Name This Peoria Landmark

Peoria Landmark #458

This is the Peoria Symphony Orchestra during the 1933/34 season, either at the Rialto or Avon theatre, says Scott Smith who is an expert of some sorts regarding these types of things.

More importantly, look at the backdrop.  That is called an Olio Drop.  It’s of a Victorian type garden scene, handpainted and used at the Rialto during the 1920′s vaudeville era.  It measures approximately 25×40 feet.

http://www.controlbooth.com/wiki/olio:

Olio Acts – Vaudeville numbers that were performed between the between the acts of the principal show. In the early days of Vaudeville, specialty acts did their numbers in front of an oilcloth curtain while the stage was being set for the next part of the show. The word “olio” is Italian for oil. Also sometimes used to refer to the supporting acts in a vaudeville bill.

Olio curtain – Also called the “in-one curtain” or in today’s lingo the “mid-stage traveller.” In a vaudeville theatre the Olio curtain was set about ten feet back from the footlights. The olio curtain often had advertising painted on it.

I have reason to believe this still exists … somewhere … along with its companion, “Sometimes also called an ‘Ad Drop’ because often in vaudeville theatres, the drop was used as the backing for ‘in one’ scenes and the theatre owner sold advertisements for local businesses, which were painted on the drop.”

It would look like this example from the Lincoln Theatre in Belleville, Il, but with advertisements from Peoria businesses circa 1920.

Here’s a closeup of the center portion:

If you have seen them or have any information regarding these, please leave a comment or email me.

Peoria Landmark #450

I thought Anonymous was joking, but after reading the caption, it is a drug store, Durkin’s Drugs, to be exact.

Image of Durkin’s Drugs located at the corner of Main and Madison in Peoria, IL. The caption on the back notes this as the current site of the Pere Marquette Hotel. Behind the drug store is the Peoria Star Building and Sacred Heart Church. A street car is in front of the drug store, and billboards are on the roof and side of the building. One billboard has an image of Santa Claus and a snow covered tree with “P.A. Bergner & Co. The Christmas Store” on it. Other ads are for Roszell’s Dairy and men’s suits. Automobiles are parked at the curb, and snow is in the street.

Glass plate negative from Box #19 in the Peoria Historical Society Image Collection, Bradley University Library, Special Collections Center

Here’s a closeup:

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Peoria Landmark #449

by Sue Grawey

The Coliseum
Adams and Hancock Streets, Peoria
Architect: Herbert E. Hewitt
Contractor: Henry H. B. Wiechmann
Total cost: $59,800.00

The Coliseum, Peoria’s civic center in the early twentieth century, provided space for diverse large gatherings. Operas were staged there, as well as firemen’s and policemen’s balls, World War I mass meetings, and two tournaments of the American Bowling Congress.

Valentine Jobst Sr. was paid $12,000 for the site. The Peoria City Railway Company financed the structure and then transferred it to the city in exchange for renewal of the streetcar franchise through 1926. Over five thousand citizens and dignitaries attended the May 4, 1901 dedication ceremonies.

The Coliseum was destroyed by fire May 27, 1920. The building and contents were under insured ($27,000). A year later, the city council voted to transfer the land to the state. The National Guard Armory was erected on the site in 1924.

Sources:

Peoria of Today
Peoria Journal, May 5, 1901
Peoria Journal Transcript, April 14, 1940
Peoria Star, May 27, 1920
Peoria Star, September 27, 1940
White, J. P., letter dated March 1955
Photo: Files of David V. Schlink

Peoria Landmark #447

As JW said, this is the Shrine Mosque, and Chef Kevin indeed was with me as when I snapped this photo, as was Scott Smith in spirit.

History of the Mohammed Shrine:

The early meetings of Mohammed Shrine were held in the Main Street Masonic Temple and by 1907 the membership had outgrown those quarter, and plans were started to erect a Mosque. In 1908 the 207 N.E. Monroe Street, Peoria, Illinois site location was purchased and the following year the building was started. On October 17, 1910, the Mosque was acclaimed one of the finest in the land. This was the home of Mohammed’s nobility until March 21, 1936, when the building was destroyed by fire.

