282 – Parking Meter Post?
March 28th, 2009Peoria Landmark #282
* Photo by Themis.
This sits outside of Hoops Pub & Pizza in downtown Peoria. I don’t know what it exactly is, but it seems to be secured very solidly to the sidewalk.
281 – Unique view of the Cohen’s Building.
March 28th, 2009Peoria Landmark #281
*Photo submitted by commenter LeTUMBA.
Josh says “As a rough guess, it looks like the Cohens building downtown.”
Indeed.
Other views can be found here: http://namethispeorialandmark.blogpeoria.com/2008/10/26/258/
280 – Rock of Israel sculpture @ Peoria Hebrew Cemetery
March 19th, 2009Peoria Landmark #280
Its a Rock Of Israel sculpture at the Hebrew Cemetery. Rocks are left on graves in part to symbolize the early days when graves were a mound of stones. It also shows the solidarity of faith, in this case Jewish, to be strong like a rock. Rocks are left on graves to show someone was there.
Interesting. Always wondered what the symbolism was.
279 – Northmoor Observatory
March 8th, 2009Peoria Landmark #279
This photo was taken only by dumb luck just before it got a new dome of which I wasn’t aware was so soon in the works.
Report on the new dome from Week-TV:
For all of you star gazers, workers are putting the finishing touches on the new dome of the Northmoor Observatory.
After last week’s removal of the 55-year-old sliding dome that was operated mostly by manual chains, the construction of a new electric powered dome is almost complete.
Grants and donations paid for most of the 75 thousand dollar dome.
“There have been many people involved in the funding of the dome. Caterpillar has been involves in it. We’ve had participation also from local companies. NE Finch was one of them. Intec Service another, we’ve had three labor unions, The Masons, The Ironworkers, and the Steam Fitters have all contributed people and apprentices and so forth to help with the construction of the dome”, said Peoria Astronomical Society member, Terry Beachler.
The almost 100-year-old, 12-foot telescope housed in the observatory is also getting a facelift before returning to the observatory. Terry Beachler says the renovation has come at a good time, as this is the International Year of Astronomy. The 400th anniversary since Galileo looked through a telescope.
History, via the Peoria Astronomical Society:
Northmoor Observatory is located within the city of Peoria at the Leo Donovan Golf Course, and houses a 9 inch refractor telescope.
The telescope was one of two built in 1913 for the Illinois Watch Company of Springfield, Illinois. The 9-inch flint-forward lens was ground by Petitdidier, the same optician who ground lenses for Dr. A.A. Michelson’s famous experiment to determine the speed of light. The telescope body was manufactured by Gaertner Scientific of Chicago,
Illinois. The telescope was purchased by Bradley University, but put away and never used. It was later “re-discovered” sitting under bleachers in Huff Gym in the old Field House on the Bradley campus. In 1955, it was reassembled at the Northmoor site where it still stands. The observatory underwent a major renovation in 2009, and a new rotating dome was installed in place of the original rusted dome.
278 – Architectural detail @ Waterfront Place.
March 8th, 2009Peoria Landmark #278
This interesting architectural detail can be found near the rear entrance to Illinois Antique Center on Commercial street near the corner at Liberty. The physical address is 311 SW Water St and resides in a building originally known as the The Clark Quien & Morse Building. It is now called Waterfront Place.
A Journal Star article dated Dec 3, 2008 says “The Water Street location has been a place to find “stuff” since the building was originally built by the Clark, Quien & Morse Co. in 1904 for wholesale hardware merchandise. Clark’s bargains of the day – circa 1911 – included dynamite that sold for 34 cents a pound, roller skates at $1.50 a pair and a baseball glove for $3.50.”