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UNIVERSITY  OF 

ILLINOIS  LIBRARY 

AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGK 

ILLINOIS  HISTORICAL  SURVEY 


The  pe- 

spn'i  ■■' 


fflSTORY 

OF 

WASHINGTON,  ILLINOIS 

SESQUICENTENNIAL 

1825—1975 

UBRARY  U.  OF  I.  URBANA- CHAMPAIGN 


V 


^ 


FOREWORD 

On  the  following  pages  are  recorded  the  most  important  happenings  in  the 
history  of  Washington,  Illinois.  The  Story  of  Washington  is  dedicated  to 
those  who  first  settled  the  region  and  to  the  people  who  huilt  this  tin  during 
the  past  one  hundred-fifty  years. 

This  story  begins  with  a  small  group  of  people  who  had  foresight;  the  story 
is  of  how  an  unsettled  area  one  hundredfift}'  years  ago  has  been  developed 
into  one  of  the  most  prosperous  small  cities  in  Illinois.  The  pages  that  follow 
contain  moments  of  drama,  episodes  of  mirth,  and  certainly  a  veritable 
flood  of  glowing  memories  for  Washington  s  sons  and  daughters. 

The  citizens  of  Washington  have  always  been  proud  of  its  many  physical 
assests:  e.g.  schools,  churches,  businesses,  and  homes,  but  the  most  prized 
possession  is  the  friendliness  and  neighborliness  of  the  people.  In  acknow- 
ledging these  many  assets  we  must  always  keep  in  mind  that  they  are  ours 
because  of  the  Grace  of  God,  and  that  we  are  only  stewards  of  our  talents 
and  our  wealth. 

Today.  Washington  is  thrusting  forward  into  its  dynamic  future  at  an 
accelerated  rate.  No  longer  a  little  town,  it  is  now  a  tit}'  with  unlimited 
opportunities.  The  future,  in  which  we  have  great  expectations,  will  be  deter- 
mined by  the  foresight,  initiative,  and  combined  efforts  of  all  its  people. 

E.  Habecker  jr..  Mayor 


T 


o  the  early  families  who  settled  in  the  Washington  area  we  dedicate  this  book 


HISTORY 

OF 

WASHINGTON 

ILLINOIS 


The  first  settlement  in  the  Town  of  Washing- 
ton was  made  in  1825  by  William  Holland, 
Sr.,  who  came  here  from  Peoria,  then  Fort 
Clark.  Prior  to  his  move  here,  he  had  built 
a  log  house  near  the  present  site  of  the 
Habecker  Funeral  Home.  He  was  born  in  1780  in  North 
Carolina  and  was  employed  in  Peoria  by  the  United 
States  Government  as  a  blacksmith  for  the  Indians,  who 
then  inhabited  this  part  of  Illinois.  For  several  years 
after  settling  here,  he  continued  to  work  for  the  Indians. 
His  closest  neighbor  lived  ten  miles  west.  He  was  a  good 
neighbor,  and  they  spent  many  pleasant  hours  together 
exchanging  spicy  stories  and  thrilling  incidents  of  their 
personal  adventures.  During  William  Holland's  long  and 
eventful  life,  he  was  married  three  times  and  was  the 
father  of  twenty-one  children,  fourteen  by  his  first  wife 
and  seven  by  his  second.  He  had  eighty-two  grand- 
children and  fifty  great-great  grandchildren  when  he 
died.  Several  of  his  descendants  are  known  to  be  living  in 
this  area  at  the  present  time.  They  are:  Mrs.  Frances 
Fish  Book,  who  had  three  daughters;  Mrs.  Sylvia 
Reynolds  of  Peoria,  who  had  one  son;  Mrs.  Arta  Diebel 
of  Flanagan,  who  had  one  son;  and  Mrs.  Phyllis  Essig 
of  Washington,  who  had  one  son  and  one  daughter. 

William  Holland  was  also  our  first  mechanic.  As  such, 
he  carried  on  a  blacksmith  shop  for  several  years  and 
also  repaired  guns  not  only  for  the  white  inhabitants  but 
also  for  the  Indians,  who  were  then  numerous  in  this 
part  of  the  state. 

The  first  grist  mill  was  built  by  William  Holland  in 
1827.  It  was  on  the  Holland  homestead,  west  of  his 
dwelling.  It  was  run  by  horse-power  and  was  called  a 
"band  mill".  It  was  the  only  one  in  the  neighborhood,  its 
nearest  competitor  being  located  at  Elkart  Grove,  60 
miles  distant.  It  consisted  of  one  run  of  burrs  which  were 
procured  in  Peoria  for  $60,  and  it  is  thought  they  were 
manufactured  there.  These  band  mills  were  an  in- 
stitution in  those  days.  They  were  a  cheap,  simple  con- 
trivance in  fact,  but  still  quite  expensive  when  one  con- 


siders the  small  amount  of  money  possessed  by  those 
pioneers.  The  mill  consisted  of  one  large  wheel,  the  hub 
of  which  was  a  log  of  wood  eight  or  ten  feet  long,  hewed 
eight  inches  square,  set  in  a  perpendicular  position,  and 
supported  with  numerous  arms  or  spokes.  The  lower  end 
was  secured  by  a  pivot,  on  which  it  turned,  to  another 
timber  fastened  in  the  ground,  the  upper  end  being 
secured  in  like  manner  to  a  timber  above.  The  arms  or 
spokes  were  each  supplied  with  several  movable  pins  and 
constituted  of  an  adjustable  rim  upon  which  the  band, 
made  of  untanned  cow  hides  cut  into  strips  one  and  one 
half  to  two  inches  wide  and  rolled  into  a  rope,  was  stret- 
ched. The  band  was  attached  directly  to  the  trundle-head 
by  being  wound  three  times  around  it  —  this  latter 
precaution  was  taken  to  prevent  loss  of  power  by  the  slip- 
ping of  the  band.  The  numerous  pins  in  the  arms  were 
used  to  take  up  the  slack  caused  by  the  stretching  quality 
of  the  band.  The  horse  or  horses  used  were  attached  to 
levers  framed  into  the  hub.  They  worked  under  the  arms, 
which  were  several  feet  from  the  ground.  The  wheel, 
when  ready  for  use,  resembled  an  enormous  clothes  reel 
about  forty  feet  in  diameter.  The  belting  was  done  by 
hand.  The  flour  produced  by  this  process  was  a  cross  be- 
tween the  Extra  Quadruple  X  flour  of  today  and  ordinary 
graham  flour  and,  no  doubt,  was  healthy  and  nutritious. 
The  owner  of  the  mill  did  not  supply  the  power  —  the 
person  using  it  had  to  furnish  the  horses.  Many  persons 
came  fifty  miles  to  this  mill  and  sometimes  had  to  wait 
two  weeks  for  their  grinding. 

In  1834  William  Holland,  Sr.,  laid  out  the  original 
town  of  Washington,  being  the  part  of  the  present  town 
lying  east  of  Main  Street.  The  first  parties  to  buy  these 
lots  were  Joseph  Kelso,  Sr.,  and  Mr.  Wagner,  who 
bought  three  lots  each  at  $1.50  apiece  upon  a  year's 
credit.  This  part  of  town  was  heavily  timbered,  and  a 
great  deal  of  the  timber  was  used  in  the  construction  of 
Kelso  and  Wagner's  houses,  which  they  built  in  1834. 
This  same  year  Styles  and  Titus  Hungerford  built  the  old 
Sherman  house  on  the  site  of  the  old  City  Building.  It  was 
later  moved  to  Washington  Street. 

In  1826,  William  Thompson  came  from  Ohio,  and 
William  Weeks  and  John  Redman  from  Indiana.  Ira 
Crosby  of  New  York  came  and  settled  on  the  farm  of 
James  R.  Crane.  George  Burrow  of  Tennessee  located  on 
the  Peter  Scott  farm.  William  Birkett  of  Lancaster, 
England,  came  in  1827;  James  Harvey,  Peter  Scott,  and 
William  Heath  from  Ohio  in  1829  and  30;  and  from  this 
time  on.  the  town  grew  rapidly. 

One  cannot  name  all  of  these  first  settlers,  but  they 
could  foresee  the  wealth  of  the  land  and  the  timber  to 
build  their  log  cabins. 

William  Holland  built  the  first  house  and  improved 
the  first  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Washington.  The  second 
house  was  built  by  William  Weeks  in  the  Highland  Park 
addition.  (This  is  to  the  west  of  Lincoln  St.)  Both  of  these 
were  log  cabins.  The  first  frame  house  was  built  by  John 
Lindley  and  used  by  him  as  a  store  room,  his  having 
bought  the  stock  of  goods  brought  to  town  by  Dorsey 
from  St.  Louis. 


Dorsey  was  one  of  the  active  businessmen  connected 
with  the  growth  of  Washington.  One  finds  his  name 
figuring  in  all  its  earlier  enterprises  and  connected  with 
one  of  its  largest  additions.  All  of  these  buildings  were 
erected  prior  to  1835. 

Traveling  was  done  on  foot  or  horseback,  and  hauling 
principally  on  sleds.  Some  of  the  more  ingenious  citizens 
constructed  a  home-made  substitute  for  a  wagon  by  saw- 
ing wheels  out  of  a  log  of  wood  and  adjusting  them  to  a 
rude  gearing  made  with  an  ordinary  chopping  ax. 

The  manufacture  of  tinware  was  first  commenced  here 
in  1848  by  Charles  S.  N.  Anthony.  Before  that  time  tin- 
ware, stoves,  and  stove  pipes  were  brought  here  and  sold 
by  the  merchants. 

One  of  our  early  banks  in  Washington  was  established 
in  1858  under  the  name  of  A.  G.  Danforth  and  Co.,  and 
is  the  oldest  bank  in  Tazewell  County  run  continuously 
under  the  same  firm  name.  On  July  1,  1969,  this  bank 
became  the  First  National  Bank;  and  on  November  11, 
1969,  the  bank  moved  from  its  old  location,  where  the 
Washington  Loan  now  stands,  to  its  new  building  on 
South  Main  Street. 


The  Henry  Denhart  and  Co.  Bank  was  established  in 
1866  and  grew  rapidly.  This  bank  was  on  the  site  of  the 
present  Tazewell  County  Reporter,  and  the  Washington 
State  Bank  west  of  town  is  an  outgrowth  of  this  bank. 

It  can  be  assumed  that  land,  timber,  grain,  coal,  and 
stock  businesses  were  responsible  for  the  wealth  of  early 
Washington. 

Washington  had  a  town  organization  and  was 
governed  by  a  Town  Board  of  four  trustees.  The  first  date 
in  the  record  is  August,  1838.  "At  a  meeting  held  May 
11,  1840,  it  was  ordered  that  a  public  well  be  dug  in  the 
Public  Square  and  that  it  be  walled  with  rock  and  a 
pump  put  in  at  the  same  time."  Over  this  pump  was  built 
our  first  bandstand,  and  in  later  years  the  band  concerts 
entertained  every  Wednesday  night  in  the  summer.  The 
stores  were  open  for  business  for  the  farm  people  and 
town  folk  alike.  The  young  boys  and  girls  wore  their 
Sunday  best  clothes  and  tried  to  earn  enough  money 
during  the  week  for  a  soda  and,  if  they  were  lucky,  a  sack 
of  popcorn  as  they  wound  their  way  around  and  around 
the  square. 

The  town  of  Washington  was  incorporated  under  a 
special  act  of  the  legislature  of  the  State  of  Illinois, 
passed  February  10,  1857. 


The  first  election  was  held  April  16,  1878  and  Peter 
Fifer  was  elected  the  first  mayor. 

The  first  paper  printed  in  Washington  was  in  1853  by 
A.  A.  Couch  and  Albert  Parker  from  Peoria  and  it  was 
called  THE  WASHINGTON  INVESTIGATOR. 
Excerpts  from  this  newspaper  in  1858  taken  from  our 
Washington  Library  read: 

New  Drug  Store 

Dr.  E.  Wenger  and  Co. 
Have  just  opened  a  well  selected  stock  of  fresh  and  pure 
Drugs  and  Medicines 
Chemicals,    paints,    oils,    dye    stuffs,    fancy    toilet    articles, 
window  glass,  tobacco,  snuff  and  cigars.  We  have  erected  a 
new  soda  fountain,  where  the  thirsty  may  call  to  drink  freely, 
all  of  which  we  will  sell  cheap, — for  cash — 

The  first  funeral  was  that  of  a  child  of  Hansen 
Thomas.  It  was  buried  in  the  graveyard  on  the  old 
"Squire  Baker"  farm  (which  is  thought  to  be  about  a 
mile  northwest  of  town). 

The  city  of  Washington  celebrated  our  nation's  100th 
birthday  on  July  4,  1876.  John  W.  Dougherty,  attorney  at 
law,  compiled  and  read  the  early  history  of  Washington. 

The  first  physician.  Dr.  R.  F.  Goodwin  of  Vermont, 
located  here  in  1832. 

Washington  knew  Abraham  Lincoln  as  a  young  lawyer 
stumping  the  state  as  a  Senatorial  candidate.  He  would 
come  here  and  chat  with  loyal  Republicans  around  the 
Square  and  very  probably  stayed  overnight  here.  Citizens 
met  the  young  Lincoln  in  the  fall  of  1858  when  he  was 
waging  political  battle  against  the  experienced  incum- 
bent. Sen.  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  He  came  through  here  on 
his  way  to  Metamora  for  the  ever-famous  debate  at  the 
Metamora  Courthouse. 


Feb.  1900 — A  few  weeks  earlier  the  News  began  the 
agitation  of  better  streets  within  the  limits  of  the  city. 
The  newspaper  proposed  that  the  two  principal  streets 
through  town  should  be  graveled.  Citizens  were  to  be 
given  the  opportunity  to  vote  for  or  against  this  issue. 
Issuance  of  bonds  in  the  amount  of  $5,000  was 
recommended. 


Feb.  1900 — Twenty  years  ago  the  city  was  using  oil 
lamps  for  street  lighting  and  the  idea  of  better  fire  pro- 
tection was  laughed  at.  Things  have  changed  in  twenty 
years  and  we  go  about  at  night  under  the  glare  of  the 
bright  light  of  the  most  improved  electric  lamp,  and  on 
every  corner  stands  a  fire  hydrant.  Twenty  years  ago  we 
who  had  no  well  on  our  premises  toted  water  from  the 
town  pump;  today  it  is  brought  to  our  very  doors  at  the 
rate  of  331/3e'  per  month. 


JJjJjUi 


Jan.  1900 — The  telephone  exchange  starts  out  with 
forty-one  subscribers  and  has  at  least  a  dozen  more  to 
sign. 

April,  1900 — A  new  coin — 3«i  piece — has  been  author- 
ized by  act  of  Congress  to  take  the  place  of  the  old  coin, 
which  was  so  much  like  a  dime  that  its  coinage  was 
stopped.  The  new  M  piece  is  ordered  to  be  of  nickel, 
the  size  of  the  old  bronze  cent,  only  thicker.  In  the  center 
is  to  be  a  hole  V*"  thick  in  diameter  so  as  to  make  it  more 
easily  distinguishable  by  sight  or  touch.  It  will  be  some 
time  before  the  new  coin  will  be  in  circulation. 

May  3.  1900 — Introduction  of  the  perforated  milk 
ticket. 

May  26.  1900 — May  pave  Square  instead  of 
graveling  it. 


May  31.  1900 — A  meat  wagon  will  make  trips  through 
the  country  every  day  in  the  week. 

May  24.  1900 — The  handsome  new  water  fountain  was 
placed  in  position  in  the  Square  this  week. 

May  31.  1900 — Open  air  band  concerts  by  the 
Martini  Band. 

June  14.1900 — Movement  is  on  foot  to  pave  South 
Main  St.  from  the  Square  to  Denhart's  corner,  two 
blocks  south. 


July  5.  1900 — Laundry  collected  and  delivered.  (Could 
this  have  been  the  Chinese  laundry  located  on 
Washington  St.?) 

July  12.  1900— Pole  tax  of  $1.50  applied  to  the  streets 
and  alleys. 


Sept.  20.  1900 — Handsome  new  bandstand  dedicated 
last  Thursday. 

April  25.  1901 — Washington  has  a  lightning  calcula- 
tor in  the  person  of  Willie  Stong,  16  years  of  age.  He  does 
all  his  figuring  in  his  mind  and  with  rapidity  that  would 
startle  the  gods.  Fractions  have  no  terrors  for  him,  as 
they  are  handled  just  as  readily. 

May  2.  1901 — The  brick  for  the  street  paving  have  all 
arrived,  and  one  who  has  no  knowledge  of  the  matter 
can  little  imagine  the  immensity  of  a  pile  containing 
300,000  bricks. 

Bottle  delivery  for  milk  started. 

May  23.  1901 — A  bill  passed  by  the  Illinois  Legislature 
requires  that  all  deaths  and  births  be  reported  to  the 
county,  town  or  city  clerk  of  the  district  within  30  days, 
to  take  effect  1-1-1902. 

June  13.  1901 — Hitching  posts  and  racks  to  be  re- 
placed around  the  Square  following  the  recent  paving 
job. 


August  22.  1901 — Several  prairie  schooners  have 
passed  through  our  town  during  the  past  week. 

Oct.  3.  1901 — Bring  your  jars  around  and  have  them 
filled  with  fresh  rendered  lard  at  the  City  Meat  Market. 

March  6.  1902 — At  Tuesday  night's  council  meeting, 
Chris  Ebert  was  awarded  the  contract  for  boring  the  new 
city  well  for  $384.50.  It  is  to  be  a  10"  well  and  90 
feet  deep. 


May  15.  1902 — Electric  lights,  will  put  in  meters  later. 
All  night  lights  by  next  fall.  Price  for  a  good  meter  is  now 
$20  but  there  is  a  prospect  of  a  large  reduction  in  their 
cost.  The  Eagle  Electric  Co.  would  expect  the  users  of 
light  and  power  to  pay  a  light  meter  rent  sufficient  to 
pay  interest  on  the  meters  at  a  rate  of  no  more  than 
5-10e(  a  month  for  the  user. 

Feb.  12.  1904— Wells  Ellis  Sr.,  has  this  week  started  a 
transfer  line  and  will  have  at  the  trains  a  cab  for 
passengers  and  a  team  for  baggage. 

June  9.  1905 — City  Fathers  passed  curfew  ordinance 
for  15  year  olds  and  younger. 

September  8.  1905 — The  Cemetary  Association  com- 
pleted an  organization  on  Friday  evening. 

April  19.  1907 — Kennedy's  famous  moving  pictures 
which  have  become  so  immensely  popular  with  the 
people  in  and  around  Washington  will  make  its  regular 
fortnightly  visit  at  Danforth's  Hall,  Saturday  evening, 
April  27. 

March  20.  1908— Paper  Milk  Bottle — our  town  is  to 
have  the  manufacturing  plant — they  will  put  on  the 
market  a  new  sanitary  milk  bottle;  round  in  shape  with  a 
protecting  cover  inserted  in  the  top.  Made  of  the  best 
quality  spruce  wood  paper  and  covered  with  a  coating  of 
paraffin.  Made  in  Vi  pints,  pints,  and  quarts. 

May  1.  1908 — Washington  to  go  "dry"  next  Tuesday 
evening.  Saloon  licenses  expire  at  that  time. 

June  26,  1908 — Ice  Cream  Factory  to  be  started 
in  town. 

May  28.  1909 — Washington  shaken  by  earthquake 
about  8:40  A.M.  Rattle  of  dishes,  shaking  items  and 
some  falling  of  plastering. 

June  25.  1909 — Certified  barbering  must  be  able  to 
display  to  his  customers  his  "paid  for"  license.  Each 
barber  from  now  on  must  have  attended  barber  college; 
worked  3  years  as  an  apprentice;  or  have  been  a  barber 
practicing  3  years  elsewhere. 


December  24.  1909— The  Washington  Post,  owned 
and  operated  by  Paul  Goddard,  completely  burned  out, 
thus  losing  the  files  of  news  dating  back  many  years  were 
lost;  also  valuable  machinery,  type  and  excellent 
equipment. 


March.  1911 — Fire  Fiend  destroys  plant  of  Washington 
Light  and  Power  Co.  As  soon  as  possible  a  transmission 
line  from  Peoria  will  be  run  and  will  furnish  24  hour 
service. 

October.  1911 — Washington  sees  its  first  bi-plane. 
Aviator  Redgers,  making  a  flight  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific,  came  in  to  town  along  the  line  of  the  Chicago 
and  Alton  R.  R.  going  at  a  very  rapid  rate  and  up 
several  hundred  feet.  Later  news  told  of  finishing  his  trip 
for  a  total  of  4,231  miles  in  49  days.  Airplane  very 
dilapidated  at  end  of  trip. 

August.  1912 — Reminiscences  of  Bygone  Days — 
Henry  Jewett  remembers  when  the  site  of  the  new 
Lutheran  Church  was  just  a  grove  of  trees  and  picnics 
were  held  in  it — another  big  change  was  the  little  park 
in  the  business  square;  John  Gorin,  then  mayor,  had 
Squire  Josiah  Snyder  set  out  the  trees  now  located  there. 
(Gone  now,  killed  by  the  Elm  disease.)  Talk  about  the 
high  cost  of  living;  things  were  high  then — $32  a 
thousand  for  brick  and  brick  layers  were  paid  $8  a  day 
for  seeing  to  the  job  while  the  workers  were  paid  $4.50 
per  day.  Squire  Snyder  built  the  first  walks  in  town —  a 
wood  walk  or  board  walk  as  they  called  them  in  those 
days — another  man  recalled  how  16  deer  came  up  to 
his  place  and  he  didn't  have  a  gun.  Wild  turkeys  used  to 
be  thick,  coming  in  flocks  of  75-200.  In  1835  there  wasn't 
a  house  on  the  prairie  between  Washington  and  Eureka. 

No  stoves  until  two  men  went  to  Chicago  with  a  load  of 
wheat  and  sold  it  for  40«f  and  brought  back  the  first 
cookstove  and  heating  stove  in  the  city. 

June.  1913 — Two  new  stamp  books  will  be  put  on  sale 
soon  by  the  Post  Office  Department.  One  will  contain 
24  one-cent  and  24  two-cent  stamps,  and  the  other  99 
one-cent  stamps,  and  each  will  sell  at  l«f  over  the  actual 
value  of  the  stamps  contained  therein. 

July.  1913 — Carload  of  oil  arrived  yesterday.  The  com- 
mittee has  worked  hard  to  get  this  load  to  give  our  people 
a  test  of  using  it  on  our  streets.  If  a  little  care  is  used  all 
around,  there  is  no  question  but  our  people  will  be 
mighty  well  pleased  with  the  experiment. 

Five  wagonloads  of  gypsies  passed  through  Washing- 
ton Monday  and  stopped  long  enough  to  round  up  a 
little  trade  in  fortune  telling.  The  band  was  on  their  way 
to  Missouri,  where  a  big  meeting  of  gypsies  is  to  be  held 
to  elect  a  new  king.  The  old  king  died  some  time  ago. 

After  1900  and  before  the  First  World  War,  the  town 
celebrated  one  week  of  Chautauqua  programs  each  and 


every  summer.  This  also  was  a  time  for  "Homecoming", 
when  old  residents  or  relatives  returned  to  renew  old 
acquaintances  and  to  join  in  the  festivities  the  town 
offered  at  this  particular  time.  The  town  square  was 
decorated  with  flags  and  bunting  all  around  the  stores;  a 
tent  would  be  set  up  where  the  programs  were  held — 
usually  in  the  Lutheran  Church  yard.  There  were  lectures 
by  well-known  men  and  quartets  of  fame.  On  the  last 
night  of  the  week  (Saturday  night)  would  be  a  home- 
talent  play,  which  made  up  for  the  whole  week 
before. 


During  these  years,  a  real  moving  pictures  show  came 
to  town  and  located  on  the  north  side  of  the  square.  The 
name  of  the  theater  was  the  "Lyric".  It  could  rain,  hail, 
thunder,  and  storm;  but  the  people  of  Washington 
(most  of  them)  found  their  way  to  the  "Lyric"  to  see  the 
"Perils  of  Pauline",  a  serial  which  was  shown  week  after 
week — and  week  after  week  the  film  would  break  or  the 
lights  go  out,  but  they  sat  patiently  waiting  to  see  the 
outcome  of  Pauline's  latest  peril. 

In  the  summer  months,  we  had  the  "Airdome",  which 
was  an  outdoor  movie — you  might  say  the  first  air- 
conditioned  movie,  located  at  the  rear  of  the  old  I.  Zinser 
Drug  Store.  There  were  benches,  bleachers,  an  electric 
piano  and  flowers  of  all  kinds  planted  to  make  one  feel 
the  coolness  of  a  summer  night.  The  only  bad  feature 
was  that  if  a  storm  came  up,  one  had  to  run  for  cover. 

March,  1914 — William  Stong  in  vaudeville — Booked 
in  solid  time  in  Milwaukee.  Mr.  Stong  is  to  answer  all 
mathematical  problems  handed  to  him.  and  there  is  to  be 
a  $100  fee  deposited  at  the  box  office  for  all  correct 
answers.  He  and  his  manager  will  open  at  Appleton. 
Wisconsin,  and  make  a  32  weeks'  trip  to  the  coast. 
According  to  last  Sunday's  Milwaukee  Journal — "a 
wizard  in  figures  is  visiting  in  Milwaukee  and  doing 
astonishing  mental  stunts!"  He  can  do  in  his  head  prob- 
lems that  would  take  a  teacher  half  a  day  to  solve 
working  with  pencil  and  paper,  and  he  can  do  them  with 
uncanny  rapidity.  Stong  learned  of  his  marvelous  gift 
when  he  was  5  years  of  age  and  discovered  he  knew  the 
miltiplication  tables  from  1-12. 

October.  1914— The  1915  Overland  is  here— the 
greatest  line  ever  built,  in  its  price  range.  Touring  car 


with  electric  start  and  lighting  system;  side  curtains; 
windshield;  rain  vision;  ventilating;  magnetic  speedo- 
meter; electric  horn;  robe  rail;  foot  rest;  tire  carriers  in 
rear;  full  set  of  tools;  tire  repair  kit,  jack,  pump,  etc. 
Priced  at  $1075. 

December,  1914 — There  is  a  movement  on  foot  to 
move  the  time  an  hour  ahead.  We  don't  know  who  would 
be  benefited  by  it,  but  it  would  be  a  great  disadvantage 
to  the  farmer.  It  would  be  much  easier  to  get  hired  help 
to  quit  an  hour  earlier  than  it  would  be  to  get  them  out 
an  hour  earlier  in  the  morning.  The  sun  and  the  clocks 
agree  now  with  slight  variations  and  it  would  be  the 
greatest  folly  to  separate  them  an  hour. 

December.  1915 — William  Stong,  the  city's  mathe- 
matical wonder  is  home  from  a  several  month's  trip 
breezing  through  Indiana  and  Ohio  and  the  metro  city 
of  Chicago  and  also  Milwaukee.  He  will  hang  up  his 
stocking  in  good  old  Washington. 

January,  1918 — Meatless  and  wheatless  days  due  to 
the  World  War  which  broke  out  a  year  ago. 

November  11,  1918 — Bells  of  Washington  commenced 
their  chimes  of  glorious  peace  refrain.  From  soon  after 
6  A.M.  almost  continuously  until  noon  and  after  noon  at 
various  intervals,  the  bells  kept  ringing. 

Before  the  First  World  War.  a  tent  show  came  to 
Washington  for  one  week  every  summer.  It  was  the  Jessie 
Colton  Co.,  a  family  show,  and  Washington  welcomed 
them  with  open  arms  because  we  felt  they  were  one  of  our 
family.  They  pitched  their  tent  down  in  "Shroen's 
Pasture",  which  is  now  Nieukirk's  Cleaners,  and  on  west. 
A  different  play  was  given  each  night,  and  on  Saturday 
night  a  double  feature  was  given  for  the  price  of  one 
admission  ticket.  It  was  a  sad  day  when  Jessie  Colton 
pulled  up  stakes  and  left  Washington,  but  we  were  happy 
knowing  that  she  would  be  back  the  following  summer. 

May  31.  1917 — The  new  school  flag  pole  raised  last 
Monday  and  it  is  ready  for  the  dedication  exercises.  It  is 
double  strength  steel  pipe,  stands  70'  above  the  ground, 
and  on  its  top  is  mounted  a  large  bronze  ball.  The  time 
for  dedication  and  unfurling  the  flag  is  fixed  to  take 
place  on  War  Registration  Day,  June  5th. 

June.  1921 — Home  Talent  Play — On  Friday  and 
Saturday,  the  new  organization  known  as  the 
Washington  Dramatic  Co.  will  present  their  first  play. 
"Deacon  Dubb".  directed  by  Mrs.  Maona  Hood,  from 
Peoria,  a  former  resident  of  Washington. 

June  30.  1921 — The  new  fire  alarm  will  be  sounded 
every  day  at  noon  with  the  exception  of  Sundays  to  deter- 
mine whether  or  not  the  siren  is  in  perfect  working  order. 
In  case  of  fire,  the  sound  will  be  longer  and  continuous, 
running  up  and  down  the  scale  so  that  there  will  be  no 
misunderstanding  as  to  whether  it  is  a  test  or  a  regular 
alarm.  It  is  intended  to  have  the  alarm  sounded  from  the 
central  office  of  the  Telephone  Co..  and  in  all  cases  of 
fire,  citizens  are  requested  to  notify  central  or  the 
operator. 


November,  1 922— Circulating  library,  400  books. 
Rent  charges  15«f  each  per  week.  No  membership  fee. 
Open  nights. 


July,  1924 — New  fire  truck  will  be  delivered  next 
Tuesday.  Order  was  placed  last  March  at  a  cost  of  $8,200 
— a  speed  of  60  miles  maximum  and  has  1200'  of  hose. 

August,  1924 — Drug  store  on  wheels  started  with  a 
full  line  of  drugs,  family  remedies,  veterinarian  supplies, 
toilet  articles,  and  a  full  line  of  spices.  Prescriptions  will 
be  taken  by  the  driver  and  filled  from  the  store.  It  will 
make  bi-weekly  trips  over  a  ten  mile  radius. 

November,  1924 — City  Building  Bond  carried  by  20 
votes — proposition  gives  the  council  power  to  issue  bonds 
to  the  extent  of  $13,000  for  re-building  and  re-modeling 
the  Danforth  Hotel  for  use  as  a  City  Building. 

July  30.  1925 — The  work  of  putting  in  the  coping 
around  the  Square  is  nearing  completion. 

The  city  of  Washington  held  a  Centennial  celebration 
on  August  11,  12,  and  13,  1925.  It  was  estimated  that 
16,000  people  attended  the  different  events  during  the 
three  days. 


The  first  day's  event  was  a  pageant  given  in  honor  of 
Miss  Mary  Italin,  teacher  in  primary  school  for  nearly 
sixty  years  and  who,  up  to  that  time,  had  passed  over 
1,500  students  through  her  room.  Her  picture  now  hangs 


in  the  lobby  of  the  Washington  Grade  School.  Following 
the  pageant,  which  did  great  honor  to  Miss  Mary,  she 
was  escorted  to  our  Square  where  a  beautiful  terra  cotta 
flower  urn,  which  has  since  fallen  victim  to  vandalism, 
was  presented  to  her  as  a  memorial  gift  of  her  students. 


The  remainder  of  the  celebration  consisted  of 
addresses  by  Congressmen  and  Senators;  and  a  telegram 
from  the  President  of  the  United  States,  Calvin  Coolidge, 
was  read. 

During  the  next  two  days,  the  time  was  taken  up  with 
parades,  barbeques,  ball  games,  and  other  sport  events. 

Friday.  October  15.  1926 — A  bronze  memorial  to 
William  Holland,  purchased  by  the  townspeople,  was 
dedicated.  The  bronze  tablet  was  imbedded  in  the  brick 
work  on  the  west  side  of  the  bandstand,  which  has  since 
been  razed.  However,  the  bust  of  William  Holland  is  in 
safe  keeping  until  a  proper  spot  can  be  arranged  for  him. 


December,  1928 — The  city  of  Washington  was  jolted 
out  of  its  doldrums  when  four  bold  bank  robbers  held  up 
the  Danforth  Bank  (located  where  the  Washington 
Federal  Savings  and  Loan  now  stands)  in  broad  daylight. 
Three  months  later,  they  were  arrested. 

March,  1929 — The  first  chance  to  develop  Washington 
came  when  Caterpillar  Tractor  Company  completed 
arrangements  to  start  on  a  new  expansion  program. 
Thousands  more  men  were  to  work  in  East  Peoria,  and 
they  needed  homes.  Approximately  7,000  workers  were 
then  to  be  on  the  payroll. 

October  5.  1933 — One  of  Washington's  worst  fires 
was  discovered  when  Steimle's  Drug  Store  was  ruined  by 
fire  and  water.  It  was  never  rebuilt,  but  the  store  was 
moved  to  the  building  just  north  of  the  destroyed  store. 
A  gas  station  has  been  on  that  corner  until  recently. 

April.  1934 — The  old  brick  around  the  Square  was 
removed  as  immense  cranes  tore  up  the  sidewalks  and 
curbings  and  hauled  them  away  in  wagons. 

November.  1934 — The  new  school  gym  at  the  corner  of 
Walnut  and  Spruce  Streets,  which  serves  now  as  a  gym 
for  the  Washington  Grade  School,  was  dedicated. 

August,  1936 — The  last  wooden  water  main  was  re- 
placed on  North  Main  Street.  Original  water  mains 
were  put  down  in  1887,  and  this  was  the  last  one  to  be 
replaced  with  the  new  ones. 