Undaunted, like the 34 original members, Mohammed started the construction of a new Mosque and on October 14, 1938, dedicated our second home. The Mosque was clearly one of Shrinedom’s finest.

Once membership hit its peak of 10,000 members, membership has been in a steady decline since. In the mid-80′s it was clear that our Mosque was far more than our membership could maintain or support. Unpopular plans were communicated to the membership and in general the membership was unwilling to accept the fact that in order to survive the Mosque must be sold or lost.

In 2001 the Mosque was sold to Riverside Community Church.

Thank you to Pastor John for allowing us in to look around.

Peoria Landmark #405

Peoria Peepers and Steve K know where this is, “on the side of the George O. Pasquel Company on S.W. Adams”, “The sign faces the 300 block of Cedar St. on the side of one of the George O. Pasquel Co. buildings that fronts on S.W. Adams.”

William J. Mahler, Apr. 15, 1907 – Oct. 13, 1992

Born April 15, 1907, in Achim, Germany, to Hinrich and Louisa Koch Mahler, he married Lucille Newlund on Nov. 17, 1937, in Peoria. She survives.

Also surviving are one son, Roger of Oak Park; four grandchildren; and one sister, Anneliese Walther of Peoria. He was preceded in death by one daughter, one brother and one sister.

He owned and operated Mahler’s Market at the corner of Adams and MacArthur Highway from 1943 to 1957 and Mahler’s Variety at the same location from 1957 until he retired in 1970. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. He was a starter and golf ranger at Madison Golf Course in Peoria and several area golf courses for many years.

Lucille E. Mahler, July 14, 1910 – Jan. 1, 2003

Born July 14, 1910, in Peoria to Arthur and Hilma Erickson Newlund, she married William Mahler on Nov. 17, 1937, in Peoria. He died Oct. 13, 1992, in Peoria.  She also was preceded in death by two sisters.  Surviving are one son, Roger of Oak Park; and four grandchildren.

She and her husband owned and operated Mahler’s Market and Mahler’s Variety for many years before retiring.  A member of Grace and Peace Lutheran Church, she was a former member of Salem Lutheran Church, where she had served as an elementary school teacher and also church organist for 35 years.

While searching through the Journal Star archives, I found this interesting article dated March 30, 2007 regarding Pete Paquel of the George Pasquel Co and the treasures he owns.  I wonder what happened to all this stuff, if anything?

But it’s the Pasquel building on the corner of Adams and MacArthur that may have the most history of all. Built in 1846, the structure is the oldest commercial three-story building in Peoria, Pasquel said. And it still touts the name of the last tenant, Mahler’s Variety Store, on its bricks.

”It started as Lammers Grocery Store back in 1846,” he said.

Inside the building is a special collection of restaurant memorabilia from Peoria’s past that Pasquel has secured over the years.

Stuff is piled everywhere. You have to step over boxes and fixtures to make your way through it.

”The plan was to turn this building into a museum,” he said.

”This may be my retirement project,” said Pasquel, 62, whose son-in-law, Dan Whitson, has taken over as president of the company. Pasquel’s daughter, Maria Whitson, serves as secretary/treasurer of the firm her grandfather founded.

”I think it would take six months to fix up the building,” he said.

As Peoria debates the location and size of a history museum on the riverfront, Pasquel has all the ingredients for an area restaurant museum.

”I’ve been offered $10,000 for the soda fountain and back bar you see here,” he said, pointing to an elegant creation with marble pillars and cherry wood.

Originally built for the James Basil Ice Cream and Confectionery outlet located next door, the elaborate back bar displays the pictures of both Basil and Gust Yutakis, who Basil brought over from Greece in the 1940s, Pasquel said.

