NORMAN V.
KELLY
Among my hundreds of historical stories are just a few
stories about early Peoria, Illinois.
After thirty-two years of writing and lecturing, I must admit that I
wrote about what people really wanted to hear; Booze, prostitutes, madams,
murder, mayhem and so-called gangsters.
I thought that I would go back to the beginning of Peoria and just give
you a quick look at our history. I don’t dare use a narrative style because it
would take four books to do that. From
1835 until late in the 1950’s Peoria was the gem of the prairie and an oasis
along the Illinois River. It grew head and shoulders above the other 32 towns,
villages and cities along the Illinois and I can tell you this was the place to
be in Middle America.
1832: Lincoln
is here, walking down Main Street, after the Black Hawk War. He would visit Peoria seventeen times in all,
making his last visit in 1858. “Without
guilt and with pure purpose let us renew our trust in God and go forward
without fear and with manly hearts.”
1835: Peoria
becomes a town, before that we were just a village, a trading post along the
Illinois River and by 1837 Andrew Eitle establishes a one-story brewery in
town.
1845: Peoria
becomes a city with a one square mile of ‘City Limits.’ Of the two hundred and fifteen voting people,
162 said yes, 53 were ‘Agin’ it.’ See if
you can follow this. We had 574 children
under ten, 399 over 10 but under 20. And…824 over 20 but under 50. Eighty-eight
of our folks were over 50, for a total of 1,934. We had 27 Stores like dry
goods stores, three drug stores, two jewelry stores and two book stores. Two
steam saw mills, a tannery and a shoe store.
You could shop at two gunsmith stores and even buy a plow. Additionally in 1845 we had a couple
newspapers and a couple places distilling whiskey and another one making
candles and soap. Paddle and Steamboats
were ‘a comin’ and new Peoria was a bee hive of activity.
1846: The first
black Church was built, and fishermen were bringing in large cat fish like the
record 170 pound, six-foot whopper.
1850: Peoria’s
population is an astounding 5,095 people and we are adding a few acres to our
city limits. Mr. Cole builds another distillery
where the Cedar
Street Bridge
1851: Peoria
has its first public hanging. Killers
William and Brown are executed in a dual hanging, witnessed by over 15,000
people.
1860: Peoria
has a population of 14,045, and when the Civil War begins most of the population
favors the North. Many young men went South, however. Peoria has 9 distilleries
and 6 breweries perking along down by the river. During the Civil War Peoria has
two army training camps and the city is a haven for traveling Union
Soldiers. Gambling gets a firm hold on
the city, and prospers during the war.
We were known as The Alcohol Capital of The World, and Lincoln
1864: John
GIPPS comes to Peoria and his famous GIPPS ‘Amberlin Beer’ becomes Peoria
1865: Civil
War is over and Peoria’s population is 56,100 and we have 14 distilleries and 7
breweries within our city limits.
1866: The
first Civil War Monument was dedicated in the courthouse square. Peoria’s
called it ‘The Shaft,’ and over 30,000 Civil War Veterans join in the
parade.
1870: Peoria’s population was 22,840 and Leisy Brothers Brewery was in town making Rochester Beer. Eventually they would become Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer.
1878; A massive Klu Klux Klan rally in town and out at
the area where Detweiller Park is now. Up on Loucks Avenue a huge tent is set up and
over 3,000 new members signed up.
1882: Peoria’s
beautiful Grand Opera House is dedicated bringing fame to Peoria,
Illinois. Rated as one of the top five
opera houses in the United States, it was a massive success until it burned to
the ground in 1909.
1898: The Spanish American War involved Peoria and our
patriotic men signed up to serve. George
Ellis, a Peoria Sailor was the only sailor to die in that war. The navy named a destroyer after him to honor
his memory.
1891: First
African American, Henry Gibson, named as a Peoria Police Officer. That year
Albina Barret becomes Peoria’s first woman police matron in charge of ‘Wayward
women and girls.’
1899:
Dedication by President McKinley of Peoria’s second Civil War
Monument. A huge gathering celebrated
the historic event.
1901: The
Coliseum, a massive meeting and entertainment complex is opened and is owned by
the City Of Peoria. Later the Armory was built on that Hancock and Adams Site.
That concludes a very small thumbnail sketch of one of
the greatest little cities in the history of the United States.
Editor’s Note: Norm is a Peoria Historian, True Crime and
Fiction Writer from Peoria, Illinois. norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net
No comments:
Post a Comment