946) Ralph Stewart (Appointed May, 1946)

1947-49

Mayor W. H. Lauterbach Clerk Homer Rhoads Attorney Charles Ullrich (Resigned June, 1948) Theodore B. Durfee (Appointed July, 1948) Treasurer W. W. Barton

Trustees

Gordon Swardenski James Mahannah, Sr. Fred Ewers Joe Cose A. R. Siddle, Sr. William R. Conn

48 1949-51 Mayor Wilbur Lauterbach Clerk Homer Rhoads Treasurer Ralph Stewart Attorney Theodore B. Durfee

Trustees

Gordon Swardenski James Mahannah, Sr. Donald E. McCowan William R. Conn Joe Cose Hugo Hoepfner (Resigned June, 1949) (Appointed July, 1949) Fred Ewers Elmer Heitzman (Resigned May, 1951) (Appointed to replace Fred Ewers, May, 1951)

1951-53

Mayor Wilbur H. Lauterbach Clerk* Homer Rhoads Treasurer** Ralph Stewart Attorney Theodore B. Durfee

Trustees

Rex Price, Sr. Leonard Morse Hugo W. Hoepfner Donald McCowan Gordon Swardenski Ted Allgaier (Resigned May, 1951) (Appointed May, 1951)

*James Cornwell was appointed Acting Clerk on March 5, 1952, due to the death of Homer Rhoads.

**Donald Stewart was appointed Treasurer on November 23, 1951, due to the death of Ralph Stewart.

49 1953-55

Mayor Wilbur H. Lauterbach Clerk James Cornwell

Treasurer J. Richard Lambie Attorney Theodore B. Durfee

Trustees

Ted Allgaier James Pike Emil Manz Rex Price Leonard Morse Hugo Hoepfner

1955-57

Mayor W. H. Lauterbach Clerk James Cornwell

Treasurer J. Richard Lambie Attorney Theodore B. Durfee

Trustees

Rex Price Ben Taylor Fred Fletcher Ted Allgaier James Pike Emil Manz

1957-59

Mayor W. H. Lauterbach Clerk Glenn H. Jones

Treasurer J. Richard Lambie Attorney Theodore B. Durfee

50 Trustees

Ted Allgaier James Pike Jay Schindler Rex Price Ben Taylor Fred Fletcher

1959-61

Mayor W. H. Lauterbach Clerk Glenn H. Jones

Treasurer J. Richard Lambie Attorney Theodore B. Durfee

Trustees

Ted Allgaier James Pike Jay Schindler Rex Price Ben Taylor Fred Fletcher

1961-63

Mayor Chester Poison Clerk Glenn H. Jones

Treasurer J. Richard Lambie Attorney Theodore B. Durfee Engineer Roy Kastner

Trustees

Robert Lawless Rex Price Fred Fletcher John Vegich Ben Taylor Edward C. Feldman

51 1963-65

Mayor Chester Poison Clerk Glenn H. Jones Treasurer Merlin Lambie Attorney Rudolph Westphal Engineer Roy Kastner

Trustees

Robert Lawless Rex Price Fred Fletcher John Vegich Fred Fairhurst Edward C. Feldman

1965-67

Mayor Chester Poison Clerk Glenn H. Jones Treasurer Merlin Lambie Attorney Rudolph Westphal Engineer Roy Kastner

Trustees

Edward C. Feldman Rex Price Fred Fletcher John Vegich Robert Lawless Fred Fairhurst Wilbur Reader (Resigned December, 1965) (Appointed December, 1965)

1967-69

Mayor Chester Poison Clerk Glenn H. Jones Treasurer Merlin Lambie Attorney Rudolph Westphal Engineer Roy Kastner

Trustees

Robert Lawless Edward C. Feldman Rex Price Gerald A. Stuaan John Vegich Ben Taylor

52 1969-71

Mayor Gerald A. Stuaan Clerk Kenneth W. Lane Treasurer Merlin Lambie Attorney John C. Parkhurst Engineer Roy Kastner

Trustees

Ben Taylor Norman Ball Rex Price Donald Berrier Robert Lawless Jay Swardenski Earl Chitwood (Resigned September, 1969) (Appointed September, 1969)

1971-73

Mayor Gerald A. Stuaan Clerk Kenneth W. Lane Treasurer Merlin Lambie Attorney John C. Parkhurst Engineer Roy Kastner

Trustees

Robert Lawless Donald Berrier Donald Thornton Donald Gondek Normal Ball William Pirtle (Resigned November, 1972) Ben Taylor (Appointed January, 1973)

53 1973-75

Mayor Gerald A. Stuaan Clerk Kenneth W. Lane Treasurer Merlin Lambie Attorney John C. Parkhurst Engineer Roy Kastner

Trustees

William Pirtle Fred Fletcher Nancy Chamberlain William Krus Donald Gondek Donald Thornton

1975-77

Mayor Gerald A. Stuaan Clerk Kenneth W. Lane Treasurer Merlin Lambie Attorney John C. Parkhurst & Thomas E. Leiter Engineer Jack Quinn

Trustees

William Pirtle Fred Fletcher William Krus Donald Thornton Nancy Chamberlain Donald Gondek LeRoy Peters (Resigned December, 1975) (Appointed December, 1975)

54 CHAPTER 4 Industry

Johnson Hydraulic Manufacturing Company

Johnson Hydraulic Mfg. Co. was Johnson discussed with him the con- born in 1934 out of a need to keep up cern of the mills, and it was believed with the changing times. The need that a baler could be designed to was that of the paper mills which meet these needs. After a series of used straw in the manufacture of discussions with the mills, it was de- paper for cardboard containers. cided that W. A. Johnson would pro- Straw had formerly been obtained ceed with the development and from stacks which had been hauled to building of pilot machines for field threshers and baled by stationary testing, with the paper mills un- balers prior to being shipped to the derwriting the project. An Indiana mills. The advent of the grain com- corporation was set up as Steel Prod- bine, which cut and threshed the ucts, Inc., and located at Vincennes, grain and left the straw in the field, Ind. created a need for a pickup baler. The testing results of these pilot At the time, William A. Johnson machines exceeded expectations. operated a machine shop and Allis The new machine was a "first", also,

Chalmers dealership in Elkhart, 111., a in its side feed feature, which made a small town twenty miles from continuous operation possible with- Springfield. A straw buyer for the out a loss of feed for separation of mills who was a good friend of Mr. bales. "Bill" Johnson became con-