While the classic soda fountain is undoubtedly the centerpiece of Pasquel’s collection, it’s not the only item of interest. There’s a sign from Earl Boulanger’s chili parlor that hung Downtown from the 1930s to the 1950s. Pasquel recalled sitting with his father at Boulanger’s place as a small boy.

”He was stirring this great pot of chili with a paddle while smoking a cigarette. I noticed that the ash was dropping into the pot. I said, ‘Mr. Boulanger, your cigarette’s getting in the chili.’ He just said, ‘Young fellow, that’s what gives it flavor,”’ Pasquel said.

There’s also a popcorn machine from the Crest Theater, once located in Peoria Heights. Wooden booths with porcelain inlays came from the Golden Creme Dairy.

Items as diverse as Horlicks malted milk dispenser can be found along with a bench from the old Peoria County Jail and a light from the Columbia riverboat, a particularly significant artifact for Pasquel.

”My Dad was on the Columbia when it sank. He stayed on board and was picked up later on. Many of the people that panicked and jumped into the water drowned,” he said.

George Pasquel was among some 500 passengers aboard the luxury excursion boat when it sank in the Illinois River near Creve Coeur in 1918. Eighty-seven people died in what is still considered one of the country’s worst inland waterway disasters.

Tiffany lamps from Tiffany’s Bakery in Pekin hang in one part of the old room while in a corner stands a mirror from Hagar’s Stage Coach Inn, a Peoria restaurant favorite of the 1950s and ’60s.

Pasquel also has obtained the bar from Matt Ryan’s Fulton Street club that stood in the way of Ray Becker’s Twin Towers project in 1980. There’s a hutch from the downtown YWCA when the organization used to serve food and a bread box from the Glen Oak Bakery.

There are dozens of other articles, plus trunks loaded with menus and other printed materials, waiting to tell the story of another era.

Peoria Landmark #396

I thought I could stump you all on this one, or at least give you a run for your money, but Sue was all over it; I guess I’ll have to try harder!

Here’s the original picture…

Peoria Landmark #392

Here’s some history courtesy of Sarah Akerman and Sue Grawey.

Construction began January, 1905 – warehouse for Larkin Soap Company – completed November, 1905. Built under the supervision of Paul F. Mueller, Chicago general contractor. Mueller was known as Frank Lloyd Wright’s builder of choice. Wright designed Larkin’s office building in Buffalo, N Y in 1904. (razed). The Larkin name is (? was) at the top of this building. The font used was similar to one used by Wright. I’ve not been able to document if Wright was the architect. Cost $150,000.

There were other Larkin buildings in Peoria – at least three, I think, but my research on those buildings / locations is sketchy.

John D. Larkin established a soap factory in Buffalo in 1875. The company had sales of $220,000 in 1892 and 15 million in 1906. Google the company for an interesting history.

It opened in 2000 as the mixed use of condos & office space we know today and was commonly known as the Foster Gallagher building.

*photo taken March, 1992.

Peoria Landmark #389

This is an old Standard Oil station, located on Wayne & Perry, with a ’72 Ford Pickup (??) parked in front, and there were, in fact, two people there when I visited (you can see one in the reflection of the glass) but I cannot confirm if they sold funny balloons inside.

Searching the web, I found a picture of another station with similar lettering in Macomb.

* Hat Tip: Chef Kevin

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.

What the heck, let’s do a double this week. Peoria Landmark #380

The Holiday Drive-In Theatre was located along War Memorial (150) at the intersection of Route 6 roughly where Gander Mountain, Pier 1, Home Depot, et al are located now. The entrance road is still named Holiday Drive.

Again I defer to Cinema Treasures.org: “The Holiday opened in 1965. It could accommodate about 1200 cars. The drive-in closed by the mid-80s and was demolished in the early 90s to make way for a shopping center.”

Carl Carlson on that website says “I think the Holiday was partially destroyed due to a tornado in the mid-80′s. Not sure when it was completely razed though.”