October,  1936 — A  90-acre  farm  west  of  town  was  sold 
and  was  to  be  called  Sunnyland.  In  this  same  month 
Court  Drive,  off  Peoria  Street,  was  platted. 

1938 — Another  subdivision  west  of  Washington  to  be 
known  as  Beverly  Manor  was  platted. 

September,  1938 — The  city  applied  for  a  grant  for  a 
disposal  plant.  The  estimated  cost  was  $90,000,  but  the 
city's  share  was  $49,000.  A  P.  W.  A.  grant  was  to  take 
care  of  the  needs  of  the  city  for  many  years  to  come. 
Work  included  storm  and  sanitary  sewers. 

Summer,  1939 — A  new  addition  was  created  northwest 
of  the  TP&W  R.R.  tracks  to  be  known  of  Brookhill 
addition  and  the  next  year  another  addition,  known  as 
Washington  Knolls,  almost  adjacent  to  Brookhill.  An 
extension  of  Brookhill  is  Birchwood  Drive. 

January,  1941 — Work  was  progressing  on  street 
markers  and  house  numbering.  City  delivery  was  to  begin 
next  year. 

The  population  then  was  2,456. 

October.  1942 — There  was  a  new  nursing  home  in  the 
former  Harms  property  at  the  corner  of  South  Main 
and  Catherine  Streets. 

November  20,  1942 — The  high  school  dedication  was 
held  tonight. 

May,  1943 — The  Lasance  Hospital  opened  at  a  new 
location — moving  from  the  corner  of  South  Main  and 
Catherine  Streets  to  the  former  Reyburn  home  or  the 
H.  R.  Danforth  residence  on  South  Main  Street. 


June,  1943 — A  resuscitator  was  purchased  for  the  use 
of  the  community.  It  will  be  kept  at  the  Lasance  Hospital 
while  not  in  use. 


At  one  time  during  the  years  of  the  Second  World  War 
prisoners  of  war  were  fenced  in  down  at  the  old 
Dickinson  Canning  Factory. 

Willow  Bend,  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  city, 
was  opened. 

February.  1946 — Buddy  Boy  Taxi  opened  for  business. 

January,  1948 — Fire  gutted  the  Hirstein  Building  in 
the  first  block  of  North  Main  Street.  The  Hirsteins 
rebuilt — they  lived  upstairs  and  below  is  Em's  Beauty 
Bar. 

Summer.  1948 — The  city  purchased  the  first  squad 
car  to  be  used  by  our  police. 

December.  1948 — The  Washington  Chamber  of 
Commerce  began  the  Welcome  Basket  Project  to  call 
on  new  residents  and  present  them  with  gifts  from  local 
cooperating  merchants  and  information  concerning  the 
facilities  and  other  details  of  interest  about  the 
community. 

1948 — Work  was  begun  on  the  new  $145,000  Lincoln 
Grade  School,  north  of  town. 

November.  1950 — The  Lasance  Hospital  re-opened  as 
a  Nursing  Home  under  the  management  of  Mrs.  Max 
Baltz.  The  hospital  had  been  closed  since  late  March. 


1950— The  population  was  5.919. 

Construction  was  started  on  the  sewage  disposal 
plant  for  Washington. 

July,  1952 — The  new  fire  house  got  underway  as  volun- 
teer donations  aided  in  the  project.  To  $20,000  in  contri- 
butions were  an  additional  $59,000  contributed  in  labor 
and  materials.  It  was  located  at  the  corner  of  West 
Jefferson  and  North  Main  Streets.  The  fire  trucks  were 
formerly  kept  at  Reed's  Garage,  now  an  auto  body 
business. 

Within  the  next  month,  the  premier  showing  of  homes 
in  the  Devonshire  Estates,  another  new  sub-division 
north  of  town,  occurred. 

July,  1955 — Edgewood  addition,  south  of  town,  was 
opened. 

1958 — Oakwood  addition  was  opened. 
May  1.  1958 — The  worst  fire  in  22  years  destroyed  the 
Rexall  Drug  Store.  It  burned  with  a  $75,000  loss.  It  was 
rebuilt  and  used  as  a  drug  store  until  the  Spring  of  1974, 
when  Dr.  Antony,  a  new  doctor,  came  to  town  and  used 
the  building  as  his  office. 

July  9,  1959— The  bandstand  in  the  center  of  the 
square  that  was  "born"  in  1879  was  torn  down. 
July  16,  1959 — A  new  city  well  was  drilled. 
October.  1959 — One  of  the  city's  oldest  buildings  was 
torn  down  this  month,  the  old  Tobias  building  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  square  which  used  to  be  the 
blacksmith  shop.  This  is  the  present  site  of  the 
Tally-Ho  restaurant. 

January  21.  I960 — A  new  police  radio  which  enables 
the  department  to  contact  city,  county,  and  state  officials 
within  a  radius  of  30-50  miles  of  the  town,  was  installed 
in  the  police  car. 

March.  I960 — General  Telephone  Co.  announced 
local  area  dial  conversion  dates — possibly  next  year. 

April.  1960 — Tombstones  were  found  in  a  garden  plot 
at  121  South  Elm  Street,  the  oldest  bearing  the  death 
date  of  J.  Harvey,  August  16,  1839. 

September.  1960 — Another  old  building  went  down — 
the  old  Sullivan  building  located  in  the  southeast  corner 
of  the  square,  by  the  alley,  a  parking  lot  now. 

March.  1961 — The  Emergency  Squad  formation  was 
announced  by  ten  local  men.  They  will  work  with  the 
Police  Department. 

July.  1961 — Washington  sent  its  first  contestant  to 
the  Miss  Illinois  Pageant.  Dorothy  Essig  competed  but 
failed  to  place  in  the  top  ten  finalists. 

November.  1961 — The  telephone  company  changed 
over  to  dial  type  telephones. 

May  30.  1963 — The  new  fountain  and  lights  in  the 
square,  which  was  sponsored  by  the  Garden  Club  and 
public  donation,  started  operating  tonight.  Dedication 
was  the  following  day. 


April.  1964 — The  fountain  in  the  Square  was  a  state 
winner  in  civic  improvement  contest  held  for  the  State  of 
Illinois. 

November.  1964 — A  new  flag  and  pole  in  the  Square 
was  presented  to  the  city  by  the  American  Legion. 

October.  1965 — Heyl  Pony  Farm  closed  out  its  busi- 
ness after  60  years  of  raising  and  showing  Shetland 
ponies. 


June.  1967 — Miss  Amy  Blumenshine  went  to 
Washington,  D.  C.  as  the  Spelling  Bee  champion  of 
central  Illinois.  She  ranked  13th  in  the  nation. 

July,  1967 — Roehm's  Shoe  Store,  possibly  the  oldest 
business  house  on  the  Square,  was  razed.  It  was  a  frame 
building  and  was  operated  continuously  by  one  family, 
passing  from  one  generation  to  the  other.  The  lot,  at  the 
present  time,  is  vacant. 


7967 — The  Sweitzer  brothers,  Fred  and  Willard, 
donated  a  strip  of  land  off  North  Main  Street,  near  Farm 
Creek,  to  the  city. 

August,  1967 — Washington  Knolls,  in  the  east  part  of 
town  was  opened  as  a  sub-division. 

September.  1968 — Flouride  was  added  to  city  water. 

June.  1969 — Moving  day  was  the  12th  of  June  for  all 
offices  of  the  city  to  the  new  City  Building  on  Jefferson 
Street. 

July.  1969 — The  new  colonial  style  Washington  State 
Bank  opened  for  business  west  of  town. 


August.  1969 — A  contract  for  the  construction  of  an 
addition  to  the  Township  Library  let,  which  included 
repairs  to  the  present  building. 

April.  1970 — The  residents  voted  in  the  new-  sewage 
treatment  plant. 

April,  1970 — Earthmoving  machines  growled  as  they 
formed  a  parking  lot  and  the  beginning  of  a  new  per- 
manent campus  about  8  miles  west  of  Washington,  to  be 
named  Illinois  Central  College. 

April.  1970 — Washington  Woman's  Club  bought  and 
decorated  furnishings  for  the  new  City  Building — 
Colonial  reproductions,  pictures,  the  Declaration  of 
Independence. — to  make  an  attractive  interior  for  the 
early  American  architecture. 

Equipment  was  moved  in  and  surveying  begun  for  the 
construction  of  Lincoln  Street  through  Washington 
Park. 

July,  1970 — The  city  annexed  Beverly  Manor,  the 
Felkner  addition  west  of  town,  and  also  a  part  of 
Hillcrest.  Washington  grew  by  1 ,000  people. 

Assistant  Postmaster  Alvin  Staudenmaier  retired 
after  33  years  of  service.  William  Lippert  became 
Postmaster. 

February  18.  1971 — A  strip  of  land  near  North 
Lawndale  was  donated  to  the  city  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Glen  Weaver.  The  place  became  known  as  Weaver 
Park.  The  park  contained  a  beaver  dam,  and  there  were 
many  areas  to  be  used  as  nature  trails. 

February  25.  1971 — Sandy's  (now  Hardee's)  built  a 
restaurant  at  the  corner  of  route  24  and  Wilmor  Road. 

April  8.  1971 — "Man  against  Beaver-Residents  of 
Wagner  Place"  complained  that  beavers  had  dammed 
Farm  Creek  so  that  it  was  overflowing  its  banks  and  had 
become  a  hazard. 


July  22.  1971 — From  the  Washington  Association  of 
Commerce;  Corridor  A  for  the  north  route  of  route  24 
By-Pass  was  the  best. 

July  22,  1971 — 18  year  olds  were  given  right  to  vote. 

August  12,  1971 — Kentucky  Fried  Chicken  business 
was  to  open  in  about  3  months.  It  was  to  be  adjacent  to 
Hardee's  restaurant. 

August  19,  1971 — The  building  of  Heritage  House 
Apartments  on  North  Main  Street  was  begun. 

October,  1971 — Plans  were  made  for  an  apartment 
complex  development  on  Route  24  west  of  town. 

A  new  ice  skating  rink  was  planned  for  the  rear  of  the 
City  Hall. 

November  12.  1971— SAVED!  The  rare  Purple  Beech 
tree  in  front  of  Lindy's  new  grocery  store  would  not  be 
cut  down  after  all  the  protests  from  the  Town  and 
Country  Garden  Club,  petitions  from  the  grade  and  high 
schools,  and  a  recommendation  from  a  former  director 
of  the  Illinois  Department  of  Conservation  who  studied 
the  situation.  This  tree  was  on  the  former  George 
Ferner  lot. 


November  4.  1971 — City  Council  and  Washington 
Association  of  Commerce  were  to  help  finance  the  study 
and  plan  for  the  beautification  of  Washington.  It  in- 
cluded plans  for  landscaping,  remodeling  of  businesses 
and  land  use. 


January    6,    1972— The    Tazewell    County    Reporter 

moved  to  the  Heiple  Building  at  101  Washington  Square, 
formerly  occupied  by  the  Washington  State  Bank. 

January.  1972— The  City  Council  purchased  a  site  for 
a  new  sewage  treatment  plant  southwest  of  the  city. 

January,  1972 — A  new  piece  of  equipment  was  pur- 
chased to  enable  the  Washington  Rescue  Squad  to  give 
faster  service  to  the  Police  Department.  The  radio 
operator  could  broadcast  directly  to  the  Rescue  Squad 
members  through  their  personal  receiving  units. 

January,  1972 — The  beavers  were  to  be  moved  to 
Forest  Park  Foundation  in  Peoria. 

February  10.  1972— A  summary  report  of  building 
permits  issued  in  Washington  during  1971  revealed  that 
$305,000  in  commercial  structures  and  $808,000  in  new 
residential  buildings  were  constructed  last  year. 

March  23,  1972— The  Square  beautification  program 
was  discussed. 

March  30,  1972—  Miss  Beth  Alexander  was  crowned 
Miss  Tazewell  County. 

April  6.  1972 — Washington's  first  City  Administrator, 
Mr.  Rod  Clausen,  was  hired. 


April  6.  1972 — The  newly  organized  Washington 
President's  Club  held  its  first  meeting  on  March  28,  in 
the  City  Building.  The  purpose  of  the  organization  was 
to  coordinate  the  efforts  of  area  groups  for  their  mutual 
benefits. 

April  6.  1972 — Tickets  were  on  sale  for  the  Guy 
Lombardo  concert  at  the  high  school,  sponsored  by  the 
Band  Booster  Club. 


The  Park  Board,  which  was  originated  in  1968,  was 
instrumental  in  obtaining  the  Neptune  Swim  Club  as  a 
public  pool.  They  have  accomplished  many  good  things 
for  our  community. 

June  1,  1972 — The  Washington  Library  was  to  be 
completely  remodeled  and  refurnished  at  no  extra  cost 
to  the  taxpayers. 

The  Nursing  Center  at  1110  Newcastle  Road  built 
apartments  adjacent  to  the  Nursing  Home.  Each  apart- 
ment was  to  have  a  "hook-up"  with  the  central  office. 

September,  1972 — The  corridor  for  the  Route  24 
By-Pass  was  approved  by  all  State  and  Federal  agencies. 

October  19.  1972 — Mrs.  Ogilvie,  the  Governor's  wife, 
visited  Washington.  A  reception  was  given  her  in  the 
Washington  Square. 

January  25,  1973 — A  and  P  Grocery  Store  was  to  go 
out  of  business  in  February. 

A  new  shopping  center.  Valley  Forge,  was  announced 
to  be  ready  the  following  summer.  The  location  was  just 
west  of  the  Washington  State  Bank.  The  first  building 
in  line  was  to  be  the  Cinema,  then  the  Gingerbread 
House,  the  Closet;  next  was  Mr.  Steve's  Beauty  Salon 
and  Merle  Norman  Cosmetics. 

Hillcrest  plaza,  just  west  of  the  A  and  W  Restaurant, 
was  to  house  Cel-Este  Ltd.,  a  ready-to-wear  business; 
Genesis  II  a  beauty  salon;  Heights  Finance;  and  Men's 
Barber  Shop. 

Washington  State  Bank  celebrated  its  25th 
anniversary. 

February  15.  1973 — Governor  Dan  Walker  was  here 
for  the  Washington  Day  Banquet. 

March  8,  1973 — City  Council  made  a  decision  for 
Peoria  Street  to  be  widened. 

Pine  Lakes  sub-division  and  Rolling  Meadows  were 
annexed  to  Washington. 


March  15,  1973 — A  roller  skating  rink  was  to  be  built 
off  Washington  Road. 

March  29,  1973 — Ron  Gregg  was  named  the  new  Park 
Superintendent. 

June  21.  1973 — The  Tazewood  Art  League  sponsored 
a  Fair  on  the  Square.  It  was  an  opportunity  to  see  what 
the  area  artists  can  do. 

July  5.  1973 — The  house  at  106  Washington  Street  was 
torn  down,  the  space  to  be  used  as  a  parking  lot. 

August  2,  1973 — The  application  by  the  Rescue  Squad 
for  an  ambulance  grant  was  permitted. 

August  9.  1973 — Miss  Beth  Alexander  was  crowned 
Miss  Heart  of  Illinois. 


Sept.  27.  1973— The  Jaycees  planned  a  $10,000  play- 
ground project  for  the  Park  District. 


The  City  Council  took  action  on  licensing  and  register- 
ing bicycles  in  the  city.  The  police  would  have  the 
number  and  name  of  each  bicycle,  which  would  help  the 
many  cases  of  stolen  bicycles. 

August  23.  1973 — The  Highview  Hills  Country  Club 
west  of  town  opened  its  golf  course  and  food  service. 
Peoria  Street  was  ready  for  resurfacing  and  widening. 

August  23.  1973 — The  Grand  Opening  of  Valley  Forge 
Shopping  Center  occurred. 


August  30.  1973 — The  water  filtration  phase  of  the 
new  city  sewer  plant  neared  completion. 

Sept..     1973 — The     Grand     Opening     of     Hillcrest 
Shopping  Center  was  held. 


October  11,  1973 — Construction  was  begun  on  a  new 
vocational-technical  addition  to  Washington  High 
School. 

The  Washington  Business  Council's  Fall  Festival 
neared  its  two-day  run  between  Valley  Forge  and 
Washington  State  Bank. 

October  25,  1973 — Local  merchants  slated  a  "Moon- 
light Madness"  sale  from  9  - 10:50  P.M. 

November  29,  1973 — The  Nativity  scene  was  raised  in 
the  Washington  Square  to  remind  passing  motorists 
and  shoppers  of  the  Yuletide  season. 

Fourteen  women  began  canvassing  the  city  for  census 
taking  to  see  how  large  Washington  has  grown  since 
1970. 

December  6.  1973 — The  Firehouse  was  making  room 
for  the  expected  city  ambulance  which  was  to  arrive 
this  month. 

Santa  was  visiting  the  Square  every  night  this  week. 

On  December  18  and  19  more  than  13  inches  of  snow 
fell  in  our  area. 

January  3.  1974 — Judge  James  Heiple  swore  in  new 
members  of  the  City  Council.  They  were:  Don 
Gronewold,  alderman;  Bob  Summer,  alderman;  Virginia 
Tully,  city  clerk;  Ed  Habecker,  mayor;  Arden  Muller. 
alderman;  Al  Swinehart,  alderman;  and  Vince  Baker, 
city  treasurer. 


Voters    approved    a    $1.5    million    referendum 
upgrade,  renovate,  and  add  to  the  high  school. 


to 


Drivers  could  now  turn  right  on  the  red  light.  The  new 
law  came  into  effect  January  1,  1974.  Drivers  had  first  to 
stop  and  yield  to  pedestrians  or  on-coming  cars. 

January'  10.  1974 — A  branch  office  of  Child  and 
Family  Service  of  the  Peoria  area  opened  officially  this 
week  in  Trader's  Realty  office  on  Washington  Road. 

There  was  a  scarcity  of  gas,  and  it  was  rumored  that  we 
may  have  gas  rationing  before  March  first. 


The  First  National  Bank  erected  a  new  time  and 
temperature  sign  at  the  front  of  their  bank. 

According  to  the  U.S.  Bureau  of  Census, 
Washington's  population  as  of  November  27,  1973,  grew 
to  9,466.  The  amended  census  in  1970  showed  7,722. 


January  31.  1974 — Washington's  new  ambulance 
arrived  here  for  service  to  the  residents  of  the  city. 

Westlake,  a  sub-division  west  of  town,  was  annexed 
to  the  city  in  1974. 

It  is  evident  that  William  Holland,  Sr.,  was  a  generous 
and  a  cheerful  giver.  He  gave  us  the  ground  for  both  the 
Primary  and  the  Washington  Grade  School  and  their 
playgrounds,  which  would  indicate  that  he  was  a  firm 
believer  in  education.  He  gave  us  our  first  cemetery.  He 
gave  us  our  City  Square,  which  the  Garden  Club  has  so 
beautifully  planted  and  cared  for  and  which  makes 
Washington  unique  in  comparison  with  other  small 
towns  in  the  area.  We  cannot  help  but  wonder  what 
William  Holland,  Sr.,  would  think  of  his  town  were  he 
to  come  back  and  visit  us  today. 


Feb.  1919 — Eugene  Zinser  was  ten  years  of  age  last  week 
and  some  of  his  relatives  helped  celebrate  by  coming  in 
to  supper. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  Washington  neighborhood  was 
in  1828  when  Daniel  Meek,  a  justice  of  peace  from 
Waterloo,  united  James  Hendricks  and  Sallie  Redman. 


Saturday,  April  29,  1899  the  Santa  Fe  will  sell  round  trip 
tickets  to  Chicago  for  $2.00,  leaving  Washington  at  8:03 
A.M.  and  arriving  in  Chicago  at  12:35  P.M.  You  don't 
leave  Chicago  until  Monday,  May  1,  at  1:00  P.M. 
Baggage  and  bicycles  checked  on  these  tickets. 


February  17.  1949 — Approximately  100  attended  the 
Washington  Civic  club's  ladies  night  program  held 
Tuesday  evening  in  the  clubrooms  above  the  Danforth 
bank,  making  it  an  outstanding  event  of  this  year's 
activity. 


October.  1899 — Roehm  Bros.  &  Co.  in  an  advertise- 
ment: "Gentlemen:  Tired  feet  are  not  necessary  if  you 
wear  the  "F.  &  B."  Shoes  made  up  for  us  under  our  own 
firm  name;  all  sizes,  black  and  colored.  Sole  agency  for 
Washington,  Illinois."  The  prices  range  from  $3.00  for 
Box  Calf  (welt)  to  $4.50  for  men's  best  H.  H.  imported 
enamel  F.  &  B.  shoes. 


On  Thursday,  April  6,  1899  eight  inches  of  snow  were 
slowly  disappearing  and  on  Thursday,  the  13th,  just  one 
week  later,  the  thermometer  registered  82  degrees  in  the 
shade.  As  a  climate  wonder,  ours  certainly  takes  the 
cake. 


J.    R.    Gott,    a   well    known    railroad    man,    moved    to 
Washington  in  1883.  Dr.  W.  A.  Gott  was  his  oldest  son. 


Frank  B.   Hungerford  with   1.  J 
Standard  Grocery  Store. 


Wright  operated  the 


October.  1899— Henry  Denhart  &  Co.,  Bankers,  of 
Washington  have  an  ad  which  states  —  "Money  to  loan 
at  5  percent  on  Real  Estate,  with  privelege  to  repay  part 
or  all  before  due  and  stop  interest  on  amount  so  paid. 
Deposits  in  sums  of  ten  cents  and  upwards  received  in 
our  Savings  Bank,  and  interest  allowed  thereon  every  six 
months." 


William  Mosley  purchased  and  homesteaded  Lots  4  &  5, 
Block  7  in  Holland,  Dorsey,  Wathen  &  Robinson 
Addition,  original  town  of  Washington.  He  purchased 
the  lots  for  $300.00,  February  3.  1894. 


BITS  AND  PIECES 

OF  OUR  CITY  AND 

RURAL  AREA  HISTORY 


The  Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  American 
Independence  was  celebrated  by  our  fathers 
with  special  interest.  The  author  of  the 
Declaration,  then  in  the  84th  year  of  his 
age,  was  invited  to  be  present  at  the  cele- 
bration in  Washington  City.  This  is  his  answer  to  the 
invitation. 


John  Adams,  then  also  on  a  sick  bed  at  Quincy,  Mass., 
and  in  the  91st  year  of  his  age,  was  asked  for  a  toast  for 
the  coming  Semi-Centennial  Day.  He  replied:  "I  will 
give  you — Independence  Forever".  Both  of  these 
illustrious  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
passed  from  earth  on  the  very  day  in  the  gladness  of 
which  they  were  invited  to  participate. 

Material  taken  from  History  of  Washington,  Illinois, 
and  Its  Early  Settlers.  Published  in  1876. 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON'S  LETTER  ,...       .    „     ,        _,  .    ,„„ 

Monticello.  June  24th,  1826. 

Respected  Sir:  The  kind  invitation  I  received  from  you  on  the  part  of  the  citizens  of  Washington,  to  be  present 
with  them  at  the  celebration  of  the  50th  Anniversary  of  American  Independence,  as  one  of  the  surviving  signers  of 
an  instrument,  pregnant  with  our  own.  and  the  fate  of  the  world,  is  most  flattering  to  myself  and  (lightened  by  the 
honorable  accompaniment  for  the  comfort  of  such  a  journey.  It  adds  sensibly  to  the  sufferings  of  sickness  to  be 
deprived  by  it  of  a  personal  participation  in  the  rejoicings  of  to-day.  But  acquiescence  is  a  duty,  under 
circumstances  not  placed  among  those  we  are  permitted  to  control.  May  that  day  be  to  the  world  what  I  believe 
it  will  be  (to  some  parts  sooner,  to  others  later,  but  finally  to  all),  the  signal  of  arousing  men  to  burst  the  chains, 
under  which  monkish  ignorance  and  superstition  had  persuaded  them  to  bind  themselves,  and  to  assume  the 
blessings  and  security  of  self-government.  For  ourselves,  let  the  annual  return  of  this  day  forever  refresh  our 
recollections  of  these  rights  and  an  undiminished  devotion  to  them. 


Th.  Jefferson. ' 


THE  UNDERGROUND  RAILWAY 

It  is  said  the  Negro  slaves  in  the  south  were  first  en- 
couraged to  escape  to  Canada  and  freedom  by  returned 
soldiers  of  the  War  of  1812  who  were  friendly  to  their 
cause.  There  developed  from  this  a  more  or  less  organ- 
ized movement  by  various  church  groups  and  Abolition- 
ists who  helped  conceal  and  convey  them  northward. 
Nearly  all  of  the  states  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  country 
had  "stations"  along  the  route  to  Canada.  In  Elm  Grove 
township  a  Mr.  Mathews  was  a  "conductor".  In  Morton 
township  Uriah  Crosby  held  that  title.  In  Washington 
township  there  is  a  farm  now  owned  by  the  Dorward 
family  two  and  one  half  miles  south  and  a  mile  or  so 
east  from  the  City  of  Washington  where  there  was  also 
a  "station".  The  "conductor"  was  J.  Randolph  Scott 
who  owned  the  farm  at  that  time.  Many  people  may 
remember  Miss  Emma  J.  Scott  and  her  sister,  Mrs. 
George  Tobias,  daughters  of  Mr.  Scott,  who  was  born  in 
1812  and  died  in  1894. 

Queen  Victoria  of  England  helped  the  cause  by  decree- 
ing that  all  such  fugitives  who  made  it  over  the  border 
would  be  recognized  as  British  subjects.  It  is  estimated 
that  about  75,000  Negro  slaves  escaped  to  the  "Promised 
Land"  in  that  fashion. 


HOLLANDS  GROVE 


Hollands  Grove  was  so  named  because  a  large  part  of 
the  territory  received  by  William  Holland  from  the 
government  lay  in  this  vicinity.  Mackinaw  is  credited 
with  being  the  oldest  settled  area  in  Tazewell  county,  yet 
Attorney  Ben  L.  Smith  found  on  research  that  his 
ancestor,  named  Railsback,  Mackinaw's  first  settler, 
spent  his  first  winter  in  these  parts  in  Hollands  Grove. 
This  section  of  the  country  was,  as  early  as  we  have 
record,  dotted  with  log  cabins  occupied  by  Irish  wood 
cutters,  who  worked  at  hewing  out  railroad  ties  from  the 
timber  growing  here.  This  done,  they  moved  on,  no  doubt 
to  become  aldermen  or  policemen  in  some  city.  Then 
came  the  German  immigrants,  who  cleared  the  land  and 
built  farm  homes. 

The  center  of  the  community  was  the  church,  a  branch 
of  what  was  later  the  Evangelical  United  Brethren.  The 
church  was  first  a  log  building,  then  a  quite  modern 
building  at  the  corner  of  Grange  and  Hollands  Grove 
Roads.  This  stood  until  the  merger  with  the  Washington 
congregation.  Then  the  buildings  were  sold,  the  church 
being  purchased  by  a  Mr.  Patee  and  made  into  a  barn. 
This  farm  is  now  a  part  of  the  Caterpillar  Proving 
Grounds.  The  parsonage  was  purchased  by  Sam  LaConte 


and  moved  intact  to  his  place  where  it  is  now  occupied 
by  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Joseph  Wenger.  The  pastor  here  also 
served  the  parishes  of  Farmdale,  Spring  Bay,  and  Black 
Partridge. 

The  church  had  a  very  fine  bell,  which  was  given  to 
and  is  now  used  by  the  Low  Point  church.  It  was  the 
custom,  when  a  death  occurred,  to  rush  the  news,  via 
horseback,  to  the  pastor  who  would  thereupon  toll  the 
bell;  first,  one  peal  for  an  adult,  two  for  a  child.  Then  the 
bell  would  peal  out  the  years  of  age  of  the  deceased,  one 
by  one.  Also,  on  the  day  of  the  funeral,  it  was  the  custom 
to  toll  the  bell,  beginning  when  the  cortege  was  sighted 
from  the  church  steeple,  continuing  until  the  procession 
reached  the  church.  The  church  also  established 
Holland  Grove  Cemetery  and  maintained  it  until  it  was 
turned  over  to  a  Board  of  Trustees. 

While  on  the  subject  of  bells,  each  farm  home  had  a 
dinner  bell;  and  the  horses  on  the  farms  learned  the  tone 
of  their  bell,  and  when  it  rang,  it  was  next  to  impossible 
to  get  that  team  past  the  entrance  to  the  field  in  order  to 
plow  another  round. 

The  Busch  meeting,  of  a  revival  nature,  was  an  annual 
affair.  As  there  were  no  sanitary  facilities  of  a  permanent 
nature,  the  local  pastor  on  opening  day  would  announce: 
"In  order  to  avoid  any  confusion,  the  sisters  will  use  the 
hollow  on  the  right  and  the  brothers  the  hollow  on  the 
left".  Some  of  the  youth  had  beforehand  rolled  a  num- 
ber of  large  round  rocks  to  the  edge  of  the  hollow  to  the 
left.  Then  in  a  rest  intermission,  they  rolled  the  rocks 
down  the  hill.  The  scene  was  soon  enlivened  by 
preachers,  shirt  tails  fluttering,  dashing  madly  from  tree 
to  tree  to  get  out  of  range.  Fortunately,  no  one  was  hurt 
but  the  sermons  the  rest  of  the  day  bore  down  heavily 
on  the  sins  of  this  "untoward  generation". 

Also  let  us  note  the  time  when  a  church  meeting  was  in 
progress  on  the  same  night  a  couple  of  boys  decided  to 
try  out  their  new  homemade  box  kite  in  a  field  next  to 
the  church.  They  sent  it  up  with  a  lighted  lantern  tied  to 
its  tail.  In  the  course  of  the  meeting,  one  of  the  men 
went  outside  to  see  if  his  horse  was  tied  or  something.  He 
noticed  a  light  like  a  star,  behaving  like  no  decent  star 
should  act,  swinging  and  gyrating  wildly.  He  went  in  and 
told  what  he  had  seen.  The  meeting  was  adjourned  and 
all  came  out  to  see  this  phenomenon.  It  was  agreed  that 
it  was  some  sort  of  a  sign  and  that  they  had  best  go  home 
and  await  its  meaning.  It  is  said  that  one  prominent 
member  of  the  congregation  spent  the  night  under  the 
bed  among  the  crockery. 

One  indication  of  the  character  of  the  people  was  the 
fact  that  money  was  loaned  to  the  amount  of  even  one  or 
two  thousand  dollars  without  a  note  being  signed,  only 
a  verbal  promise  to  repay.  There  was  no  case  ever  noted 
where  this  promise  was  not  met  to  the  letter. 

The  main  cash  crops  of  this  locality  in  the  early  days 
were  wheat  and  clover  seed.  Names  of  families  prominent 
in  those  days  were  Dingledine,  Grosenbach,  Goebel, 
Hoelscher,  Vogelsang,  Keil,  Blumenshine,  List,  Christ, 
and  others,  no  doubt,  whose  names  do  not  occur  to  the 


writer  at  present.  Of  the  Dingledines,  they  were  among 
others  who  hauled  wheat  to  Chicago  with  teams  and 
brought  back  sawed  lumber,  in  this  instance  to  finish 
their  home,  which  was  probably  the  first  to  be  of  other 
than  the  ordinary  log  type. 

Also,  there  is  still  a  house  standing  which  in  the  second 
story  had  a  large  room  built  for  the  purpose  of  serving 
as  a  Mennonite  Church  meeting  place.  Families  attend- 
ing there  were  Schrock,  Augsburger,  Schick  and  Guth. 
Other  early  names  were  Muench,  now  Minch,  and  Riech, 
now  Rich.  Few  of  these  names  remain,  their  descendents 
have  gone  on  to  business  or  professions  or  to  engage  in 
farming  in  other  parts  of  the  country. 

COOPER  STATION 

Many  people  do  not  realize  that  Cooper  was  once 
quite  a  "metropolis".  For  some  years  before  the  turn  of 
the  century  and  after  there  was  a  grain  elevator  there 
operated  as  part  of  a  chain  owned  by  Roberts,  Moschel 
and  Mosinian  of  Morton.  It  extended  north  and  south 
along  the  Santa  Fe  Railroad.  Mr.  Frank  Sully  managed 
the  elevator  for  them.  He  was  also  the  Railway  Station 
agent  as  well  as  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  operator 
and  the  agent  for  the  Wells  Fargo  Express  Company. 
Cooper  also  had  a  post  office.  J.  M.  Cooper  was  the  post- 
master and  guess  who  he  got  to  run  it  for  him.  None 
other  than  Frank  Sully.  The  Sully  family  also  had  a 
grocery  store  and  the  post  office  occupied  a  part  of  the 
store. 

There  was  also  a  blacksmith  shop  operated  for  a  time 
by  Johnny  Potts,  an  Englishman,  who  was  formerly  a 
sailor  in  the  British  Merchant  Marine.  Mr.  Potts 
manufactured  hayracks  and  other  farm  equipment  as 
needed  by  the  people  of  the  community.  When  he  moved 
to  Deer  Creek,  Noah  Garber  took  over  the  shop. 

In  the  early  1900's  the  farmers  organized  and  bought 
the  elevator  from  the  Morton  firm.  Ed  Marshall, 
manager  of  the  elevator,  developed  quite  a  livestock 
shipping  point.  He  coaxed  the  Santa  Fe  to  stopping  their 
north  bound  morning  freight  train  at  Crandall 
Station.  Then  the  locomotive  came  up  to  Cooper  to  take 
the  loaded  stock  cars  down  to  Crandall  for  transfer  to 
the  New  York  Central  tracks  and  a  quick  trip  to  the 
Peoria  Stockyards.  This  plan  was  a  great  success  until 
motor  trucks  came  into  use.  Since  then  Cooper  has 
dwindled  to  just  an  elevator. 