55 cerned, however, about being away bale this scrap paper, facilitating its too much from his business at Elk- shipment to the mills for reprocess- hart; and the baler shop was moved ing. A portable machine was devel- to Springfield, 111. Adaptations for oped, and five were built to go from manufacture were made and the scrap "pen" to "pen" to bale the balers were subjected to a full season paper. of rigid field testing. The mills were The straw baler production con- satisfied. Their agreement for fi- tinued until 1948, at which time the nancing fulfilled, they agreed to pur- mills were switching from straw to chase the balers as fast as they could wood pulp for paper making. Since be built until their demands were the Johnson baler was not competi- met. tive with the smaller farm type balers In November, 1939, the shop was that came back onto the market after moved to Bartonville into space the war, the baler production was available at Laidlaw Wire Co., manu- discontinued. It was replaced by facturers of bale ties such as those other products such as concrete block used on the baler. Ten machines making machines, windrow attach- were built in 1940 with such satisfac- ments for power mowers, farm tory results that there developed a wagons, fabricated corn cribs, hy- great deal of pressure for increased draulic cylinders, and complete truck production, requiring more space hoists. The demand for truck hoists, and shop facilities. An arrangement which had been added in 1949, be- was made with Sommer Products Co. came so great within a few years that to handle office requirements and to other products were discontinued provide shop facilities. The new Illi- and full time was devoted to hydrau-

nois corporation was set up as John- lics. At that time the company's name son Implement Co. Operations were was changed to Johnson Hydraulic carried on in Sommer's building until Mfg. Co. Johnson's pioneered the a building became available that had development of telescopic hoists for

been vacated by Broderick & Bascom all sizes of trucks, including semi

Rope Co. trailers of all sizes and body lengths, It might be noted that during as well as custom built cylinders for World War II Johnson's was one of mining machinery, large platform only two manufacturers of field dumpers, etc. balers receiving priority allotments On the night of March 16, 1955, from the U. S. government. During the plant was destroyed by a fire the war, also, one of the paper mills which started in an adjoining build- recycling scrap paper collected to aid ing occupied by the Illini Foundry. the war effort consulted Mr. Johnson This caused a few months' setback in to see if he could build a machine to production. With salvaged, rebuilt

56 equipment as well as some borrowed "Pop" Johnson, at eighty-two years, is from good friends, the Illinois Ma- on the job every day. chinery Co., Johnson Hydraulic re- Mr. Johnson is chairman of the sumed production using space in board and Raymond L. Fauber is Sommer Products' plant and some president of the company. older buildings nearby. Meanwhile, a In honor of the Bicentennial, new building was built on space ob- Johnson Hydraulic will soon erect a tained from Keystone Steel & Wire seventy foot flag pole at Liberty In- Co. with a twenty-year lease. dustrial Park to fly a lighted "Old In 1957 an addition was built for a Glory" measuring fifteen feet by hydraulic pump and valve depart- twenty-five feet. It is the company's ment and machine shop. A second wish to bring this landmark to the addition was built in 1960 to make area as a source of beauty and pride room for raw materials and added to its citizens. storage space. A few years later it Allied Mills became apparent that plans must be made for future growth. The history of Allied Mills and In 1967 ninety-six acres of land Wayne Feeds virtually parallels the were acquired north of the airport on history of the commercial feed in- Maxwell Road, where a new plant dustry. The firm got its start in Phil- would be located, with the remaining adelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1897, acreage to be developed for industry. under the name of the Marsden The area was named Liberty Indus- Company, formed to utilize corn by- trial Park. A warehouse to take care products. This was mixed with mo- of storage needs was erected on this lasses, oil cakes, gluten meal and corn land in 1969. meals to make a balanced ration for In 1971 a second building was cattle, horses, and mules, and was erected to house the manufacture of largely exported to Europe. a new product—Johnson's had added Another firm, the American Mill- dump bodies to their line, enabling ing Company, also of Philadelphia, them to sell body and hoist as a com- held important patents for process- plete unit. ing molasses cattle feeds. This firm In this Bicentennial year of 1976 a was acquired in 1906. Two brands of

sizeable third building is nearing molasses feeds were manufactured,

completion to house the hoist plant Sucrene and Sugarine, which are still and the offices. maintained by Allied Mills. Marsden From an idea in 1934, Johnson and American Milling consolidated Hydraulic Mfg. Co. has grown to a in the American Milling Company in facility of 75,000 square feet, em- 1907, and, in 1909, their head- ploying 125 people—and William A. quarters was transferred from Phila-

57 Allied Mills

delphia to Chicago, and, in 1913, to lytical labs and quality control pro- Peoria. grams. These facilities were moved in A new eleven-story plant was built 1947 to Liberty ville, Illinois, where at Bartonville in 1920, and it was said they still exist. to be the largest feed mill in the It is interesting to note that it was a world at the time, a distinction it held Bartonville lab where scientists de- for many years. termined the Vitamin D and manga-

On September 1, 1929, American nese requirements of chickens. In the Milling and Fort Wayne Milling early years, some of the most popular merged and became Allied Mills, and thriving products included feeds Inc., manufacturing under the brand for commercially-raised foxes and name "Wayne Feeds". minks. Since scientific feeding of livestock In 1973, the Bartonville facility was and poultry began to develop rapid- converted to the production of ly, the demand for mixed feeds was Wayne Pet Foods and specialty diets greatly increased. In 1937, a research for laboratory animals. This facility division was established at Barton- has the distinction of being one of the ville, consisting of biological labs and oldest operating plants in the com- a research farm to supplement ana- pany's history.