Drive-In’s.com says “1980s – screen blown down by tornado in the 1980s”

Our own Scott Smith says “It got into trouble like the rest of the drive ins, then a high wind blew the screen down.”

So a tornado, high wind or something knocked it down. Whether it was already closed before this happened is not clear, nor when it actually ceased operation.

Further, there was a screen at Pioneer & Allen, as mentioned by Scott & Septboy, which sounds like it met a suspicious insurance related demise…

Peoria Landmark #379

The Peoria Drive-In Theatre, located off of Glen between University and War where the multiple medical offices are now.

This is the information given by Cinema Treasures.com, along with a few relevant comments.

“The Peoria Drive-In was one of a handful of drive-in theater located in the Peoria area. It opened in 1945, and had space for just under 400 cars. It was operated by the Kerasotes Theatres chain. It closed after a blaze in 1989 destroyed the drive-in. Housing has since been constructed on the site.”

Jean Lawler Bell: Want to make a correction on the information contributed by Bryan. My parents, Ralph W. and Marie K. Lawler built and owned and operated the Peoria Drive-In Theater on Glen Avenue in Peoria. It was the first Drive-In Theater built in Central Illinois and one of the first in the Mid-West. Their managers were first Bob Hagen and then Jack Geltmaker. They sold the theater in the 1960s to the Kerasotas.

“Lost Memory”: Car capacity in 1975 was 800.

Peoria Landmark #375

Otto Triebel, mostly remembered today sculptor of the “Triebel Lions” at the entrance of the Peoria Zoo which is one of several items listed in the Peoria Park District’s list of historic resources.

Otto Triebel was born in Roemhild, Germany in 1830. At the age of fourteen, Triebel began to study sculpture and essentially devoted the rest of his life to working in marble.

After first living in Belleville and St. Louis, Otto Triebel became a permanent resident of Peoria in 1853. In 1872, Triebel established a monument and marble works business that became “…a leading feature in the commercial circles of Peoria.”

Throughout his life, Triebel was one of Peoria’s most prominent, well-respected and talented citizens. His public service included several terms as city treasurer, county supervisor, and as a school inspector.

Carved in 1843, the Triebel Lions were originally placed on either side of the Adams Street approach to the Peoria County Court House in 1903. The lions remained on display at the Court House for the next sixty years.

In 1963, the Peoria County Court House was razed and the Peoria Park District rescued the sculptures. The Triebel Lions were relocated to Glen Oak Zoo for permanent display. For the past forty-four years, the Triebel Lions have been distinctive landmarks within Glen Oak Park.

Peoria City & County, Illinois: A Record of Settlement, Vol 2 (1912):

During his life, Otto Triebel was one of Peoria’s most prominent citizens and his talents brought him much in demand for work on boards of public institutions. He served two terms as city treasurer and several terms as county supervisor and school inspector. He was a charter member of  the German Free school on Second street, and was actively interested in it all during his life. He was prominent in the Schiller lodge of the Masonic order.

[...]

Winning as he did, large success as a clear-headed, straightforward man, a leader in enterprises requiring combinations of men and money to carry to a successful issue, he fully deserved the recognition he received as a worthy, energetic citizen, a businessman of fine judgement and of rare probity. To such men is due in a great degree the remarkable development and growth of the city of Peoria and the state of Illinois.

Otto is also, with three of his sons, founder of Triebel and Sons of whom sculpted many monuments in Springdale Cemetery, and is the father of Fritz Triebel, sculpter of many works including the Soldiers & Sailors monument at the courthouse, and the Fred Block grave in Springdale.

Thank you to Sue Grawey.

Peoria Landmark #370

As I was driving down Adams a few weeks ago I noticed the shadowing on this building (1324 NE Adams) that said “Fire Station” – commenter Josh says it’s “Peoria’s old Fire Station #5″

Like they do on the History Channel’s Pawn Stars, I emailed a buddy of mine to explain a little more about it.

“This station 5 (the old one was torn down and this one was built) was built in 1941 and closed in 1979. It closed when the new (current) Central House was built and Engine 5 moved to Central House.”

