Name This Peoria Landmark

Name This Peoria Landmark #388

Swan Lake Memory Gardens. 4601 War Memorial Dr.

There are two semi-famous people buried here.  One, William “Billy” Mauch, who starred as the pauper in the 1937 edition of The Prince & The Pauper.  (sorry about the Spanish overdubs but it was the best I could find)

The other being Officer Donan Faulkner, Jr. who was shot and killed in the line of duty on Sept 20, 2001.

Peoria Journal Star, Sept 21, 2001:

Gunshots allegedly fired by a fleeing teen-ager early Thursday claimed the life of a decorated Peoria police officer and father of five, who became the first lawman killed here since 1987 and the first city officer slain in 54 years.

Officer Donan James ”Jim” Faulkner Jr., 37, was pronounced dead at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center at 12:24 a.m., less than 20 minutes after he was shot multiple times during a foot chase at Saratoga Street and Romeo B. Garrett Avenue on the city’s South Side.

The arrest that evening of Jarvis H. Neely, 18, who was booked on a murder charge – and who Police Chief John Stenson said may face the death penalty – hardly cheered fellow officers and City Hall officials, whose grief for victims from last week’s East Coast terror attacks turned inward after Faulkner’s death. ”I thought a week ago I felt all kinds of emotions after the terrible tragedies. . . . I didn’t think I would feel any worse. But I do,” Mayor David Ransburg said at a midday press conference packed with police officers and staff, some of whom openly wept. ”I am sad. I am frustrated. I am angry.

”I hope others feel the same way and we can take that anger . . . to redouble our efforts to make the streets of Peoria safe.”

That’s something police promised to aggressively continue. Police have seen a sharp upswing in shootings in recent weeks in a city that has been wracked for years with violence stemming from a multi-million dollar drug trade.

”Firemen who survived (last) Tuesday in New York went back to work when the buildings came down. Policemen went back to work. . . . We’ll go to work tomorrow,” said Stenson, choking back tears. ”We take this job knowing you travel harm’s highway.

”Sometimes, luck gets you home at the end of a shift. Sometimes, circumstances prevail.”

Jarvis Neely was sentenced to life in prison.

Peoria Landmark #387

Sue Grawey: “Bradley Hall was dedicated October 8, 1897 – Founders Day. Classes started, with 100 + students, two days later. Fire destroyed the building January 12, 1963.”

According to the Farmer’s Almanac, for the date of Jan 12, 1963, the high temperature was 26 degrees and the low 3. January 13th recorded a low of -4.

*photo scanned from the book Reading, Writing & Religion

Peoria Landmark #386

I never did get the ‘now’ picture, but we all know what Chili’s looks like at the corner of University & Glen. This was Sipp School, as Steve mentioned.

I don’t know when it was built, but I found an article in the Journal Star archives (dated 5/19/05) stating it closed after the 82/83 school year, along with Lincoln and Webster due to declining enrollment.

Of the three, only Lincoln School was relocated, although not until 10 years later. Lincoln’s original location at 317 Hayden Place, north of O’Brien Field, was on prime property. The city wanted the land for the redevelopment of Southtown and the construction of the Peoria Civic Center development.

All the Lincoln students were sent to the old Washington School at 839 W. Moss Ave., which had been closed but was re-opened to accommodate them. That building is now an adult education center.

The students from Sipp School, 4823 N. University, were divided among Rolling Acres, Thomas Jefferson and Lindberg schools. Today, the Chili’s Bar & Grill sits on the Sipp School location.

Students from Webster School, 923 W. Millman, were transferred to some of the six Richwoods High School feeder schools.

There is currently a Sipp School page on Facebook.

*Photo scanned from the book Reading, Writing & Religion.

Peoria Landmark #385

Located on the corner of Arcadia & Bigelo (210 W. Arcadia) this building is currently occupied by Imago Dei Church. It was previously occupied by Arcadia Avenue Presbyterian.

According to Imgao Dei’s website and confirmed by the book “Reading, Writing and Religion” the original church building with the corner stone dated 1899 burned to the ground in 1945 with the current building being dedicated in 1948, but kept the original 1899 cornerstone.

Notes: Imago Dei Church began meeting in the Gateway Building downtown in March of 2008. They moved into the former Arcadia Presbyterian Church building in October of 2010. Arcadia Presbyterian merged with United Presbyterian Church located at Northmoor and Allen roads.

My thanks to Lucas Allen, Kristi Yarcho, and Assistant Pastor Dave Crow for the photos and information, and to my commenters of course.

Peoria Landmark #384

I knew someone would  say “a telephone pole”! Yes, that is Main Street Commons in the background. Photo taken from Bradley’s parking deck adjacent to St. Mark’s Church.

In looking at the amenities offered for Bradley students, “Free Tanning” is listed… I guess I’m out of touch, but that just strikes me as odd.