58 Keystone Steel and Wire Company

In 1889, Peter Sommer, a Tazewell the bottom half of the journal carry- County, Illinois, farmer renting a ing the strand wire and the upper farm near Dillon, got an idea for wire half of the journal carrying the stay they fence. He stretched some pieces of wire. Using light copper wire, smooth wire lengthwise about six produced a small sample of the com- rods, crossed them with vertical pleted fence. for wires, then fastened them at inter- A hand-operated machine sections with washers to form a port- making this fence was started in with able wire fence. Unfortunately, it did March, 1889. A power machine not work because the wire could not hand controls was then built, being withstand the sharp crimping in the completed in November of that year. washer. This machine had a capacity of Soon thereafter, Peter Sommer twenty rods per day. had an idea for a wire fence that In the fall of 1890, a factory was would work. The fence consisted of built in Tremont, Illinois. At this twisting the horizontal and stay wires time, Peter Sommer had approxi- together while keeping the stay mately $3,000.00 invested in the upright. The start of each succeeding business and had formed a three-way twist was then moved back the length partnership with his sons, John and of the twist. These wires were then P.W. incorporated by twisted with the selvage wire a suffi- The business was partners in 1892, having cient distance to make the proper the three capitalization of lineal spacing, then shifted back the an authorized under the name of Key- distance of the twist on each suc- $30,000.00, Wire Fence Company, ceeding line wire, and so on. stone Woven derived from the shape of Working with his older sons, P.W. the name mesh. Later, in 1907, the com- and John, Peter Sommer made a the incorporated as Keystone sample of twisted wire fence by hand. pany was Steel and Wire Company in Illinois, The Sommers tried it out and found and, on June 30, 1955, was incor- that it worked very well. To manufacture enough fencing porated in Delaware. to time, as the of this type for their needs, Peter From time B.L., and Sommer and his sons decided to younger brothers, J.W., they too build a loom. First they made a small W.H., became old enough, model, one-eighth the size of the an- began to work and, when they ticipated machine, using a method reached their maturity, acquired an they referred to as the "half journal", interest in the business.

59 •'•'. I

Keystone's Steel Mill under construction in 1917

Keystone Steel & Wire Co. Wire Mill 1910 60 Steamboat delivering pig iron to Keystone

View from Adams St. before McKinley St. was built

61 Keystone Steel 8c Wire aerial view

An addition was built to the factory The addition of these facilities great- in 1892, and, in 1895, when the ly increased the operations of the shipping facilities and accommoda- plant, the number of employees, and tions in Tremont became inadequate, the net profit. With these facilities, the company moved its factory to the Keystone expanded its line, adding village of South Peoria. nails and barbed wire. The business continued to prosper. The next big step in the company's The South Peoria site was con- development came during World demned for use in the expansion of War I, when the supply of steel was the North Western Railroad switch- inadequate to meet the demands of a ing yards, and, in 1901, the company wartime economy. In 1916, the steel was forced to move its factory facili- mill at Keystone was built. Steel was ties. The new site was Keystone's made in open-hearth furnaces until

present location in South Bartonville, the 1960's, when it was converted to where three acres of land were ac- electric furnaces. quired. Keystone's steel mills grew to in-

In 1905, Keystone built its wire clude equipment for processing raw mill. There, steel rods were cleaned, materials into steel, then rolling the drawn to desired finished size, gal- steel ingots into blooms, billets, and vanized, and fabricated into fencing. finally into rods. 62 In 1922, Keystone's business was the modernization of the plant and tremendously stimulated by the de- its equipment. Because of this policy, velopment of an improved method of the production of high quality wire zinc coating wire. This process, de- and wire products is made easier, veloped by Keystone men and pa- faster, and safer for Keystone em- tented by the company under the ployees. Since World War II, millions name, "Galvannealing", heat-treated of dollars have been spent to provide the galvanized wire and added great- better equipment. ly to its life. Merchandizing of this Plant additions have made Key- improved product under the name stone an even better place to work.

"Red Brand" fencing increased Key- The company's continued progress is stone's business in the agricultural well illustrated by its growth in em-

line and made it the foremost inde- ployment. Since 1945, employment

pendent supplier of farm fencing in has increased from 1 ,703 to approxi- the world. mately 3,200.

The depression years showed Key- Keystone Steel and Wire is a divi-

stone management its dependence sion of Keystone Consolidated In- upon the agricultural market. dustries, Inc. Other major divisions Throughout the 1930s, Keystone im- within Keystone Consolidated Indus-

proved its facilities for making finer tries, Inc., include: Mid-States Steel

types of wire, designing its equip- and Wire Division of Crawfordsville, ment to produce wire to close toler- Indiana; National Lock Division of ances for industry. One of these Rockford, Illinois; and Broderick

items is wire for steel cable. Keystone and Bascom Rope Company. engineers produced superior meth- Through these divisions, Keystone ods for drawing wire continuously. Consolidated Industries, Inc. has Speedy wire drawing through multi- other interests in the United States

ple passes is practiced in the plant and Mexico. without sufficient heat being gen- Keystone men and women have erated to harm the wire. kept pace with plant expansion and Considerable progress was made in progress by increasing their activity producing wire for the cold heading in community projects — in school industry, which manufactures such board activity, municipal govern- items as bolts, screws, and rivets. ment, service and welfare organiza- Hundreds of factories throughout tions, and civic and social organiza- the nation are supplied their re- tions. The management encourages quirements of steel wire by Keystone. such participation and has recog-

Year after year, the company has nized that its progress depends upon

turned back part of its earnings into that of the community.

63 CHAPTER 5 Institutions

Bartonville Methodist Church just below the hill on which his former mansion (until recently, a

The first Methodist worship in the nursing home) still stands. The first Bartonville community was conduct- church on this site was a frame struc- ed by the circuit riders as early as ture dedicated in September, 1882. 1828. The first Methodist group was In the years following, the congrega- organized in 1848, and, by 1851, tion grew moderately. meetings were held in an old brick After World War I, the church schoolhouse on Smith ville Road. again experienced growing pains. A North Limestone Church, which new concrete block structure was in was the first Methodist church, was built on the same site 1922. By built on Coal Hollow Road near 1944, with the depression behind, the Smithville Road and Roosevelt Street area began to expand and the church and served until 1882. One of the membership grew, taxing the facili- oldest buildings in Bartonville, this ties to the fullest. Dr. H. L. Williams' was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Oren property next door was purchased Davis until they moved to Madison and became the parish hall. In 1948, Street in recent years. the first parsonage was built just west Long before 1882, larger quarters of the church. Barton were necessary, but it took Joseph In December, 1956, W. W. Collier to get the project moving. He gave the church $100,000.00 in se- donated the land on the corner of curities. The congregation met on to Adams and McClure Streets, which is December 10, 1956, and decided proceed with the complete remodel-

64 Old Bartonville Methodist Church

Bartonville Methodist Church 65 Bartonville Methodist Church Oak Grove Baptist Church ing and building program. Dedica- same name as that of the school. tion was held on January 19, 1958. Warren Oliff, who was a student at Shordy thereafter, work was begun Moody Bible Institute, was the first on the educational wing, which was pastor. The congregation was offi- completed in 1961. The parish hall, cially organized in September of formerly Dr. Williams' home, was 1944. sold and moved down Adams Street The first building was erected at across from the Gup Hotel. the corner of Chalmers and Salisbury Today, the congregation, which in 1948 and was of frame construc- has served the Bartonville communi- tion. A basement was excavated

ty for 1 14 years, is led by Reverend under this building in 1956. The John Curtis. church bought its first parsonage in 1950. Oak Grove Baptist Church During these early years, a number of pastors served Oak Grove Baptist.