In  the  early  days  at  the  Cooper  school  there  was  quite 
a  tragedy.  Peter  Sweitzer  was  a  young  pupil  of  teacher, 
William  Phillips,  who  was  a  son  of  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers,  Alfred  Phillips.  Mr.  Phillips  had  also  a  pupil 
named  Beal  who  evidently  was  punished  for  some  wrong- 
doing and  his  father  swore  he  would  get  even.  Mr. 
Phillips  was  prepared  for  him  when  he  came  as  he  had  a 
pistol  in  his  desk  drawer.  When  Beal  approached  the 
schoolhouse,  Phillips  took  the  pistol  and  went  out  to 
meet  him.  He  pushed  Beal  up  against  the  wall,  put  his 
pistol  up  against  him  and  fired.  Beal  was  dead  and 
young  Sweitzer  was  sent  to  the  well  for  a  basin  of  water 


to  wash  up  the  blood.  Strange  to  say  Phillips  was  not 
indicted  for  the  killing  as  public  opinion  was  on  his  side. 

There  were  two  brick  schoolhouses,  the  first  one  re- 
placed by  the  second  in  18%  which  is  still  in  existence, 
but  now  used  as  a  residence.  Many  of  the  pupils  went  on 
to  college  and  university.  One,  Frank  Cooper,  even 
graduated  from  Harvard  Law  School.  Another  institu- 
tion connected  with  the  school  was  the  weekly  literary 
society  meeting  held  there  and  participated  in  by  grown- 
ups as  well  as  the  younger  fry. 

In  the  early  1900's  the  farmers  of  the  community 
decided  they  wanted  telephones.  So  they  procured  some 
white  oak  poles  and  set  them  themselves.  Mr.  Frank 
Sully  procured  the  wire  and  phones  for  them.  He  also 
made  the  wet  batteries  and  established  a  central  station 
in  his  home.  By  these  means  the  Cooperites  could  talk  to 
to  Washington  and  other  places.  Each  phone  had  a  call 
signal  based  on  the  Morse  Code  symbol  for  the  first 
letter  of  the  owner's  surname.  So  when  a  person  made 
a  call  he  had  to  use  the  proper  symbol.  Needless  to 
say  anyone  on  the  line  could  listen  in  so  there  were  no 
secrets  confided  over  the  phone. 


movies.  Father  Schubert  of  St.  Patrick's  Catholic  Church 
and  Pastor  Kammeyer  of  St.  Mark's  Lutheran  Church 
conducted  services  regularly  for  them. 


THE  DICKINSON  CANNERY 

The  first  development  of  the  canning  industry  at 
Washington  began  in  1898  when  Roger  B.  Dickinson 
bought  land  for  this  enterprise.  The  ground  was  broken 
in  1909  under  supervision  of  his  sons,  Eugene  and 
Richard  Dickinson. 

A  reprint  from  the  Washington  Post  of  February  10, 
1 910,  reads  as  follows: 

"As  some  of  the  buildings  for  the  new  Dickinson 
canning  factory  are  nearing  completion,  our  people  are 
commencing  to  realize  what  a  big  plant  the  factory  will 
make  when  completed.  It  is  by  far  the  biggest  thing  that 
ever  came  to  Washington.  It  means  an  expenditure  of 
from  $50,000  to  $100,000  in  money  and  in  giving  employ- 
ment of  from  thirty  to  fifty  men  all  through  the  winter 
and  probably  until  the  canning  season  in  the  fall  when 
several  hundred  will  be  employed." 

As  the  business  continued  to  grow,  the  cannery  packed 
an  increasing  volume  of  peas,  corn,  and  pumpkin. 

In  1929  the  company  was  sold  by  the  Dickinson's  to 
Libby,  McNeill  and  Libby.  Robert  Dickinson  continued 
with  the  firm  as  resident  manager  of  seven  canning 
plants.  He  now  resides  at  401  South  Main,  Washington. 

During  the  later  part  of  World  War  II  about  250 
German  prisoners,  captured  during  the  African  cam- 
paign, were  quartered  in  the  back  part  of  Libby's  ware- 
house. Libbys  had  contracted  for  the  prisoners'  labor  at 
fifty  cents  an  hour  and  of  this,  each  prisoner  personally 
received  ten  cents  per  hour.  Army  guards  from  Camp 
Ellis  were  in  charge.  The  prisoners  were  under  a  German 
S.S.  officer,  had  their  own   kitchen.  PX,  barber,  and 


The  prisoners,  mostly  age  thirty  or  above,  were  willing 
workers.  About  twenty-five  percent  of  them  were  highly 
skilled  machinists,  blacksmiths,  electricians,  and 
horologists.  They  sang  as  they  marched. 

Work  parties,  with  their  Army  guards,  left  the  plant 
by  Libby  bus  to  snap  sweet  corn  in  the  fields,  work  in  the 
pea  vineries,  or  in  the  canneries  in  Eureka  and  Morton. 
The  prisoners  worked  side-by-side  with  U.S.  civilians. 
Locally  Libbys  also  canned  fruit  cake.  Some  of  the  peas, 
corn,  pork,  applesauce,  and  fruit  cake  were  canned  for 
the  Army  and  Red  Cross.  Area  farmers  could  arrange  to 
use  work  parties.  The  cannery  is  not  in  use  anymore, 
but  some  of  the  buildings  are  still  standing  at  the  west 
end  of  Holland  Street. 

The  following  material  was  taken  from  Collier's 
Magazine  May  16,  1953.  The  story  of  Reinhold  Pabel, 
"Prisoner  of  War  Escape". 


"From  January  2,  1945,  until  early  September,  1945, 
I  (Reinhold  Pabel)  was  held  in  prisoner-of-war  camps  at 
Camp  Grant,  Fort  Sheridan  and  Camp  Ellis,  all  in 
Illinois.  During  this  period,  I  accumulated  about  $15  in 
American  money  by  selling  my  medals  and  war  souvenirs 
to  guards.  I  also  bought  a  white  sport  shirt  and  a  package 
of  blue  dye  from  a  guard;  I  told  him  I  wanted  to  color  a 
pair  of  GI  khaki  pants  for  use  in  a  play  staged  by  a  group 
of  prisoners.  After  these  purchases,  I  had  $10.20  left. 
Early  in  September,  1945,  I  was  transferred  from  Camp 
Ellis  to  Camp  Washington,  near  Peoria.  Washington  was 
a  small  camp  holding  about  200  prisoners  who  were 
working  in  a  corn  cannery. 

On  the  morning  of  September  10th,  after  answering 
eight-o'clock  roll  call,  I  went  to  my  tent  and  put  on  my 
white  sport  shirt  and  blue-dyed  pants;  then  I  strolled 
along  the  barbed  wire  fence.  Out  of  the  corner  of  my  eye. 
I  watched  the  guard  in  the  sentry  tower.  When  he  turned 
his  back,  I  ducked  through  the  skimpy  fence  and  into  a 
clump  of  trees. 

The  prison  stockade  was  about  fifty  yards  from  a  high- 
way and  traffic  was  fairly  heavy.  Concealed  from  the 
camp  by  the  trees,  I  started  waving  my  thumb.  Within 
two  minutes,  a  farmer  driving  a  truck  picked  me  up.  In 
those  days,  it  was  considered  patriotic  to  pick  up  hitch- 
hikers. I  found  the  bus  station.  At  the  ticket  window  I 
only  uttered  one  word:  "Chicago?".  The  ticket  seller 
said  "Eleven  thirty",  and  I  was  on  my  way  to  Chicago. 


Only  ten  days  after  his  escape  he  walked  into  the 
Social  Security  Administration  office  in  Chicago  and 
applied  for  a  Social  Security  number.  The  clerk  who 
helped  me  to  fill  out  an  application  blank  asked: 
"What's  your  name?"  I  thought  fast.  Phillip  was  a 
familiar  name  both  in  Europe  and  the  United  States 
and  would  match  my  accent.  I  cast  my  eyes  about  the 
office  the  word  BRICK  stared  at  me  in  big  black  type 
from  an  advertisement  on  a  calendar  hanging  on  the 
wall.  "Phillip  Brick,"  I  said. 

He  was  a  former  noncommissioned  officer  of  the  1 15th 
Panzer  Grenadiers  of  the  German  First  Army.  He  had 
been  taken  prisoner  on  October  13,  1944.  For  almost 
eight  years  after  that,  he  lived  openly  in  Chicago  under 
the  name  of  Phillip  Brick.  He  washed  dishes  in 
restaurants,  set  pins  in  a  bowling  alley,  clerked  in  a  book- 
store and  worked  in  the  circulation  department  of  the 
Chicago  Tribune  while  accumulating  the  $450.00  it  took 
to  open  his  own  bookstore.  He  courted  and  married  and 
American  girl.  They  had  a  son.  Six  months  after  his 
escape  he  filed  his  first  American  income-tax.  He  filed 
every  year  under  name  of  Phillip  Brick.  He  was  arrested 
in  the  back  room  of  his  bookstore,  after  he  had  been  at 
liberty  for  almost  eight  years.  If  deported  he  hoped  he 
would  be  able  to  return  to  the  United  States  some  day." 
We  were  unable  to  find  out  what  became  of  Reinhold 
Pabel. 


WASHINGTON  HOMES 


121  S.Cedar 

Present  owner  John  Williams 

Original  owner  Charles  Holland 


Built  1834 


212  S.  Main 

White  Funeral  Home  in  winter 

Former  home  of  Henry  Denhart 


Remodeled  in  Summer  of  1974 — White  Funeral  Home 


1 16  S.  High 

Present  owner  Mrs.  Ella  Hartman 

Original  owner — Witte  Kem 


•V'^^BHI 


205  S.  High 

Present  owner  John  R.  Eppelheitner 

Original  owner — Rev.  E.  Von  Freedon       1893 


121  S.  High 

Present  owner  John  Kent 

Original  owner — John  P.  Wrenn 


1886 


19  S.Cedar 
Present  owner  Mrs.  June  Kjes  Robertson 
Original  owner — Mr.  David  hm 


200  S.  High 

Present  owner  Mrs.  Ethel  Storey 

Original  owner — E.  E.  Heiple 


1890 


121  S.  Elm 

Present  owner  P.  Cagle 

Original  owner — W.  B.  Harvey 


^> 


301  Eldridge 

Former  W.  S.  Norris  home 


706  Peoria  St. 

Owned  by  Muller  Estate 


114  E.Holland 

Present  owner  Robert  P.  Adams 

Built  for  Ben  Tobias 


1870-1876 


518  S.  Elm 

Present  owner  Richard  Roth 

Former  John  Belsly  home 


604  Catherine  St. 

Present  owner  Ron  Dingledine 

Former  owner — W.  A.  Pheiffpr 


208  Peoria  St. 

Present  owner  Walter  Wind 


1874 


i"*8**** 


311  S.  Main 

Present  owner  Wilson  Kimmell 

Former  owner — C.  V.  Miles 


706  E.  Holland 

Apartment  House 

Former  home  of  Henry  F.  Heiple 


1890? 


721  W.Jefferson 

Present  owner  Mrs.  Harley  Heyl 

Former  home  of  George  W.  Bayler 


127  S.  Main 

Present  owner  Mrs.  Richard  Magee 

Built  for  H.  D.  Harms  in  1896 


108  Catherine 

Present  owner  Robert  Garber 
Original  owner — E.  E.  Heiple 
Built  before  1890 


i  /QEmjOt 


120  W.Holland 

Present  owner  Edward  Essig 

Built  for  Asa  Danforth 


106  W.  Holland 

Habecker-Mason  Funeral  Home 
Built  for  A.  G.  Danforth 


m 

sLl^ 

'YsUft 

|l 

102  E.  Holland 

Former  Washington  Nursing  Home 


811  N.  Main 
Heyl  Pony  Farm 


310  S.  Main 

Present  owner  Kent  Macy 

Built  for  Elijah  Chaffer 


125  S.  Main 

Present  owner  Rae  Guth 

Orieinal  owner — Z.  A.  Whitchil 


123  S.  Main 

Built  by  Julius  Roehri 


106  S.  Market 

Owned  by  Warren  Flowers 


114  Burton  St. 
Owned  by  Ben  Dubois 


1 10  S.  Market 
Owned  by  Lida  List 


108  S.Cedar 

Occupied  by  Vaunie  Gresham 


504  S.  Main 

Bradle  Estate — Owned  by 

George  Myers  about  1900 


L  \ 

¥\ 

WF 

402  S.  Main 


500  S.  Main 

Present  owner  Mrs.  Theresa  Bradle 

Built  for  Charles  S.  Birkett 


105  Washington  St. 

Built  1858  or  '68  by  a  Mr.  Dixon 

Home  of  first  mayor — Mr.  Fifer.  Owned  by  Dr. 

Zinser.  Now  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  M.  Martini 


H.  A. 


700  S.  Main 

Owned  by  Dewey  Atterberry 


January:  1924 — C.  J.  Schmaltz  had  quite  a  surprise 
when  he  found  a  man's  clothing,  good  as  new.  in  his  hay 
loft  recently-  No  clue  as  to  how  they  got  there. 

October,  1924 — The  Lyric  Theater  will  reopen  its  doors 
to  the  people  of  Washington  with  the  pledge  of  its 
manager.  Mr.  F.  B.  North,  that  only  the  best  pictures 
will  be  shown  for  the  screen  entertainment  of  the  Lyric's 
patrons. 


January,  1924 


L.   E.  RUDY 
AUTO  PAINTING 

and 
TOP  and  CURTAIN 

REPAIRING 


Phone  118 


North  Side  Early  1880's 


■  DRV  GOODS 


-  -J- 


- 


WASHINGTON 
SQUARE 
OVER 
THE  YEARS 


1800's 


EARLY 
1900's 


South  Main  Street  1907 


r 


North  Side  Early  1900's 


1910-1911  North  Side 


North  Side  1900's 


Center  of  Square  1900's 


iisp^HBfife 

PJSS'g 

_■  •".  __.   j[ 

_-^_kJ§L3&i 

Center  of  City  Square 


East  Side 


South  Side 


North  Side  and  East  Side  of  North  Main 


East  Side 


EARLY 
1940's 


Southeast  Side 


South  Main  St. 


Center  of  Square 


North  Side 


1950's 


Heiple  Building 


1960's 


North  and  East  Side 


North  Side 


South  Side  and  South  Main 


East  Side  and  Walnut  St. 


West  Side  and  North  Main 


West  Side  and  Peoria  St. 


i 


1969 


SEPTEMBER 
1974 


Center  of  Square 


South  Main  Street 


East  Side  North  Main  Street 


3'  fri 


North  Side 


South  Side 


Northeast  Side 


East  Side 


West  Side  North  Main  Street 


Walnut  Street 


Center  of  Square 


Peoria  Street 


BUSINESS 

HOUSES 

AROUND  THE 

SQUARE 

1974 


Washington  Autobody,  126  North  Main  St.  started 
in  business  on  October  1,  1966.  David  Bearden  bought 
the  building  from  the  Reed  brothers,  Willard  and 
Gervin.  In  the  early  twenties  the  Reeds  bought  the  build- 
ing from  Charlie  Zimmerman. 

Herbst  Company,  118  North  Main  St.  originated 
April  1,  1942.  The  building  was  purchased  from 
Strubhar  Hardware  business.  R.  G.  Herbst  spread  north 
taking  in  three  buildings  and  it  was  then  a  furniture 
store  operated  by  Mr.  Herbst  and  then  by  his  son  George. 

Bob's  True  Value  Hardware  store  at  108-110  North 
Main  St.  is  owned  by  Robert  Klings.  Klings  has  been  in 
business  since  January  1,  1965.  Henry  Esser  built  the 
building  in  1920  and  it  was  used  as  a  grocery  store, 
operated  by  Fred  Muller  —  also,  Johnny  Leonard  started 
his  bakery  at  this  place  and  Henry  Ganzhorn  set  up  a 
shoe  repair  shop  in  a  portion  of  the  building.  Later,  Ben 
Franklin  Store,  with  Frank  Herbst  as  owner,  took  over 
the  entire  building,  until  1971  when  the  store  was  moved 
to  Peoria  Street. 

Foster  Jewelry,  with  Edward  Foster  as  owner,  has  been 
on  the  square  since  August  21,  1959.  He  was,  at  first, 
located  at  139  Washington  Square  and  in  June,  1971  he 
moved  to  106  North  Main  St,  the  former  Steimle 
Pharmacy  and  Don's  Pharmacy  location.  Years  ago  this 
was  owned  by  M.  C.  Martini  who  ran  a  shoe  store. 

Don's  Pharmacy,  Inc.  located  at  100  South  Main  St. 
came  to  Washington  on  March  17,  1959.  He  at  first 
operated  the  same  store  as  Mr.  Steimle,  but  he  built  his 
own  building  and  moved  there  on  April  19,  1971.  His  is 
the  newest  building  on  the  square.  This  location  is  the 
old  Pfeiffer  block.  In  later  years  Mickey's  Lunch  Room 
stood  on  the  corner  and  Mrs.  Mary  Spring  had  a  dress 
shop  there.  A  Lincoln  Lending  Library  also  carried  on 
business  in  a  small  portion  of  the  block. 

Gamble  Store  at  110  South  Main  Street  is  owned  and 
operated  by  Mr.  Richard  Scott  and  his  wife,  Ethel.  This 
was  known  as  the  Ideal  Hardware  store  for  twenty-four 
years,  until  Mr.  Scott  took  over  on  January  1,  1951. 
Just  prior  to  this  time  Dorman  Engle  had  the  store  for 
three  years.  Before  that  time.  Bride's  Hardware  operated 
a  tin  shop. 


Dr.  Frank  Ierulli  has  been  at  112  South  Main  St.  for 
ten  years.  Before  that  time,  Bob  Roehm  had  a  clothing 
store  there. 

Chuck's  Appliance  at  116  South  Main  St.  is  owned 
and  operated  by  Charles  Alexander  since  April,  1969.  It 
was  formerly  an  appliance  store.  Prior  to  that  time,  Paul 
Thrailkill  had  a  grocery  store  in  the  1930's.  Kroger's 
grocery  store  had  a  business  on  the  same  site  at  one  time. 
Years  and  years  ago  Moyer's  Bakery  and  Weppner's 
Confectionary  operated  a  store  there. 

The  Village  Baker,  118  South  Main  Street  is  owned  by 
Herbert  Sharp  who  does  wholesale  and  retail  business. 
This  was  the  location  of  the  Post  Office  for  many  years. 

The  Courier  at  120  South  Main  Street  is  owned  by 
Roger  Hagel  since  September,  1973.  It  was  formerly 
owned  by  Cletus  Bride  and  used  as  a  tin  shop.  At  one 
time  Lester  Wood's  Jewelry  Store  was  located  there  — 
also  U.  O.  Ullom  and  Pearl  Rapp  had  a  millinery  store 
years  ago. 

The  South  Side  Barber  Shop  at  106  Washington 
Square  is  owned  by  Charles  Rider  since  1946.  The  pre- 
vious owner  was  Herman  Spiker  who  had  worked  for 
Walt  Holland  as  a  barber  and  then  moved  to  this  loca- 
tion in  the  1920's. 

The  building  had  previously  been  owned  by  Paul 
Goddard  and  Tip  Kilby  who  ran  the  local  newspaper 
until  the  early  40's. 

The  upstairs  entry  beside  the  barber  shop  went  up  to 
the  old  Commercial  Club,  which  was  later  the  office  of 
the  Bull-Dog  Insurance  Company.  In  addition  to  this, 
Gertrude  Peterson  operated  a  beauty  shop  up-stairs. 

The  present  owners  of  the  Knit  and  Stitch  Shop  at 
108  Washington  Square  are  Mrs.  Robert  Baer  and  Mrs. 
Charles  Rider,  where  they  have  operated  their  knitting 
shop  since  May,  1969.  Chuck's  Appliance  was  located 
there  for  several  years.  Prior  to  that,  for  many  years,  it 
was  the  office  of  the  Tazewell  County  Reporter  owned  by 
Jim  Hanna  before  him  and  for  the  longest  period  of  time, 
by  Paul  Goddard  and  Tip  Kilby. 

Dr.  H.  K.  Mueri  at  110  Washington  Square  has  main- 
tained his  dental  office  there  since  1931.  He  has  been  on 
the  square  for  forty-three  years.  He  has  just  recently  been 
awarded  a  Life  Membership  in  the  American  Dental 
Association.  Prior  to  this  time.  Dr.  Morrow  occupied 
the  office. 

The  South  Side  Tavern  has  always  been  a  restaurant 
and  a  tavern  and  has  had  many  owners,  one  familiar 
name  being  Homer  Waughop,  who  is  still  living. 

Circle  Four  Realty,  at  116  Washington  Square,  is 
owned  by  Don  Smelz  who  sells  real  estate.  Prior  to  this, 
the  building  was  used  as  a  meat  market.  The  latest 
butcher  being  Mr.  Delmar  Brubaker,  then  prior  to  him, 
Dave's  Meat  Market,  and  prior  to  that  time  by 
Mr.  Finley.  Serving  the  longest  time  as  a  butcher,  was 
Mr.  Julius  Ortwein.  He  and  Mrs.  Ortwein  came  here 
from  Beardstown  as  bride  and  groom  and  remained  all 


of  their  lives.  Mr.  Ortwein  butchered  his  own  meat  at 
the  end  of  South  Wilmer  Road. 

The  former  drive-in  teller  window  for  the  First 
National  Bank,  then  the  Merle  Norman  Cosmetics,  is 
now  the  Hutchings  Printing  Shop.  It  opened  for  business 
the  summer  of  1974. 

Sander's  Custom  Draperies  is  located  off  the  square 
south  of  the  Washington  Federal  &  Savings  Loan. 

The  Washington  Federal  Savings  moved  to  their  pre- 
sent location,  128  Washington  Square  —  since  August 
1970.  They  were  previously  located  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Square  and  known  as  Washington  Savings  and  Loan. 
In  1910  this  business  originated  out  of  the  Denhart 
bank  —  Building  and  Loan  Association  Building.  This 
location  was  that  of  the  Danforth  Bank  until  its  move  to 
their  new  location  on  South  Main  Street. 

Dr.  C.  J.  Forrette  first  came  to  Washington  in  1948 
and  practiced  medicine  in  the  Slonneger  building.  After 
going  to  Chicago  to  further  his  training,  he  came  back 
and  located  in  the  Hirstein  Building  on  North  Main 
Street.  Fifteen  years  ago  he  purchased  the  block  of  land 
which  is  north  of  the  Washington  Federal  Savings  and 
east  on  Walnut  Street.  In  1962  Dr.  Forrette  moved  into 
his  new  office  on  the  corner,  then  there  is  an  office  build- 
ing, then  the  Tally-Ho  restaurant.  At  the  end  of  this 
block,  Dr.  Forrette  built  Marci's  Pizza  Parlor  managed 
by  Marshall  Underwood  who  also  manages  the  Tally-Ho. 

The  Village  Cobbler  at  116  Walnut  St.  is  owned  by 
Ray  Ceglinski.  He  went  in  to  business  in  July,  1972.  This 
was  known  as  the  Clifford  Slonneger  building. 

NAPA  Auto  Supply,  formerly  Casco,  has  been  in  busi- 
ness since  1965  at  120  Walnut  St.  It  formerly  housed  the 
Post  Office  —  prior  to  that  was  Ed  Essig's  auto  agency, 
Herbert  Marshall's  Plymouth  and  Chrysler  agency. 

Ingold  Standard  Service  at  119  Walnut  St.  has  been 
owned  by  Richard  Ingold  since  February  4,  1965.  He 
remodeled  the  station  in  1972.  The  parking  lot  to  the 
west  of  the  station  is  the  site  of  the  old  city  building, 
before  that,  the  Danforth  Hotel. 

Bob's  Barber  Shop  has  been  in  business  at  139 
Washington  Square  (downstairs)  since  1948.  He  moved 
from  South  Main  St.  where  he  had  been  in  business  since 
1938. 

Herman  F.  Essig  started  placing  loans  for  the  First 
Federal  Savings  and  Loan  Association  in  1938  and 
opened  his  office  in  1940.  The  business  was  organized  as 
Washington  Realty  in  1942  to  also  include  Henry  Esser. 
August  Esser  and  Harold  Anderson.  In  1962  Herman 
Esser  became  sole  owner.  The  business  has  been  located 
at  139  Washington  Square  since  its  inception. 

Before  that  time,  this  was  the  site  of  Brunnenmeyer's 
grocery  for  years  and  years  —  also  the  site  of  a  tavern  at 
one  time.  Also,  the  site  of  a  meat  market  in  the  second 
section  of  that  block. 

In  1973,  it  was  organized  as  Alexander-Essig 
Insurance  Agency  in  conjunction  with  Washington 
Realty  Association.  Richard  Alexander  and  Herman 
Essig  are  partners. 


Schierer's  Dairy  Incorporated  has  been  located  at  114 
South  High  St.  since  November  1965.  This  was  the 
original  site  of  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Brunnenmeyer's  house. 

Marshall's  Tavern,  located  at  131  Washington  Square, 
was  taken  from  the  name  of  Orville  Marshall,  who  ran 
the  place  as  a  restaurant  and  tavern  for  many  years. 
After  his  death  it  has  been  taken  over  by  different 
managers.  In  previous  years  it  was  a  restaurant  operated 
by  Frank  Nutty  and  named  the  Minnehaha.  The  building 
had  been  owned  by  Jake  Sharp  and  George  Mahle.  At 
one  time  this  place  was  a  tailor  shop,  operated  by  Faye 
Land.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Land  lived  upstairs. 

The  Fab  and  Trim  shop  is  now  located  at  127 
Washington  Square.  Before  this  time  it  was  the  Tazewell 
Theater  for  many  years.  In  the  early  days,  Mel  Frederick 
carried  on  business  for  the  American  Express  Company 
and  his  father  Ben  Frederick  had  a  harness  shop  in  the 
rear  of  the  building. 

Central  Illinois  Light  Company  at  123  Washington 
Square  has  been  at  their  present  address  since  1936. 
Prior  to  this  time  they  were  in  a  building  at  109  North 
Main  St.  This  building  has  been  torn  down  and  is  used 
as  a  parking  lot.  Russ  Faubel  is  the  present  manager  of 
CILCO.  Years  ago  this  was  the  location  of  Miller 
Furniture  and  Undertaking  parlor. 

Land's  —  a  store  for  men's  wearing  apparel  —  at  121 
Washington  Square  originally  was  owned  by  Mr.  Faye 
Land.  Clarence  Zimmerman  started  working  for  him  as  a 
young  boy  and  now  he  is  part  owner  of  the  store  along 
with  Mrs.  Land.  He  has  been  at  the  present  address  for 
twenty  years. 

The  Town  and  Country  Fashion  Shop  at  117 
Washington  Square  is  owned  and  operated  by  Miriam 
Grimm  and  Marjorie  Gerber  of  Washington.  They  have 
been  in  business  since  September  1,  1960.  At  one  time 
Walter  Holland  had  a  barber  shop  here  and  a  pool  room 
in  the  rear.  A  popcorn  stand  stood  out  in  front  on  band 
concert  nights,  filled  with  buttery  popcorn  and  people 
stood  in  line  to  make  their  purchases. 

Mr.  Kenneth  W.  Black,  attorney,  and  sons  Kenneth 
L.  and  Bruce  W.  who  are  associated  with  him  in  the  prac- 
tice of  law,  are  located  at  115  Washington  Square. 
Mr.  Black  moved  from  the  Joos  Building  in  1970.  The 
Washington  Savings  and  Loan  was  located  here  prior  to 
this  time  when  they  moved  to  the  former  Danforth  First 
National  Bank.  Before  the  Savings  and  Loan,  this  was 
the  office  of  the  Dunnington  and  Garber  Insurance  and 
Building  and  Loan. 

Witzig  Shoe  Store  at  113  Washington  Square  followed 
the  Family  Shoe  Store.  Before  that,  the  A  and  P  Grocery 
store  was  located  there  for  many  years. 

Dr.  V.  A.  Antony,  M.D.  located  at  105  Washington 
Square  is  a  new  physician  in  town.  Before  Dr.  Antony, 
Rexall  Drug  store  was  there  for  many  years.  Before  that 
time,  Tully's,  Pope's,  Walter  Linder,  and  C.  F.  Brady,  in 
that  order.  Before  any  of  these  people,  was  Dr.  Alphonso, 
who  we  read  about  in  the  first  early  days  of  Washington. 


The  Tazewell  County  Reporter,  our  weekly  newspaper, 
is  located  at  101  Washington  Square  and  is  owned  by 
the  Tazewell  Publishing  Company,  Morton,  Illinois. 
This  corner  building  was  the  home  of  the  old  Denhart 
Bank  which  went  in  to  receivership  in  1933.  It  was  then 
taken  over  by  Rae  C.  Heiple.  In  the  basement  for  many 
years  was  the  Huguet  and  Schoch  barber  shop. 

Rae  C.  Heiple,  attorney,  is  located  at  107  North  Main 
Street.  This  is  known  as  the  Heiple  and  Heiple  building. 
He  has  two  sons  both  being  attorneys.  Rae  C.  II  is  a 
banker  at  Abingdon,  Illinois  and  James  is  Judge  in 
Pekin,  Illinois.  The  Heiples  are  native  Washingtonians 
and  Mr.  Heiple,  Sr.  has  lived  here  all  of  his  life.  At  one 
time  Dr.  Cohen  practiced  medicine  here. 

Em's  Beauty  Bar  (Mrs.  Verland  Bachman)  at  117 
North  Main  St.  has  a  new  beauty  shop  at  this  address. 
This  was  the  old  Dunnington  Feed  store  in  many  years 
past.  Several  different  business  have  occupied  this 
address  in  recent  years.  The  place  has  been  remodeled 
after  a  terrible  fire  in  the  50's. 

Slagell  Realty  Company  at  119  North  Main  St.  is 
owned  by  LeRoy  Slagell.  Verlee  Boote's  beauty  shop 
was  there  at  one  time. 

Esser-Summer  Inc.  is  located  at  121  North  Main  St. 
Henry  Esser,  President;  Robert  Summer,  Secretary- 
Treasurer;  —  This  was  organized  July  1,  1965  —  Two 
former  agencies  merged  —  both  going  back  to  the  early 
20's  and  30's  —  Snell,  Esser,  Kimmell,  Joe  Stormer 
Agency,  Lucy  McLaren,  Dunnington  Agency.  Later, 
Emanuel  Garber  Agency,  then  Wm.  Engel  Agency. 

The  Cellar  at  101  Washington  Street,  opened  for  busi- 
ness on  11-1-73.  They  deal  in  antiques  and  gifts  and  it  is 
owned  by  Arlene  Faubel,  Karen  Kaufman,  Lynne 
Brinker,  Ann  Faubel  and  Margaret  Sullivan.  The  build- 
ing was  built  in  1917  by  Dr.  H.  A.  Zinser  where  he  prac- 
ticed medicine  until  ill  health  forced  him  to  retire.  It 
was  then  taken  over  by  Dr.  L.  E.  Monroe  who  died  in 
1973. 

Ron  Hess  is  the  owner  of  Hess  Realty  Company  at  603 
Peoria  Street. 


Wm.  L.  Buck  is  the  owner  of  the  Buck  Realty  Co.  at 
204  Peoria  St. 

V.  I.  Strubar  and  Sons  Plumbing  and  Heating 
establishment  is  located  at  203  Peoria  Street.  Their 
father  was  the  former  owner  of  a  hardware  store  and 
plumbing  business.  Now,  the  sons  and  the  grandsons 
have  taken  over  the  business. 

Lindy's  Grocery  store  at  110  Peoria,  St.  is  owned  by 
Clarence  Linsley.  He  was  formerly  located  in  part  of  what 
is  now  Don's  Pharmacy  building.  He  moved  into  his  new 
building  September  3,  1970. 

The  new  Ben  Franklin  owners  are  Clarence  and  Larry 
Gasperi  who  bought  the  store  from  the  Frank  Herbst 
family  on  March  1,  1973.  They  moved  the  Ben  Franklin 
store  from  108-1 10  Main  St.  in  September  of  1970  where 
the  Herbst  had  been  in  business  since  1940. 

Jack  Pudik  Company,  a  commercial  artist,  is  located 
at  1 16  Peoria  St.  where  Coy  Martin  and  his  wife  lived  and 
Mr.  Martin  was  in  the  barber  business.  Mr.  Pudik  pre- 
viously worked  for  Caterpillar.  He  went  in  to  business  in 
January,  1971. 

Morton  Realty  Company  at  115  South  Main  St.  is 
operated  by  Mr.  Fred  G.  Joos,  Sr.  and  Fred  G.  Joos,  Jr. 
They  have  been  in  business  since  January  1,  1950.  They 
were  partners  with  Hess  Realty  since  1946  and  prior  to 
that  worked  for  Caterpillar.  The  building  was  formerly 
the  Perry  Birket  residence,  then  it  became  part  office  and 
apartments. 

The  Professional  building  at  118  Peoria  St.  was  built 
in  1954  on  the  original  site  of  the  old  primary  school 
where  Miss  Mary  taught  for  many  years. 

These  are  the  businesses,  who  at  this  time,  occupy 
offices  in  the  building. 

