Name This Peoria Landmark

Located on the bluff just below Moss and above Martin Luther King Drive [map]. When you see the old stone stairway headed into the woods, you’re there.

Geocaching.com:

Peoria’s Mineral Springs is located on a site on the hillside of Peoria’s Historic West Bluff. The cave-like barrel-vaulted brick reservoir, built about 1843, is concealed in the gentle slope of the hillside. The reservoir, built for Peoria’s first water company, captures the flow of three individual springs.Since approx 14,500 years ago when the last vestiges of the great ice sheets still lingered in Northeastern Illinois, a perpetual spring has been flowing at this site. In 1843, five of the founding fathers of the city of Peoria Charles Oakley, Norman Purple, William Moss, Augustus O. Garrett and Lester O. Hurlbert were granted a charter by Illinois Governor, Thomas Ford, to establish the first water supply for the City of Peoria. A cave-like brick reservoir was built into the hillside to contain the three springs at the source and pipes were laid to carry the water as far as Hancock Street, about two miles away. The springs were the primary water source for the City of Peoria for approximately 15 years. At that time another water source was established near the Illinois river to meet the increasing demand for water caused by Peoria’s rapidly growing population. The overflow from the springs was used as a partial supply for Peoria’s historic goose lake, located just below the bluff. The springs are still free-flowing to this day.

According to a Peoria County trivia page, Goose Lake “designates the area formerly covered by a part time lake of that name along the foot of the bluff between Western Ave and Main St.”

The chain holding the door shut was just loose enough to allow me and my band of merry adventurers to stick my camera inside and light it up, revealing the arched brick ceiling and what appears to be about two feet of water, which I can confirm does infact still flow.

A plaque laid here reads:

Peoria Mineral Springs has been in exhistence some 14,500 years and is this area’s last link with prehistoric water sources. Located on Peoria’s historic West Bluff, the springs were the primary source for the first water supply for the City of Peoria. Governor Thomas Ford granted a charter February 20, 1843 for the establishment of this water supply. A reservoir was then built to contain the springs and pipers were laid to carry the water approximately two miles. At this time, Zealy Moss, Revolutionary War soldier, prominent citizen and owner of the property, built a home for himself on the property. The springs are still free flowing today.

This plaque placed by
Illinois State Organization
of the
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
Mrs. Albert Triebel, Jr., State Regent
This Sixteenth day of March
Nineteen-Hundred Eighty-Three

If you are really want an adventure, visit this spot at midnight. According to Ghosts of America.com, its haunted: “The phantom of a young air force pilot is frequently spotted struggling to grip something down at Peoria Mineral Springs around midnight. In any event, it unquestionably is a frightening ghost that should be shunned.”

Proof that the water still flows:

Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day.

Not that anyone really cares, but the actual spot of this photo is the corner of University & Northmoor.

Curveball

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Although these pictures bear some resemblance to Pottstown, this is actually Peoria, Oregon, named after Peoria, Illinois and the adventuresome group of Peorians who helped settle the Oregon Territory in the early 1800’s. You can read my entry on the subject here.

The photos are from the Salem, OR online Public Library Historic Photographs Collection and the captions are as follows:

• The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at Peoria, Oregon on August 5, 1962. The community was named for Peoria Illinois and was settled by H.A. McCartney in 1851.
• On August 5, 1962, this building complex at Peoria was used as a warehouse.
• This general store at Peoria was operated by Hazel Dobreninis at one time. In March 1963, however, the store was closed.
• This is one of the pioneer homes in Peoria, Oregon.

You can purchase a documentary of Peoria, Oregon, which seeks to answer the question “What happened to cause this once-bustling town of 700+ people to become the near ghost town that it is today? A visit with some of the natives answers our questions. A trip through this interesting community with its old and decaying buildings.”

…and just up the road in Corvallis, OR is the Peoria General Store…

gargoyle (gär‘goil): waterspout used in medieval Europe to draw rainwater from church and cathedral roofs. Gargoyles were fashioned imaginatively in the form of human grotesques, beasts, and demonic spirits. This form of sculpture reached its peak in the Gothic period and declined with the introduction of lead drainpipes in the 16th century.

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Stephanie: “I believe this is located on a home near Bradley/Robertson Memorial Field House, but I can’t recall the name of the street.”

It’s mounted on the porch roof at 1613 N. W. Main St, directly across the street from what used to be Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse. Next time you’re driving on Main Street, look up and you’ll see the Gargoyle. Can’t miss it, really.

Gary: “I have a guess, and not because I’ve seen it there. It’s because I know where PI has been with a camera recently and it seems likely there would be one in the area.”

Gary is referring to this video I made:

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair

Morgan Elser, a 2007 Artist in Residence at the Prairie Center of the Arts, 1506 SW Washington, created Lady Rapunzel, the Prince, and the Witch.

I encourage everyone to read the March/April edition of Art & Society Magazine to learn about a hidden jewel of a program which is the Prairie Center of the Arts, located in the old Peoria Cordage building (NTPL #97).

Photo by Scott O’Brien