Oak Grove Baptist Church is the When Reverend Zaspel arrived as the oldest Baptist Church in Bartonville. sixth pastor in 1960, a period of

Because its first service was held at growth was experienced. Soon the Oak Grove School on February 28, existing facilities became inadequate 1944, the church took as its name, the and, in 1962, the church voted to 66 completely remodel and enlarge the old building and add a large wing to provide much-needed Sunday School classes, a pastor's study, church of- fice, fellowship hall, and kitchen. A successful building fund drive was held and ground was broken for the present building on May 29, 1963. During the years following this building program, the church pro- spered. It now has a fine brick edifice at Chalmers and Salisbury and a brick parsonage at LaFayette and Sa- lisbury Avenues.

St. Anthony's Liturgical Center

St. Anthony's Liturgical Center It had been the dream of the Roman Catholic people in the Bar- tonville area to have a church. Little group requested the continuation of had been done toward that goal until classes and a regularly-designated the spring of 1968, when a group of place of worship. As a result of this people petitioned Bishop John Franz meeting, St. Anthony's Mission was of the Peoria Diocese to allow a mis- created and the first Mass was held at sion to be started in Bartonville. the Auditorium with Father Dale As a result of this petition, the Wellman as celebrant. Bishop directed that religious classes Land for a permanent structure for Catholic children of the area be was secured at 2525 Skyway in High established. In the fall, classes were Meadows Subdivision. On June 27, begun on Monday evenings at Oak 1971, ground was dedicated for St. Grove West School. Father Leon Sul- Anthony's Liturgical Center. Con- livan, the Chaplain at Peoria State struction was begun in May of 1972, Hospital, invited local Catholics to and the first Mass was celebrated in attend his Sunday services in the new the new center on Sunday, December auditorium at the State Hospital. 10, 1972. It was formally dedicated In April, 1969, another meeting on Sunday, June 10, 1973, by Bishop was held with Bishop Franz. The Edward O'Rourke.

67 Barlonville Christian Church

Bartonville Loren Deckard was the first to Christian Church minister the congregation, beginning only six weeks after the group's first In April, 1959, Bartonville Chris- meeting. Mr. Deckard served the tian Church was organized by a congregation until August, 1967. In group of interested families who December, 1967, Don Nickerson be- gathered at the home of Mr. and came the second minister, serving Mrs. Albert Fulk. The church began until July, 1975. Leroy Thompson with the people meeting in various began ministry to the Bartonville homes until a suitable meeting place, Christian Church in September, the "old store building" across the 1975. street from the present Bartonville The Bartonville Christian Church Bank on Adams Street, v/as secured. building has an office, study, four- Realizing a continuing growth, teen classrooms, kitchen, nursery, ground-breaking for the present and a fellowship hall. The congrega- church building at 4900 Pfeiffer tion wishes to be better known for its Road was held on November 21, spiritual vitality and sincere Christian

1965, and it was dedicated on Oc- dedication than for the building in tober 16, 1966. which they meet. 68 Old St. John's Lutheran Church

St. John's Lutheran Church of Peoria. Pastor Kopmann conduct- ed services regularly for about two years and taught parochial school During the middle of the nine- four days a week. Two years later, in teenth century, Evangelical Lutheran 1853, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran immigrants, mostly from East Friesa, Church congregation was organized. Germany, settled in Limestone In the fall of 1855, the first church Township, Peoria County, Illinois. building was erected; its dimensions These early settlers had come by way were 16' x 16' and it was built of of New Orleans, then up the Missis- rough lumber, the pews being of the sippi and Illinois Rivers to Peoria, at same material. As the congregation that time a small village. grew, it became necessary to build These Lutherans longed for their another building, 18' x 36', with a own familiar liturgy and the Holy smaller addition used as a parsonage. Sacraments. The first Lutheran ser- St. John's called its first full-time vice held by this group was conduct- pastor in 1855. Pastor J. T. Warnke ed by Pastor H. Kopmann in the fall was installed and began his pastorate. of 1851, at the log home of Gerd The young congregation dedicated a Ojemann on a farm four miles west cemetery on February 4, 1857. 69 St. John Lutheran Church

The church experienced slow and the church and parsonage were growth for the next several years. served by a Delco plant, making elec- These years were a time of hardship tricity possible. and strife. Each family was expected All during this time, services were to donate coal to heat the church and held in German. Beginning in 1925, parsonage. Members donated their English was subsituted part of the time cleaning the building. Several time. Gradually, German was phased pastors served during these years, out altogether, as the younger people some staying only a couple of years. learned only English. Pastor E. Bangerter was called to The years following World War II St. John's in the spring of 1874. He saw tremendous growth in the served for fifteen years, during a church. It was again apparent that a period of peace and growth. A meet- new building would have to be built. ing on May 17, 1875 resulted in the Land was purchased across Smith- decision to build a new church. This ville Road and a building committee building was dedicated in August, and fund drive was organized. 1876, and cost $4,000.00, including Ground was broken on May 7, the bell. Over the years, a number of 1950. The cornerstone was laid on improvements were added. The par- September 2, 1951, and the new sonage received central heat in 1920, stone building of Gothic style was