H.  W.  Engel,  DDS 

J.  H.  Lichtenwalter  OD 

State  Farm  Insurance  with  Wm.  Nicel  as  agent 

Philip  H.  Baer  and  Associates  SC  MD 

Moehle,  Reardon.  Smith  and  Day  LTD  law  office 


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Rough  and  rude  though  the  surroundings  of  these  pioneers  may  have  been,  they  were, 
none  the  less,  honest,  sincere,  hospitable,  and  kind  in  their  social  relations. 
It  is  true,  as  a  rule,  there  is  a  greater  degree  of  real  humanity  among  the  early 
pilgrims  of  any  new  country  than  there  is  when  the  country  becomes  older  and  richer. 
If  there  is  an  absence  of  refinement,  it  is  more  than  compensated  for  in  the  presence 
of  generous  hearts  and  truthful  lives.  They  are  void  of  hypocrisy  themselves  and  despise  it  in  others. 
They  hate  cowardice  and  sham  of  all  kinds  and  maintain  and  cultivate  a  sterling  integrity  and 
fixedness  of  purpose  that  seldom  permits  them  to  prostitute  themselves  to  any  narrow  policy  or 
artifice.  Such  were  the  characteristics  of  the  men  and  women  who  pioneered  the  way  to  the  township 
of  Washington. 

History  of  Tazewell  County 
1879 


BIOGRAPHICAL 

SKETCHES  OF 

EARLY  SETTLERS 


WELLS  ANDREWS  and  JOHN  ASA  ANDREWS  were  sons 
of  the  Reverend  Wells  Andrews,  who  moved  from 
Hartford,  Ohio,  to  a  farm  in  Tremont,  Illinois,  where  he 
was  pastor  of  Tremont  Congregational  Church  for  ten 
years.  The  Reverend  Andrews  moved  to  Washington  with 
his  family  in  1847,  where  he  was  pastor  of  Washington 
Presbyterian  Church  regularly  for  six  years  and 
occasionally  till  his  death  in  1867.  Wells  and  John  Asa 
bought  the  old  brick  mill  in  1851;  they  both  married  in 
1855.  Wells  had  five  children  and  John  Asa  had  six 
children. 

After  the  death  of  Wells  in  1894  and  John  Asa 
Andrews  in  1904,  a  son  of  Wells,  John  Asa  Andrews,  and 
a  son-in-law  of  John  Asa,  Theodore  Roehm,  operated 
the  Old  Mill,  or  as  it  became  known,  Washington  Grain 
Company  for  many  years.  John  Asa  was  married  late 
in  life  to  Estelle  Fisk.  They  had  no  children. 


GEORGE  w.  bayler  was  born  in  Washington  in  1842. 
Under  the  guidance  of  his  father,  he  became  a  black- 
smith and  iron  worker,  running  a  factory  until  1881, 
when  he  started  importing  horses  from  England  and 
Scotland  for  the  Melbourne  Stock  Farm,  with  whom  he 
continued  until  1893,  when  he  established  a  barn  of 
horses  at  Jersey  Lawn.  He  owned  and  kept  many  valuable 
horses  and  cattle  that  greatly  improved  the  quality  of 
farm  animals  in  this  vicinity.  In  1890  he  built  a  home  at 
721  West  Jefferson  (Heyl  residence).  Mr.  Bayler  married 
Mary  L.  Smith  in  1869;  she  died  in  1870.  They  had  a 
son,  Wallace  E.,  who  married  Mary  Stack,  whose  son, 
George,  married  Myrtle  Thayer.  Mr.  Bayler  married 
again  in  1873  to  Isadore  Trimble,  a  teacher  and  daughter 
of  Reece  Trimble.  Their  descendants  are  George  Bayler 
of  Washington,  Illinois,  and  Blanche  Bayler  Little  of 
Arkansas  and  ten  grandchildren.  Mr.  George  W.  Bayler 
died  in  1913. 


CHARLES  L.  birkett  (1848-  1928)  was  born  in  the 
vicinity  of  Washington  on  the  farm  so  well  known  as 
Birkett's  Dairy  (southwest  of  city),  where  he  lived  until 
reaching  manhood  when  he  started  farming  and  later 
bought  his  own  farm.  His  father  was  William  Birkett, 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  to  this  locality.  Charles  Birkett 
owned  several  farms  before  he  moved  to  the  city  to  500 
South  Main  Street.  Mr.  Birkett's  popularity  with  the 
people  was  shown  by  his  continuous  election  as  super- 
visor, a  position  he  successfully  and  honorably  filled.  He 
married  Clara  C.  Van  Camp  in  1870  and  had  three  sons 
and  one  daughter. 


LAFAYETTE  BIRKETT  (1850-  1919),  a  brother  of 
Charles  L.  Birkett,  followed  the  occupation  of  farming, 
confining  himself  to  stock  raising.  Besides,  he  was  a 
shrewd,  successful  speculator  in  real  estate;  he  owned 
numerous  farms  in  Illinois  and  Indiana.  He  was 
prominently  identified  with  the  Methodist  Church, 
was  a  trustee  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1898  he  built  the 
home  at  201  East  Jefferson  Street.  Mr.  Birkett  married 
Helen  Mooberry  of  Groveland,  Illinois,  in  1871;  they  had 
two  daughters  and  a  son. 


LESTER  BIRKETT.  the  youngest  son  of  William  Birkett 
(there  were  eleven  children  in  the  family),  was  a  farmer 
southwest  of  Washington,  Illinois.  In  1886,  he  married 
Tina  Van  Meter,  who  taught  school  (Cooper  School) 
south  of  town.  They  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters, 
only  two  daughters  now  living:  Mrs.  Rae  C.  (Hattie) 
Heiple  of  Washington,  Illinois,  and  Mrs.  Alice  B. 
Darnall  of  Bloomington,  Illinois.  A  son,  Chester  Birkett, 
now  deceased,  had  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Guido  (Jean)  Tiezzi, 
living  in  Washington.  Mrs.  Lester  Birkett  died  in  1909, 
and  Mr.  Birkett  later  married  Lydia  Belsly  from  Carlock. 
He  retired  from  the  farm  and  moved  to  the  city  and  lived 
at  209  Walnut  Street.  He  died  in  1938.  Bruce  Birkett. 
son  of  Lester  Birkett.  died  in  January  of  1974.  He  has  a 
granddaughter  living  in  Washington;  Shirley  Nafziger 
Sadler. 


PERRY  A.  BIRKETT,  another  son  of  William  Birkett, 
was  a  popular  dairyman,  born  at  the  well-known  Birkett 
dairy  farm.  In  1890  he  took  full  charge  as  owner  of  the 
dairy  and  developed  the  dairy  business  larger  than 
anyone  before  him.  Mr.  Birkett  married  Emma  V. 
Thomas  in  1882,  and  they  had  two  daughters  and  one 
son.  He  later  occupied  the  home  at  115  South  Main 
Street. 


william  birkett,  the  oldest  son  of  William  Birkett, 
was  a  farmer  who  lived  on  his  farm  east  and  south  of 
Washington.  He  married  Ellen  Waughop,  and  they  had 
two  sons  and  two  daughters.  In  later  years  he  moved  to 
Peoria,  Illinois.  All  children  are  deceased. 


V 


A.  G.  DANFORTH,  banker  and  horseman,  was  born  in 
Washington,  Illinois,  in  1840,  receiving  his  education  in 
the  home  schools.  Eureka  College,  Eureka,  Illinois,  and 
Knox  College,  Galesburg,  Illinois.  He  was  cashier  of  the 
Prairie  State  bank  until  he  went  into  the  mercantile 
business,  as  member  of  the  firm  of  A.  H.  Danforth  and 
Company.  In  1872  the  banking  firm  of  Danforth,  Snow 
and  Company  was  organized.  Three  years  later  Mr.  Snow 
withdrew,  and  A.  G.  Danforth  continued  the  business 
under  the  firm  name  of  A.  G.  Danforth  and  Company. 
He  also  was  a  breeder  of  fine  horses.  Mr.  Danforth  had 
a  beautiful  home  on  South  Main  Street  on  the  same  spot 
where  William  Holland  erected  his  log  cabin  in  1825. 
The  Habecker  Funeral  Home  is  now  on  the  site.  He  was 
married  to  Susan  A.  Burton;  they  had  six  children.  His 
only  descendant  living  in  Washington  is  Miss  Susan 
Stimson.  Mr.  Danforth  died  in  1927. 


HENRY  R.  DANFORTH,  banker  and  expert  farmer,  born 
in  Washington.  Illinois,  in  1842,  received  his  education 
at  the  public  schools  with  a  course  at  Lombard  College, 
Galesburg,  Illinois.  In  1 865  he  acquired  all  of  the  land  he 
could  get  control  of  in  Iroquois  County.  Mr.  Danforth 
built  the  Danforth  Hotel.  He  was  elected  mayor  of 
Washington  in  1889.  Together  with  his  uncle,  George 
W.  Danforth,  he  built  the  town  of  Danforth.  Illinois.  He 
also  owned  and  conducted  a  banking  business  there.  In 
1884,  the  family  returned  to  Washington  where 
Mr.  Danforth  retired.  Mr.  Danforth  married  Mary  E. 
Wenger  of  Gilman,  Illinois. 


ANDREW  CRESS  married  Mary  Kindig  in  1834.  Their 
sons  were:  Benjamin  Franklin,  George  Washington, 
Andrew  Jackson,  Peyton,  and  Calvin  Pierce. 

Calvin  was  born  three  miles  north  of  Washington. 
February  2,  1853.  He  lived  on  the  farm  until  1892  when 
he  moved  to  Washington.  Calvin  Cress  held  many- 
positions  of  public  trust  —  assessor,  school  director, 
alderman,  and  in  April,  1905,  he  was  elected  mayor  of 
the  city.  His  home  was  the  Bride  residence,  corner  of 
South  High  and  East  Holland.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Baker  in  1874,  and  they  had  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Paul 
(Viola)  Busse  (deceased)  and  Ethel  Morrow  Storey  of 
Washington,  Illinois.  Virginia  Busse  Edwards  of 
Lawrence,  Kansas,  is  another  descendant. 

George  W.  Cress,  popular  citizen  and  horseman  was 
born  in  1846.  He  farmed  and  raised  stock  until  1881, 
when  with  his  brothers  he  moved  to  Washington  and 
erected  large  barns  and  began  importing  horses  from 
England,  France,  and  Scotland.  This  they  continued 
until  1891,  when  they  dissolved  and  G.  W.  continued  the 
business.  Mr.  Cress  was  elected  to  nearly  every  important 
office  in  the  township  as  well  as  mayor  of  Washington. 
He  married  Celia  A.  Thompson,  and  they  resided  at  508 
North  Main  Street.  Their  children  were  Ora,  Laura, 
Clyde,  and  Maona.  Maona  Cress  Hood  was  a  speech 
teacher  and  frequently  directed  productions  of  the 
Washington  Players.  There  are  no  local  descendants. 


L.J.  DANFORTH,  the  lumberman,  was  born  in  Deer 
Creek  and  on  growing  to  manhood  farmed  one  if  the 
finest  farms  in  that  part  of  the  country.  He  was  school 
treasurer  of  Deer  Creek  township  for  many  years. 
Mr.  Danforth  with  F.  L.  Belsly  and  his  brother,  James 
A.,  became  interested  in  the  Deer  Creek  bank,  and  in 
1903  bought  the  H.  Denhart  &  Company's  lumber  yards 
and  settled  in  Washington.  Mr.  Danforth  married  Julia 
Kingsbury  in  1883.  Two  sons  and  four  daughters  were 
born  to  this  union. 


(fifc^L 


HENRY  DENHART,  prominent  banker  and  churchman, 
born  in  Germany  in  1842,  located  in  Washington  in 
1853.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the  Washington 
public  schools.  He  was  in  the  dry  goods  business  with 
Charles  E.  Anthony  for  a  number  of  years,  then  bought 
a  lumber  yard.  In  1867  Charles  Anthony  and  Henry 
Denhart  organized  a  bank  and  continued  until  1885 
when  Mr.  Anthony  retired.  Mr.  Denhart  continued  in 
the  banking  business.  He  was  a  generous  donor  to 
St.  Mark's  Lutheran  Church  in  Washington.  He  married 
Clara  Lawson;  they  had  no  children.  The  Henry  Denhart 
residence  is  now  the  White  Funeral  Home  on  South 
Main  Street. 


CLYDE  M.  dunnington  was  born  in  Atlanta, 
Missouri,  in  1880.  He  received  his  education  in 
Washington;  in  1894  he  entered  H.  Denhart  and 
Company's  bank  and  worked  to  the  position  of  head 
bookkeeper.  He  went  into  the  insurance  and  real  estate 
business,  and  was  Secretary  of  the  Building  and  Loan 
with  offices  in  the  building  now  occupied  by  Kenneth 
Black,  Attorney. 

Mr.  Dunnington  married  Mabel  Whitehill  in  1907. 
They  had  one  daughter,  Mrs.  C.  O.  (Lois)  Zimmerman, 
Washington,  Illinois.  There  are  two  granddaughters: 
Mrs.  C.  R.  (Jane)  Alkire  and  Carol  Zimmerman. 

In  1924  Mr.  Dunnington  built  their  home  at  114  W. 
Holland  Street.  He  died  in  1928. 


CHRISTIAN  (CHRIS)  EBERT  was  born  in  Roberts, 
Illinois,  January  14,  1870,  the  youngest  of  seven  children. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  eight  months  old,  and  upon 
his  mother's  death  when  he  was  18,  he  came  to 
Washington,  where  he  lived  with  his  brother,  John 
Ebert. 

Mr.  Ebert  married  Matilda  Keil  of  Holland's  Grove, 
January  30,  18%.  They  bought  a  home  at  400  Eldridge. 
where  they  lived  for  64  years  until  his  death  at  the  age  of 
88  on  June  25,  1958.  There  were  seven  children  in  the 
family  —  Lester,  Harold,  and  Margaret  (now  deceased) 
Raymond,  Thelma,  Helen,  and  Mildred. 

With  a  brother  Mr.  Ebert  formed  a  partnership  and 
drilled  wells  in  the  Washington  area  for  several  years.  In 
1905,  he  and  Frank  Muller,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Ebert  and  Muller,  purchased  the  Berney  Livery  Stable, 
which  was  located  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the  Square. 
Through  additional  building  and  general  renovation  it 
was  developed  into  one  of  the  finest  livery  and  feed 
stables  in  central  Illinois. 

After  a  few  years  Mr.  Ebert  returned  to  well  drilling, 
building  two  machines  which  he  used  in  this  work.  He 
continued  in  this  business  until  his  retirement.  His  sons 
worked  with  him,  and  in  1954  Harold  and  Ray  became 
partners  with  him  in  the  Chris  Ebert  Company.  At  their 
father's  retirement  they  continued  as  partners  until 
1965,  when  Harold's  son,  Robert,  took  over  the  business 
and  is  successfully  continuing  to  work  under  the  same 
firm  name  at  the  same  location.  Robert's  son  Chris, 
who  was  named  for  his  great  grandfather,  is  interested 
in  the  work  and  may  some  day  be  the  fourth  generation 
to  carry  on  the  business. 

Mr.  Ebert  served  for  many  years  as  alderman  for  the 
third  ward.  He  also  served  two  terms  as  mayor  —  in 
1923-24  and  in  1933-34.  During  his  terms  the  city  pur- 
chased the  old  Danforth  Hotel,  which  was  converted  and 
used  as  the  City  Hall  until  a  new  one  was  built,  and  the 
park  behind  the  cemetery  was  developed.  Over  the  years 
Mr.  Ebert  and  his  sons  have  drilled  the  city's  wells, 
including  the  one  in  the  square  under  the  old  bandstand 
which  was  filled  in  several  years  ago. 

Mrs.  Ebert  died  November  2,  1967,  at  the  age  of  94. 
After  her  death  the  family  home  at  400  Eldridge  was 
bought  by  Robert  Ebert,  who  has  improved  it  and  lives 
there  with  his  wife  Sharon  and  their  three  children, 
Chris,  Connie,  and  Curtis. 

Lester  Ebert  worked  with  his  father  for  a  number  of 
years  and  served  in  the  navy  during  World  War  I.  Harold 
married  Mary  Kennedy,  who  was  a  teacher  in  the  high 
school.  He  served  as  an  alderman  and  as  president  of 
the  high  school  board.  They  have  three  children:  Donna 
Duncan,  a  bridal  consultant  for  the  Bergner  Stores; 
Margaret  lives  in  Denver,  Colorado,  with  her  husband, 
Bruce  Colley,  who  is  a  parts  representative  for 
Caterpillar;  and  Robert,  who  lives  in  Washington. 

Ray  Ebert  lives  at  310  Eldridge  with  his  sister,  Helen 
Kopp.  Mrs.  Kopp  has  four  children.  Marilyn  has  been 


teaching  in  Sierra  Leone,  Africa,  for  the  past  seven  years 
and  also  spent  two  years  in  Ethiopia  with  the  Peace 
Corps.  Karen  married  Gene  Thrailkill,  and  they  live  in 
Norman  Oklahoma,  where  he  is  director  of  the  band  at 
the  state  university.  They  have  three  children  —  Stacey, 
Dawn,  and  Chad.  Richard  is  employed  by  Caterpillar 
and  lives  in  Morton  with  his  wife  Sandra  and  their 
children  Gregg  and  Angela.  Judith  is  a  nurse  in  a  VA 
hospital. 

Thelma  Ebert  taught  business  education  for  many 
years  before  retiring  in  1965  after  teaching  for  27  years 
in  Washington.  She  served  for  three  years  in  the  Army 
during  World  War  II.  Margaret  was  graduated  from 
Gregg  College  in  Chicago  and  worked  there  until  her 
death  in  1941.  Mildred  Ebert  taught  for  several  years 
before  marrying  K.  A.  LaRochelle  and  is  living  in 
El  Paso.  They  have  three  children  —  Janet  LeHew, 
Roger,  and  Alan. 


HENRY  ESSER  emigrated  from  Alsace  Lorraine  in 
1886,  and,  at  age  eleven,  with  his  sisters  and  a  brother, 
attended  Miss  Italin's  first  grade  class  to  learn  English. 
When  he  was  very  young,  he  worked  by  the  day  on  a 
farm,  and  then  began  to  clerk  in  a  grocery  store.  Later  he 
operated  the  Model  Grocery  and  Bakery  at  108  North 
Main  (site  of  the  present  Bob's  True  Value  Hardware). 
In  1904  he  married  Hattie  C.  Moehl  and  in  1915  built 
the  brick  home  at  207  North  Main.  Their  children  are 
Henry  A.  Esser,  who  married  Blanche  C.  Dingledine  in 
1936,  and  La  Verne  who  married  John  H.  Blumenshine 
in  1947.  There  are  five  grandchildren. 

Henry  A.  Esser  recalls  that,  as  a  boy,  he  accompanied 
outside  salesmen  calling  on  area  customers  taking  orders 
for  case  lots  of  canned  fruits  and  vegetables,  one  hundred 
pound  bags  of  flour,  sugar,  and  bushels  of  apples  and 
potatoes.  The  Model  Grocery  would  then  order  boxcar 
loads  of  these  items,  the  customers  would  be  notified 
of  the  arrival  of  the  boxcar,  and  customers  would  go  to 
the  railroad  siding  to  pick  up  their  orders.  The  apples 
and  potatoes  usually  arrived  in  the  bulk  and  were 
measured  into  burlap  bags  or  bushel  baskets  for  the 
customers.  Many  customers  also  purchased  bananas  by 
the  tree-grown  bunch  and  hung  these  bunches  in  their 
cellars  to  ripen.  Crackers,  fancy  cookies,  and  the  like 
came  to  the  store  in  20  to  25  pound  boxes  and  were  mea- 
sured out  on  customer's  orders  into  brown  paper  bags. 
Likewise  beans  and  peas  were  weighed  out  of  larger 
containers;  pickles,  vinegar,  sauerkraut,  sugar,  and  salt 
came  in  large  wooden  barrels,  and  these  items  were 
measured  out  to  each  customer's  desires. 

Saturday  was  considered  by  many  as  shopping  day; 
this  was  especially  true  of  the  farm  customers.  They 


would  bring  in  cases  of  eggs,  which  would  be  candled  for 
quality  by  a  store  employee  before  being  sold.  Many 
farmers  produced  milk  and  butter  which  they  would 
bring  in  to  the  store  in  3  to  5  gallons  crocks.  Since  the 
only  refrigeration  available  was  ice,  some  of  the  butter 
was  taken  to  the  cooky  factories  in  Peoria  by  the  store 
owner,  while  the  better  quality  was  sold  to  the  store's 
customers  by  the  bulk. 

Grocery  stores  catered  to  the  customer's  desires.  On 
Saturdays  orders  were  left  early  in  the  day  by  customers' 
wives;  then  the  farmers  and  their  wives  would  attend  to 
banking  or  other  business  and  shopping  matters.  In  the 
late  afternoon  or  evening,  the  wives  gathered  and  chatted 
in  the  store  awaiting  the  men  who,  perhaps,  were  con- 
cluding the  day  with  a  beer  and  conversation  in  one  of 
the  saloons.  The  grocery  stayed  open  until  the  men 
returned;  most  of  them  usually  by  9:30  or  10:00  P.M. 

The  Model  Grocery  burned  during  the  night  of  May 
26,  1920,  and  the  city  telephone  operator,  Mrs.  John 
Atwater,  called  the  fire  departments  of  nearby  towns  to 
assist  in  subduing  the  blaze.  The  arrival  in  forty-five 
minutes  of  a  truck  from  the  Central  Fire  Station  in  down- 
town Peoria,  over  a  chuck-holed  gravel  road,  was 
considered  a  feat. 

Mr  Esser  rebuilt  the  building  on  two  lots,  one  of  which 
was  the  location  of  the  old  store  and  the  other  on  which 
another  building  destroyed  in  the  same  blaze  had  been 
located,  but  he  never  went  back  into  the  grocery 
business.  For  many  years  he  bought  poultry  from  local 
farmers  and  hauled  it  into  Peoria  to  one  of  the  packing 
houses.  After  retiring,  he  remained  active  in  his  yard  and 
garden  until  his  death  in  1957  at  age  82.  Mrs.  Esser 
lived  until  1972. 


PAUL  GODDARD  married  Anna  A.  Andrews,  sister  of 
Margaret  Andrews  Roehm  and  ninth  child  of  John  Asa 
Andrews  and  Mary  Telva  Burton,  July  16,  1902.  Paul 
Goddard  was  born  in  Monroe  County,  New  York,  in  1865 
and  worked  in  the  publishing  business  all  his  life.  He 
came  to  Washington  in  1899  and  purchased  The 
Washington  Post.  He  was  editor  here  for  many  years. 
They  had  two  daughters,  Mary  Antoinette,  deceased, 
and  Isadora  Burton,  who  in  1926  married  Edwin  G. 
Kilby,  editor  and  owner  of  The  Washington  Reporter  for 
many  years  after  his  father-in-law  retired.  "Tip"  and 
"Iz",  as  all  Washingtonians  knew  them,  are  now  retired 
and  living  in  Harlingen,  Texas.  Mr.  Goddard  died  in 
1944. 


GEORGE  HAGENSTOZ,  a  successful  farmer,  was  born  in 
Fondulac  Township  and  moved  to  a  farm  two  miles 
northwest  of  town  in  1886.  In  1904  he  built  a  beautiful 
home  at  611  West  Jefferson  Street.  He  was  married  in 
1879  to  Elizabeth  Rohrbach;  they  had  five  daughters 
and  one  son.  There  are  three  daughters  living  in 
Washington  —  Mrs.  Walter  (Clara)  Dingledine,  Mrs. 
Herman  (Sadie)  Voelker,  and  Miss  Pearl  Hagenstoz. 
Miss  Telva  Hagenstoz  died  September  20,  1974,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-two.  The  grandchildren  are  Mrs.  H.  A. 
(Blanche)  Esser  and  Eugene  Dingledine  (married  Doris 
Dorward)  living  in  Washington,  and  Orva  Hagenstoz 
Todd  in  Mesa,  Arizona.  The  six  great  grandchildren  are 
Donald  J.,  Edward,  and  Jon  Dingledine,  all  living  in 
Washington;  Linda  Dingledine  Gabel  in  Champaign; 
Annette  Esser  Anderson  in  Boulder,  Colorado;  Sarah 
Esser  MacDonald,  Poughkeepsie.  New  York.  There  are 
six  great-great  grandchildren. 


ELI  E.  HEIPLE  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1830, 
where  he  received  his  education  and  his  early  business 
training.  He  came  to  Washington  in  1857,  accepting  a 
position  with  Andrews,  Miles  and  Company,  which  he 
held  for  seven  years,  then  was  with  Anthony  &  Denhart 
for  two  years.  In  1867  he  became  identified  with  the 
grain,  coal,  and  stock  business.  Mr.  Heiple  was  our  first 
city  clerk,  being  elected  in  1877,  and  for  thirty  years  held 
the  offices  of  town  clerk  and  town  assessor.  Mr.  Heiple 
married  Mary  E.  Snyder  in  1850,  who  died  in  1886, 
leaving  two  sons.  He  married  Charlotte  E.  Mahle  in 
1888.  Mr.  Heiple  died  in  1913. 


A.  H.  HEIPLE.  son  of  Eli  E.  Heiple,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  and  moved  to  Washington  in  1857.  He  was 
active  in  politics  many  years  but  in  1878  became  identi- 
fied with  the  Washington  News,  which  paper  he  owned 
and  edited  for  twenty-five  years.  Mr.  Heiple  was  a 
Tazewell  County  member  of  the  congressional  com- 
mittee, also  a  member  of  the  county  and  township 
committees.  In  1897  he  was  appointed  postmaster,  which 
position  he  filled  so  as  to  receive  special  mention  from 
the  government.  Mr.  Heiple  married  Florence  Kingsbury 
in  1884.  They  had  a  son  and  a  daughter,  both  deceased. 
He  has  a  grandson.  Dr.  Gordon  Heiple,  living  in  El  Paso, 
Illinois.  Dr.  Heiple  has  one  daughter  and  two  grand- 
children living  elsewhere. 


FRANK  S.  HEIPLE,  a  son  of  Eli  E.  Heiple,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1855,  and  moved  to  Washington  in  1857. 
He  attended  Carthage  College,  being  a  member  of  the 
college  band,  and  later  on  belonged  to  the  old 
Washington  band.  He  was  an  active  partner  of  the  Heiple 
&  Portman  mercantile  firm,  which  was  very  successful. 
Mr.  Heiple  started  in  the  real  estate  business  in  1888, 
and  from  1890  on  he  had  a  good  insurance  business.  Mr. 
Heiple  was  one  of  our  most  successful  citizens.  He  was 
school  treasurer  for  several  years,  married  Maud  Crane 
in  1880,  and  they  had  six  sons  and  four  daughters.  There 
are  two  children  still  living.  They  are  Mrs.  Frank 
(Gertrude)  Finney  of  Peoria  and  Rae  C.  Heiple,  long  time 
resident  and  lawyer  of  Washington.  Mrs.  Finney  has  one 
son  and  two  grandchildren  in  Peoria.  Rae  C.  Heiple  has 
two  sons.  Rae  C.  Heiple  II  is  a  banker  and  lawyer  in 
Abingdon,  Illinois.  He  has  four  children.  James  D. 
Heiple  is  Judge  Heiple  of  Pekin,  Illinois,  and  he  has 
three  children.  Also  living  is  a  granddaughter, 
Mrs.  Wilson  (Gertrude)  Kimmell.  They  have  a  son  and 
daughter  living  elsewhere.  Another  grandson  Frank 
Heiple,  Jr.,  lives  on  a  farm  south  of  town.  He  and  his 
wife  Jane  have  four  children;  one  of  them,  Judd,  lives  in 


Washington.  Frank  S.  Heiple  has  a  total  of  forty-nine 
grandchildren  and  twelve  great  grandchildren. 
Mr.  Heiple  died  in  1942. 


GEORGE  A.  HEYL,  unquestionably  the  best  known  and 
most  extensive  breeder,  dealer  and  exhibitor  of  fancy 
livestock  and  fowls  in  Tazewell  County,  represents  the 
second  generation  of  a  family  identified  with  stock 
interests  in  Central  Illinois  since  the  later  1840's.  He 
followed  in  his  father's  footsteps,  for  his  father,  Christian 
Heyl,  had  been  similarly  employed  during  his  entire 
active  life.  George  Heyl  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Mason 
County,  where  he  grew  up;  he  moved  to  Washington  in 
1891. 


Mr.  Heyl  married  Sara  Blumenshine,  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Phillip  Blumenshine  in  1891;  to  this  union  five 
children  were  born: 

Mrs.  Clifford  (Florence)  Strubhar,  Peoria,  Illinois. 

Iona  B.  Heyl,  Washington,  Illinois. 

Harley  H.  Heyl,  married  Susan  Belsly;  they  have 
three  children;  Mrs.  Lorna  Roth,  Washington,  Illinois, 
has  two  children.  Mrs.  Ellen  Heyl  Porter,  Glen  Ellyn. 
Illinois,  has  three  children.  Mrs.  Mary  Heyl  Lampe, 
Ft.  Wayne,  Indiana,  has  three  children. 

G.  Wellington  Heyl,  married  Virginia  Albertson, 
they  have  one  daughter,  Virginia  Joan  Aeschbach, 
Akron,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Aeschbach  has  two  children. 

Mrs.  James  (Mildred)  Heyl  Easterwood,  Houston, 
Texas,  has  four  children. 

In  1896,  Mr.  George  Heyl  purchased  the  Yale  property 
at  811  North  Main  Street  and  started  in  the  Shetland 
Pony  business.  In  1904  he  showed  the  ponies  at  the 
World's  Fair  in  St.  Louis,  winning  many  prizes  including 
the  Grand  Champion  stallion  with  "David  Harum". 
In  1915  the  ponies  were  shown  at  the  World's  Fair  in 
San  Francisco,  where  they  won  the  Grand  Champion 
with  "King  Larigo"  8778;  they  also  won  many  more  firsts 
and  champions  with  twenty  head  that  were  shipped  out 
in  an  Arm's  Palace  Car.  The  ponies  were  shown  at  all  the 
leading  shows  from  coast  to  coast  and  from  Canada  to 
Florida.  Harley  and  Iona  were  constantly  with  their 
father  on  these  trips.  Harley  was  an  expert  driver  and  a 
real  horseman.  Iona  drove  in  the  ladies  classes. 

Mr.  Heyl,  considered  one  of  the  most  astute  business 
men  in  the  horse  game,  passed  away  in  1932  at  the  age  of 
66  years. 


HARLAN  A.  KINGSBURY,  well  known  citizen  and  real 
estate  dealer,  was  born  in  Washington,  Illinois,  in  1862. 
He  received  his  education  in  public  schools  here  and 
Eureka  College,  Eureka,  Illinois.  He  was  a  traveling 
salesman  with  a  Chicago  wholesale  house  for  several 
years,  then  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  Chapman 
grocery  store.  Mr.  Kingsbury  entered  the  real  estate 
business  with  F.  S.  Heiple  in  1899;  in  1903  they  added 
the  Metamora  bank  to  their  interests.  They  established 
an  excellent  reputation  as  bankers  in  the  community. 
He  married  Clara  Kern  in  1885.  The  Kingsbury  home  is 
located  at  209  S.  High  St.  Mr.  Kingsbury  died  in  1936. 


w.  s.  NORRIS  was  a  well  known  citizen  in  Washington. 
He  was  born  in  this  township  and  lived  all  his  life  here. 
His  father  came  here  in  1833  from  England,  engaged  in 
saw  mill  work,  and  later  turned  his  attention  to  farming. 
Mr.  Norris  held  many  positions  of  trust,  among  them 
school  director,  commissioner  of  highways,  constable, 
and  city  marshall.  In  1887  he  married  Mary  Odell,  and  to 
this  union  two  sons  and  a  daughter  were  born.  One  son, 
John,  lives  in  Washington,  Illinois.  He  and  his  wife, 
Volsey,  have  four  children,  seventeen  grandchildren  and 
thirteen  great  grandchildren.  Some  of  these  people  live 
in  Washington.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Norris  celebrated 
their  fifty-fifth  wedding  anniversary  recently. 


W.  A.  PFEIFFER  was  born  in  Germany,  in  1859.  He 
moved  to  New  York  when  he  was  seven  years  old,  and 
came  to  Washington  in  1897.  The  firm  of  Mostoller  & 
Pfeiffer  was  formed,  and  he  continued  working  there 
until  1899  when  he  assumed  full  control  as  W.  A.  Pfeiffer 
&  Co.  He  was  a  member  of  the  school  board  and  served 
as  an  alderman.  He  married  Sophia  Reuss,  and  they 
lived  at  600  Catherine  Street.  They  had  five  children, 
all  deceased  except  Pastor  Raymond  Pfeiffer  of  Lincoln, 
Nebraska.  Mrs.  L.  R.  (Caroline)  Ackerman  of 
Washington,  Illinois,  is  a  granddaughter  of  W.  A. 
Pfeiffer.  There  are  seventeen  great  grandchildren. 


MRS.  EDMUND  J.  REICH,  daughter  of  Philip  and 
Catherine  Orth,  was  born  in  Washington.  She  married 
Edmund  J.  Reich  in  1884.  They  had  two  daughters. 
(Both  are  still  living)  Mrs.  Roscoe  Hawley,  407  Eldridge 
and  Mrs.  Cullen  H.  Christ,  408  Eldridge,  also  a  grand- 
daughter, Mrs.  William  Crist  with  whom  Mrs.  Christ 
makes  her  home.  Mr.  Hawley  was  a  painter,  and 
Mr.  Christ  was  one  of  the  first  photographers  in  town. 
Mrs.  Christ  was  owner  and  operator  of  Daisy's 
Restaurant  in  the  lower  level  of  the  old  City  Building  on 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  square.  Edmund  J.  Reich 
built  the  A.  G.  Danforth  and  Company  Bank  building. 
There  are  two  great  grandchildren:  Karen  Crist,  in 
Florida,  and  Rodney  Crist,  in  Galesburg,  Illinois.  Mrs. 
Reich  planned  and  built  the  home  at  121  South  Main 
St.;  later  she  built  the  house  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
South  Church  and  Catherine. 


