Peoria Landmark #460
Postcard of the old band stand:
Postcard of the Bradley Park Pavilion Building:
… and yes, it is the first hole of the disk golf course, which I didn’t realize until “jerry”‘s comment. {course map}
When and why these structures were torn down, I have no idea and won’t even begin to speculate.
Peoria Landmark #457
Snow, as requested by Scott Smith on #456
It’s pretty obvious what this is and I don’t have much to say about it, but for those that don’t know, after some remodeling, the Peoria Park District offices are moving in and vacating the Glen Oak park pavilion building to make way for the long awaited Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum.
Peoria Landmark #435
*credit for use of original photo to be linked when updated.
Update:
I figured someone would know what this is, and if I were a gambling man I would have picked “mazr” – a fellow blogger and golfer.
A few notes about Sam Snead… a record 82 PGA Tour wins (Tiger Woods & Jack Nicklaus are currectly in second place with 73) and a 7 time major winner. (above him are Nicklaus, Woods, Hagen, Player, Hogan, Watson. Tied at 7 major wins are Palmer, Sarazen & Jones)
I don’t know anything beyond what the caption from the original photos read – “My dad was an avid golfer. In the summer of 1957 he took me to Newman Golf Course in Peoria, IL to see professional golfer Sam Snead. These are the slides I took that day. He tried to teach me to golf but finally gave up after several years claiming I was “dangerous on a golf course”. He was right.”
Below is an account of Sam playing in Pekin, likely during the same exhibition tour, but I cannot confirm that. More photos from Newman Golf Course are interlaced.
I was born in East Peoria, Ill July 2nd, 1944 and raised in Pekin, Ill – a town of 30,000 close to Peoria, Ill. Some time in the early 5Os Sam Snead came to Peoria, Ill to play an exhibition. My mom and dad and my brothers and I went up to Peoria to see him. I must have been around 6 years old. I really don’t remember much except having to wiggle through the crowd to watch him tee off on the first hole.
Some years later around 1958 my dad said that Sam was coming to Pekin Country Club to play an exhibition and that my older brother Jack was going to caddy for him and me and my younger brother Jerry were to watch the Pro Shop. Pekin Country Club was a nine hole course at which my dad had become greenskeeper and head professional in 1946 when we moved from East Peoria when I was two years old.
I was a bit jealous that Jack would get to caddy for Sam. I was to watch the first 9 holes and my younger brother Jerry the last 9 holes. It was amazing to see how far Sam could hit the ball. I had never seen anyone hit drives so close to the greens as he did on our course. My dad was playing with Sam.
As they got to the fifth hole a small crowd had gathered on the the 8th tee of Parkview, the public golf course across the railroad tracks. As I perused the crowd I could see Mike Gianessi standing there. He had just become the youngest ever to win the Tazewell County championship when he won at the age of seventeen. The fifth hole at PCC was about a 140 yard downhill par three. Sam probably hit a wedge to within 2 or 3 feet. My dad then hit it just outside of Sam and they both birdied the hole.
Hole number 7 was a par five which bordered the PCHS football stadium. I had never seen anyone hit it in two. As Sam got ready to hit his second shot on the par five he seemed to be confused and was asking my brother where the green was. My brother showed him and he lined up and hit a perfect shot straight out of bounds over the fence and onto the PCHS football stadium property to the right of #7 fairway.
He seemed to think that was where he wanted to hit it as he started walking after the ball. I just stood there knowing he had to come back and hit another. Finally my brother called to him and told him he had hit it out of bounds. He seemed irritated to me. He said something like “I asked you where the green was!” He had misunderstood my brother and it cost him a two stroke penalty.
He hit the next one on the green. I thought my dad would make up two strokes on Sam as he was 10′ off the green, pin high, 40′ from the pin in two where he could get a birdie and Sam was on in four probably looking at a six. But dad fluffed the chip shot and wound up with a par so he only made up one stroke on Sam. Sam wound up breaking the course record anyway shooting 64 or so. I was so discouraged after the seventh hole that I went up to relieve my younger brother at the Pro Shop early and let him go watch the rest of the front nine and the back nine.
Later I heard that as Sam drove up to PCC and got a look at the course he made a comment about the course looking like a cow pasture. At the time that hurt my feelings because my dad was greenskeeper and I had lived on the course all my life and it was my home. We didn’t have sprinklers in the fairways so if it didn’t rain the grass would turn brown. Later when I learned Sam’s history of how he grew up swinging a hickory stick in a cow pasture I realized he probably felt right at home.