70 dedicated on October 26, 1952. The On Easter morning, March 29, plans originally included a parish 1959, the first services of Trinity hall; however, finances did not per- Church were held in the Oak Grove mit both to be built at the same time. School gym with Reverend Ben Ten years lapsed before the parish Haddick as the first pastor. The con- hall was built, but, finally, on January gregation experienced substantial 22, 1967, the last unit was dedicated. growth in the next few years. Today, St. John's Church has a On May 27, 1962, the congregation handsome complex of buildings and hired an architect to draw plans for a grounds. Although it is not in Bar- house of worship. These plans re- tonville proper, it is included in this ceived approval of the building com- book because it is one of the truly mittee, Presbytery, Synod, and

pioneer churches and is among the Farmers Savings and Loan. Ground oldest congregations in Limestone was broken on April 7, 1963, and the Township and Peoria County. The building was completed. The first 1963. present pastor is Donald Weber. service was held on October 6, The congregation has continued to

grow and is now served by Reverend Scott Stephen. Trinity Presbyterian Church

Trinity Presbyterian had its begin- nings as Pleasant Hill Sunday School, which was organized on March 12, 1871, at a place called "Dutch Hill". In the early days, this area had great potential for growth, but, by the

middle of the twentieth century, it was noted that the area was not con- ducive to further growth. In 1958, the Department of National Missions proposed three possible sites for re- location: Morton, Germantown, and Bartonville. Bartonville was decided upon and, after a census was taken, sufficient interest and support was indicated. A ten-acre site was pur- chased at the corner of Pfeiffer and Hollis Roads for $27,500. Trinity Presbyterian Church

71 r >

OW Bef/i?/ Lutheran Church Jefferson 8c Garfield

Bethel Lutheran Church solicit subscriptions for the building of a church. A successful fund drive

was held with almost $ 1 ,000.00 raised The earliest efforts to hold Sunday in Bartonville alone. Other contribu- School and Lutheran services in Bar- tions were received from indepen- ton ville were made in 1894 and 1895. dent and other congregations. On In 1901, a Sunday School was organ- July 4, 1909, the little congregation ized, but this was discontinued due to voted to build its first church. The opposition to using a public school contract was awarded to Henry Lau- for religious purposes. In 1907, Sun- terbach for $2,570.00 and the church day School was held in Huxtable was dedicated on November 14, Hall. 1909.

This attempt seemed to work out By the late 1930's, it became ap-

well and soon services were being parent that it would be necessary to

conducted on a regular basis in both have larger facilities if growth were to English and German by Pastor C. continue. On January 17, 1937, the August Decker. On March 7, 1909, Hill property on Colona Avenue was the congregation was officially or- purchased and the large house was ganized and a constitution was moved. An architect was hired to adopted. Pastor Decker was asked to draw plans for a church-parish hall

72 and parsonage. Pastor F. A. Park realized that the building would have k to be constructed in stages. It was decided to proceed with construction of the parish hall and parsonage at once and delay building the church until later. The congregation and pastor occupied this first unit around Easter of 1941. The parish hall served the congregation for the next sixteen years for both worship and fellowship purposes. By 1954, the time seemed right to proceed with plans for building the

last unit. Under the leadership of Pastor F. M. Bunge, plans proceeded toward the goal. Associates of Albert J. Heine and Chicago were engaged as architects. April 25, 1954, the congregation On Bethel Lutheran Church voted to accept the architects' plans and proceed with a fund-raising campaign. The fund drive resulted in pledges totalling over $95,000.00. The cornerstone was laid on Sep- tember 9, 1956, and the new church was finished and dedicated on Oc- tober 6, 1957. During the fund drive, the church received a very generous gift. W. W. Barton presented $100,000.00 to this church in the form of stocks. This gift made possible the purchase of a fine Casavant Pipe Organ and sub- stantially reduced the indebtedness. Bethel Lutheran Church today is a growing congregation led by Pastor David Lerseth. The imposing white Lannon stone structure dominates the Bartonville skyline. Bethel Baptist Church

73 Monroe School District #70

The original site of Monroe School

was at the northeast corner of what is now Greater Peoria Airport. This site was originally the location of the Limestone Township Town Hall, which was built in 1881, moved in 1935, and sold in 1938. The cornerstone from the old Town Hall was opened by the Parent-Teachers Association of the school and replaced in one corner of the new school, known as "Hedgerow School", in October 3, 1938. Over the years, this school experi- enced rapid growth due to the great Bartonville Baptist Church number of homes built to the imme-

Hedgerow School 74 diate north and east side of the air- port which this school district served. Several detached wooden buildings were located on the grounds to han- dle the expanding population until a brick addition was built onto the new » H \.-x original frame building. The school was renamed "Monroe" in honor of the Monroe family which owned part of the land now occupied by the airport. It had been recognized for a number of years that Monroe School was located in a very dangerous place. One runway of the airport was located adjacent to the school build- ing and was in the flight path of nu- merous takeoffs and landings daily. HHHHHHHDHH The Board of Education was able to Bartonville School purchase land on Cisna Road imme- diately east of the Air National Guard large blackboard across the front of Hangar and a modern fireproof the room. The children who attend- building was built. Several additions ed this school were the Ball, Collier, have been made since. Smith, Bishop, and Lane families. Bartonville School The teachers during this period were Malone and D. Beal. District #66 James J. A two-room building was erected

The first school in Bartonville was in 1884 at the present site on South a log cabin near the viaduct on the Adams Street. It had twenty-five Bartonville grade to Peoria. It was a pupils, with Viola Eaton teaching the private school, and only those able to primary grades and Annie Sneblin, pay could attend. the upper grades. At that time, there In 1840, a new log schoolhouse was was also a move to form the Oak erected near Mohn's Mine at the top Grove and Hedgerow Districts, and

of Brown's Hill. It was called "Coal some territory from Bartonville Dis- Hollow School" and was frequently trict 66 was added to these new dis- used as a church. tricts. In 1864, a one-room frame build- In 1897, the two-room building ing was erected at the bottom of Ball's was remodelled and two more rooms

Hill. It had wooden benches and a were added. Miss Taylor, Miss Ball 75 (Mrs. Beecher Ricketts) and Mrs. Oak Grove Dawson were the teachers. School District #68 In 1906, this building was moved away and a new eight-room brick The first family living in the area building was erected. Some of the now served by Oak Grove School was board members during this period the Scholl family, who settled on 160 were Spencer and William Barton, acres of land in 1 835. Soon after their Henry Gerdes, and Frank Collier. coming, three other families arrived; A few years later, another division the Roelfs, the Hermans, and the Pe- of the district was made, resulting in tersons. The Roelfs came up the sending a number of former Oak Mississippi and Illinois Rivers in Grove students to Bartonville. 1845. Their son, John, lived in the In 1926, a new addition was made community until his death a few adding eight more rooms and a large years ago. modern gymnasium; to serve the 420 In 1860, a gentleman named students and thirteen teachers. Eight Thome deeded one-half acre of land more rooms, a cafeteria, a sack-lunch to the community for a public school room, and rest rooms were added in and Mr. Trial, another resident, 1948. deeded one-half acre for a play- In 1960, Bartonville Grade School ground. The people called the first added a new auditorium, with four school "The Trial School", but a dis- classrooms being converted from the pute arose between the donors of the old auditorium. Because the new au- land concerning the name, so, soon ditorium was two stories high, the afterward, the name was changed to balcony was used for new offices, a "Oak Grove" to settle the argument. faculty lunch room, a music room, Oak Grove School, which was known and storage space. as District 8, was a frame building surrounded by a grove of oak trees.