FREDERICK  RICKMAN  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany, 
and  moved  to  Washington  in  1860.  He  was  one  of  our 
best  known  builders.  From  time  to  time  he  served  as 
alderman.  As  city  engineer  he  was  instrumental  in  seeing 
that  our  first  pavement  improvement  was  begun 
correctly.  Mr.  Rickman  married  Sophia  Baker  in  1859: 
they  had  five  sons  and  five  daughters.  There  are  two 
grandchildren,  Mrs.  Bernice  MacKechnic  living  in 
Decatur,  Illinois,  and  Richard  Payne  living  in  Mexico. 
Mr.  Rickman  died  in  1933. 


WILLIAM  RINKENBERGER,  prominent  contractor  and 
builder,  was  born  at  Farmdale,  a  farm  on  which  his 
parents  settled  when  first  married.  Mr.  Rinkenberger 
moved  here  in  1900,  and  in  1901  opened  Rinkenberger's 
Addition,  which  he  gradually  developed.  He  was  elected 
alderman  in  1904.  Mr.  Rinkenberger  married  in  1887 
and  lost  his  wife  in  1891.  He  has  a  son,  George  H.,  living 
in  Washington.  George  Rinkenberger,  a  retired 
businessman,  was  associated  with  Washington  Auto 
Supply  Company  and  the  Lumber  Company.  George 
married  Nellie  Keil  in  1913.  A  daughter  was  born  of 
the  union,  Mrs.  Carl  W.  (Mary  Helen)  Shelander,  living 
in  Florida.  Mrs.  Shelander  had  six  children,  three  living 
in  this  area,  William  Shelander,  Mrs.  Harold  Jefford  in 
Washington,  and  Rebecca  Shelander  in  Peoria. 
Mrs.  George  Rinkenberger  died  in  1959,  and  Mr. 
George  Rinkenberger  later  married  Vera  Antrim. 


THEODORE  ROEHM,  a  son  of  William  Roehni,  was 
born  in  Washington,  where  he  attended  the  public- 
schools.  He  married  Margaret  Andrews,  seventh  child  of 
John  Asa  Andrews  (son  of  the  Reverend  Wells)  and  Mary 
Telva  Burton,  in  1894.  Their  children  were: 

Telva  Roehm  (1896-  1968)  was  married  to  Roy  C. 
Blumenshine  (1897-1973).  They  had  two  children, 
Theodore  Blumenshine,  Streator,  Illinois,  and  Mary 
Margaret  Tilley,  Park  Ridge,  Illinois. 

Knoble  Roehm  (1898-1935)  married  Orva  Kern; 
they  had  one  child,  Zoe  Roehm  Diebel  lives  in  St.  Louis 
area.  Knoble  operated  a  Storage  Garage  in  Chicago  for 
his  father.  Martha  Jackson  of  Washington  is  a  sister  of 
Orva  Kern. 

Clifford  Roehm  (1900)  married  Gladys  Bradle,  and 
they  live  at  114  South  Elm  Street.  They  have  five 
children:  Mrs.  Lawrence  (Jackie)  Kinsinger,  Mrs.  Max 
(Sandra)  Moore,  in  Washington,  Richard  Roehm,  in 
Morton,  and  Clifford  Roehm  Jr.  in  East  Peoria. 

Miriam  Roehm,  deceased,  married  Joseph  Bruckman; 
they  had  two  children:  Joseph  Jr.  and  Lois. 


Theodore  Roehm  Jr.  (1904  -  1904) 

Harper  Roehm  (1906  -  1973)  married  Alice  Tuveson; 
they  had  two  children:  Harper  Jr.,  living  in  Ohio  and 
Elsa  Margaret  Melton,  living  in  Normal.  Harper, 
operated  Hi-Lo  Gas  Station  in  Normal  for  his  father. 

John  Asa  Roehm,  8th  John  Asa  in  line,  born  in  1910, 
married  Frieda  Minch,  who  is  a  descendant  of  William 
Birkett,  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Washington.  John 
Asa  is  one  of  two  Charter  members  left  in  Washington 
State  Bank,  and  along  with  five  other  men  is  currently 
developing  Valley  Forge  Shopping  Center.  They  live  at 
923  Birchwood  Drive.  There  are  two  daughters: 
Mrs.  L.  D.  (Margaret  Andrews)  Colegrove,  in  Morton 
and  Mrs.  Willis  (Nancy)  Zobrist  in  Morton.  There  are 
eight  grandchildren. 

Charles  Roehm  was  born  in  1912  and  married  Paula 
Teichmann.  They  had  four  children,  all  in  Florida. 
Charles  is  a  retired  doctor,  living  in  Florida. 


WILLIAM  ROEHM  was  born  in  Germany  in  1833  and 
came  to  Washington  in  1865  and  opened  a  shoe  store.  He 
was  alderman  at  the  time  the  public  park  was  created. 
He  married  Catherine  Jantzi  in  Peoria  in  1856.  Their 
children  were:  Julius,  or  "J.  J."  Roehm,  as  all  knew  him, 
continued  to  sell  boots  and  shoes  in  old  "Roehm's 
Shoes"  store  at  corner  of  South  Main  and  Washington 
Square,  which  was  torn  down  a  few  years  ago.  He 
married  Emma  Kyes  in  1892  and  they  had  three  sons; 
Clayton  and  Clarence  live  in  Florida,  and  Robert  is 
deceased. 

Mary  Roehm  was  born  in  1864,  and  married  John  T. 
Singer  in  1914.  He  died  in  1915.  Mary  Singer  was 
Washington's  oldest  citizen,  she  died  in  1969  at  age  of 
105.  There  were  no  children. 

Theodore  Roehm  married  Margaret  Andrews.  After 
operating  Old  Mill  or  grain  elevator  with  Uncle  John 
(as  all  knew  him)  he  engaged  in  insurance  business  and 
Washington  Finance  Co. 

Emil  Roehm,  farmer  in  Nebraska.  Had  two  children, 
William  and  Elizabeth. 

Kate  George,  farmed  near  Streator.  Had  one 
daughter,  Lela. 


GEORGE  M.  STIMSON,  a  prominent  and  progressive 
citizen  and  banker,  was  born  in  Patterson,  New  Jersey. 
At  an  early  age  he  moved  to  Peoria,  Illinois,  where  he 
received  his  education.  He  began  his  banking  career  in 
1884  with  the  Commercial  National  Bank,  continuing 
there  until  1898,  when  he  came  to  Washington  as 
cashier  of  the  A.  G.  Danforth  and  Company  bank.  He 
served  several  years  as  an  alderman  and  as  a  member  of 
the  school  board.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  State  Bankers  Association  and  also 
a  member  of  the  Tazewell  County  Board  of  Review. 
In  1898  he  moved  into  the  home  at  201  South  Main 
Street.  Mr.  Stimson  married  Mary  Telva  Danforth  in 
1898,  and  they  had  a  son  and  a  daughter.  Mr.  Stimson 
died  in  July,  1937,  and  Mrs.  Stimson  died  in  Feb.,  1964. 
The  daughter.  Miss  Susan  Stimson,  lives  in  Washington. 


R. .  TANTON,  a  landowner,  was  born  in  Woodford 
County  and  moved  to  Washington  in  1893.  In  1902  he 
moved  into  one  of  the  most  beautiful  homes  in  the  city, 
now  203  South  Main  Street.  Mr.  Tanton  was  a  member 
of  the  school  board  for  many  years.  He  owned  land  in 
several  states.  He  married  May  Dodds  in  1893  and  had 
two  sons,  both  deceased.  Three  grandsons  now  farm  his 
land  in  Woodford  County  —  Henry  Tanton,  William 
Tanton,  and  John  F.  Tanton.  John  married  Marilyn 
Martini,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  M.  Martini  of 
Washington.  There  are  three  other  grandchildren,  also 
15  great  grandchildren. 


CHRISTIAN  STRUBHAR,  a  successful  farmer 
was  born  in  McLean  County.  Illinois,  moved  to 
Washington  in  1865  with  his  parents,  and  located  on  the 
farm  well  known  as  the  Strubhar  country  homestead. 
His  father,  Peter  T.  Strubhar,  was  one  of  the  best  known 
and  respected  men  in  his  time.  Christian  Strubhar  moved 
to  the  city  in  1903  with  his  family,  the  house  at  505  North 
Main.  He  was  elected  an  alderman  in  1904;  he  also  was 
a  Township  Supervisor.  Mr.  Strubhar  had  four 
daughters  and  one  son.  A  daughter,  Mrs.  Nettie  Chaffer, 
lives  in  California.  There  are  four  granddaughters:  Mrs. 
Clyde  (Elizabeth)  Garrison,  in  Washington;  Mrs.  Henry 
(Gladys)  Weisert  and  Mrs.  Robert  (Dorothy)  Carlson 
in  Peoria;  Mrs.  Laverne  (Kathryn)  LaSalle,  in  Ohio; 
a  grandson,  Christian  Imhoff  Jr.,  in  Chicago.  There  are 
two  great  grandchildren  living  in  Washington,  Mrs. 
Jack  Pudik  and  Gilbert  S.  Bradle.  Mr.  Strubhar's 
farm  was  on  Pleasant  View  road.  He  died  in  1924. 


BEN  TOBIAS  was  born  in  Berks  County,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1829.  He  came  to  Washington  in  1855  and  started  the 
manufacturing  of  plows,  which  he  soon  increased  to  a 
general  manufacture  of  all  farm  implements  and 
wagons  beside  doing  an  extensive  repair  business.  Mr. 
Tobias  was  mayor  three  different  terms,  was  Justice  of 
Peace  many  years,  served  as  supervisor  for  one  term, 
and  was  postmaster  during  Cleveland's  first  administra- 
tion. He  served  on  the  school  board  for  twelve  years.  He 
married  Eliza  J.  Anderson  in  1850  and  had  three  sons. 
There  are  two  third  cousins  living  in  Washington,  Mrs. 
Martha  Jackson  and  Mrs.  Caroline  Martini.  Two  other 
cousins  and  their  off-spring  live  elsewhere.  Mr.  Tobias 
died  in  1908. 


D.  R.  VAN  METER,  one  of  Washington's  best-known 
citizens,  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1830,  where  he  lived 
until  six  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Illinois.  Later  on 
he  moved  to  Wisconsin,  living  there  until  1860,  when  he 
returned  to  Washington  and  engaged  in  the  carpenter- 
ing business.  During  this  time,  January  1856,  he  returned 
and  married  Susan  Baker.  In  January,  1906,  they 
celebrated  their  golden  wedding  anniversary  with  their 
entire  family  present,  consisting  of  five  daughters  and 
three  sons.  Mr.  Van  Meter  was  a  consistent,  steady 
worker  in  the  Methodist  Church.  He  built  his  home  at 


614  West  Jefferson  Street.  The  area  around  the  home 
included  an  orchard,  which  would  have  been  where 
Summit  Lane  and  Jefferson  Street  are  now.  Hattie  Heiple 
recalls  that  she  and  Viola  Risser  would  climb  on  the 
chicken  house  and  pick  apples.  Mrs.  Rae  C.  Heiple  of 
Washington,  Illinois,  and  Mrs.  Alice  B.  Darnall  of 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  are  grand  daughters  of  D.  R.  Van 
Meter.  There  are  six  great  grandchildren  (two  are  James 
D.  Heiple  of  Pekin,  Illinois,  and  Rae  C.  Heiple  II  of 
Abingdon,  Illinois),  also  ten  great-great  grandchildren. 


I.  ZINSER  (1844  -  1901),  the  well  known  druggist,  was 
born  in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  and  moved  to  Illinois  in 
1851.  He  was  married  to  Martha  Tobias  at  Plainfield, 
Illinois,  and  opened  a  drug  store  under  the  firm  name  of 
Zinser  &  Hasting.  The  firm  later  moved  to  Washington. 
He  was  town  treasurer  for  many  years.  They  had  five 
sons  and  one  daughter.  There  are  four  grandchildren, 
two  living  in  Washington,  Mrs.  Martha  Jackson  and 
Mrs.  Caroline  Martini.  Mrs.  Orva  Sullivan  lives  in  the 
St.  Louis  area  and  E.  S.  Zinser  lives  in  Dallas,  Texas. 
There  are  eight  great  grandchildren  and  fifteen  great- 
great  grandchildren  and  one  great-great-great 
grandchild. 


J.  P.  wrenn  was  a  well  known  grain  man.  He  was 
born  and  grew  to  manhood  in  Washington.  He  married 
Ella  Fifer,  daughter  of  Washington's  first  mayor,  Peter 
Fifer.  They  were  married  in  the  former  Dr.  Zinser  home. 
105  Washington  Street.  They  had  two  daughters  and  one 
son.  Two  granddaughters  live  in  Washington.  They 
are  Miss  Eleanor  Webster  and  Mrs.  Ella  Cummings. 
Mrs.  Cummings  has  five  children  and  ten  grandchildren. 
Mr.  Wrenn  has  three  grandsons:  Wade  Wrenn.  living  in 
St.  Louis,  has  three  children;  Fritz  Wrenn,  who  lives  in 
California,  has  two  children;  Charles  Off,  of  Peoria, 
has  one  daughter.  There  are  sixteen  great-great 
grandchildren. 


If  we  could  see  our  ancestors  all  standing  in  a  row. 

Would  we  be  proud  of  them  or  not,  or  do  you  really  know? 
Some  strange  discoveries  are  made  in  climbing  family  trees 

And  some  of  them  you  know  do  not  particularly  please. 

If  we  could  see  our  ancestors  all  standing  in  a  row. 

There  might  be  some  of  them  perhaps  we  wouldn  't  care  to  know. 
But  there's  another  question  which  we  also  might  discuss. 

If  we  could  meet  our  ancestors  would  they  be  proud  of  us? 

Submitted   by  Jane   Putnam   —  written   by   her   uncle,   who   is   now  deceased. 


WASHINGTON 
FAMILIES 

FIFTY  YEARS 
OR  MORE 


THE  JOHN  BRIDE  FAMILY 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Bride  moved  to  Washington  from 
Missouri  in  1913  and  took  over  the  Furnace  and  Sheet 
Metal  Shop  formerly  owned  by  his  brother,  George 
Bride.  This  shop  was  on  North  Main  Street  and  had  been 
a  bowling  alley.  The  Bride's  children  were  a  daughter 
Ola  (later  she  married  Clark  Hughes)  and  Cletus. 
Mr.  Bride  and  Cletus  pushed  a  two-wheeled  cart  all  over 
town,  hauling  their  tools  and  materials  to  the  homes  of 
customers.  Painters  and  contractors  used  carts  of  this 
type  (as  did  Melvin  Frederick,  the  Expressman). 

In  the  early  twenties,  the  shop  was  moved  to  the 
Danforth  Building  at  1 10  South  Main.  Mr.  Bride  opened 
a  retail  hardware  store.  Cletus  continued  the  Furnace 
and  Sheet  Metal  Shop  in  the  same  building.  When 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Bride  retired  in  1944,  Cletus  and  his 
wife,  the  former  Gladys  Malone,  conducted  the  hard- 
ware, furnace,  and  sheet  metal  business  in  this  same 
location  (site  of  the  present  Scott  Hardware)  until  1966. 
Thus  the  John  Bride  family  happily  served  the  people  of 
Washington  for  fifty-three  years  and  witnessed  city 
progress. 


VALENTINE  BURKEY  FAMILY 

Valentine  Burkey  came  to  Washington  as  a  young  man 
in  1860  from  Tremont,  Illinois.  He  married  Annie 
Blumenshine  of  Holland's  Grove.  Their  home  was  on 
Peoria  Street,  now  the  site  of  General  Telephone.  He 
was  employed  by  the  Sonneman  and  Tobias  hardware 
store  and  was  their  mechanic  for  the  farm  implements. 
The  family  were  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 

A  daughter,  Mrs.  Josephine  Smith  Heitzman,  is 
deceased.  Her  living  descendants  are:  daughter;  Mrs. 
Clayton  (Geraldine)  Summer  of  Washington:  grand- 
children; Carole  Beebe,  Leroy  Summer  of  Metamora, 
and  Nancy  Farischon:  great  grandchildren;  Douglas, 
Gregory  Beebe,  Chad,  and  Kara  Farischon  of 
Washington,  Illinois. 

A  daughter,  Mrs.  James  (Edna)  Sullivan,  was  a  grade 
school  teacher  in  our  schools.  She  is  now  living  in  the 
Apostolic  Home  in  Eureka,  Illinois.  She  has  two  sons. 
Dr.  Robert  Sullivan  of  Washington,  Illinois,  whose 
children  are  Michael,  John,  Barth,  and  Kathleen 
Sullivan  and  also  Dr.  James  Sullivan,  Jr..  who  lives  in 
Omaha,  Nebraska.  He  has  seven  children  at  that 
address. 


Frank  Burkey,  a  son  now  deceased,  was  a  cashier  for 
the  Danforth  Banking  Company.  He  was  employed  by 
the  bank  for  many  years.  His  daughter,  Mrs.  Roberta 
Corbin,  is  of  Downers  Grove,  Illinois.  A  son,  Robert, 
resides  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Grandchildren  are  Steven 
and  Susan  Burkey. 


WILBUR  O.  DECKER  FAMILY 

Wilbur  O.  Decker  and  his  wife,  Lucie  Kinsey  Decker, 
came  to  Washington  from  Pekin  with  their  two  young 
sons,  Russell  and  Marion,  in  1906.  Seven  children  were 
born  after  they  came  to  Washington,  of  whom  four 
survived.  The  two  sons,  Russell  and  Marion,  and  two 
daughters,  Lorraine  Moschel  and  Mavis  Decker,  are 
living  elsewhere.  Two  daughters,  Frances  Martin  and 
Gertrude  Rosenberg,  still  reside  here.  There  are  nine 
grandchildren. 

Mr.  Decker  was  a  commercial  printer  and  had  his  own 
shop,  where  for  thirty  years  or  more  he  turned  out  many 
kinds  of  printing. 

The  family  were  Methodists,  and  in  earlier  years  he 
played  in  the  Methodist  Church  Orchestra.  He  was  one 
of  the  early  and  very  active  members  of  the  Myers  Band, 
later  known  as  the  Washington  Municipal  Band,  and 
also  played  for  some  time  in  the  Pekin  Band. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Decker  were  members  of  the  Masonic 
and  Eastern  Star  Lodges.  Mr.  Decker  was  a  member  of 
the  Shrine  and  Consistory,  also  playing  in  the  Shrine 
Band  in  Peoria. 

Mrs.  Decker  passed  away  in  December  of  1942  and 
Mr.  Decker  in  January  of  1946. 


JOHN  H.  DINGLEDINE  FAMILY 

John  H.  Dingledine,  son  of  Louis  and  Elizabeth 
Weyrich  Dingledine,  was  born  in  what  is  now  known  as 
the  Robein  area  in  1855.  He  married  Mary  Ann 
Blumenshine,  the  daughter  of  John  and  Annie  Rohrbach 
Blumenshine,  and  farmed  four  miles  east  of  Washington. 
Upon  retiring  in  1922  he  moved  to  Washington,  pur- 
chasing the  Dr.  W.  A.  Gott  residence  on  East  Jefferson 
Street.  He  was  an  avid  hunter  and  fisherman. 

Ten  children  were  born  into  this  family: 

Flora,  who  married  Ben  Stormer,  the  mother  of  Erma 
(Mrs.  Glen  Clements),  Glen  (married  Mabel  Kopp), 
Mary  (Mrs.  Harvey  E.  Blumenshine),  Homer  (married 
Viola  Nofsinger),  Wayne  (married  Grace  Brenneman). 

Walter,  who  married  Clara  E.  Hagenstoz,  the  father 
of  Blanche  (Mrs.  Henry  A.  Esser),  Eugene  (married 
Doris  Jean  Dorward). 

Ida,  who  married  John  A  Bradle,  the  mother  of  Irvin 
(married  Winifred  O'Shea),  Vernon  (married  Delia 
Nickels),  Ethel  (Mrs.  P.  J.  Brown),  Mildred  (Mrs.  Paul 
Blake). 

Harvey,  who  married  Barbara  Strubhar,  the  father  of 
Ronald  (married  Dorothy  Attig),  Richard  (married  Doris 
Bozarth),  Ruth  (Mrs.  Thomas  Eichorn),  Wayne  (married 
Maxine  Keith). 

Clara,  who  married  Robert  Mayo,  the  mother  of 
George,  Ralph,  Charles,  and  Harley. 

Emma,  who  married  Jacob  Grenzebach,  the  mother  of 
Marvin,  Raymond  (married  Jean  Curlee),  Arden 
(married  Clara  Jackson). 


Louis,  who  married  Lottie  Reeser,  the  father  of  Mary 
Ann  (Mrs.  Wesley  Attig),  Howard  (married  Lorena 
Stringer),  Robert.  Roger  (married  Nancy  Payne). 

Minnie,  who  married  Adolph  Schmuck. 

Pearl,  who  married  Irvin  Reeser,  mother  of  Kenneth 
(married  Clara  Staples),  Dorothy  (Mrs.  Donald  O. 
Schroen),  Carol  (Mrs.  Ben  Bridgers). 

Harley,  who  did  not  marry. 


MICHAEL  EBERT  FAMILY 

Michael  Ebert  (1865-1950)  was  born  in  a  log  cabin  in 
Black  Partridge  Township.  As  a  young  man  he  came  to 
Washington,  married  Amelia  Keil,  and  with  their  three 
children,  George  (1894-1943),  Clara  (18%),  and  Forrest 
(1898-1968),  lived  on  South  Elm  Street.  Clara  (Mrs. 
A.  D.  Blumenshine)  resides  in  Ripon,  Wisconsin.  George 
established  a  heating  and  plumbing  company  in 
Washington,  and  Forrest  continued  the  well  drilling 
business  which  had  been  established  in  1888.  One  of 
the  first  deep  wells  in  the  Washington  area  was  drilled 
in  1888  on  the  Switzer  farm  and  it  is  still  in  operation. 
Along  with  well  drilling,  threshing  and  corn  shelling 
were  also  done,  but  due  to  the  expanse  of  business  just 
the  drilling  was  continued.  The  majority  of  deep  water 
wells,  both  commercial  and  domestic,  in  the  Peoria 
area  have  been  drilled  by  either  Michael  Ebert  or 
Chris  Ebert  Companies. 

In  1915  and  1916  the  home  at  904  Peoria  Street  was 
built  by  Mike  Ebert.  At  the  present  time  the  William 
Ebert  family  resides  there.  William,  the  gTandson  of 
Michael  Ebert,  continues  the  drilling  business.  William 
is  currently  president  of  the  Illinois  Water  Well 
Association.  The  walnut  woodwork  in  the  Ebert  home 
was  sawed  from  trees  cut  in  the  Birkett's  pasture  in 
1909.  Mr.  Erickson,  who  was  the  woodcrafter  for  the 
Pullman  Company,  inlaid  the  floors  and  finished  the 
woodwork  in  the  entire  house  for  $300.00. 
Walls  are  fourteen  inches  thick  of  brick  and  tile.  A 
built-in  vacuum  cleaner  was  installed  in  the  home  as 
well  as  an  elevator  below  the  basement  for  refrigeration. 


IU 


&    -  •  -    . 


Descendants  living  in  Washington  are  Mrs.  Michael 
Ebert,  Mrs.  George  Ebert,  Mrs.  Forrest  Ebert,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  William  Ebert  and  their  daughters,  Elizabeth  and 
Ellen. 


THE  JOHN  ENGEL  FAMILY 

According  to  family  tradition,  John  Engel  was  a  sort 
of  scout  or  pathfinder  to  the  groups  of  emigrants  from 
Alsace-Lorraine,  France,  who  came  to  establish  homes  in 
America  during  the  1830's  and  later.  He  left  France  in 
1829  and  moved  through  Pennsylvania  to  a  point  in 
Ohio  from  which  he  walked  across  country  to  this 
community.  Afterwards,  he  walked  to  Galena.  Illinois, 
where  there  was  a  lead  industry,  then  to  Keokuk,  Iowa, 
where  there  was  a  button  industry.  The  buttons  were 
punched  out  of  mussel  shells  taken  from  the  Mississippi 
River.  He  evidently  satisfied  himself  that  neither  of  these 
places  were  his  cup  of  tea;  so  he  came  back  to  Metamora, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm  within  a  mile  west  of  that 
village.  When  the  Metamora  Courthouse  was  built, 
the  timber  for  the  interior  structure  was  procured  from 
the  grove  on  his  farm. 

John  Engel  married  Barbara  Detweiler,  who  was  a 
sister  of  Henry  Detweiler,  the  captain  and  owner  of  river 
steamboats  operating  between  Peoria  and  St.  Louis. 
Tradition  has  it  that  he  became  a  friend  of  General 
Grant  by  helping  transport  Grant's  Troops  from 
Missouri  to  the  eastern  side  of  the  river  early  in  the  Civil 
War.  After  the  war  he  continued  in  the  river  business 
until  late  in  the  19th  century,  when  he  joined  the 
Woodruff  brothers  in  the  river  ice  business.  His  son  Tom 
later  bought  and  presented  to  the  City  of  Peoria  the  old 


Payson  Farm  to  be  called  Detweiler  Park  in  honor  of  his 
father. 

In  1832  John  Engel  became  the  driver  of  a  supply 
wagon  for  the  troops  in  the  short  Blackhawk  War.  After 
this  he  engaged  in  farming  and  raising  a  family  of  two 
sons  and  five  daughters. 


In  1833  John's  father.  Christian,  who  was  an  ordained 
minister  of  the  Mennonite  Church,  came  over  from 
France  accompanied  by  his  brother  Peter  who  settled  on 
a  farm  south  of  Metamora.  In  the  same  year,  one 
historian  relates,  the  first  church  in  Woodford  County 
was  organized  in  the  home  of  John;  and  later,  in  the 
year  1854,  a  brick  church  known  as  the  Partridge  Church 
was  built  on  the  road  between  Metamora  and  German- 
town.  A  field  stone  monument  on  the  south  side  of  the 
road  marks  the  spot  today. 

The  oldest  son,  Christian  II,  who  married  Elizabeth 
Nafziger  purchased   a  farm  northwest  of  Washington 


just  across  the  road  from  the  old  Union  Church  and 
raised  a  family  of  two  sons  and  four  daughters.  A 
daughter  of  John  II,  Evelyn  Smith,  resides  in 
Washington  as  do  the  children  of  Matilda,  who  married 
John  Summer.  Her  children  are  Clayton,  Harvey,  and 
Lester  Summer.  Two  sons,  Ira  and  Earl,  and  one 
daughter,  Verna  (Foley),  are  deceased.  All  of  the  other 
daughters  of  John,  the  pioneer,  married  and  moved  away 
from  this  community  except  the  youngest,  Rachel,  who 
married  Peter  Sweitzer  and  bore  two  sons,  Willard  and 
Fred,  the  latter  of  whom  is  still  living.  The  other  son, 
Joseph,  never  married.  He  died  in  1921  and  is  buried  in 
the  Union  Cemetery. 


AUGUST  ESSER 

August  Esser  emigrated  from  Alsace-Lorraine  in 
1886.  His  father,  Adolphe  Esser,  had  a  small  fruit  and 
vegetable  farm  on  what  is  now  South  Wilmor  Road. 
August  later  attended  Valparaiso  University  and 
returned  to  Washington  to  teach  in  country  schools.  He 
married  Lydia  Ficht  in  1912.  Their  descendants  are 
Blanche  M.  and  Alvin  W.,  of  Washington.  Alvin  married 
Phyllis  Laycock  in  1947. 

While  teaching  school.  August  Esser  operated  a  fruit 
farm  on  Spring  Creek  Road,  he  taught  in  St.  Mark's 
Lutheran  Sunday  School,  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and  represented  the  Federal  Land  Bank  in  arranging 
farm  loans  during  the  depression. 

Mr.  Esser  relates  that  on  April  5,  1920  farmers  were 
sowing  oats  and  snow  fell  that  night.  The  next  morning, 
Easter  Sunday,  roads  were  impassable  and  farmers 
could  not  get  to  church.  An  extra  effort  was  expended  on 
Monday  to  open  the  roads  because  a  primary  election 
was  scheduled  on  Tuesday. 

At  this  writing  (summer  1974)  Mr.  Esser  had  ob- 
served his  90th  birthday  in  March.  He  clearly  recalls 
earlier  times  and  happenings  in  Washington.  His 
recollections  were  a  great  help  in  writing  various  contri- 
butions to  this  book. 


JOHN  ESSIG  FAMILY 

John  Essig  was  born  February  15,  1855  in  Wiernsheim 
Wurtemburg,  Germany.  He  departed  for  America  with 
his  parents  and  one  sister,  at  the  age  of  six  months. 
Enroute,  the  boat  hit  severe  storms  and  the  captain 
asked  for  volunteers  to  man  the  pumps.  His  father 
caught  pneumonia  due  to  exposure  and  died.  A  burial 
at  sea  was  planned  when  a  kind  lady  on  the  boat  offered 
to  pay  for  his  burial  in  Ireland,  where  the  boat  stopped 
for  repairs. 

John  Essig  married  Caroline  Koch,  November  20,  1884 
in  Peoria,  Illinois.  Caroline  Koch  was  born  in  Hessen, 
Germany,  May  5,  1850  and  passed  away  in  September 
of  1899,  leaving  her  husband  and  three  daughters. 


John  Essig  then  married  Elise  (Lizzie)  Esser  in 
Washington,  Illinois,  on  May  22,  1900.  Elise  Esser  was 
born  December  13,  1879  in  Niederbronn  Elsace, 
France.  She  came  to  Washington,  Illinois,  with  her 
family  when  she  was  six  years  old. 

The  Essigs  farmed  west  of  Washington  and  to  his 
marriage  four  sons  and  two  daughters  were  born.  Mr. 
Essig  passed  away  May  25,  1933  at  his  home.  Lizzie 
Essig  is  now  making  her  home  at  The  Maple  Lawn 
Nursing  Home  in  Eureka,  Illinois.  Following  are  their 
children: 

Lillie  Susane  married  Charles  Grosenbach  of 
Washington,  Illinois,  to  this  union  four  children  were 
born:  Lucille  Peters  of  El  Paso.  Texas.  Margaret  Neiman 


of  Albuquerque,  New  Mexico.  Florence  Nally  of  Croston, 
Maryland,  and  Harold  Grosenbach  of  Chicago,  Illinois. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Grosenbach  are  deceased. 

Mary  Christine  maried  Walter  Spring  of  Washington. 
Illinois,  and  three  children  were  born:  Esther  Johnson  of 
Estes  Park,  Colorado.  Elmer  Spring  of  Washington. 
Illinois,  and  Walter  Jr.  died  at  the  age  of  four.  Mr. 
Spring  is  deceased  and  Mrs.  Spring  is  now  retired  and 
living  in  Washington.  For  many  years  she  owned  and 
operated  Spring's  Dress  Shop  on  the  square. 

Anna  Margaret  married  Floyd  Himmel  of  R.  R.  East 
Peoria,  Illinois.  After  their  marriage  they  resided  in 
Peoria.  Illinois,  then  moving  to  Washington,  Illinois  in 
1950.  Mr.  Himmel  is  deceased  and  Mrs.  Himmel  is 
retired. 

John  Essig  married  Agnes  Birkett  of  Washington, 
Illinois,  and  two  children  were  born:  Donald  of  Havana, 
Illinois,  and  Margaret  of  Morton,  Illinois.  John  farmed 
west  of  Washington,  Illinois,  at  the  time  of  their 
marriage,  later  running  his  own  oil  business.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  he  operated  the  Oldsmobile  Agency.  Agnes 
Essig  is  deceased. 

Henry  Essig  married  Frieda  Koch  of  Washington. 
Illinois.  Four  children  were  born:  Doris  Farney  of 
Eureka,    Illinois,    LaVerne    Patterson   of  Washington. 


Illinois,  Glenn  Essig  and  Dorothy  Foster  of  Washington, 
Illinois.  Henry  Essig  farmed  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
at  present  is  owner  of  Essig  Motor  Company  of 
Washington.  Frieda  Essig  is  deceased.  Henry  Essig 
married  Virginia  Kimpling  Torrance  and  has  one  step- 
daughter. 

Wilhelmina  M.  Essig  died  at  the  age  of  eleven. 

Hermina  Essig  married  Roger  Ingold  of  Washington. 
Illinois.  They  now  live  in  Neilsville,  Wisconsin,  where 
they  farmed  for  many  years.  Recently  retiring.  They  have 
two  children:  Mary  Louise  Naedler  of  Granton. 
Wisconsin,  and  Roger,  Jr.  of  Neilsville,  Wisconsin. 

Herman  Essig  married  Phyllis  Dixon  of  Washington. 
Illinois,  and  two  children  were  born  to  this  union:  Dean 
Essig,  an  attorney,  and  Elaine  Helmuth  both  of 
Washington.  Illinois.  Herman  is  an  insurance  and  real 
estate  broker,  owning  the  Washington  Realty  Company 
and  co-owner  of  Alexander-Essig  Insurance  Agency. 

Edward  Essig  married  Mary  Jeanne  Brekke  of  Clark. 
South  Dakota,  and  four  children  were  born:  John 
Bradley,  a  dental  student,  Ann  Bush  of  Las  Vegas, 
Nevada,  and  Kelli  of  Washington,  Illinois.  Sue  Marie 
is  deceased.  Edward  is  a  real  estate  broker  in 
Washington. 


EDWARD  E.  HABECKER,  SR. 

