Name This Peoria Landmark

Happy Halloween!

Christ Orchard actually played a role in my becoming a blogger. Way back on Oct 8, 2005, Polly Peoria wrote a scathing review of Tanner’s to which I left my first ever blog comment suggesting she go check out the very non-commercialized Christ Orchard.

CJ Summers read my anonymous comment and decided to check the place out for himself and ended up writing a nice review of the place. It was then that I started thinking more about these “blog” things. I had unwittingly dipped my toe in and shortly thereafter I started my own.

Bragging rights go to My Flock Rocks, who is also a recent Christ Orchard convert. By the way- we got 8 nice sized pumpkins and about a dozen gourds for $25.00

“Do you come from a land down under?
Where women glow and men plunder?
Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder?
You better run, you better take cover.”

This statue is called “Critters” and is located in the Glen Oak Zoo (now called the Peoria Zoo.) I know nothing else about this; I only published this photo because a friend of mine, when asked how to increase my hit count replied “More Phallic Symbols.” - a reference to number 157.

After a little begging on Peoria.com, Mrs.Edwards fessed up that it was at the Glen Oak Zoo.

3157LBS

ilstateredbird & Vonster agree that this is the propeller on display down by the river.

The small plaque reads:

In Commemoration of
The First Riverfront Project
“The Boatworks” and “The Spirit of Peoria”
- D. James Jumer, 1988

I’m sure there’s a long and storied history behind this, but I don’t know it.

A sign on the alley side of this building reads “Food Service Equipment, Corp. Wholesale Distribution Warehouse. Entrance In Alley.” They are listed in the phonebook as being located at 801 SW Washington.

David says: “The front door is on Oak Street… Washington is just to the left, and one of the greatest photographic alleys in all of Peoria is just to the right. And boy do I see lots of wedding shots taken here - and engagement shots. Maybe someday we’ll see divorce shots here too…” His photo of this building is [here]

The sign on the door identifies this building as the Jobst Bethard Company. According to the 1915 Blue Book Directory, this was owned by Douglas H. Bethard.

BETHARD, DOUGLAS H.
Pres. Jobst-Bethard Co., cor. Oak and Washington Sts. tel. M 3444. res. 145 High? St. tel. M 1024.—res. of P. 40 yrs.—Creve Coeur, Kickapoo Golf, Automobile and I. V. Y. Clubs, P. Assn. of Comm., Ass’d. Charities. Mrs. Harriet (Dougherty) Bethard. P. Women’s Club, Amat. Mus. Club.

The only other reference I could find to this business is a clipping from the New York Times archives, dated Nov 20, 1907:

“Fire, which resulted in losses estimated at $300,000, started early to-day in the Louthner Building, South Washington Street, occupied by Brownie & Brothers, agents for the Flint Wagon Company, the Kircher Carriage Company, the Peoria Implement Company, and by the Wheelock Wholesale Crockery Company. The fire spread to the two adjoining buildings on either side, occupied respectively by Jobst, Bethard & Co., wholesale grocers, and Arthur Lothman, wholesale liquor dealer. All three buildings and contents were practically destroyed. Ben Butler, a fireman, was seriously injured by falling debris.”

Interesting.

Photo by Josh Harris.

Maybe this will help; and it was exactly where Josh told me!

1427 W. Lake (off University). From St. Paul’s web-site: “In 1966 the current church and parsonage were dedicated. The beautiful 11.1 acres of land became the new location for church picnics and outdoor events. The bells donated in 1901, and the pipe organ, donated in 1917, were modernized for the new church and still serve today to glorify God with their music.”

Because no-one seemed to know what or where this really was, including me, there will be no gifting. Still, the original picture is pretty darn cool, isn’t it?

Photo by Josh Harris

The “other” Peoria Heights Water Tower, located at N 40° 44.573 W 089° 34.717, or more commonly, near the intersection of Toledo and Monroe Ave’s (thanks Katney.)

Burl says: everyone knows it says “Peoria Heights” in white on the blue section, but unless you’ve been back to the school you may not have known that the side that points towards the school has “Patriots” written in white.

Waymarking.com says: “Patriots” is the nickname used for both the boys and girls sports teams at Peoria Heights High School. Fittingly, the school colors are red, white and blue as are the colors painted on this water tower.

Photo by Josh Harris

Technically it’s Barnes & Noble, Store #2778.

5001 N. Bighollow Rd.

As my wife commented to me, it is interesting to see the topography from this angle, as I generally considered this part of town to be fairly flat.