i m i

i BBS

Oak Grove School built 1921 76 Oak Grove School burned 1922

J

Oak Grove West School Oak Grove East School 77 With the opening of the Peoria State Hospital in 1900, the Oak Grove School District grew, as the result of the small building boom created when Mr. Scholl and Mr. Herman sold lots to State Hospital employees. Soon a semi-organized town known as "Light City" was es- tablished. LkMiiJ In 1922, the old frame schoolhouse burned to the ground and the stu- dents attended classes in a building at Peoria State Hospital until another building could be built. The new two-room concrete block building

was later doubled with the addition Limestone Community High School of two more rooms, and again was doubled in the early 1940's when four more rooms were added, mak- Peoria or Pekin schools. Their tuition was paid with taxes levied by a non- ing this a two-story building. Subse- high school district. By the late quently, other ground level additions 1940's, it was recognized that a dif- were added in 1954 and 1958. The ferent arrangement would have to be old two-story, eight-room building made, since voters consistently re- was demolished in 1970. fused to raise taxes for a school sys- The district had grown so fast that, tem over which they had no control. by the late 1950s, it was apparent that Several possibilities were explored. more space would be required. Land One was to join the Peoria School was purchased on West Garfield Av- District #150. This would mean an- enue and Oak Grove West was built. nexation to the City of Peoria, since This modern building houses the this was required by the District # 1 50 sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, Charter. Other alternatives were to with the lower grades housed at Oak annex to Grove East. Elmwood High School Dis- trict, eighteen miles away, or to Glas- Limestone Community ford, sixteen miles distant. Neither of High School these small schools could accommo- District #310 date the 570 students that would be

added to its student body. The only Before the 1950s, high school stu- other alternative was for District dents from Bartonville and sur- #310 to build and operate a high

rounding areas had to go either to school of its own.

78 Representatives of the Kickapoo, would be held on Saturday, February Limestone, and Hollis Townships 5, 1949, with polling places in the met at Monroe School on April 14, schools at Pottstown, Norwood, Bel- 1948, to discuss the possibility of or- levue, Monroe, Bartonville, and ganizing a community high school Wheeler. On March 14, 1949, the district to serve these townships. Board of Education of Community George Yingst was selected as tem- High School District #310 met in the porary chairman and Eugene Leiter office of the County Superintendent was appointed to act as temporary of Schools. At this meeting, William secretary of the meeting. A commit- A. Helmer was elected president and tee was appointed to secure signa- Harold Mandler was elected secre- tures on the necessary petitions to tary. Other terms of office of the organize a community high school: members were designated by casting Richard Gray, Bellevue; William H. lots: one-year term, Donald Cameron Fahnstock, Bartonville; Leonard and Harold Mandler; two-year Lumberry, Pleasant Valley; Donald terms, William Helmer and Edward Cameron, North Limestone; Glen- Vickery; three-year term, Richard don Sharp, Oak Grove; George Gray. G. R. Ojemann, Limestone

Yingst, Monroe; and John J. John- Township Treasurer, was appointed son, from Pottstown. treasurer of High School District The next meeting was held at #310. Monroe School on April 20, 1948, to On June 20, 1949, a meeting was discuss the territory to be included in held at Bellevue School for the pur- the proposed district. Donald Ca- pose of obtaining land to build a new meron moved that Attorney Eugene high school and, on June 17, 1950, an Leiter prepare the necessary peti- election was held to choose a site and tions to organize the community high issue bonds for the new high school. school district, according to the The Stohl site was selected by major- boundary lines indicated on the map. ity vote. George Yingst presided at this meet- On March 22, 1952, Mr. Murray ing of representatives of the various was offered a two-year contract for school boards of the common school the position of school superinten- district within the Limestone, Kicka- dent. The board election was held on poo, and Hollis Townships. Earl E. April 4, 1952, with Mr. Gray, Mr. Downing, County Superintendent of Shoff, Mr. Haynes, Mr. Ekstrum, Mr. Schools explained the conditions in McCowan, Mr. Cameron, and Mr. the district, including calling elec- Helmer elected. tions and the difficulty of paying C. Iber and Sons were contractors non-high school district taxes. for the first high school. School

It was decided that an election opened October 14, 1953. Outside

79 flood lighting was donated by Leiter sent from the state asylums, until Electric Company on July 20, 1954, their number approached 3,000. and Leiter Electric Company com- Peoria was the logical location for pleted work for the athletic field. the institution, inasmuch as the The school became part of the Vil- movement was led by Clara Parsons lage of Bartonville as a result of an- Bourland, sponsored by the Peoria nexation proceedings completed in Women's Club, and liberally backed June of 1957. In December, 1957, by kindred organizations throughout discussions were held for the future the state. expansion of the school. Property was purchased from A. On January 9, 1958, plans were Aquilla Moffatt, J. M. Scholl, M. Scholl, made to start proceedings for an ad- Barton, J. B. Barton, J. and H. dition to the present school, with a S. Barton in 1895 and 1896 to be tentative vote set for October 4, 1958, used for the Illinois Asylum for the and completion set for June, 1960. Incurable Insane. The first building, Representatives from Gregg and a foreboding fortress with battle- Briggs and the architectural firm of ments and turrets, was erected on the Hewitt and Bastian were invited to brow of the hill in 1 895, completed in attend the regular board meeting. 1897, never occupied, and razed in Limestone High School is now in 1897. The building, although a mag- the midst of another proposed ex- nificent example of medieval archi- pansion. Referenda were held in late tecture, was wholly unsuited to the