Edward  E.  Habecker.  Sr.,  was  born  in  Danvers, 
Illinois,  on  a  farm  in  1883.  He  married  Helen  Enault  in 
1907.  He  came  to  Washington  in  1913,  where  his  first 
mortuary  was  set  up  in  a  building  in  the  first  block  on 
North  Main  Street  on  the  west  side  of  the  street.  About 
1920  he  built  the  Dodge  garage  at  120  Walnut  Street 
with  the  undertaking  establishment  upstairs.  In  1927  he 
purchased  the  beautiful  mansion  built  in  1869  by  A.  G. 
Danforth.  The  funeral  parlor  was  downstairs  and  the 
living  quarters  were  upstairs.  Mr.  Habecker  went 
through  the  transformation  from  using  horse-drawn 
hearses  to  automobiles.  In  the  olden  days,  all  the  imple- 
ments of  embalming  were  taken  to  the  home,  and  the 
funerals  were  held  in  the  home  or  in  the  church. 
Mr.  Habecker  was  one  of  the  early  directors  of  the 
Washington  Federal  Savings  and  Loan  business  in 
Washington.  He  lived  to  be  almost  ninety  years  of  age. 
and  he  enjoyed  good  health  most  of  those  vears.  He  died 
May  25.  1973.  He  left  a  daughter.  Mrs".  Ted  (Helen) 
Waldeck.  who  has  three  children,  two  sons  and  one 
daughter,  and  seven  grandchildren,  all  living  elsewhere. 
Also,  he  left  Edward  Habecker,  a  son,  who  is  president  of 
Washington  Federal  Savings  and  Loan  and  the  present 
mayor  of  Washington.  He  and  his  wife,  Mary,  have  four 
children,  all  living  at  home.  This  leaves  Mr.  Habecker 
Sr..  with  a  total  of  eleven  grandchildren. 


LOUIS  A.  HOEFLIN— VIOLA  HOEFL1N  RISSER 

The  log-cabin  pictured  here  was  built  in  Holland's 
Grove  in  the  1870's.  It  was  the  birthplace  of  my  father, 
Louis  A.  Hoeflin.  His  father,  who  built  the  cabin, 
was  Andrew  Hoeflin,  and  his  mother  was  Elizabeth 
Mehling,  both  born  in  Baden-Baden,  Germany.  In 
later  years,  their  home  was  located  in  Washington 
where  the  Methodist  Church  annex  has  been  built. 
Grandpa  Hoeflin  was  born  in  1835  and  died  in  1913. 
He  was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War  and  became  blind 
as  a  result  of  gunpowder  in  his  eyes  during  the  war. 
The  gentleman  in  the  picture  is  Andrew  Hoeflin,  Jr., 
my  father's  brother.  "Andrew"  is  the  Hoeflin  family 
name  and  there  has  been  an  "Andrew"  in  every 
generation.  There  is  also  a  tombstone  in  the 
Washington  Glendale  cemetary,  bearing  the  name  of 
Andreas  Von  Hoeflin  with  his  birth  date,  1814,  and 
his  death  in  1881. 

In  Germany,  the  name  was  "Von  Hoeflin"  but  the 
family  dropped  the  Von;  however,  I  thought  the  Von 
sounded  just  great  (hmm)  —  with  "Viola",  so  in 
school,  I  sometimes  signed  my  name,  Viola  Von 
Hoeflin.  This  worked  very  well  until  one  of  the  high 
school  teachers  seated  each  student  according  to  his 
last  name,  I  was  seated  in  the  back  row  much  to  the 
outrage  of  some  of  the  "kids"  in  the  front  seats,  so 
that  ended  the  use  of  "Von"!! 

Our  family  home  was  located  at  203  Market  Street. 
There  were  seven  of  us  children;  five  girls  and  two 
boys.  My  sisters  were  Esther  Petri  and  Mary  Evelyn 
Gunn  who  made  their  homes  in  Laramie,  Wyoming 
and  Victoria  Campbell  and  Louise  (Dolly)  Roberts, 
who  live  in  Miami,  Florida.  My  brothers  are  Andrew 
R.  Hoeflin,  Peoria,  Illinois,  and  Louis  A.  Hoeflin,  Jr. 
of  Riverside,  California.  We  were  a  musical  family  and 
most  of  us  sang  in  the  church  choir  at  one  time  or 
another  as  well  as  in  chorus  and  college  groups,  not  to 
mention  while  doing  the  dishes  at  home  or  gathered 
around  the  piano.  One  time  all  five  sisters  were  asked  to 


sing  for  a  program  at  the  City  Building;  when  we  came  in 
together,  the  audience  applauded,  and  we  were  so  sur- 
prised we  almost  forgot  to  sing. 

My  father  operated  a  hardware  store  for  many  years 
in  the  building  now  owned  by  the  Herbst  Company. 
Later  he  became  a  real  estate  broker.  Both  of  my  parents 
were  born  and  raised  in  the  Holland's  Grove  area. 
Dad  was  born  in  1872  and  died  in  1952.  My  mother, 
Flora  Keil  Hoeflin,  was  born  in  1876  and  died  in  1962. 
All  the  children  are  living  except  Mary  Evelyn,  who  died 
in  1973. 

My  mother,  Flora  Hoeflin,  was  instrumental  in  the 
establishment  of  the  Washington  Library.  It  had  been 
her  dream  for  many  years.  She  felt  that  Washington 
needed  a  library  and  she  talked  to  many  people  about  it. 
Among  those  who  became  interested  were  Mrs.  Harriet 
Zinser,  Mrs.  Nora  Weeks,  and  Mrs.  Carrie  Urban.  These 
four  women  worked  to  interest  the  Washington 
Mother's  Organization  in  this  project,  and  in  1924  the 
first  discussions  were  held  by  the  club.  Further  infor- 
mation is  in  the  history  of  the  Washington  Library.  I 
feel  their  dream  has  been  fulfilled. 


KEIL-BLUMENSHINE 

The  first  member  of  the  above  family  to  come  to  the 
locality  was  Balsar  Knell  from  Hessen-Darmstadt. 
Germany,  in  the  early  1830's.  He  was  a  widower  with 
three  married  daughters.  The  eldest  was  married  to 
Balthasar  Keil,  the  second  to  William  Blumenshine, 
and  the  youngest  to  a  Mr.  Hofbauer.  The  Hofbauers 
left  this  area  long  ago  and  trace  of  them  has  been  lost. 
There  is  a  certificate,  written  in  long  hand  in  possession 
of  the  family,  signed  by  the  Grand  Duke  of  Hesse,  giving 
Balthasar  Keil,  "ein  ackerman"  or  peasant,  the  right  to 
emigrate  to  North  America  with  his  wife  and  four 
children  and  excused  him  from  military  service.  He  was 
a  cobbler  by  trade  and,  as  tradition  has  it,  after  landing 
in  New  York,  drifted  to  Philadelphia,  then  to  Pittsburgh 
from  where  the  family  came  down  the  Ohio  River  on  a 
homemade  raft.  They  then  worked  their  way  up  the 


Mississippi  and  Illinois  Rivers  to  the  then  Fort  Clark 
(now  Peoria),  then  into  their  new  home,  carrying  all  their 
worldly  belongings.  Fortunately,  father  Knell  and 
brother-in-law  Blumenshine  were  here  before  and,  no 
doubt,  helped  a  great  deal  in  their  getting  settled. 

Of  their  life  we  know  little  except  that  on  land  now  east 
of  the  Grange  Road,  they  lived  in  a  two-room  log  house 
and  owned  a  team  of  black  horses,  equivalent  to,  let's 
say,  a  Buick  nowadays.  Also,  be  it  noted,  the  youngest 
son  had  learned  the  art  of  grafting  trees,  and  the  family 
had  an  orchard  of  the  finest  apples,  the  elder  aunts  say, 
they  ever  tasted.  Of  the  five  children  in  the  family,  three 
were  deaf  mutes  due  to  a  seige  of  scarlet  fever.  Great- 
grandfather, on  two  succeeding  years,  took  these 
three  children  with  team  and  wagon  to  the  state  school 


for  the  deaf  at  Jacksonville.  They  stayed  the  winter,  and 
he  returned  for  them  in  the  spring.  Also,  we  know  that  he 
and  his  youngest  son  died  the  same  day  from  typhoid 
fever.  The  older  man  was  fifty-five  years  old  at  the  time. 
They  are  buried  in  the  Holland's  Grove  Cemetery. 
Grandmother  Keil  lived  to  be  over  ninety  and  lived  her 
later  years  in  a  little  brick  house  built  for  her  by  her 
son,  William  Keil.  Of  him,  let  us  note,  that  he  was  a  man 
very  aggressive  by  nature,  who  before  the  days  of  woven 
wire,  fenced  over  one  hundred  acres  of  hilly  timber 
ground  with  a  board  fence,  and  raised  hogs  who  fattened 
every  fall  on  acorns. 

Now  to  another  patriarch  of  the  family,  William 
Blumenshine.  We  are  told  he  was  a  quiet  gentle  man, 
very  religious  and  a  great  friend  of  the  circuit  riders  and 
ministers  of  the  gospel  who  came  to  the  neighborhood. 
He  was  the  father  of  Margaret,  who  married  William 
Keil,  and  of  John,  Phillip  and  William,  whose  descen- 
dants lived  and  farmed  east  and  about  Washington.  It  is 
told  of  Grandmother  Blumenshine,  a  strong  pioneer 
woman,  that  she  kept  an  ax  behind  the  cabin  door. 
When  some  straggling  Indian  came  up  the  creek  asking 
for  bread,  whiskey,  sugar  or  tobacco,  she  emphasized 
that  when  she  said  no  she  meant  no.  Also  we  are  told 
that,  on  occasion,  she  would  take  the  family  flintlock, 
go  out  into  the  woods  and  usually  come  back  with  a 
turkey  or  other  addition  to  the  larder. 

One  more  recollection  of  olden  days,  in  Holland's 
Grove  Cemetery,  there  is  a  little  grave  covered  by  a  giant 
peony  plant.  The  headstone  reads:  Here  lies  Rachel 
Johnson  born  1867  died  1868.  Her  people,  cousins  of 
the  family,  had  their  covered  wagon  loaded  to  move  to 
Nebraska.  The  night  before  they  were  planning  to  go, 
the  little  one  died.  She  was  buried  and,  at  that  time  or 
soon  thereafter,  someone  planted  a  peony  on  her  grave.  It 
grew  and  flourished  and  every  spring  since  then  comes 
forth  with  a  wealth  of  bright  red  blooms. 

A  near  tragic  incident,  which  gives  some  under- 
standing of  the  times,  occurred  some  ninety  years  ago 


when  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Albert  Keil,  Mr.  &  Mrs.  John  Essig, 
Sr.,  and  Louis  B.  Keil  went  to  Peoria,  traveling  with  the 
former's  team  and  bob  sled,  to  celebrate  New  Years  Eve 
at  the  home  of  relatives.  Instead  of  taking  the  rope  ferry, 
they  crossed  the  river  on  the  ice.  In  returning 
late  that  night,  they  decided  to  again  cross  by  the  ice, 
although  they  had  been  warned  that  the  ice  was 
weakening.  When  in  the  middle  of  the  river,  the  team 
and  front  runner  of  the  bob  sled  crashed  through  the  ice, 
leaving  the  people  in  the  wagon  sitting  on  the  ice.  One  of 
the  horses  got  her  front  feet  on  solid  ice,  but  the  weight 
of  the  other  horses  and  the  front  runners  dragged  her 
under.  It  was  a  grievous  loss  but  the  folks,  of  course, 
were  grateful  for  the  miraculous  sparing  of  their  lives. 
Rivermen  retireved  the  harness  from  the  horses  in  the 
spring. 

It  would  also  be  fitting  here  to  add  a  word  about  the 
"West  Keil  family",  who  came  from  the  same  place  in 
Germany  but,  as  far  as  we  know,  there  was  no  close  blood 
relationship.  They  lived  in  Fondulac  township  but  were 
much  involved  in  the  community.  The  eldest  was  George 
Keil,  who  had  three  sons:  George,  Peter,  and  Adam. 
George  has  no  living  descendants.  Peter's  son.  Adam, 
was  for  years  a  clerk  in  a  drug  store  on  the  north  side  of 
the  square  in  Washington  and  was  also  for  a  long  time, 
city  clerk.  A  daughter.  Mrs.  Louis  List,  also  has  descen- 
dants hereabouts.  The  first  named  Adam  Keil  was  the 
master  craftsman  of  the  pioneer  community.  He  built 
many  of  the  large  barns  of  that  early  day.  He  and  his 
crew  worked  in  the  woods  in  the  winter,  hewing  out 
the  timbers.  Trie  farmer  would  haul  them  in  place,  and 
in  the  spring,  they  would  have  a  barn  raising.  Adam  Keil 
received  $1.00  per  day  for  his  labor  and  his  helpers  got 
75  cents.  The  elder  George  Keil's  widow  later  married 
Balsar  Knell  and  is  buried  in  Holland's  Grove  Cemetery. 
The  last  survivor  of  the  younger  George  Keil  family  was 
G.  Frank  Schmaltz,  who  did  a  great  deal  toward  the 
maintenance  of  Hollands  Grove  Cemetery. 


FAY  LAND  FAMILY 

Fay  Land  came  to  Washington  in  1914  from  Kansas, 
where  he  had  been  in  the  dry  cleaning  and  tailoring  busi- 
ness for  four  years.  He  married  Lucy  Pattee  in  1912  in 
Wray,  Colorado.  He  started  his  dry  cleaning  business 
here  in  the  location  of  Bob's  Barber  Shop.  Later  he 
moved  to  the  Marshall's  Tavern  building  for  seven  years, 
before  moving  to  his  present  place  of  business.  He  started 
in  the  clothing  business  here  about  1917. 

Mr.  Land  was  a  volunteer  fireman  for  years  in  the 
early  1900's.  He  was  on  the  grade  school  board  for  many 
years,  and  led  the  singing  at  Kiwanis  Club  meetings. 
He  passed  away  April,  1958. 

His  wife,  Lucy,  still  retains  partnership  in  the  business. 
Of  his  four  daughters:  Mrs.  Carol  Lytle  and  Mrs.  Miriam 
Grimm,  live  close  by.  Mrs.  Dorothy  Eastman  lives  in 
Florida,  spending  several  months  of  the  summer  in  this 


area,  and  Mrs.  Harriet  Brown  lives  in  Springield. 
Illinois.  There  are  nineteen  grandchildren  and  ten  great 
grandchildren. 


THE   MALONE  FAMILY 

In  the  early  twenties.  Mrs.  Cletus  Brides'  parents, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  O.  Malone  and  family  (Hugh,  Orval, 
Mabel,  and  Agnes)  moved  from  Metamora  to  a  farm 
west  of  Washington,  where  Hugh  helped  his  father  with 
the  Silver  Tip  Fox  Ranch  until  a  tornado  wrought 
destruction  in  this  area  on  June  28,  1924. 

Mabel  Malone  and  Harold  Greiner  were  to  be  married 
that  day.  Her  trousseau  except  her  wedding  gown  was 
blown  out  of  the  farmhouse  window  and  scattered  over 


the  farm.  After  hasty,  necessary  purchases,  the  wedding 
occurred  as  scheduled  but  without  music  because  power 
lines  were  down. 

After  Harold  Greiner's  death  (typhoid  epidemic  in 
Secor  in  1926).  Mabel  Malone  Greiner  taught  choral 
music  in  the  surrounding  towns.  The  Washington 
Community  High  School  Chorus  under  her  direction 
rated  first  in  the  State  in  1928.  She  also  directed  the 
St.  Mark's  Lutheran  Church  Choir  for  a  number  of 
years. 


MEINHARDT  C.  MARTINI 

Meinhardt  C.  Martini  was  born  in  Norden,  Germany 
on  August  6,  1859.  He  was  a  traveling  salesman  in 
Europe  and  had  the  opportunity  to  learn  several  different 
languages  before  coming  to  this  country  as  a  young  man. 

He  settled  in  Deer  Creek,  Illinois,  and  found  work  on  a 
farm  in  that  vicinity. 

Eventually  he  saved  enough  money  to  buy  half-interest 
in  a  grocery  store  in  Washington,  Illinois,  then  he  went 
into  the  same  business  for  himself. 

He  showed  great  interest  in  music  and  could  play 
almost  any  brass  instrument,  consequently,  he  organized 
the  Martini  band.  He  bought  instruments  and  gave 
lessons  to  those  gentlemen  who  were  interested  in  playing 
in  the  band.  Later,  the  band  under  the  direction  of 
Mr.  Allie  Myers,  was  named  the  Myers  band. 

Mr.  Martini  married  Emily  Josephine  Crane  on  June  1, 
1887  in  Washington,  Illinois.  They  had  four  children, 
two  daughters  now  deceased,  and  two  sons  Rodgers  C.  of 
Amarillo,  Texas,  and  August  M.  of  Washington.  He 
leaves  six  grandchildren,  sixteen  great  grandchildren  and 
eleven  great-great  grandchildren.  Two  grandchildren 
and  six  great  grandchildren  live  in  this  area. 


When  the  Pekin  Court  House  was  rebuilt,  dedication 
exercises  were  held  in  June,  1916  and  Mr.  Martini's 
name  is  engraved  on  the  plaque  in  the  Court  House  as 
supervisor  at  that  time. 

He  also  owned  a  shoe  store  in  the  building  where 
Foster  Jewelry  store  now  stands,  he  was  a  police  magi- 
strate at  one  time  and  did  considerable  real  estate 
business. 

He  died  in  Peoria,  Illinois,  in  1934. 


IRA  W.  MILLER  SR.  FAMILY 

This  is  a  short  background  of  the  Ira  W.  Miller  Sr., 
family.  Exact  dates  and  years  are  lacking  but  Mr.  Miller 
was  born  in  Hoopole,  Illinois,  in  1849.  He  graduated 
from  Northwestern  University,  and  after  his  father  died 
and  his  mother  remarried,  he  decided  to  come  to 
Washington  with  one  of  the  Minch  families. 

He  lived  with  the  Minches  on  a  farm  near  Cooper 
Station.  During  this  time  he  taught  school  in  several 
country  schools.  In  1882  he  married  Elizabeth  Zaneis, 
whose  father  was  in  the  contracting  business  of 
Rickman  and  Zaneis  in  the  early  seventies.  Their  three 
children  are  Roy,  now  91  years  old  living  in  the  Lacon 
Nursing  Center;  Louise  Linder,  now  deceased,  whose 
husband  operated  the  Linder  Drug  Store,  previously 
the  C.  F.  Brady  Store;  and  Clayton,  who  is  88  years  old 
and  is  living  at  203  Lincoln,  Washington,  Illinois. 

After  teaching  school,  I.  W.  Sr.  decided  to  join  his 
father-in-law  as  a  mortician  and  furniture  dealer.  Upon 
graduation    from    the    Mortuary    Science    School    in 


Chicago,  they  located  in  the  store  now  operated  by 
Bob's  Hardware.  In  those  days  furniture  and  embalming 
were  associated,  —  the  reason  being  most  caskets  were 
wooden  boxes  and  were  dressed  in  cloth  covers  at  the 
store.  Embalming  was  done  at  home,  and  a  horse- 
drawn  hearse  traveling  over  dirt  roads  caused  many 
complications,  to  say  the  least. 


Mr.  Miller's  hobbies  were  horses  and  a  gifted  talent 
with  pen  and  ink  in  writing  and  artistry;  some  of  his  work 
is  in  the  family.  I.  W.  took  an  active  part  in  civic  enter- 
prises and  was  mayor  during  1911-1912.  Vacation  time 
was  spent  at  the  horse  races  in  Peoria;  this  was  a  happy 
time  for  his  son,  Clayton,  for  his  job  was  to  care  for  the 
horses.  When  race  day  came,  it  was  loading  the  standard 
bred  harness  horse.  Verily,  cart,  and  other  equipment  on 
a  road  wagon  and  driving  to  the  Benford  Livery  Stable 
in  Peoria.  From  there  they  took  a  street -car  to  the  race 
tracks  at  the  fairgrounds  and  cheered  Verily  and  the 
driver  named  Sample  on  to  victory  or  defeat.  Ira  Jr., 
remembers  the  big  day  he  had  when  his  grandfather  took 
him  along  at  the  age  of  six. 

During  this  time  Roy  and  Clayton  played  baseball  on 
Sunday  as  pitcher  and  catcher  on  the  Washington  Bull 
Dog  team.  Recreation  for  the  boys  was  mostly  con- 
gregating in  the  square,  which  was  the  hub  of  activities, 
with  all  the  stores  open  every  evening,  but  everything 
closed  on  Sunday.  Another  treat  was  taking  the  train  to 
Peoria  at  3:30  P.M.  for  vaudeville  and  then  home  at 
midnight. 


When  his  father-in-law  died,  he  moved  the  business  to 
the  building  that  houses  the  Cilco  Company  at  present. 
At  this  time  Clayton  took  training  from  his  father  and 
received  his  embalmer's  license.  They  worked 
together  until  Ira  and  his  wife  moved  to  Pontagorda, 
Florida,  where  they  lived  until  their  health  failed. 

Roy  and  Clavton  took  the  business  for  a  year  and  then 
sold  the  embalming  business  to  Ed  Habecker  and  the 
furniture  store  to  Harry  Walschmidt.  Clayton  then  went 
with  Dickenson  and  Company.  Roy  moved  to  Henry, 
Illinois,  and  was  affiliated  with  the  bank.  At  that  time 
Louise  was  teaching  school  in  Roanoke,  Illinois. 

At  this  date  the  Miller  name  is  carried  on  by  Clavton 
W.,  his  son,  Ira  W..  living  in  Washington,  David  W., 
a  grandson  of  Clayton,  and  Timothy  W.,  a  great 
grandson. 


WILLIAM  MULLER  FAMILY 

William  Muller  was  born  December  15,  1864,  and 
married  Katherine  Minch,  born  March  12,  1869,  in 
January  1888.  They  moved  from  Groveland  to 
Washington  in  1913  and  farmed  the  land  which  is  now 
the  site  of  the  Washington  State  Bank.  A  meeting  room 
in  the  bank  commemorates  their  name  where  wood 
from  their  barn  is  used  in  the  decor. 

Their  children  were  John  B..  Robert.  Clarence.  Ada 
(who  married  William  Doering),  Earl.  Charlie,  Mary 
(who  married  John  Murphy),  Walter,  and  Elmo  (who 
married  Gertrude  Heiple). 

John  B.  Muller  was  the  father  of  William  (who  married 
Eleanor  Steimle).  Gladys  Downer,  and  Elma  Hofmeyer. 

Robert's  children  are  Arthur,  Alvin,  and  Lloyd  Muller, 
all  of  East  Peoria,  Illinois. 

Clarence's  two  children,  Howard  and  Kathryn  Muller 
Poff,  also  reside  in  East  Peoria,  Illinois. 

Charlie  is  a  Washington  resident.  His  son  Arden  is  on 
the  Washington  City  Council.  Another  son.  Eugene, 
lives  in  Florida;  a  daughter,  Phyllis  Troyer,  is  in 
Goodfield,  Illinois. 

Walter  lives  in  Peoria;  his  son,  David,  is  in  Knoxville. 
Walter  recalls  that  he  was  attending  the  old  Central 
School  on  North  Wilmor  Road  on  November  11.  1918. 
A  whistle  sounded,  and  the  pupils  realized  that  an 
armistice  could  have  been  announced.  Walt  grabbed  a 
long  pole  used  for  pole  vaulting,  attached  a  flag,  and 
rode  a  horse  to  the  Washington  Square  where  he  was 
asked  to  lead  a  parade  in  celebration  of  peace. 


GEORGE  H.  RINKENBERGER 

George  H.  Rinkenberger  was  born  in  an  adobe  near 
Oberlin,  Kansas,  February  4,  1891  to  William  and  Mary 
Stumpf  Rinkenberger.  His  mother  died  in  1891  and  he 
was  raised  by  his  father  and  grandfather  at  Farmdale, 
Illinois.  He  moved  to  Washington,  Illinois,  with  his 
father  in  1906. 

Mr.  Rinkenberger  started  selling  gasoline  engines  in 
1907  and  organized  the  Washington  Supply  Company 
in  1908. 

On  June  18,  1913  he  married  Nellie  Marie  Keil,  and 
they  had  one  daughter,  Mary  Helen  Shelander,  of  Punta 
Gorda,  Florida. 

Mr.  Rinkenberger  served  as  alderman  from  1916  to 
1920.  He  was  elected  mayor  of  Washington  in  1925  to 
1933  and  from  1935  to  1941.  In  1928  he  was  a 
candidate  for  United  States  Congressman.  He  was 
named  Man  of  the  Year  by  T.P.  &  W.  in  1954,  a  member 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  Rebecca, 
Eastern  Star,  lieutenant  governor  of  Illinois  and  Eastern 
Iowa  Kiwanis,  and  chairman  of  the  township  Polio 
Drive  from  1941  to  1950. 

Nellie  Marie  Keil  Rinkenberger  passed  away  in  1960. 
He  married  Vera  L.  Antrim  in  1961. 

Mr.  Rinkenberger  was  listed  in  "Who's  Who"  in  the 
midwest  in  the  early  1%0's,  he  was  also  a  director  of 
Washington  First  National  Bank  for  many  years.  He 
was  owner  of  Rinkenberger  Lumber  Company,  selling 
wholesale  building  material,  from  1941  to  1967  and 
owner  of  Washington  Supply  Company  from  1908  to 
1967.  Mr.  Rinkenberger  has  six  grandchildren  and  five 
great  grandchildren,  one  great  grandchild  is  deceased. 

The  following  is  an  address  made  by  Mayor  George 
Rinkenberger  at  the  dedication  of  a  bronze  memorial  to 
William  Holland,  October,  15, 1926: 


"I  consider  it  a  very  great  honor  to  have  the  oppor- 
tunity of  presiding  at  this  meeting  and  being  mayor  of 
our  city  100  years  after  its  foundation  was  laid  by  the 
man  in  whose  memory  we  meet  here  this  afternoon.  This 
is  an  occasion  that  few  people  are  able  to  witness,  and  to 
have  the  honor  of  presiding  is  only  to  remind  me  of  my 
inability  to  do  justice,  and  my  great  desire  will  be  to  be 
able  to  do  better  because  the  memories  that  are  brought 
back  to  us  are  not  only  who  was  the  founder  of  our  city, 
but  they  show  us  what  men  of  those  times  did  for  the 
future  generations.  I  wonder  if  the  men  of  today  are 
sacrificing  as  much  as  the  people  one  hundred  or  a 
thousand  years  ago  sacrificed  so  that  you  and  I  might  be 
happy  and  prosperous  today,  and  I  wonder  if  you  and  I 
are  appreciating  the  things  that  these  people  did  for  us. 
Of  the  many  instances  that  we  can  recall  we  can  start 
back  twenty  centuries  ago  when  Christ  gave  his  life  for 
us;  then  we  go  through  the  many  wars  and  through  the 
sufferings  and  hardships  that  were  endured  by  the  men 
who  discovered  and  first  settled  in  our  great  free  country 
in  the  fourteenth  century  and  down  to  our  own  William 
Holland,  who,  a  hundred  years  ago,  without  any  of  the 
luxuries  and  the  privileges  and  happiness  that  we  have 
today,  sacrificed  his  life  and  his  fortune  to  make  this  spot 
a  happy  home  for  you  and  me. 

In  looking  over  some  of  the  records  it  seems  to  me  that 
this  man  was  a  cheerful  giver,  and  got  his  pleasure  out  of 
giving  rather  than  out  of  the  honor  that  was  derived  from 
it.  He  gave  to  us  our  cemetery  so  that  we  might  have  a 
resting  place  for  those  who  passed  beyond;  he  gave  to  us 
both  the  primary  and  the  grade  school  grounds  and  the 
school  play  grounds,  having  in  mind  the  welfare  and  the 
generation  that  would  continue  the  activities  of  our  city 
after  he  had  passed  on.  He  also  gave  to  this  city,  as  a 
gift,  the  Public  Square  where  we  are  now  meeting  in  his 
honor.  So  he  started  here  the  development  of  the  laying 
out  and  the  building  of  our  beautiful  little  city.  He  did  it 
in  honor  of  the  "Father  of  Our  Country"  and  named  it 
after  Washington  rather  than  after  himself,  which  he  no 
doubt  would  have  had  an  opportunity  to  do;  but  in  his 
modest  way  it  seems  that  we  can  read  in  his  history  that 
his  mind  was  only  for  you  and  me  that  live  today,  and  the 
things  he  did  were  not  for  his  own  glory.  I  am  wondering 
if  a  hundred  years  from  now  the  same  thing  could  be  said 
about  any  of  us,  and  I  am  sure  that  this  afternoon  will  be 
well  spent  in  placing  in  the  City  Park  a  suitable  memorial 
of  our  founder,  and  I  am  sure  that  the  speakers  of  this 
afternoon  will  bring  us  some  very  interesting  messages 
appropriate  for  the  occasion. 

As  the  mayor  of  our  city,  I  feel  it  my  duty  and  it  is  with 
great  honor  that  I  accept  it  as  a  privilege  to  exercise  the 
authority  invested  in  me  as  mayor  of  the  city  to  express 
to  Mrs.  Esther  Weeks  and  the  descendants  of  William 
Holland  a  sincere  appreciation  for  the  beautiful 
memories  that  we  have  of  your  father  and  our  "father". 

It  is  certainly  remarkable  to  be  able  to  realize  that  one 
hundred  years  after  our  city  was  founded  we  can  cele- 
brate in   honor  of  our  founder  and  have  with  us  his 


daughter  who  happens  to  be  Mrs.  Esther  Weeks,  who 
passed  the  84th  year  of  her  life  on  March  16,  last.  She  is 
the  youngest  of  the  twenty-one  children  of  William 
Holland,  and  if  I  might  pause  from  seriousness  for  a 
moment  I  might  add  here  that  William  Holland  not 
only  started  our  city  by  the  gifts  of  the  cemetery,  the 
school  grounds  and  the  City  Park  and  by  the  establish- 
ment of  a  solid  foundation  for  a  prosperous  city,  but  he 
also,  within  his  own  children,  gave  us  a  mighty  army  of 
men  and  women  who  were  able  to  do  more  than  their 
part  in  keeping  in  operation  the  city  he  started  some  one 
hundred  years  ago.  We  are  not  all  unmindful  of  the 
things  that  your  ancestors  have  done;  the  only  reason 
that  we  are  unable  at  this  time  to  express  to  you  the 
proper  appreciation  that  this  city  might  have  for  that 
foundation  which  was  laid  by  William  Holland  in  1826 
is  because  I  do  not  have  the  words  and  the  ability  to 


express  it  in  a  proper  manner.  1  therefore  again,  on 
behalf  of  the  citizens  of  Washington  and  the  community 
which  I  represent  as  mayor,  express  to  you,  Mrs.  Weeks, 
and  the  other  descendants  of  William  Holland,  an 
assurance  of  our  sincere  appreciation  of  your  own  efforts 
and  those  of  your  families  who  have  left  us  before  you  in 
the  great  part  which  you  have  had  in  the  building  of  this 
city  and  community,  and  the  liberal  spirit  in  which  you 
will  be  rewarded  again  for  the  splendid  spirit  you  have 
shown  on  earth  when  it  becomes  your  opportunity  to 
meet  William  Holland  again  inside  the  pearly  gates 
at  the  right  hand  of  God." 

Mayor  George  Rinkenberger 

Taken  from  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  WASHINGTON. 
ILLINOIS.  Published  by  Tazewell  County  Reporter  1929 


CHESTER  SLONNEGER  FAMILY 

Two  of  the  early  pioneer  families  of  Washington  were 
the  Slonneger's  and  the  Birkett's.  John  Slonneger  came 
to  Illinois  and  settled  south  of  Washington.  He  and  his 
wife,  Barbara,  had  five  sons  and  one  daughter. 

One  of  the  sons,  Chester,  married  Pearl  Birkett 
December  1907.  They  lived  on  a  farm  south  of 
Washington,  where  their  five  children  were  born.  Irvin 
and  Mildred  live  in  Peoria;  Clarence  and  Dorothy  are 
now  deceased;  Ethel  still  lives  in  Washington.  In  1922 
they  all  moved  into  town.  Mr.  Chester  Slonneger  at  one 
time  managed  a  grocery  store.  He  was  an  alderman, 
and  he  also  served  on  the  school  board.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Washington  Municipal  Band  for  62  years.  While 
still  residing  in  Washington.  Mr.  Chester  Slonneger 
passed  away  in  1 973  at  the  age  of  90. 

Mrs.  Slonneger's  family  dates  back  to  1831,  when  her 
great  grand-parents  came  from  Vermont.  Her  grand- 
father, William,  was  14  years  old  at  the  time.  He 
married  Mary  Jane  Kyes  on  May  12,  1841.  They  had 
twelve  children,  most  of  whom  spent  their  lives  in  this 
area.  One  of  the  twelve  children  was  Charles,  the  father 
of  Mrs.  Slonneger.  Charles  Birkett  was  active  in  civic 
affairs,  serving  as  supervisor  at  one  time. 


Besides  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chester 
Slonneger,  there  are  five  grandchildren  and  nine  great 
grandchildren  living  in  Washington. 


