Name This Peoria Landmark

Peoria Landmark #300

The Trefzger family grave is located in St Joseph’s Cemetery on Heading Ave in West Peoria. Obviously around here the name Trefzger is synonymous with the locally famous Trefzger’s Bakery, but did you know Wikipedia actually has an entry on the name Trefzger? What don’t they have an entry on?

Trefzger is a German surname that belongs to that category of surnames which originated as nicknames and were later assumed as hereditary surnames. The origin of this nickname is thought to lie in the Middle High German term “trefs”, referring to a “weed,” and in some context of a person, a “good for nothing” or an “over-bearing, bothersome person.” Another possible origin takes into account that the particular “weed” that “trefs” referred to was nearly impossible to kill, therefore, in the context of a person, a “trefs” would be someone who was very hardy and lived a long life.

Most Trefzgers that have not yet emigrated to the US reside in the town of Wehr, Germany.

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The bakery was established in Peoria in 1861 by Simon Trefzger, who emigrated to the U.S. from Wehr. It is still in business, generally thought to be the oldest Peoria business still in operation. It was run by four generations of the Trefzger family from 1861 to 1993, at which time it was sold outside the family, but the buyer kept the business at the same location and the name was retained.

History of Trefzger’s bakery from their web site:

In the year 1856, Simon Trefzger came to America from Germany. He settled in Cincinnati, Ohio for five years. In 1861 he moved to Peoria. That same year, Simon Trefzger established the first bakery at 54 Fulton Street, half way between Adams and Washington.

The bakery moved to the corner of Main and Monroe Streets in the 1870’s and remained there for 83 years. In 1953 the business moved from downtown to Peoria’s north end. Trefzger Bakery, 3504 North Prospect, remains at this location today.

The bakery was in the family for 132 years. In 1993, Joe Jr. sold the bakery and began his retirement. The bakery was sold to Jeff Huebner who remains the owner today.

A detailed account of Simon Trefzger’s life can be read [here] and his obituary can be read [here].

Peoria 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.

Grotto. noun. (1) a cave, especially one with interesting natural features. (2) an imitation cave, especially as an ornamental shelter in a formal garden on a hill.

My apologies for the long delay in updating this.

Piecing together various stories, this was built in the 1920’s by the orphans and nuns who called the Guardian Angel Orphanage home. It is located at the end of Heading Ave in West Peoria which continues to operate as a small orphanage under the oversight of Peoria Catholic Charities. To find the grotto, park on the right-hand side of the parking lot just as you enter through the gates and head down the steep hill to the north. Be careful, it’s a steep grade, but completely worth the effort. As my fellow adventurer mentioned, the coolest thing about this place is that no-one knows it’s here and you can’t see it from any road. When viewing it up close, one wonders how they pulled this off.

My personal thanks to commenters ImaSwede who originally took me here and to Josh Harris for joining me in a return visit. This easily made my top 10 “Peoria: off the beaten path.”

Located at 2900 W. Heading Ave, Peoria Il., Guardian Angel Home is run by the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria.

Purpose:

Guardian Angel Home is a long-term residential treatment facility for boys and adolescent males ages 6-18 referred by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). These young men often present significant mental health and behavioral issues, and many have been abused and neglected. Guardian Angel Home meets the social and emotional needs of its residents by providing a structured environment, focusing on behavior modification. Residents are generally DCFS wards who need significantly more structure and treatment than what is available in a foster home placement.

History:

1880 – St. Mary’s Orphanage was established in Metamora by Archbishop John Lancaster and operated by the hospital Franciscan sisters.

1913 – Bishop Edmund M. Dunne decided to move the orphanage to Peoria.  For $13,000 the 28-acre Oesterles’s Grove, a popular picnic ground in West Peoria, was purchased.

Aug. 15, 1914 – St. Mary’s orphanage moved from Metamora to Guardian Angel Home in Peoria.  The name change is attributed to Bishop Dunne’s fond memories of his Chicago Italian parish, Guardian Angel.

1925 – Bishop Dunne asked a community of sisters from the East to organize a Peoria Diocesan Catholic Charities.

1972 – Bishop Edward O’Rourke assigned the ration of Guardian Angel Home to CSS.  This was the first major change in 50 years at Guardian Angel.  Under the direction of CSS, Guardian Angel facilit were expanded to serve a variety of needs including an emergency reception center for emotionally-disturbed children and a long-term home for pre-teen and teenage boys and girls. The Heading Avenue Sisters (Sisters of St. Francis of Immaculate Conception.) withdrew from Guardian Angel after 83 years of service.

1979- Tha Huong residential program for unaccompanied refugee children opened in a wing of Guardian Angel. The program ended in 1991.

Kartville, 919 N. Swords Ave., West Peoria, Il. 61604 [map], generally known as Kartsville (with an ’s’) in my family.

Batting Cages – $.50 per session (10-15 balls)
Dune Buggy – $2 for 1 person, $3 for 2 people
Go Carts – $2.50 per person, 4 laps. (approximately 5 minutes)
Miniature Golf – $2.50 per person
Bumper Boats – $2.50 per person

Afternoon spent with the kids – Priceless (sorry, couldn’t resist!)

Odd- their website lists different prices than what I paid over Labor Day weekend.

Peoria Hebrew Cemetery, 2807 W. Heading Ave, West Peoria. In Julie’s words: “On Heading Avenue, just before the entrance to Catholic Charities.”

The Jewish Federation of Peoria: “The Peoria Hebrew Cemetery Association, located at 2807 W. Heading in West Peoria, IL, is responsible for the management and upkeep of the Peoria Hebrew Cemetery. This cemetery is used by members of the Jewish faith, either by birth or conversion. If you have converted to Judaism you must provide documentation that is certified by a Rabbi.

For information on purchasing a lot or burial in the cemetery contact Harry or Dee Erlichman at (309)693-9099 or email deeer96@aol.com.”

Billy Dennis, lifelong Peorian and fellow Cub Fan: 0-147

Congrats to Julie for having a keen eye and a penchant for Google.

I misplaced my 2nd memory card with additional photos; I’ll add to this if/when I find it.

Sister post to #142.  You can see this on my roller coaster drive-through on the right, next to the bench, after I come back to the upper level.

Sorry to leave you hanging, Mapgirl, I should’ve updated after Josh’s comment.