1975 and February, 1976, to autho- purpose it was to serve. Before its rize expanding and remodeling the completion, the walls showed wide present facilities at a cost of $5 mil- cracks and it was found that it had lion. Both were defeated. been built over an abandoned coal mine. The cracks were ascribed to a caving-in of the old drifts. Peoria State Hospital Governor John R. Tanner came into office soon after and called to his The Illinois Asylum for the Incur- aid Dr. Frederick H. Wines. Dr. ably Insane, the Illinois General Wines had visited the institutions of Hospital for the Insane, the Barton- Europe and brought back with him ville State Hospital, and, finally, the the idea of the cottage plan, just then Peoria State Hospital are the names taking form. He discarded all pre- this institution has borne during its vious plans and started the program existence. The first was entirely which resulted in forty distinct build-

proper because it was the outgrowth ings at Bartonville. of the movement looking toward the The name "Incurably Insane" removal of the incurables from the seemed harsh as hospitalization was poorhouses to which they had been coming more into the foreground 80 Peoria State Hospital Courtesy Peoria Journal Star

and, in 1907, the name was changed April, 1909, and from others as land to the Illinois General Hospital for was needed. Two detached farm col- the Insane. In 1909, the state hospi- onies, accommodating seventy-five tals dropped the word "insane" and patients, contributed to the support assumed the name of the city in of their fellow inmates. They provid- which the institution was located. ed gallons of milk each day from the This facility became known as "Bar- dairy herd, and there were four tonville State Hospital". hundred hogs constantly on hand to

Just before the bill was signed, it consume the waste of the dining was found that Bartonville had nei- rooms. The inmates canned toma- ther a railroad station or express of- toes, put up barrels of sauerkraut, fice, so the name of the larger city, planted sweet corn and other vegeta- Peoria, was substituted in order to bles, and constantly provided the in- more accurately fix its location. Thus, stitution with food. the institution became Peoria State The cottage plan, with unlocked Hospital. doors and unbarred windows and The institution grew faster than free access to the public, quickly any of its kind in the state. New cot- changed the popular concept of an tages were built and additional land asylum. Peoria State Hospital was the was purchased from Edgar Morse in pioneer in the total abolition of every

81 Peoria State Hospital courtesy Peoria Journal Star kind of mechanical and medical re- boys and girls, who had been con- straint. fined in mental institutions with Between 1927 and 1938, Peoria mentally-ill adults, were brought to State Hospital grew, and, in No- live in a bright, child-geared build- vember of 1938, it dedicated a new ing. This was the first children's $300,000 diagnostic center to Dr. mental institution in Illinois, and it Zeller, who had managed the institu- was set up at no additional cost to the tion for twenty-nine years. The taxpayer. center gave the patients complete fa- Peoria State Hospital was also the cilities, such as dental, X-ray, operat- first state hospital to open an alco- ing rooms, psychotherapy, fever and holic ward serving both males and shock treatments, and clinical and females. On October 4, 1959, the pathological laboratories. At that ward opened with six patients and, within five years, had served an es- time, Dr. J. A. Campbell was ap- pointed president. In 1938, Peoria timated 5,000 patients. State Hospital was one of seven state An auditorium was built at the hospitals to receive an iron lung for hospital, and the ladies were provid- the treatment of infantile paralysis. ed with a beauty shop. In October, 1951, Abbott Chil- With the building of Zeller Zone dren's Center was opened and 36 Center in 1965, Peoria State Hospi-

82 Peoria State Hospital

tal's patients and staff began to de- cal neglect. The hospital had lost cline. Although statements were many of its dedicated staff members made at the time that duplication of and was operating with foreign-edu- services would be avoided, the phas- cated, limited-licensed physicians. ing out of the hospital began with the In May of 1973, Governor Daniel closing of Abbott Center. The facili- Walker announed that Peoria State ties served the children's needs until would undergo a seven-month pro- August, 1967, when officials claimed gram of transferring 545 patients it would take $37,000.00 to rehabili- and 555 employees to other facilities tate the two-story red brick building and would close by the end of that and an additional $8,750.00 to re- year. place furniture and equipment. The On Thursday, December 13, 1973, children were sent to the newly- Peoria State Hospital became virtual- opened Zeller Center on University ly a ghost city. Nineteen geriatric pa- Avenue in Peoria, and Abbott Center tients, the last group to leave, were became Alpha Park. transferred to Galesburg. It took only In 1972, Governor Richard Ogilvie seven months to phase out a hospital announed plans to close the nearly which was opened in 1902 and, at the 100-year-old institution. During that time, was the most modern and com- year, three patients had died, one plete facility of its type in the nation. from a beating and two due to medi- 83 CHAPTER 6 Recreation and Transportation

Transportation service to local industries. Prior to the formation of the Bar- The earliest transportation in Bar- tonville Bus Company in 1920, some tonville was horses or horse-drawn jitneys were operating between Bar- vehicles which continued well into tonville and the south side of Peoria. the twentieth century. In 1900, the W. W. Barton founded the bus line Peoria Terminal Railroad began which ran from the Peoria Bus Ter- serving Bartonville. The Peoria ter- minal at Jefferson and Hamilton minal was at Walnut and Washington Streets in Peoria through Bartonville Streets in Peoria, with tracks pro- to Pekin and returning. This service ceeding to Bartonville and on to continued until 1950 when the com- Pekin, with stops at Allied Mills, Tu- pany was dissolved following a labor scarora, and Hollis. The Bartonville dispute. The franchise was assumed depot was called "Collier Station" and by Illinois Highway Lines, which was located on Depot Street near served for a number of years. Keystone. The Peoria Terminal was At the present time, there is no an electric trolley-type of train and public transportation serving Bar- went out of business in 1924. tonville. However, the village is close The Chicago and Northwestern to the Greater Peoria Airport and will Railroad came through Bartonville in have easy access to the interstate

1912. It did not offer passenger ser- highway system via the new Inter- vice, but continues to offer freight state 474.

84 Schmidt's Park

Parks and Recreation Railroad Depot. Another privately- owned park near Bartonville was There have been parks and re- Schmidt's Park located at Dutch Hill. creational areas in Bartonville since Bartonville's first public park was the early years. Barton's Grove was donated by Mayor and Mrs. Wilbur probably the first. It was given this Lauterbach and Mr. and Mrs. B. E. name because there was a large grove Mohn. The Lauterbachs donated of walnut trees on the property. It eighteen acres and the Mohns, ten was located on the Adams Street acres, on Smithville Road. The park grade between Bartonville and was named Clara A. Lauterbach Park Peoria and included a ball diamond in honor of the mayor's mother, Mrs. and possibly some picnic areas. Clara A. Cornelius Lauterbach. The Terminal Park was another early park has tennis courts, picnic

park. It was located in the vicinity of shelters, stoves, restrooms, and play-

McKinley Street where the pond is ground equipment. The remainder

now located on Keystone property of the park is undeveloped wooded and had a roller coaster ride which hills and valleys. ended with a landing in the pond. The largest addition to Barton- The name was probably derived ville's park system came when the

from its proximity to the Terminal State of Illinois leased to the village 85 '4-V