JAMES  SMITH  FAMILY 

James  Smith  and  wife  came  from  Aberdeen,  Scotland. 
He  had  hardly  settled  in  Fort  Clark  (Peoria)  when  he  was 
urged  to  come  to  Washington,  as  carpenters  were 
needed.  He  built  his  home  at  the  north  end  of  Spruce 
Street  on  property  now  owned  by  James  Smith,  a  great 
grandson.  He  donated  land  on  which  all  three  Presby- 
terian churches  have  been  built,  and  he  and  his  sons 
played  an  important  part  in  their  construction.  They 
became  well  known  as  building  contractors  and  erected 
churches,  schools,  and  homes.  One  home  is  the 
Reyburn  residence,  later  the  nursing  home  on  the  corner 
of  Holland  and  South  Main.  He  built  all  the  stations  on 


<  ' 


I 


the  T.P.  &  W.  Railroad  between  Bushnell  and  Effner. 
A  Smith  sawmill  was  near  the  creek  at  205  West 
Jefferson.  Also,  he  created  a  furniture  business  in  which 
he  made  all  the  furniture  that  was  sold.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  undertakers.  The  family  members  were:  James. 
John,  William,  David,  Fred,  George,  Ellen  Murray,  and 
Susan. 


John  Smith  worked  with  his  father  and  was  later  city 
street  superintendent.  He  built  a  new  home  on  the 
original  Smith  property.  There  were  five  children: 
Minnie,  Mary  (Nellie),  Roy,  Clyde,  and  Shelby. 

Roy  and  Clyde  formed  a  partnership,  Smith  Bros. 
Concrete  Co.,  and  were  experts  in  the  field  of  concrete 
work,  building  sidewalks,  roads,  bridges,  and  homes. 
They  also  helped  in  the  construction  of  the  Evangelical, 
Lutheran,  and  Mennonite  churches. 

Roy  married  Josephine  Burkey.  Living  descendants 
are  Mrs.  Clayton  (Geraldine)  Summer,  whose  children 
are  Carole  Beebe,  Leroy  Summer,  and  Nancy  Farischon 
and  whose  grandchildren  are  Douglas,  Gregory  Beebe, 
Chad,  and  Kara  Farischon. 

Clyde  Smith  continued  in  the  business  after  the  death 
of  his  brother  until  a  short  time  before  his  own  death. 
Living  descendants  are  James  Smith,  and  Mary  Lee 
Simpson,  Oswego,  Illinois.  In  addition,  the  grand- 
children are  Shelli,  Shawn,  Tara,  and  Jason  Smith. 
Bruce,  Mark,  and  Craig  Simpson.  His  wife,  the  former 
Mary  Musselman,  resides  at  100  North  Elm  Street. 

Shelby  John  Smith  served  the  city  of  Washington  as 
alderman,  street  commissioner,  and  city  engineer  before 


becoming  a  farmer.  He  married  Mina  Bowen  in  1914. 
They  leased  the  Asa  Danforth  farm  at  the  south  edge  of 
town  from  1914-1923,  when  they  moved  to  the  Bowen 
farm  north  of  Washington  (107  Metamora  Rd.),  where 
his  son  Shelby  B.  Smith  farms  today.  Living  descendants 
are:  children;  Ellen  Dingman  of  Prophetstown, 
Beulah  Montgomery,  and  Shelby  Smith:  grandchildren: 
David  and  Martha  Dingman,  Mary  Montgomery 
Podesta,  Susan  and  Robert  Montgomery,  and  Steven 
Smith:  great  grandchildren)  Lisa  Dingman,  Margo  and 
Steven  Smith.  One  grandson,  Stanley  Smith,  gave  his 
life  in  Viet  Nam. 

Mary  E.  (Nellie)  Smith  spent  her  early  life  in 
Washington.  In  1900  she  married  William  Mahle,  son  of 
a  well-known  Washington  family  and  then  moved  to  a 
farm  near  Rankin,  Illinois,  where  she  raised  her 
family;  a  son,  Richard,  of  Chillicothe  and  a  daughter, 
Frances  Schertz,  of  Metamora.  Upon  retiring,  they 
moved  to  Peoria,  Illinois,  where  she  passed  away  in 
1942.  Grandchildren  are  Dale  Schertz  of  Eureka, 
William  Mahle  of  Eldridge,  Iowa,  and  John  Mahle  of 
Peoria.  Great  grandchildren  are  Craig  Schertz  of 
Metamora,  Illinois,  Randy  Schertz  of  Eureka,  Illinois, 
Ross  Schertz,  Peoria,  Illinois,  and  Angela  and 
Gregory  Mahle  of  Eldridge,  Iowa.  Great-great 
grandchildren  are  Tracy  and  Kerri  Ann  Schertz. 

William  Smith  and  his  son,  William  Jr.,  were  also 
carpenters.  They  built  the  Denhart  home,  now  the  White 
Funeral  Home.  The  senior  Smith  lost  an  arm  in  the 
family  sawmill  as  a  young  man  but  continued  his  work 
until  he  fell  to  his  death  from  a  Washington  home.  His 
daughter,  Miss  Annie  Smith  —  former  resident,  school 
teacher,  and  employee  of  the  Denhart  Bank  lives  in  San 
Diego.  One  daughter,  Mrs.  Frank  (Etta)  Thomas,  has 
two  daughters  now  living  in  Peoria.  Helen,  a  former 
school  teacher  and  Angie,  a  Cilco  employee.  Homer,  a 
son,  resides  in  California. 

Fred  Smith,  who  was  blinded  in  youth,  spent  his 
declining  years  studying  his  Braille  Bible  and  singing 
hymns  of  faith. 

A  son,  Robert  Smith,  oldest  living  descendant  of  this 
family  resides  in  an  apartment  near  the  New  Castle 
Home.  He  also  was  a  carpenter.  A  son,  Robert  Smith, 
Jr.,  resides  in  Eugene,  Oregon.  A  grandson  is  Byron 
Smith. 

David  Smith  was  an  infantryman  in  the  Civil  War  and 
died  in  Springfield  enroute  home  from  the  War. 


THE  VICTOR  SCHWARTZENTRAUB'S 

In  1832  a  group  of  Mennonites  emigrated  to  America. 
The  ship  was  a  small  two-masted  schooner.  Extensive 
preparations  were  made  by  the  hundred  emigrants, 
including  all  the  necessities  of  maintaining  their 
living,  even  homespun  linens,  which  are  still  in  the 
homes  of  many  of  the  descendants.  They  left  Bremen 
May  16,  and  landed  in  Baltimore  July  31.  After  a  rest. 


they  engaged  wagons  of  the  prairie-schooner  type  to 
convey  the  group  to  Wheeling,  West  Virginia.  This 
took  them  through  the  Allegheny  Mountains,  a  trip  of 
13  days.  At  Wheeling  they  took  passage  on  a  steamboat 
on  the  Ohio  River  to  Cincinnati,  then  on  to  Hamilton, 
Ohio,  on  September  3.  Here  the  family  of  Daniel 
Brenneman  and  two  other  families  rented  a  large  house 
for  the  winter,  the  children  receiving  their  instructions 


from  the  tutor  brought  with  them.  They  made  this  their 
home  until  1854,  when  they  came  to  Illinois  down  the 
Ohio  River  to  Cairo.  Then  they  continued  down  to  Pekin, 
where  they  were  met  by  friends  who  took  them  to 
Danvers,  where  they  lived  a  year  before  purchasing  a 
farm  in  Boynton  Township.  This  place  is  still  in  the 
possession  of  descendants.  Mrs.  John  Schwarzentraub 
(Emma  Springer)  mother  of  Victor  Springer  Schwarzen- 
traub was  a  descendant  of  this  family.  Her  mother. 
Elisa  Brenneman,  married  Peter  Springer.  Other 
names  familiar  to  many  Mennonites  are:  Iutzi,  Hauter, 
Ehrsman,  Orndorf,  Tomm,  and  Bender.  (Victor  Bender 
was  a  noted  journalist.)  The  Springers  came  from 
France,  where  a  brother,  Christian,  served  as  a  personal 
bodyguard  to  Napoleon  Bonaparte  and  was  in  the 
memorable  battle  at  Waterloo.  He  was  born  in  France 
in  1792  and  died  in  Danvers  in  1879  as  reported  by  the 
Danvers  Independent. 

Much  of  the  original  Hof  Bubenrod,  located  near 
Konigsberg,  Germany,  near  Gesen  has  been  repaired 
after  the  invasion  of  the  Poles  and  is  an  agricultural 
experimental  station.  One  of  the  descendants  and  his 
family  still  live  there. 

The  Hoeflin-Moehl  families,  among  others,  fled  the 
homeland  during  the  great  conflict  of  the  Russians  and 
Hessians  in  the  early  1800's.  Andrew  Hoeflin  fought  in 
the  Civil  War  and  was  blinded.  They  made  their  home 
in  the  Hollands  Grove  area  as  did  the  Mehls  and  others 
coming  from  the  same  area.  With  the  passing  of  George 
Andrew  Moehl  in  World  War  I,  the  lineage  was  ended. 
It  is  thought,  however,  that  because  of  the  differences 
in  the  interpretation  of  the  alphabet,  there  is  a  con- 
nection in  the  names  of  Mehl,  Mohl,  Moehle,  Mahle, 
etc. 

George  Andrew  Moehl  was  Valedictorian  of  the  senior 
class  of  W.  H.  S.  in  1913  and  a  junior  in  the  Kent  College 
of  Law  in  Chicago  before  he  enlisted  in  the  U.  S.  Naval 
Reserves  at  Great  Lakes. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Victor  Schwarzentraub  are  lifetime 
residents  of  Tazewell  County.  Mr.  Schwarzentraub 
lived  in  Morton  before  his  marraige  to  Augusta  Moehl  of 
Washington  January  1,  1923.  They  have  celebrated  their 
Golden  Wedding  anniversary.  They  have  lived  their  years 
on  the  same  farm  which  was  the  overnight  stopping  place 
of  President  Lincoln  on  his  way  to  Metamora,  where  he 


held  court.  This  was  related  to  them  by  the  Jacquins, 
who  lived  on  the  east  edge  of  Washington  where  the 
present  Cook  residence  is  located. 

Mr.  Schwarzentraub  before  his  retirement  raised  and 
registered  Brown  Swiss  cattle  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Illinois  Brown  Swiss  Association,  a  charter  member  of 
the  Tazewell  County  Farm  Bureau,  and  an  active  partic- 
ipant in  the  4H  program.  He  was  Director,  Secretary, 
and  President  of  the  Crugar  Elevator  over  25  years 
before  their  consolidation  with  the  Eureka  Company, 
active  in  the  St.  Mark's  Lutheran  Church,  having 
served  as  Deacon,  Elder,  Sunday  School  Superintendent, 
teacher  of  the  Intermediate  Boys'  Class,  Co-Chairman  of 
the  Building  Committee  and  member  of  the  Brother- 
hood. He  was  also  active  in  educational  affairs  as  a 
Director  of  the  Pleasant  View  Elementary  School,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Consolidated  School  622,  Director  of  the 
Washington  High  School.  He  only  recently  completed 
his  term  on  the  County  Board  of  School  Trustees,  a 
position  he  has  held  since  its  organization.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  local  Community  Fund  and  Fire  District, 
member  of  the  Legion,  Hopewell  Grange  and  Kennel 
Lake  Sportsmen  Club. 

Mrs.  Schwarzentraub  has  been  a  lifetime  resident  of 
Washington,  as  were  her  parents  and  grandparents. 
Their  son  John  and  his  family  are  the  fourth  and  fifth 
generations  and  live  on  the  family  farm,  since  the  Victor 
Schwarzentraub's  retirement.  She  was  a  teacher  in  the 
Elementary  School  in  Washington.  She  was  active  in 
the  St.  Mark's  Lutheran  Church,  enrolling  in  the  Sunday 
School  in  1905  when  it  was  located  where  the  present 
Smith  residence  is  located  on  Walnut  Street.  She  has 
served  as  teacher  of  the  Intermediate  Girls'  Class,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Gloria  Dei  and  Golden  Rule  Circle.  She  was 
also  active  in  the  Home  Bureau,  having  served  as  local 
Unit  Chairman,  President  of  the  County  Association 
and  Vice-President  of  the  Illinois  Federation  of  Home 
Bureau  and  a  leader  of  a  local  girls  4H  Club.  Other 
activities  include  the  local  and  District  Woman's  Club. 
Town  and  Country  Garden  Club,  President  of  the 
County  Women  of  the  Farm  Bureau  and  Chairman  of 
District  #7  of  the  Women  of  the  Farm  Bureau  and  on  the 
State  Committee.  A  member  of  the  Gold  Star  Group  of 
the  Legion  Auxiliary,  her  brother,  George  A.  Moehl, 
was  the  first  World  War  I  casualty. 

Their  son  Paul  and  his  family  live  in  Kirkwood, 
Missouri,  where  he  is  District  Manager  of  The  American 
States  Insurance  Company.  Both  sons  married  Morton 
girls.  John  married  Doris  Dausman,  daughter  of  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  William  J.  Dausman  and  has  four  children:  Mary 
(Mrs.  Patrick  Catania)  a  Western  University  graduate; 
John,  a  graduate  of  Illinois  Central;  Carol,  a  student  at 
Eastern;  and  Barbara,  in  grade  school. 

Paul  married  Rosemary  Rapp,  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Theodore  Rapp.  They  have  four  children:  Paula 
and  Mark,  students  at  Columbia  University;  Ellen,  a 
junior  in  the  Kirkwood  High  School;  and  Eric,  in 
grade  school. 


STAUDENMAIER— VAN  DYKE 

The  Lewis  T.  Van  Dyke  family  of  317  West  Crugar 
Road  has  lived  in  this  city  over  fifty  years.  They  had  one 
daughter,  three  grandchildren  and  two  great  grand- 
children Mr.  Van  Dyke  came  from  Eureka,  Illinois,  in 
1924.  He  worked  for  the  T.P.  &  W.  Railroad  for  forty- 
six  years  and  is  now  retired. 

Mrs.  Van  Dyke  (Viola)  was  the  daughter  of  George 
and  Mary  Staudenmaier,  also  here  over  fifty  years.  A 
brother,  Alvin,  who  was  a  post  office  employee  is  now 
retired  and  living  in  Bloomington,  Illinois. 

George  Staudenmaier  came  to  Washington  at  the  age 
of  eleven  from  Whittenburg,  Germany.  He  worked  for 
Mr.  Morgan  Jenkins,  a  coal  dealer.  He  also  handled  ice, 
which  was  shipped  in  by  train  from  Pekin.  It  arrived  in 
long  sheets  or  cakes,  after  which  it  was  cut  and  put  in  a 
large  building,  then    covered  with  sawdust  to  keep  it 


from  melting.  He  had  a  blue  covered  wagon  drawn  by 
two  horses.  At  the  age  of  eight  to  sixteen,  I  (Viola)  drove 
these  horses  from  one  house  stop  to  the  next,  and  my 
Dad  would  weigh  and  wash  the  ice  and  carry  it  by  ice 
tongs  and  put  it  in  the  ice  boxes.  From  all  directions  kids 
would  come  and  get  pieces  of  ice  to  eat.  If  there  were 
no  pieces  he  would  chip  some.  After  we  had  our  route 
done  for  the  day,  we  would  come  home  and  then  haul 
coal  about  town.  My  brother,  about  five  years  of  age, 
would  sit  up  on  the  high  seat  and  Dad  would  let  him  hold 
the  ends  of  the  reins,  and  he  thought  he  was  driving 
the  horses. 

We  think  our  Dad  was  an  important  man  about  town, 
for  he  would  keep  people  cool  in  the  summer  and  warm 
in  the  winter. 

I'm  sure  some  memories  must  come  back  to  some  of 
the  older  folks  who  used  to  follow  the  ice  wagon. 


FRANK  W.  STEIMLE 

In  1921,  the  Zinser  Drug  Store  was  purchased  by  Mr. 
Frank  W.  Steimle,  who  was  born  on  February  1,  1893,  in 
Kewanee,  Illinois,  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Adalie  Steimle. 
His  formative  years  were  spent  in  that  city,  and  in  1913 
he  graduated  from  the  Northwestern  University  College 
of  Pharmacy.  Following  his  graduation,  Mr.  Steimle 
attended  the  Indianapolis  School  of  Pharmacy  (Butler 
University)  for  a  nine-month  course.  He  was  married  to 
Miss  Rose  Carlson  in  Kewanee  in  1915,  and  they  moved 
to  Washington  after  he  had  purchased  the  drug  store. 
With  the  purchase,  the  name  was  changed  to  Steimle 
Drug  Store.  Mr.  Steimle  continued  the  drug  business  in 
that  location  until  a  disastrous  fire  occurred  in  1931.  The 
drug  store  was  then  moved  into  the  adjacent  building  to 
the  north  where  it  remained  until  his  death  on 
January  16,  1959. 

Mr.  Steimle  was  for  years  one  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  Washington,  having  served  as  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Education  for  the  Washington  Grade  School  for  ten 
years  and  city  alderman  for  twelve  years.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  Civic  Club,  Rotary  Club 
of  Washington,  a  Mason,  and  Mohammed  Shrine  of 
Peoria. 

Mr.  Steimle's  Drug  Store  was  the  gathering  place  for 
all  of  the  young  people  of  the  town.  It  was  here,  at  the 
soda  fountain,  that  the  out-of-town  basketball  scores 
were  phoned  in  so  that  the  ones  at  home  could  check 


with  Mr.  Steimle  as  to  the  scores  of  the  game.  During  one 
winter  when  snowbound  roads  kept  everyone  from 
traveling  to  Roanoke  by  car  for  the  game,  Mr.  Steimle 
called  and  made  arrangements  for  the  Santa  Fe  Railroad 
to  take  the  teams  and  its  many  fans  to  Roanoke.  Young 
people  loved  Mr.  Steimle  for  his  interest  in  them.  During 
the  forty-seven  years  he  was  in  Washington,  fifty-six 
high  school  youths  worked  for  him.  He  saw  the  town 
grow  from  1,700  in  1922,  to  8,000  plus  in  1969. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Steimle  had  two  daughters,  Mrs. 
Eleanor  Muller  who  lives  in  Riverside,  California,  and 
Mrs.  Shirley  Harris,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Steimle 
has  five  grandchildren  and  three  great  grandchildren. 


WILDE  E.  STORMER  FAMU.Y 

The  descendants  of  the  Wilde  E.  Stormer  family  still 
occupy  the  Stormer  family  home,  located  at  510  Walnut 
St.,  Washington,  111.  This  home  was  built  in  1904  by  the 
late  Wilde  E.  Stormer.  It  remains  much  the  same  as 
when  it  was  first  occupied,  with  many  of  the  original 
furnishings  still  intact.  Harold  W.  Stormer  (deceased),  a 
son  of  Wilde  E.  Stormer,  passed  along  the  heirloom 


dwelling  and  contents  to  his  widow,  Mary  C.  Stormer, 
and  to  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Myra  Ann  Stormer  Liebhart, 
to  be  handed  down  to  his  granddaughter,  Julie  Ann 
Liebhart,  and  her  descendants  and  so  on.  It  has  been 
strictly  a  Stormer  family  dwelling  place  throughout 
these  70  years. 

Wilde    E.    Stormer    was    a    prominent    Washington, 
Illinois,  businessman,  born  and  raised  in  the  community- 


During  the  years  1901-1914,  he  owned  and  operated  an 
implement  and  hardware  store  along  with  his  brother 
(Dean  Stormer).  It  was  known  as  Stormer  Brothers 
Implement  Store.  Later  Wilde  E.  Stormer  became  the 
sole  owner  of  the  store.  The  store  was  located  where  the 
parking  lot  now  stands,  just  north  of  the  City  Square. 

Mr.  Stormer  was  a  volunteer  fireman  and  operated  one 
of  the  first  automobile  agencies  in  Washington,  Illinois. 
He  was  one  of  the  few  owners  of  an  automobile  and  was 
always  on  hand  to  drive  anyone  to  Peoria,  Illinois,  or 
elsewhere. 

Mr.  Stormer's  father,  Conrad  Stormer,  had  come  to 
this  vicinity  in  1847.  He  was  born  in  the  village  of  Hitten- 
rath,  Kries  Fankenberg,  Kuhr  Hessian  Germany,  March 
13,  1838.  He  came  to  America  with  his  parents  when  he 
was  eight  years  old.  The  ocean  trip  was  made  in  a  three- 
masted  sail  boat,  and  it  took  eight  weeks  and  three  days 
to  make  the  trip.  They  landed  in  New  Orleans  about  the 
middle  of  December,  1846.  There  they  boarded  a  small 
steamboat,  sailed  up  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  Rivers, 
and  landed  in  Peoria,  Illinois,  at  the  foot  of  Main  Street 
between  Christmas  and  New  Years.  They  decided  to 
locate  in  Holland's  Grove,  near  Washington,  Illinois. 
Here  they  built  themselves  a  home. 


Conrod  Stormer  lived  with  his  parents  until  his  mar- 
riage on  February  14,  1860,  when  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Nancy  Nolen  of  Washington. 
Illinois.  They  built  a  large  home  in  the  timber  where 
Mr.  Stormer  operated  his  sawmill.  All  this  land  is  now 
part  of  the  Caterpillar  Tractor  Company  Proving 
Grounds. 

They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children:  Mrs.  Flora 
Hughes,  Mrs.  Nellie  Barnum,  Wilde  Stormer,  Luther 
Stormer,  and  Dean  Stormer  (two  children  having 
died  in  infancy). 

Mr.  Conrod  Stormer  had  his  likeness  preserved  in 
stone  for  his  grave  marker  in  Glendale  Cemetery  in 
Washington,  Illinois.  J.  Andre  Petardes  of  Peoria. 
Illinois,  did  the  sculpturing,  which  required  more  than  a 
year.  Being  a  woodsman  and  well  known  for  his  achieve- 
ments, the  carving  designates  the  theme,  by  way  of  the 
woodsman's  ax,  vines,  leaves,  and  roots.  This  was  made 
some  65  years  ago.  It  is  truly  a  work  of  art  and  beauty. 

Mrs.  Conrod  Stormer  passed  away  on  December 
4,  1908.  Mr.  Conrod  Stormer  died  November  13.  1913. 
Mr.  Wilde  E.  Stromer  followed  in  1914. 


STRUBHAR  FAMILY 

In  1919  Vernon  I.  Strubhar  and  Jessi  E.  Strubhar, 
sons  of  Joseph  and  Phoebe  Strubhar,  who  were  among 
the  first  settlers  in  the  Washington  area,  purchased  Lou 
Hoefiin's  hardware  business.  This  was  shortly  after 
World  War  I.  and  this  business  was  located  on  the 
corner  now  occupied  by  Don's  Pharmacy.  Later,  that 
particular  building  was  sold,  and  the  Strubhar 
Brothers  moved  to  the  present  location  of  Dick  Scott's 
Hardware.  They  operated  in  that  location  for  approxi- 
mately ten  years  and  then  sold  out  to  Chet  Miller,  thus 
dissolving  the  partnership. 

In  1933  Mr.  V.  I.  Strubhar  reentered  business,  buying 
a  sheet-metal  shop  from  Harry  Kimpling.  He  operated 
this  business  from  the  building  where  the  Fab  &  Trim 
Shop  is  presently  located.  Later,  Mr.  Strubhar  purchased 
the  hardware  stock  of  the  Modern  Hardware  Company 
located  at  the  present  site  of  George  Herbst's  business. 
Mr.  Strubhar's  wife  Ruth  joined  her  husband  in  the 
operation  of  this  business.  In  1940  Strubhar  sold  the 
hardware  stock  to  R.  G.  Herbst.  He  continued  to  operate 
a  sheetmetal  shop  from  his  home. 


In  1948  V.  I.  Strubhar  built  and  located  his  business 
in  the  building  which  is  presently  the  location  of  V.  I. 
Strubhar  &  Sons,  203  Peoria  Street.  In  1946  Donald 
Strubhar  joined  his  father's  firm,  and  plumbing  sales 
and  service  were  added  to  the  sheetmetal  business.  In 
1951  Vernon  I.  Strubhar,  Jr.  joined  the  firm. 

V.  I.  Strubhar,  Sr.  retired  in  1960  and  passed  away  in 
1964.  The  business  continues  at  the  present  location, 
owned  and  operated  by  the  two  sons,  Vern  and  Don,  and 
has  been  expanded  to  include  air  conditioning  and  a 
"Do-It-Yourself  Home  Improvement  Center". 

During  his  lifetime,  Mr.  Strubhar,  Sr.  was  active  in 
the  community  and  in  his  church.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Calvary  Mennonite  Church  where  he  taught  a 
Sunday  School  Class  for  many  years.  He  also  served  on 
the  City  Council,  on  the  Washington  Grade  School 
Board,  was  a  member  of  the  Fire  Department,  and  was  a 
director  on  the  Board  of  the  Washington  Building  & 
Loan. 

His  sons  continue  this  tradition  of  community  service, 
Don  having  served  on  the  Washington  Grade  School 
Board  and  as  a  member  of  the  Fire  Department  and 
Vern  serving  presently  as  a  Councilman  and  on  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  the  Washington  Building  &  Loan. 

Most  of  the  V.  I.  Strubhar  family  continue  to  reside 
in  Washington.  Mrs.  Strubhar  divides  her  time  between 
Washington  and  Lakeland,  Florida,  where  she  visits 
her  daughter  Mildred,  who  is  an  anesthetist  at  Lakeland 
General  Hospital.  Residing  in  Washington  are  Don,  his 
wife  Charlene,  who  is  also  bookkeeper  and  secretary  for 
the  Strubhar  firm,  and  their  two  sons,  Gregory,  who  is 
employed  by  the  firm,  and  Timothy;  Vern  and  his  wife 
Jackie,  owner  and  operator  of  The  Flower  Box,  and  their 
two  sons,  Peter  and  Andrew;  and  Joan  who  is  married 
to  Dr.  John  Lichtenwalter,  local  optometrist.  The 
Lichtenwalter's  daughter  Susan  is  Mrs.  Marshall  Neal 
of  Greenville.  South  Carolina. 


THE  SWEITZER  FAMILY 

John  and  Mary  (Engel)  Sweitzer  emigrated  from 
Saarbourg,  a  province  of  Lorraine.  France,  in  1832. 
They  stayed  in  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania,  a  while 
and  in  1833  came  by  horse  team  and  covered  wagon  to 
Woodford  County,  Illinois.  They  settled  on  Partridge 
Creek  near  a  place  called  Black  Partridge,  named  after 
an  Indian  Chief.  They  farmed  there  until  1851,  when 
they  moved  to  a  320-acre  farm  a  mile  south  and  west  of 
Cooper  Station,  bought  from  the  original  owner,  a 
Mr.  Phillips. 

There  were  four  sons  and  five  daughters.  Two  of  the 
children  were  born  in  France,  one  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  rest  in  Illlinois.  The  oldest  son  got  the  Western 
fever  in  the  mid  '50's  and  took  the  Oregon  trail  for 
Portland,  where  he  married  a  Galesburg  girl  he  had  met 
on  the  trail.  He  became  a  captain  and  pilot  of  a  Pacific 
coast-wise  steamer  operating  between  Portland,  Oregon, 


and  San  Francisco.  In  1858  he  went  down  with  his  ship 
in  a  storm  near  San  Francisco  after  seeing  most  of  the 
passengers  rescued.  His  younger  brother,  Joseph,  fol- 
lowed some  years  later  and  married  the  widow  of 
Christian,  the  older  brother.  Joseph  became  a  mate  on  a 
Columbia  River  steamer,  and  he  also  drowned  due  to  a 
boiler  explosion.  The  escendants  of  these  two  are  living 
in  the  Portland  area  and  in  San  Francisco. 

Three  of  the  girls  married  and  had  children  who 
moved  to  Minnesota  around  the  turn  of  the  century.  The 
oldest  daughter,  Barbara,  married  Peter  Strubhar  and 
some  of  their  offsprings  are  living  here.  Frances  married 
Emanuel  Garber,  Sr.,  and  there  are  numerous  descen- 
dants of  that  union  in  the  vicinity. 

John  Sweitzer  II  married  a  Miss  Naffzinger.  There 
were  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  one  of  whom,  Mattie. 
in  her  93rd  year  is  still  living.  Other  descendants  of  this 


family  living  here  are  Mrs.  George  (Celia)  Ebert  and  Mrs. 
John  (Ivy)  Voelker. 

Peter,  the  youngest  son  of  the  immigrant,  married 
Rachel  Engel.  youngest  daughter  of  John  Engel  from 
Metamora.  Two  daughters  died  in  infancy;  Willard  and 
Fred  were  the  sons. 

Peter  inherited  part  of  the  home  place  at  Cooper  and 
bought  the  rest  from  the  other  heirs.  He  was  Supervisor 
from  Morton  Township  for  twenty-six  years,  about  half 
of  that  time  as  Chairman  of  the  Board.  He  was  on  the 
building  committee  for  the  present  Court  House  at 
Pekin  and  was  in  charge  of  the  dedication  ceremonies 
in  June  of  1916.  He  was  also  chairman  of  the  Cooper 


School  Board  and  chairman  of  the  Morton  Township 
High  School  Board  when  that  school  was  built  about 
1904.  He  was  President  of  the  Cooper  Farmer's 
Elevator.  He  moved  to  Washington  in  1917. 

Willard  entered  the  Army  in  June,  1918,  and  was 
bound  for  Europe  in  November  when  the  Armistice 
was  signed.  He  served  as  alderman  of  the  city  several 
terms.  He  was  the  third  Commander  of  American  Legion 
Post  100  and  Past  Master  of  Taylor  Lodge  #98.  He  was 
last  employed  at  Hiram  Walker's  and  retired  in  1953. 
He  died  in  1971. 

Fred  entered  the  First  Officers'  Training  Camp  at 
Fort  Sheridan  in  May  of  1917  and  was  appointed 
Captain  of  Infantry  August  15.  He  was  assigned  to  92nd 
Division  at  Camp  Grant  and  served  as  Regimental 
Adjutant,  365th  Infantry,  of  that  division  for  the  dura- 
tion of  the  war.  He  was  overseas  from  June  1918  to 
February  1919  and  on  the  front  line  about  three  months. 
Fred  was  in  the  St.  Die  sector,  the  Argonne  Forest,  and 
the  Pont-a-Mousson  sector  in  front  of  Metz  when 
November  11th  came  and  the  war  was  over.  About  a 
year  after  being  discharged,  he  was  appointed  a  Major 
in  the  Reserve  Corps  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  in  1927. 
He  helped  organize  and  was  elected  Commander  of 
Washington  Post  #100  in  1919,  Justice  of  the  Peace  of 
Washington  Township  from  1924  to  1948.  From  1920 
to  about  1950,  he  participated  as  Mounted  Marshal  of 
Metamora  Day  Parades  and  others  including  the  100th 
Anniversary  in  1925.  He  retired  from  twenty-nine  plus 
years  of  work  at  Couch  &  Heyle  in  January  of  1959. 


THE  THOMAS  FAMILY 

One  of  Washington's  first  settlers  was  Henson  Thomas 
who  was  born  in  Zanesville,  Ohio,  in  1806  and  moved  to 
Washington  prior  to  1830.  He  died  in  Washington  in 
1846  and  is  buried  in  the  Union  Cemetery  northwest  of 
the  city.  He  was  married  to  a  Miss  Heath  and  following 
her  death,  to  Rachel  Stevenson.  Both  were  from  Ohio 
and  are  buried  in  the  Union  Cemetery. 

Two  of  his  sons,  William  and  Simon,  farmed  north- 
west of  Washington  and  leave  descendants  in  this  area. 
This  narrative  is  concerned  with  the  family  of  Simon 
Thomas. 

Simon  Thomas  was  born  in  1845  and  died  in  his  home 
at  1 17  N.  High  St.  in  1940.  He  farmed  in  the  Washington 
area  all  of  his  life.  He  married  the  former  Angie  Harding 
in  1870  and  had  five  sons  and  a  daughter,  the  daughter 
dying  in  infancy. 


The  oldest  son,  Cloyde,  lived  most  of  his  life  in  Clarion. 
Iowa,  and  left  a  number  of  descendants  in  that  area.  His 
third  son,  William  Harding,  married  Lulu  Hornish  of 
Washington  and  also  settled  in  the  Clarion.  Iowa  area 
and  left  a  large  family  in  Iowa. 

The  fourth  son  of  Simon  Thomas,  Clarence,  lived 
most  of  his  life  in  Peoria  and  has  several  descendants 
living  there  today. 

The  second  son,  Frank,  married  the  former  Etta 
Smith  of  Washington  and  farmed  in  the  Washington 
area  all  of  his  adult  life.  He  had  a  son.  Homer,  living  in 
California,  and  two  daughters.  Helen  and  Angie 
Thomas,  former  Washington  residents  now  living  in 
Peoria.  He  is  also  survived  by  two  grandchildren  and 
several  great  grandchildren. 

The  youngest  son  of  Simon  Thomas,  Charlie,  married 
the  former  Anna  Willhardt  of  Washington  and  was  a 
farmer  in  the  Washington  area.  He  is  survived  by  two 
children;  Clara,  married  to  Gilbert  Muller  and  living  at 
803  Morris  St.,  and  Robert,  married  to  Evangeline 
Grubisich  of  Norris,  111.  and  living  at  604  South  High 
Street.  Robert  is  employed  at  WABCO  in  Peoria.  Clara 
has  three  sons,  all  living  in  Washington;  Wayne  of  210 
Vohland  St..  George  of  rural  Washington,  and  Gerald  of 
407  Hillcrest  Drive,  and  five  grandchildren. 


HENRY  VOGELSANG 

Henry  Vogelsang,  1974  Washingtonian  Award  winner, 
was  born  in  a  log  house  northwest  of  Washington  in 
1890.  His  parents  were  Christian  and  Matilda  Heitzman 
Vogelsang.  His  siblings  were  Fred,  Elizabeth  (who 
married  J.   Valentine  Willhardt),   Lena  (who  married 


John  B.  Blumenshine),  Bertha  (who  married  Crawford 
Bradle),  Rudolph  (who  married  Clara  Dingledine), 
and  Ralph  (who  married  Lottie  Zinser). 