**original photos used by permission. Flickr name: stevel504
Peoria Landmark #429
Guarding the entrance to the Peoria Zoo since the 1960′s are the Triebel Lions, one of several items on the Peoria Park District list of Historic Resources. You can read about Otto Triebel at NTPL#375.
I found this picture of Otto’s home, 1412 NE Perry, dated 1863, in the Peoria Historical Society Image Collection. The lion in the foreground doesn’t appear to be either of the two at the zoo. Also note the standing Lion on the right.
Peoria Landmark #426
This a “bench in Glen Oak park” – found if you take the entrance from Prospect into Luthy Botanical. The Zoo is in the background.
Why there is a graffiti covered bench sitting among weeds with a view of nothing, I can’t answer, but as far as I’m concerned its been there long enough to qualify as a “Peoria Landmark.”
Peoria Landmark #415
Update:
Sue G / Sarah A: Springdale Cemetery
Per Rice’s History of Peoria, Jerry Klein’s Peoria!, and Peoria Star 12-14-30
Detweiller, river boat captain and founder of Detweiller Ice Co., was born in Lorraine, France 6-19-1825. He married Magdalena Bachman, also a native of France, on 11-5-1848. The couple had seven children. Son Tom gave Detweiller Park, land he had purchased, to the Park District in memory of his father. I don’t know how Detweiller Drive, Marina, and Golf Course were named.
In April 1841 he was hired to manage the bar on the Frontier. His brother John, owner / operator of a hotel, stocked the bar with liquors, cigars, and tobacco even though he adamantly opposed Henry’s desire to ply the river. During that first trip, delivering passengers from Peoria to Peru, Henry was befriended by Capt Hasbrouck who let him steer the boat.
Henry worked on other boats, learned the trade, and advanced to captain. He piloted the Yankee (which he rented to the U.S. for $150 a day) during the Civil War ferrying troops and supplies often while under fire. A model of that boat which H made is still located at the IVY Club per the office manager. At one time H’s Civil War log was housed at the Central National Bank.
In 1879 Henry partnered with Nelson Woodruff in the Woodruff Ice Company. Six years later he founded the Detweiller Ice Co. H was also elected the city treasurer six times, although he never sought the office per se.
Born in France in 1825, as a 12-year-old boy he immigrated to Peoria, where his brother ran a tavern on Water Street. He was a riverboat captain on the Illinois, Mississippi and other rivers for nearly 30 years, and Lincoln was a frequent passenger. According to Captain Detweiller, Lincoln loved to ride in the pilot house, sit on the liar’s bench and tell a tall tale or two. Because of his friendship with Lincoln, Detweiller enlisted in the Union Army and used his boat to deliver troops and supplies throughout the war. His steamboat was one of the first to arrive the day after the horrific Battle of Shiloh. His son Thomas became a whiskey baron, and his daughters helped to found Detweiller Park in their father’s honor. – Brian “Fox” Ellis
Photo of Capt. Detweiller’s home, from the Peoria Historical Society collection. Caption reads: “Res. Henry Detweiller, river pilot and ice dealer; 606 Hamilton; built before 1856; Detweiller park given to Peoria in his honor by his son, the late Thomas Detweiller.”
Henry Detweiller was featured in the 2009 Prairie Folklore Theatre Springdale Cemetery tour. (seconds :00 – :45)
Peoria Landmarks #404. Identify these locations.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
1. McKinley Ave, Bartonville – Sue G
2. 4th St, Chillicothe – (me)
3. Highland (Ave & Main), Creve Coeur – Sue G
4. 1200 N.E. Jefferson between Spring & Voris St. Across from RJ pawn shop. – Steve K
5. 1700 block Sheridan (near Gale), Peoria – Sue G
6. 3300 block N. Prospect near Dominoes Pizza and 1st Place Trophies – Steve K
7. 7700 block University (near Pioneer Parkway), Peoria – Sue G
* These are not your tax dollars at work; they were privately funded.
Peoria Landmark #367
Marshall’s shed, or starter’s shed, as I call it, at Madison Golf Course.
Whether it was the “old ticket booth for the train in Glen Oak Park” I can’t say, but I wouldn’t doubt it.
According to “The Grandest Views, A History of the Peoria Park District,” Madison GC was opened as a nine hole course in 1909 and lengthened in 1917, and the clubhouse was also erected around that time.