Alpha Park Library Clara Lauterbach Park

about 90 acres of land formerly used diamonds, tennis courts, and picnic as farm land and later as Abbott areas. The Firemen's Annual Fish

Center. Many useful buildings came Fry is held at Alpha Park two days with the Alpha Park site. The each August. Much of the acreage is classroom building was converted to undeveloped, but it has been sug- use for community gatherings, such gested that a nine-hole golf course be as wedding receptions and dances. added to the park's recreational fa- Some of the old dairy barns have cilities.

been used for storage of Civil De- Alpha Park is headquarters for

fense vehicles. Another area is used Bartonville Civil Defense. Civil De- as a pistol range for the police de- fense occupies the entire basement of partment. The large brick dormitory the library building, which has been

building is occupied by the newly- converted to a communications created Alpha Park Public Library room, storage facilities, and a kitchen District, which was established by to be used during the long hours the voter referendum. Some of the older men are on duty during tornadoes or farm buildings have been demol- other disasters. ished. Alpha Park has three baseball 86 CHAPTER 7 Catastrophies

Catastrophes

Human suffering has always been gers. Al Fresco Park in Peoria was the one of the sad things of life. In addi- destination before returning again tion to all the small personal trage- downstream later the same night. On dies suffered by nearly every family the return trip, the passengers were everywhere, Bartonville has had enjoying dancing to a live orchestra. some that involved the entire com- At the height of the frivolity, the munity. steamboat struck a submerged In the early days, the mines were a stump. The consequences were im- constant cause of accidents. Under- mediate and devastating. The boat ground mining has always been an settled on the river bottom partially inherently dangerous occupation, on its side. Many terrified passengers and most families whose breadwin- were thrown or washed overboard. ners were miners suffered losses due The nearly 500 passengers on the to cave-ins, explosions, or asphyxia- voyage could not be accommodated tion at one time or another. Aside in the lifeboats. The accident had oc- from the mining accidents, the sink- curred at midnight, and, by the next ing of the steamboat "Columbia" was morning, 87 people had drowned. It the first large-scale disaster. took four days to account for all the

The "Columbia" began its last people, both dead and survivors. A voyage on July 5, 1918, at Kingston special train was dispatched by the P Mines, at 7:30 p.m. It stopped in & PU Railroad to move all the in- Pekin at 8: 15 p.m. to pick up passen- jured to Pekin and Peoria Hospitals

87 from the Wesley Road disaster site. the wreck and six died. Two Barton- Some Bartonville old-timers tell of ville men, William Brown and walking through the bottoms to the Charles Luthy, were among them. river to view the sunken "Columbia" Brown was crushed to death while as it lay crumpled in the river across trying to jump from the train, and from Bartonville. Mr. Luthy died a few hours later in The forerunner of the present Al- Proctor Hospital. The cause of the lied Mills was the Marsden Company, wreck was blamed on a broken "fish which manufactured cellulose from plate", which allowed the rails to cornstalks. This company was re-or- spread apart, causing the wheels of ganized in 1905 and became the the coaches to bounce along on the American Milling Company. One railroad ties. As the brakes were ap- New Year's Day, 1919, a fire broke plied, the coaches left the track, out, completely destroying the mill. turning over several times. Even though the fire department The H. E. Lauterbach Lumber gave its best efforts, the spectacular Company had been in business in fire burned for several days and the Bartonville since 1903. On Monday, building was a total loss. The present September 18, 1961, the firm was plant was constructed soon after the suddenly struck by fire at 3:40 p.m.

fire. The fire apparently started in a On the morning of Wednesday, lumber shed at the northeast corner February 20, 1929, a 6:40 a.m. train of the yards. Bartonville Fire De- of the newly-formed Peoria & Hanna partment, which is only two blocks City Railroad was taking two away, was summoned and arrived in hundred miners to work in the La- a few minutes, but the fire was al- Marsh district mines. As the train ready out of control. Additional units approached Hollis, the rails suddenly were summoned from Limestone, spread, causing four coaches on the Pekin, Richwoods, Timber-Hollis, rear of the train to plunge over the and Clasford. By then, the lumber embankment. A fire broke out and yard was clearly a total loss and the was extinguished quickly by some of firemen concentrated their efforts on the un-injured people, but not before containing the blaze and keeping it some suffered burns. Help was dis- from spreading to adjacent homes patched from Bartonville and Peoria. and businesses. By 5:00 p.m., little Many of the injured were taken to was left except the new millwork hospitals in cars that stopped along building; the rest was smoldering the highway before the ambulances ruin. Two employees, Herman arrived. A huge crowd gathered; Meardy and Art Hattermann, were many of them were the miners' fami- burned, but, fortunately, no lives lies. At least 150 men were injured in were lost. A bird carrying a lighted

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Train WrecA F«ft. 20, 1929 89 H. E. Lauterbach Lumber Co. fire cigarette was blamed for starting the water damage, but the big loser was

fire. Wilbur Lauterbach, president of Keystone's steel mill. The rushing the corporation, said no electrical waters cascaded down Washington lines were in the building, but nesting Street, engulfing the whole steel mill birds were always a problem. The under several feet of water. The firm continued on Washington Street company's steel-making capacity was

for a number of years until it was shut down for several months, while dissolved in 1974. the water was pumped out and the The latest disaster occurred on buildings and machinery were June 22, 1974. Following a heavy cleaned and repaired. The damage

rain, the Kickapoo overflowed its was well over $ 1 ,000,000, making this

banks as it had countless times. This the most expensive disaster in Bar- time, the volume was greater than tonville's history. Since the flood, usual. It covered the lower downtown earthen dams and floodgates have area with muddy swirling water. been constructed to assure against Some of the businesses suffered any future occurrences. 90 NOTES NOTES NOTES NOTES

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA

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