THE AVERYVILLE MONUMENT

                        THE   AVERYVILLE MONUMENT

                                      NORMAN  V.  KELLY

 

Soldiers of Averyville were honored on a beautiful June 30, 1920

when Averyville was still outside the clutches of the City Of Peoria, Illinois.  What was to come was a bitter fight to stay out of the city limits which the village of 5,000 people would eventually lose.  As Peoria grew, it looked for ways to expand from one square mile in 1845 to 9.1 square miles of city limits.  Bartonville was not interested nor was West Peoria or Peoria Heights excited about being gobbled up by the City of Peoria. So what was left? Why little old Averyville, a nice solid community just sitting there on the eastside of Peoria harboring a lucrative Avery Factory and some very nice citizens.  The battle was on and it was not a pleasant fight. Finally circa 1928 The Illinois Supreme Court ruled in favor of the annexation and Averyville was Peoria’s to swallow up.  There were a lot of unhappy folks over there…but it was ours.  To add to the insult, Peoria officials had at least three of the Averyville leaders indicted for ‘Cooking the books.” 

 

                              A  QUICK  HISTORY  LESSON

 

‘The war to end all wars,’ began April 6, 1917 and 5,500 young men from the City of Peoria and Peoria County went off ‘To fight the Hun.’

During that time over in Averyville, 244 men joined in the fight.  At 1:52 a.m. here in Peoria, Illinois the news that the war had ended began to spread through the area, and the lights at home began to light up the town. By 7:30 a.m. our mayor had tacked a proclamation on the City Hall doors and shut down the taverns. He then invited everyone in the area to come on down town.  Folks soon jammed the entire town and parades and rejoicing went on until Midnight.  The war was over!  “It’s over over there.”

 

Even before the war ended citizens of Averyville went about gathering money from dances, bake sales and bazaars to fund a monument to the fighting men of Averyville, Illinois. They managed to raise $3,500 and that is when the Patriotic Relief Association joined in and the monument was built. There were 244 names on the metal sides of the big white monument, and I counted 4 gold stars indicating those that made the ultimate sacrifice.  I could be wrong on that number. It soared thirty-five feet into the air and was located at the entrance to Grand View Park. It endured all those years and stood as a memorial not only to the war, but the brave men of Averyville that joined in to protect the rights and dreams of freedom loving people.

 

                                      JUNE  30, 1920

 

The dedication of the ‘Shaft,’ that’s what they called it, officially known as The Averyville Soldier’s Monument was cause for the little village to shut down and virtually everyone in the village participated in the festivities and dedication ceremonies. There were parades, bands, speeches and merriment as the shaft stood with its shroud waiting to burst forth to the delight of the folks of Averyville. 

 

        “The shaft was unveiled when the speaking program was

           Concluded, and in the setting sun’s rays stood in all its

           virgin whiteness like a sentinel on guard at the base of

           Grand View Drive.”

 

                               THE  REST  OF  THE  STORY

 

So what is happening to our precious monument down there in old Averyville at the present time?  Well…it’s gone!  It is said to be on its way to London, well, the tiles are because that is the only place where they can be repaired or replaced.  Please take a good look at Bruce Brown’s photo of the monument being dismantled.  That photo was taken March 1, 2013, and pretty much tells the story.  I guess Bruce was the only one that noticed because no word about the dismantling was published that I learned about.  Let us all make sure that the WW1 monument is replaced and restored to its former glory, and in due time.  So, let’s all keep checking with The Peoria Park District Office until it is safely back where it started that warm day in June, 1920.  Since the City Of Peoria took on the task of annexing the village we owe it to those citizens and the memory of the gallant soldiers that marched off to war way back in 1917. Maybe it will be back safely restored by the time this article is published.  I hope so.  Feel free to e-mail me one way or the other. 

 

Editor’s Note: Norm is a Peoria Historian and monthly contributor to News and Views. Help him keep track of the Memorial.  norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net