As golf gained popularity, a back nine was constructed and opened in 1925. At that time it cost 15 cents to play the front nine. Greens fees are now $15.00, according to the last update of the PPD website.
Peoria Landmark #360
Strangely I cannot find any useful information about this place on the internet, not even on that Park District’s own website. This is the Bill of Right walk which is the outer ring to Constitution Gardens and as aaron says, is located on the riverfront roughly between Detweiller Marina and the Riverplex.
It was built (correct me if I’m wrong) to commemorate the bicentennial of the United States.
Peoria Landmark #338
Located next to Detweiller Golf Course and across the street from Detweiller Park, these metal trees are not located at Detweiller Marina as I used to think this place was called, but Galena Marina, as Josh correctly noted.
Nearby you will find NTPL #232.
Peoria Landmark #325
Nacho’s on it! “Old well house located at the bottom of the south trails at Robinson Park in Mossville.” Nearby are two more foundations and another well pump. Anyone have any idea what this used to be?
I was actually told about this once before but I didn’t think I’d actually ever find it but a few weeks ago I decided to take a hike in Robinson Park, on Mossville Rd in Mossville, as I had never been there. I didn’t know which trail to take and I couldn’t find much information available other than a only generally helpful Peoria Park District map so I blindly took the south trail. Inside the park the trails are well kept and marked. I plan to go back and explore more.
Peoria Wilds.com describes the park this way:
Robinson Park consists of glacial drift hill prairies on steep south facing slopes with Oak woodlands along the ridges and valleys. Some of the prairie wildflowers found here include scurf pea, pale purple coneflower, purple prairie clover, yellow false foxglove, stiff tickseed, golden alexanders, bird’s foot violets, and snow trillium. The woodlands include white oak, red oak, chinquapin oak, shagbark hickory, witch hazel, hazelnut, basswood, maple, and paw paw.
Robinson Park north of Mossville Rd. was willed to the Peoria Park District by Laurence Robinson, a Peoria architect in 1951 and was dedicated in June 1959 to the memory of Laurence Eugene Robinson Jr. who died in World War II. This portion of the park was known as the “Big Horn Farm” and was his boyhood home. At the dedication of Robinson Park in her son’s memory, Mrs. Robinson said, “It is my desire that it’s primitive beauty be retained and that it will forever offer an opportunity for young people to enjoy nature and the great out of doors.” Additional land has been added to Robinson Park on the south side of Mossville Rd.
Here are a few other photos I took on my short hike.
Peoria Landmark #292
Forgive me, but I just couldn’t help laughing at the sign that says “Deforestation” while a pile of logs lay in the background. To be fair, the Peoria Park District did re-use as many of the trees as they could in building the Africa exhibit as is evident to anyone who visits.
Here’s some other pictures. It’s quite nice, but the “older” section appears to be now closed.
Peoria 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.
Peoria Landmark #275
*Photo by “LeTUMBA”
I couldn’t find any information about the “new” Rock Island Depot, so I’ll do what I like to do best and let the commenters tell the story…
This is the last terminal for the Rock Island Railroad passenger service to Chicago from Peoria. The depot used before this one is what is now known as the River Station.
SD:
This depot was built in 1960. It is commonly known as the new/old Rock Island Depot. The inside has been gutted. Before the Park district was using it for storage bums went in and stripped all the copper wire out and anything else that they could sell. There is a tower room there that was used for the railroad. In front of this is a switch table that was used with the round house that was there at one time. Currently the Park district uses the building to store equipment, in exchange for keeping the grounds up for the city. Constitution Gardens is adjacent to the depot. This entire outfit is on the grounds of what was the original Peoria Riverfront Park. You can park in the parking lot and walk around the building and enjoy Constitution Gardens and the river and have lunch or just hang out.
THill: The bridge at the bottom of “Grand View Drive”.
Historic Peoria: “Construction of Grand View Drive began in 1903, and when it was completed in late 1904, the road consisted of gravel measuring 30 feet wide and 8 inches deep. In 1936, the drive was paved and trees were planted along the road. That year, tennis courts, softball fields, and picnic areas were also added.”
Everyone knows what Theodore Roosevelt said about it, but according to PeoriaHistory.com the exact quote from 1910 is “I have traveled all over the world, and this is the world’s most beautiful drive.”
In 1996 the entire drive and park land was added to the National Register of Historic places.
Here’s a YouTube video of Grandview from a bicycle. The bridge gets crossed at the 7 minute mark.