Central House being the place by Spalding?

“Yes, the current Central house is at 505 NE Monroe and it replaced the Central House that was on Liberty. It got torn down to make room for the Civic Center.”

Peoria Landmark #364

623 Fairholm Ave. Joseph Petarde, 1876 – 1942

Expanding on Sue Grawey’s comment, here is the best bio I could find, from PeoriaCountyInfo.org, as written by Janine Crandell and original published in the Jubilee Advocate in 2005.

Backward Glance: Peoria’s Brazen Sculpter

On an unassuming street in the Averyville neighborhood is a house over one hundred years old with remarkable statues and intricate artwork. What makes this house on Fairholm Street even more remarkable is the history behind it.

Joseph Petardi, born in Rome, Italy, in 1866, came from a family of stone carvers. When he was only five years old, Joseph carved his first stone sculpture, a little stone imp. At the age of thirteen, Joseph left home for fear of retribution when he accidentally damaged a marble sculpture. He was eventually caught and returned home. Then, when Joseph was seventeen, he left home again and went to Paris, France. While in Paris, Joseph carved saint figures for various churches, according to a 1926 newspaper interview.

Joseph didn’t live in Paris long; he soon left for New York City and found a job with a bridge building company. One of his assigned jobs with this company was to cut stone for the bridge pilings of the Upper Free Bridge (just north of the present-day McCluggage Bridge) in Peoria. During the time Joseph worked on this project, he stayed at the residence of Alexander and Margaret Partridge, who had given the land for this new bridge. Alexander Partridge, the first ferry boat owner in the area, had a daughter, Hannah, who later married Joseph Petardi.

Later in life, Joseph Petardi changed his last name to Petarde, perhaps in an effort to match other Petardes living in the area.

Hannah and Joseph Petarde had eight children, six of whom reached adulthood. Of all their children, only one son, Clyde, followed in his father’s footsteps. Joseph always stressed education for his children with special attention to the study of music. Joseph taught himself to play the accordion and the mandolin. During the Depression, as their main source of income, Clyde and his family performed as the “Petarde Family Orchestra” at different establishments in central Illinois.

The home mentioned earlier in this article was actually Joseph and Hannah’s second home, the first being at 637 Fairholm. It took Joseph and Clyde years to complete the carvings, which can be seen at 623 Fairholm. They completed their work in sections, culminating with the installation of three full-length figures at the corners of the porch. One depicted Atlas holding up his loincloth and the other two were semi-nude female figures. A 1922 newspaper article recounted the furor and shock this event caused in Joseph’s neighborhood. Mrs. Elsie Crandell, who lived next door to the Petardes, mentioned Mrs. Petarde refused to use the front door as a protest to the scantily clad figures.

Many of the records proving Petarde’s accomplishments no longer exist but we do know he carved stone for the G. A. R. Hall, the old Post Office and courthouse, the Dime Savings and Trust Company and several private homes. Many cities that have Petarde’s stone carvings include Chicago, Springfield, Bloomington, Champaign, Galesburg, Normal and cities in other states.

When Hannah’s parents died, Joseph carved life-size tombstone statues for them in a cemetery south of Spring Bay. Joseph also carved two beautiful tombstones located in the Springdale cemetery. One is the elaborate LaRocca monument and the other is Eugene Crandell’s monument, which was recently vandalized and then restored by Springdale. Joseph had a workshop in his backyard and while working on his projects at home, people would stop by and watch him carve.

Even though Joseph carved exquisite tombstones for others, he and his wife have a simple understated stone and are buried in the Springdale Cemetery.

* Joseph Petarde was also featured in the 2010 Prairie Folklore Theatre’s Springdale Cemetery Tour.  (2:20 – 3:15)

Peoria Landmark #361

It is definitely as MsGem describes it.

Zion Episcopal Church, Brimfield, Il.

Besides the marker over the front door, there are two historical markers on the property, as shown below.