Name This Peoria Landmark

202 N.E. Madison, just behind South Side Bank (414 Hamilton). Cudo’s to Josh Harris for his excellent sleuthing ability, but I would expect nothing less from a GeoCacher.

This is the only reference I could find to the Cluskey Mortuary:

Death certificate #21062 State of Illinois
Mrs. Nannie J. McBride died at 2801 North Sheridan Road in Peoria, Illinois on 28 May 1928 of acute cardiac dialation and chronic myocarditis, chronic nephritis and general senility. She was female, white and widowed. She was the widow of H.W. McBride. She died at 75 years and 2 months. She was born 26 May 1869 in Martin, Michigan to unknown parents. The informant was H.O. Baily of Peoria. She was buried on 31 May 1944 in Little York by Cluskey Mortuary.

I was reading in the online edition of the Journal Star about the Historic Preservation Commission denial of Trinity Lutheran Church’s plan to tear this apartment building down [article].  The apartments are located next door to the church at 1319 N Hamilton Boulevard.  I drive past there all the time, but for the life of me, I just couldn’t picture it.  As luck would have it, I was heading down to Kelly Seed that day, so I took a second to get a photo.  It’s a grand building that my picture doesn’t do justice.

As I talked to my wife about the article and showed her the picture, she chuckled because the ‘real’ paper already had a picture of it, making my side-trip and and NTPL #92 somewhat pointless.

To ad add (I really should proofread my work) insult to injury, the Journal Star had an online photo all along.  I like mine better.

Bicycle Safety Town, 6518 N. Sheridan Rd., apparently doesn’t have much of a maintenance budget.

Yes, Yooper Girl, it is fun for the little ones, even if they’re not attending a birthday party.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Mahkno’s Post is the top result of a “Safety Town, Peoria” Google Search.

The old Rock Island Railroad Turntable, along the riverfront at the foot of Morton St.

Kara Harris and photographer Dave Vernon (check out his web page) got it.

I couldn’t find much info on this other than a one page site for the “Illinois Prairie Railroad Foundation“. I don’t know if they exist anymore, but they sure had some grand plans and I’d bet Dave Jordan knows all about it.

The corner of Randolph and Hamilton in the Randolph-Roanoke historical district.

Here’s what I was told:

In 1981, Methodist bought up multiple houses, Bradley style, on this plot of land. The neighborhood association all agreed that a legal motion should be filed to stop the demolition of said houses. The neighborhood Lawyer, Jack Teplitz, without informing others, decided that it was not nescessary. Methodist, owner of the property, filed at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon for demolition.

To the horror of the neighbors, on Sunday, approximately 8:00am, a wrecking ball rolled up the alley and started demolition.

A 25 year renewable agreement was worked out with Methodist that they would not develop this property. 25 years later, 2006, neighborhood Lawyer Jack Teplitz ‘forgot’ to properly renew the legal agreement.

At this point a meeting was held with Methodist’s Michael Bryant and a verbal agreement is the only thing that holds this property from development.