As  a  young  man,  Henry  Vohland  drove  a  horse- 
drawn  wagon  delivering  kerosene  to  Washburn, 
Lowpoint,  Cazenovia,  Metamora,  and  Morton  as  well 
as  the  grocery  stores  in  Washington.  The  wagon  had 
three  compartments.  Kerosene  was  measured  into  five- 
gallon  buckets  and  poured  into  the  stores'  bulk  cans. 
Store  customers  brought  their  own  containers  to  be  filled 
by  clerks.  Vogelsang  filled  the  tank-wagon  about  six 
A.  M.,  made  the  deliveries,  and  was  paid  a  dollar  and 
one-half  for  his  labor. 

Henry  Vogelsang  began  farming  in  1910.  In  1923 
he  began  working  in  Peter  Garber's  Ford  Garage  located 
at  the  site  of  the  present  Lindy's  Food  Market  parking 
lot.  He  bought  into  the  garage  and  sold  Fords  until 
1958.  During  those  years  he  taught  many  people  to  drive 
cars.  If  a  student  drove  a  car  into  the  ditch,  he'd  say 
"You  drove  it  into  the  ditch,  you  drive  it  out".  With  his 
instructive  help,  the  student  did  drive  it  out. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Vogelsang  commuted  from  his 
home  in  Peoria  to  his  work  in  Washington.  In  October 
1941,  he  and  his  wife,  the  former  Pearl  Knopf,  whom  he 
married  August  11,  1925,  moved  to  Washington  to  their 
present  home. 


ISOMETRIC  VIEW 
BELL  MEMORIAL 
CITY  OF  WASHINGTON,  ILL 


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SWAGER  ASSOCIATES 


CITY  GOVERNMENT 

The  earliest  official  records  of  the  City  date 
back  to  August  20,  1838.  At  that  time  the 
town  was  organized  as  a  town  and  was 
governed  by  a  Town  Board  of  four  Trustees. 
William  Holland  was  president  and  Board 
members  were  E.  A.  Whipple,  J.  Kern,  B.  Allen  and 
A.  H.  Danforth. 

The  town  was  incorporated  under  a  special  act  of  the 
Legislature  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  passed  February 
10.  1857.  On  March  25,  1857  the  Board  of  Trustees  met 
and  organized.  Members  of  this  Board  were  John  L. 
Marsh,  R.  B.  M.  Wilson,  James  Smith,  Dan  L. 
Miles  and  Jacob  Sonneman.  John  L.  Marsh  was  the  first 
president;  R.  C.  Dement,  clerk;  Thomas  Cress,  con- 
stable; Asa  H.  Danforth,  treasurer;  Thomas  Fish,  street 
commissioner. 

The  present  organization  under  the  General 
Incorporation  Act,  was  effected  in  the  manner  directed 
in  that  Act,  an  election  held  March  2,  1878.  having 
determined  the  question  of  becoming  a  City  under  the 
general  law. 

The  first  election  was  held  April  16.  1878.  Peter  Fifer 
was  elected  the  first  mayor.  The  following  are  the  mayors 
who  have  since  been  elected:  second,  Ben  Tobias,  1879; 
third,  L.  S.  North,  1881;  fourth,  J.  G.  Gorin,  1883;  fifth, 
W.  B.  Harvey.  1885;  sixth.  W.  B.  Harvey.  1887;  seventh, 
H.  R.  Danforth,  1889;  eighth.  G.  W.  Cress,  1891;  ninth, 
J.  H.  Anthony,  1893;  tenth,  Ben  Tobias,  1895;  eleventh, 
Ben  Frederick,  1897;  twelveth,  H.  L.  Price,  1899;  thir- 
teenth, H.  L.  Price,  1901;  fourteenth,  D.  J.  Chaffer, 
1903;  fifteenth,  C.  P.  Cress,  1905;  sixteenth,  Ed  L. 
Meyers,  1907;  seventeenth,  R.  F.  Tanton,  1909; 
eighteenth,  I.  W.  Miller,  1911;  nineteenth  and  twentieth, 
D.  J.  Chaffer,  1913,  1915;  twenty-first  and  twenty- 
second,  E.  H.  Robert,  1917,  1919;  twenty-third.  F.  S. 
Harvey,  1921;  twenty-fourth,  Chris  Ebert,  1923;  twenty- 
fifth,  twenty-sixth,  twenty-seventh,  twenty-eighth, 
George  H.  Rinkenberger,  1925,  1927,  1929,  1931; 
twenty-ninth,  Chris  Ebert.  1933;  thirtieth,  thirty-first. 
George  H.  Rinkenberger.  1935,  1937;  thirty-second, 
thirty-third,  thirty-fourth,  John  P.  White,  1941,  1945, 
1949;  thirty-fifth.  Earl  M.  Zimmerman,  1953;  thirty- 
sixth,  thirty-seventh,  Donald  C.  Guedet,  1957,  1961; 
thirty-eighth,  John  L.  Blumenshine,  1965;  thirty-ninth, 
Wallace  B.  Asbury,  1966;  fortieth,  Robert  J.  Hult,  1969; 
forty-first,  Thomas  E.  Boyd,  1972;  and  forty-second. 
Edward  Habecker,  Jr.,  1973. 


Until  1953  the  City  was  divided  into  three  wards.  Now 
there  are  four  voting  districts  with  two  alderman  elected 
from  each  district. 

Meetings  of  early  Boards  were  held  in  the  homes  of  the 
Trustees,  until  in  1878,  two  rooms  over  the  L.  S.  North 
Store  on  the  north  side  of  the  Commercial  Square  were 
rented  from  Andrew  Von  Hoeflin  for  $87.50  per  year. 
J.  W.  Dougherty,  a  lawyer,  and  the  Township  were  to 
also  share  occupancy  of  these  rooms  and  share  the 
expense. 

In  1901  records  indicate  the  Board  was  evidently  dis- 
satisfied with  the  condition  of  the  rooms.  A  letter  to  the 
Board  from  A.  A.  Heflin  states  he  would  be  agreeable 
"to  put  the  room  in  good  condition,  viz:  paper,  paint, 
etc.  and  keep  it  so."  But  the  Board  rented  a  Council 
room  from  M.  C.  Martini  for  $60  per  year. 

In  1910  the  Rent,  Light  and  Fuel  Committee  reported 
they  had  rented  the  upper  floor  of  the  Noy  Building  for 
$75  per  year.  Alderman  Miller  moved  that  the  committee 
be  instructed  to  make  arrangements  for  fitting  up  the 
said  room  and  put  a  railing  across  the  north  end  and 
furnish  the  room  in  good  shape  for  the  use  of  the 
Council. 

Records  indicate  rent  was  paid  to  I.  W.  Miller  from 
1914  until  1924,  when,  after  voter  approval  in  an  April 
15,  1924.  referendum,  the  Danforth  Hotel,  built  in  1886, 
was  purchased  for  $9,000  to  house  city  offices.  A  new 
City  Hall  was  constructed  in  1969  at  115  West  Jefferson 
to  house  city  offices  and  police  headquarters. 


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The  brick  bandstand,  which  stood  over  the  public 
well,  was  torn  down  in  1959  and  replaced  by  a  lighted 
fountain  and  pool.  This  was  dedicated  in  May  1963  by 
the  Town  and  Country  Gardeners  "to  represent  the 
heritage  of  the  pioneer  spirit  received  from  the  founders 
of  our  city"  that  its  citizens  may  be  inspired  to  cherish 
beautiful  surroundings." 

In  a  further  effort  to  beautify  the  downtown  area, 
Peoria  Street  is  being  widened  and  resurfaced  from  the 
Square  to  Wood  Street  with  decorative  lighting  and 
plantings. 

Water  and  sewage  treatment  facilities  are  municipally 
owned  and  operated.  Sewerage  treatment  facilities  were 
first  built  in  1950  at  the  foot  of  Woodlawn  Trail.  A 
second  sewer  plant  at  the  foot  of  Ernest  Street  is  nearing 
completion,  after  voters  approved  issuance  of  $800,000 
to  pay  part  of  the  cost  of  improving  sewerage  treatment 
facilities  and  build  additional  interceptors.  Federal  and 
State  grants  totaling  $1,850,000  will  supply  the 
additional  funds  necessary  to  complete  the  project. 

Electricity  and  gas  are  supplied  by  the  Central  Illinois 
Light  Company  and  telephone  service  by  the  General 
Telephone  Company  of  Illinois. 

Freight  rail  service  is  provided  by  the  Toledo,  Peoria 
and  Western,  the  Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa  Fe.  and 
the  Illinois  Central  Gulf. 

The  original  town  was  situated  around  a  public  square 
and  extended  for  a  half  mile  each  way  as  determined  by 
official  action  of  the  Board  on  May  4,  1839,  to  contain 
one  square  mile.  Today  the  town  has  grown  to  a  land 
area  of  5.4  square  miles  or  3,456  acres  with  forty-three 
miles  of  streets  and  a  population  of  9.466. 

To  manage  the  affairs  of  a  growing  city  with  about 
forty  employees,  the  Mayor  and  Council  appointed  its 
first  City  Administrator  Rod  D.  Clausen,  on  May  1,  1972. 

Washington  is  a  residential  city,  with  negligible  in- 
dustry, but  with  ample  banking  and  shopping  facilities 
to  serve  the  population.  The  majority  of  residents  are 
employed  by  Caterpillar  Tractor  Company  in  Peoria. 
Illinois. 


WATER  SYSTEM 

A  public  water  works  system  was  installed  in  the  City 
of  Washington  in  1894.  At  that  time  the  City's  water 
supply  was  provided  by  a  dug  well  located  in  the  public 
square  near  the  center  of  town.  Well  No.  2  was  drilled  in 
1894,  three  hundred  feet  southeast  of  the  dug  well,  for 
emergency  uses  and  later  for  filling  truck  tanks.  In  1944 
Chris  Ebert  drilled  Well  No.  3.  eight  hundred  fifty  feet 
southeast  of  the  dug  well.  During  the  same  year  Chris 
Ebert  drilled  another  well,  ten  feet  west  of  Well  No.  3. 
Well  No.  5  was  drilled  in  1952  at  the  corner  of  North 
Main  and  West  Jefferson. 

Washington's  raw  water  supply  is  presently  provided 
by  Wells  No.  6  and  No.  7.  Both  wells  were  drilled  in 
1960  by  Chris  Ebert  and  are  located  near  the  present 


water  treatment  plant,  which  was  constructed  in  1960 
north  of  the  present  City  Hall. 

The  present  water  tower  has  a  500,000  gallon  capacity 
and  was  built  in  1960.  It  replaced  an  elevated  50,000 
gallon  capacity  tank  which  was  located  on  the  Square. 
The  old  tank  was  sold  to  Deer  Creek  in  1962. 

Raw  water  was  softened,  the  iron  removed,  chlorine 
added,  and  fluoride  was  added  in  the  summer  of  1968  in 
compliance  with  an  Illinois  State  Statute  requiring  the 
fluoridation  of  all  public  water  supply  systems. 

All  of  the  City  is  served  by  water  except  Pine  Lakes 
Country  Estates  Subdivision,  Beverly  Manor  Subdivision 
and  Rolling  Meadows  Subdivision.  Pine  Lakes  Sub- 
division is  served  by  the  Northern  Tazewell  Water 
District.  Future  plans  include  extending  water  service  to 
Beverly  Manor. 

The  present  average  daily  usage  is  800,000  gallons  or 
about  70  gallons  per  capita  per  day. 


LIGHTS 

In  the  1880's  the  City  was  using  oil  lamps  for  street 
lighting.  A  contract  was  made  with  the  Sun  Electric 
Light  Company  and  signed  February  3,  1891.  The 
incandescent  light  boiler  blew  up  and  destroyed  the  plant 
February  4,  1895.  The  plant  was  then  moved  near  the 
depot  and  arc  lights  installed.  The  Eagle  Electric 
Company  was  installed  in  1900  with  arc  lights. 

By  May  15,  1902,  we  had  electric  lights  and  meters 
were  installed  later.  We  had  all  night  lights  by  the  follow- 
ing fall.  Price  for  a  good  meter  was  twenty  dollars;  the 
Eagle  Electric  Company  expected  the  users  of  light  and 
power  to  pay  light  meter  rent,  sufficient  to  pay  interest  on 
the  meters  at  a  rate  of  no  more  than  five  to  ten  cents  a 
month  for  the  users. 

On  March  17,  1911  fire  destroyed  the  plant  of 
Washington  Light  and  Power  Company.  As  soon  as 
possible  a  transmission  line  from  Peoria  was  installed 
and  furnished  twenty-four  hour  service. 

In  1912  Central  Illinois  Light  Company  began  to  fur- 
nish lights  for  the  City  of  Washington  and  have  con- 
tinued to  do  so. 


TELEPHONE  COMPANIES 

George  M.  Myers,  with  other  parties,  bought  the 
Washington  Bell  telephone  outfit  in  1903  and  a  year  later 
he  took  full  control.  Under  his  management  the 
exchange  was  rebuilt.  In  1905  he  placed  the  wires  in  the 
business  part  underground,  an  improvement  which  very 
few  cities  had.  The  extending  of  the  toll  line  to  Pekin  and 
various  points  is  the  result  of  his  efforts  to  please  his 
patrons. 

The  Washington  Home  Telephone  Company  dates 
back  to  at  least  1913.  On  November  24,  1913  John  F. 
Atwater,  manager,  sent  the  following  letter  to  the  custo- 
mers of  the  old  Home  Telephone  Company.  Please 
notice  Mr.  Atwater  mixes  the  new  telephone  rates  with  a 
little  homespun  philosophy  which  we  could  all  benefit 
from  even  today.  It  reads  as  follows: 

November  24,  1913 
TO   OUR    PATRONS: 

To  be  served  faithfully,  to  be  treated  courteously,  to  be  accorded 
the  same  treatment  as  other  patrons  receive,  is  the  right  of  all. 
Special  favors  or  special  privilege  is  the  right  of  none.  A  square  deal 
consists  in  treating  all  exactly  alike. 

We  have  completely  overhauled  our  central  office  equipment, 
and  much  of  the  outside  construction.  We  have  equipped  our 
switchboard  with  selective  party  line  ringing  devices,  whereby 
anyone  of  two  or  more  persons  on  a  line  can  be  called  without 
ringing  the  bell  of  any  other  subscriber  on  the  line.  This  does  away 
with  much  of  the  inconvenience  of  the  party  line. 

In  the  past,  some  inequalities  in  rates  or  service,  grew  into  the 
business.  The  present  owners  desire  to  treat  all  patrons  exactly 
alike.  The  law  requires  that  to  be  done.  To  that  end  we  ask  that, 
beginning  December  1,  1913,  all  patrons  in  the  city  exchange, 
pay  according  to  the  following  schedule: 

Party  Line,  residence    $1.25  per  month 

Private  Line,  residence 1 .50  per  month 

Business 2.00  per  month 

Extensions    50  per  month 

It  is  our  desire  to  give  the  very  BEST  service  possible.  Much 
depends  upon  the  subscriber.  We  ask  your  help  to  that  end.  We 
want  you  to  have  ALL  the  service  possible.  We  give  you  connec- 
tion over  both  Bell  and  Independant  Long  Distance  Lines.  Every 
new  subscriber  that  we  get  is  adding  just  that  much  more  to  the 
value  of  YOUR  service.  Help  us  to  get  the  new  subscriber. 

We  try  to  teach  our  employees  to  be  courteous  and  obliging. 
If  they  ore  not  report  the  matter  to  us.  If  they  are,  it  will  please 
them  to  receive  a  word  of  commendation.  They  are  human. 
Their  work  is  exacting.  They  can  t  always  be  at  their  best.  Speak 
as  if  foce  to  face.  Come  and  see  them  work.  We  want  you  to 
visit  us.  It  will  interest  you  and  help  us. 

Yours  to  serve, 

WASHINGTON    HOME    TELEPHONE    SERVICE 

Per  John  F.  Atwater — Manager 

After  a  series  of  mergers  and  purchases  over  a  period 
of  forty  years,  the  telephone  company  was  finally  pur- 
chased by  and  became  General  Telephone  Company,  as 
it  is  presently  known  today.  There  has  been  remarkable 
growth  in  the  number  of  telephones  in  the  Washington 
exchange.  In  1959  there  were  2800  telephones;  today 
there  are  over  6000.  The  actual  and  predicted  growth 
in  telephones  led  to  the  construction  of  the  present 
central  office  building  at  507  Peoria  Street  in  1961.  It 
presently  houses  central  switching  facilities,  servicemen 
reporting  center,  and  the  business  office  operation. 


Most  Washington  residents  welcomed  the  telephone 
company's  announcement  that  extended  area  service 
(EAS)  would  come  to  Washington  in  1960.  This  service 
of  course  allowed  for  free  calling  to  East  Peoria  and 
Peoria.  The  next  year  it  was  announced  that  Washington 
residents  would  receive  direct  distance  dialing.  This 
meant  that  Washington  residents  could  now  place  long 
distance  calls  merely  by  dialing  a  series  of  numbers. 

Lowering  the  rates  is  usually  the  exception  rather  than 
the  rule  for  a  telephone  company  or  any  other  company. 
However,  in  1966  the  telephone  company  did  announce 
that  it  would  reduce  many  types  of  long  distance  calls. 
It  was  projected  that  on  a  statewide  basis  it  would  pro- 
vide an  annual  savings  of  eight  and  one-half  million 
dollars. 

The  telephone  company  installed  automatic  number 
billing  equipment  in  1974.  This  allowed  automatic 
billing  of  a  toll  call  without  the  operator  cutting  in  to  bill 
the  number.  Touch-calling  (projected  for  December  of 
1974)  and  other  changes  helped  evolve  the  Washington 
telephone  company  into  the  facility  we  know  it  as  today. 

POLICE  DEPARTMENT 

Information  regarding  the  beginning  of  the 
Washington  police  department  is  quite  hard  to  find. 

In  1859,  a  lot  on  Jefferson  Street  was  bought  for 
$175.00  and  a  contract  to  build  the  jail  or  calaboose  was 
awarded  to  James  Smith  and  Sons  for  $136.00.  This  is 
the  site  of  the  present  firehouse.  After  this  calaboose  was 
closed,  the  next  one  was  located  on  the  south  side  of  the 
square  by  the  firehouse  near  the  water  tower. 

In  the  early  1900's  the  constable  and  street  com- 
missioner's job  was  taken  care  of  by  the  same  person. 
From  1862  to  1868  Harmon  Bunn  was  town  constable.  In 
1886,  William  Jones  was  appointed  city  marshall;  he  is 
the  grandfather  of  Ray  Z.  Jones,  a  resident  of 
Washington.  Scott  Norris  was  police  chief.  The  con- 
stable or  city  marshall  collected  all  fines.  People  were 
assessed  fines  for  allowing  any  animals  to  run  at  large, 
not  just  dogs. 

During  those  years  the  T  P  &  W.  the  Santa  Fe.  and 
Chicago  and  Alton  Railroads  had  a  total  of  sixteen 
trains  through  town  a  day.  It  was  the  duty  of  the  police  to 
meet  the  evening  trains  from  Peoria. 

Citizens  serving  on  the  police  force  of  Washington 
over  the  years  include  the  following:  Scott  Norris.  Ray 
Portscheller.    Rueben    Hostetler.    Frank    Bozarth.  Jesse 


Weppler,  Bruce  Birkett,  John  Blaylock,  Oscar  Finson, 
Jake  Faubel,  Frank  Smith,  Herman  Gross,  Orville 
Ullom  and  Frank  Kopp.  Mr.  Kopp  replaced  Orville 
Ullom,  who  was  believed  to  be  the  first  police  radio 
operator. 

The  Washington  City  Building,  which  was  originally 
the  Danforth  Hotel,  was  located  on  the  square  on  the 
corner  now  occupied  by  the  Standard  Service  Station 
parking  lot.  This  was  the  civic  center  in  its  day,  offering 
plays  by  the  Washington  Players,  movies  for  a  nickel, 
high  school  basketball  games,  dances,  dinners,  and  other 
town  activities  in  the  auditorium.  In  the  rest  of  the 
building  were  meeting  rooms,  the  library,  council 
chambers,  and  the  office  of  the  city  clerk  and  police 
department.  The  jail  was  located  in  the  basement;  it 
eventually  became  uninhabitable  and  had  to  be  closed. 
During  that  period,  prisoners  were  held  temporarily  in 
the  old  jail  until  they  could  be  transferred  to  Pekin, 
Illinois. 

Wednesday  nights  during  the  summer  were  always 
working  nights  for  the  police,  for  that  was  band  concert 
night.  The  square  would  be  lined  with  cars  backed  into 
place  to  face  the  bandstand.  Young  people  would  be 
"making  the  rounds",  and  there  would  be  the  inevitable 
dog  fights.  At  10  P.M.  a  traffic  jam  as  everyone  tried  to 
leave  at  once  gave  the  police  force  a  real  headache. 

Since  the  1950's  and  1960's  the  police  department  has 
been  quite  different.  Before  this  time  all  fines  were  paid 
in  Washington  to  the  magistrate.  Since  then  all  fines 
except  local  parking  fines  are  paid  in  Pekin,  Illinois.  In 
the  1940's  and  1950's  the  police  department  didn't 
always  have  a  person  to  answer  the  phone.  Instead  a  bell 
on  the  outside  of  the  building  could  be  rung  from  the 
telephone  office.  The  police  would  then  go  to  a  phone 
and  call  the  operator  to  receive  the  message. 


Our  present  chief  of  police  is  Norman  Martin  who  has 
held  the  position  since  1961.  The  department  has  ten 
police  officers,  two  part-time  officers,  and  five  auxiliary 
police.  The  department  has  just  employed  its  first  woman 
police  officer.  The  department  has  one  detective  who  also 


acts  as  juvenile  officer  on  some  occasions,  and  a  juvenile 
officer  who  also  does  regular  patrol  duty. 

The  department  has  four  patrol  cars  equipped  with 
radios  which  enable  officers  to  contact  the  police  station, 
Tazewell  County  cars,  and  I.S.P.E.R.N.  (Illinois  State 
Police  Emergency  Radio  Network).  Four  radio 
operators  and  one  part-time  operator  are  employed  to 
answer  the  phone,  keep  a  log  of  calls,  radio  messages  to 
police  cars,  keep  a  log  of  where  the  officers  are,  type 
reports,  and  call  fire  and  rescue  squads.  The  operators 
use  a  microfiche  machine  for  license  numbers  requested 
by  police  officers.  The  operators  also  contact  State 
Police  Headquarters  at  Germantown  and  maintain 
communication  with  city  and  township  trucks.  Records 
of  all  incidents  reported  to  the  department  are  kept  in 
locked  files  and  a  card  is  made  on  each  incident  for  quick 
and  efficient  reference. 


VOLUNTEER  FIRE  DEPARTMENT 

Early  records  of  the  Washington  fire  department  are 
quite  hard  to  find,  but  the  available  recorded  history 
seems  to  begin  in  1879  when  Ben  Tobias  was  the  town's 
first  fire  chief.  In  1886,  a  monetary  enticement  of  $3.00 
was  offered  to  a  volunteer  fireman.  The  first  person  to 
respond  to  a  fire  call,  by  appearing  at  the  station  with  a 
team  of  horses  to  hitch  to  the  chemical  engine,  received 
the  three-dollar  fee.  Records  show  the  purchase  of  a 
water  and  hose  car  in  1887.  The  car  had  round  handles 
on  the  side  with  big  round  rings  which  enabled  the  men 
to  pull  the  cart. 

The  firehouse  at  that  time  was  on  the  south  side  of  the 
square  near  the  old  water  tower  where  a  parking  lot  is 
now  located.  An  old  bell  on  the  water  tower  was  rung 
for  curfew  and  fires.  The  bell  is  presently  being  re- 
finished  and  will  be  placed  as  a  memorial  in  front  of  the 
present  City  Building  on  West  Jefferson  Street. 

In  1924  a  LaFrance  fire  truck  was  purchased  which 
was  used  until  1952.  The  fire  department  also  has  a  1935 
Ford  which  was  being  used  in  1952. 

That  same  year  Fire  Chief  Pat  Brill  initiated  a  pro- 
gram to  raise  money  for  a  new  firehouse  and  the 
purchase  of  new  equipment.  The  volunteer  firemen  and 
local  citizens  built  the  present  firehouse  on  West 
Jefferson.  In  June  1953,  open  house  was  held  at  the  new 
location  showing  off  the  new  building  and  a  500-gallon 
pumper. 

In  March  of  1957  a  750-gallon  pumper  was  purchased 
to  replace  the  1924  LaFrance.  Also  a  truck  principally 


for  use  in  rural  areas  was  bought  with  funds  which  are 
contributed  each  year  by  rural  residents  for  fire 
protection.  At  that  time  the  department  consisted  of 
twenty  volunteers.  In  1967  another  new  truck  was  pur- 
chased which  will  pump  1 ,000  gallons  per  minute. 

Each  year  the  firemen  have  an  annual  fish  fry  for 
members  of  the  department,  trustees  of  the  fire  district 
and  members  of  the  City  Council. 

The  volunteer  fireman  also  served  as  rescue  squad 
members  in  the  1950's  and  until  1961  when  the  rescue 
squad  was  formed  as  a  separate  unit.  Before  dial  phones 
each  fireman  was  called  by  the  telephone  operator  from 
the  local  telephone  office  which  took  a  great  deal  of 
time,  but  calls  were  answered  quite  promptly  considering 
the  routine.  Since  1961  when  dial  phones  came  in,  all 
firemen  are  called  by  the  lifting  of  one  phone  at  the 
police  station  which  simplifies  and  hastens  the  calls. 

The  present  fire  trucks  are  equipped  with  radios  to 
enable  the  men  to  communicate  with  the  fire  station 
and  the  police  station  in  case  additional  help  is  needed. 
The  present  department  consists  of  25  volunteer  men. 


D  no 


WASHINGTON  RESCUE  SQUAD 

On  March  22,  1961  the  formation  of  an  emergency 
squad  in  Washington,  composed  often  men  who.  in  case 
of  a  disaster,  would  assist  local  authorities  with  rescue 
operations,  traffic  control,  and  emergency  communica- 
tions, was  announced. 

Robert  Dubois  was  elected  as  captain  of  the  group 
with  Charles  Joesting  serving  as  lieutenant.  Rolla 
Nieukirk  and  Donald  Banghart  were  elected  sergeants. 
Other  members  of  the  newly-formed   Squad   included 


Eugene  Blumenshine,  William  Shelander,  James  Jones. 
Larry  Miller,  Tom  Hexamer,  and  Tom  Finson. 

On  September  28,  1961  Washington  Fire  Chief  Tom 
Boyd  announced  the  transfer  of  the  fire  department's 
rescue  truck  to  the  emergency  squad  to  be  used  by  the 
squad  as  an  emergency  vehicle.  With  the  transfer  of  the 
vehicle,  the  squad  assumed  the  responsibility  of  respond- 
ing to  resuscitator  and  inhalator  calls.  Also  at  this  time 
the  squad  was  officially  recognized  by  the  Washington 
City  Council,  who  deemed  the  unit  the  Civil  Defense 
organization  in  the  community.  The  newly  acquired 
emergency  truck  was  housed  in  the  city  pump  house  on 
the  south  side  of  the  city  square  as  the  fire  department 
garage  was  not  large  enough  to  accommodate  the  truck 
for  easy  exit. 


Due  to  public  acceptance  and  support  as  well  as  the 
increasing  need  in  the  community  of  a  trained  group  to 
respond  to  trauma  emergencies,  the  City  Council  in  May. 
1963  approved  the  purchase  of  a  new  3/i-ton  pick-up 
truck  to  be  used  by  the  squad  for  rescue  and  aid  work. 
This  was  the  first  new  vehicle  operated  by  the  squad  and 
replaced  the  1948  GMC  vintage  vehicle  received  in  the 
fire  department  transfer. 

The  emergency  squad  remained  a  separate  volunteer 
organization,  with  headquarters  at  the  city  pump  house 
on  the  square  until  September.  1967,  when  the  squad 
moved  to  the  Washington  Fire  House.  After  this  move 
was  completed,  organizational  plans  were  initiated  to 
make  the  emergency  volunteer  unit  a  permanent  part  of 


the  city's  emergency  services.  The  Washington 
Emergency  Squad  became  a  part  of  the  Washington 
Fire  Department  on  June  3,  1968,  following  approval  of 
the  action  by  the  City  Council.  A  motion  was  made  that 
squad  members  receive  a  $3  payment  per  man  per  res- 
ponse. The  motion  was  passed  unanimously. 

Although  the  emergency  squad  became  the 
Washington  Fire  Department  Rescue  Squad,  the  group 
retained  its  autonomy  be  maintaining  its  own  bylaws, 
electing  its  own  officers,  and  conducting  its  own  meetings 
and  training  sessions,  while,  at  the  same  time,  respecting 
the  authority  of  the  Fire  Chief  and  the  general  policies 
of  the  fire  department. 

Emergency  responses  increased  by  the  newly-formed 
division  of  the  fire  department  until  a  decision  was 
reached  in  August,  1970,  that  an  updated  system  was 
needed  to  notify  squad  members  to  respond  to  an 
emergency.  In  November  of  that  year,  a  Plectron  alerting 
system  was  initiated,  enabling  the  police  dispatcher  to 
alert  the  entire  squad  with  the  press  of  only  one  button. 
This  eliminated  the  need  of  using  the  telephone  to  dial 
individual  members  to  alert  them  of  a  call,  as  was 
previously  done. 


Following  installation  of  the  new  alerting  system, 
Washington  was  the  first  community  in  Tazewell  County 
to  implement  a  new  "911"  telephone  emergency  system 
enabling  area  residents  to  dial  only  the  three-digit 
number  for  police,  fire,  and  rescue  squad  services.  Pay 
phones  were  converted  so  "911"  could  be  dialed  in 
Washington  without  depositing  money.  Because  of  the 
"911"  conversion  and  the  Plectron  alerting  system  the 
rescue  squad  responding  to  the  scene  of  an  emergency 
was  cut  drastically. 

Municipal  ambulance  service  was  initiated  as  part  of 
the  rescue  squad's  emergency  service  to  the  community 
on  February  20,  1974.  The  ambulance  was  purchased  by 
the  City  through  a  federal  and  state  grant  that  awarded 
Washington  70%  funding  of  the  unit.  Because  of  the 
grant  no  increase  in  taxes  was  necessary  to  provide  the 
new  service.  This  resulted  from  the  two  local  funeral 
home  ambulance  services  indicating  their  intention  to 
cease  emergency  ambulance  service  to  the  community. 

The  rescue  squad  elected  to  draw  up  the  federal  grant 
draft  with  consent  of  the  City  Council.  Six  months  were 
needed  to  complete  the  document,  which  was  accepted 
and  approved  by  the  Illinois  Department  of  Transporta- 
tion Office  of  Transportation  Safety  on  September  28, 
1973. 

The  east  end  of  the  fire  house  was  expanded  to  house 
both  the  new  ambulance  and  the  existing  1969  model 


rescue  truck.  The  new  construction  also  included  an 
equipment  clean-up  and  supply  storage  room. 

Updating  training  procedures  has  always  been  a 
foremost  goal  of  the  squad,  with  current  members  being 
certified  as  Emergency  Medical  Technicians  by  the 
National  Registry  of  Emergency  Medical  Technicians 
and  the  Illinois  Department  of  Public  Health. 

Responding  to  over  200  calls  per  year,  the  17-man 
rescue  squad  provides  optimal  specialized  life-support 
emergency  care  and  delivery  of  victims  of  accidental 
injury,  life-threatening  disease  or  injury,  or  acute  illness 
to  a  medical  facility  to  approximately  15,000  citizens 
within  the  City  of  Washington,  the  Pleasant  View  Fire 
Protection  District,  and  the  Central  Fire  Protection 
District. 

The  rescue  squad  also  provides  first  aid  training  to 
citizen  groups,  implements  an  invalid  marker  program 
throughout  its  area,  provides  specialized  equipment  use 
during  fire  calls,  assists  local  police  during  missing  child 
searches  and  other  police  emergencies,  and  provides 
speakers  for  local  organizations  concerning  squad 
activities. 

Current  officers  and  members  are:  Robert  Dubois, 
Captain;  John  Kent,  Lieutenant;  Fred  Farischon, 
Sergeant;  Albert  Wood,  Secretary-Treasurer;  James 
Arn,  Donald  Banghart,  John  Crandall,  William  Hartter, 
Earl  Hietter,  Steve  Hullcranz,  David  Kinsinger,  Robert 
Kochendorfer,  Willis  Meeks,  Reverend  Arnold  Olson, 
William  Shelander,  Donald  Stewart,  and  David  White. 

Honorary  members  include:  Reverend  Darrel  D. 
Malcom,  Vernon  Aberle,  and  Kenneth  E.  Gregory. 


POST  OFFICE 

There  was  no  railroad  or  telegraph  service  in  the 
United  States,  certainly  not  in  Tazewell  County,  ac- 
cording to  the  early  history  of  Washington. 

In  1857  Robert  Davis  reportedly  was  the  ticket  agent 
and  telegraph  operator  of  the  T.P.  &  W.  railroad. 

In  1870  Charles  A.  Crane  was  postmaster,  appointed 
in  March,  1870.  The  daily  and  weekly  newspapers  could 
be  found  at  the  Post  Office.  Charles  A.  Crane,  a  very 
sociable  man,  was  always  at  his  post  of  duty. 


The  mail  was  carried  by  stage  or  on  horse-back,  in 
some  places  by  foot,  except  where  it  could  be  carried 
by  water.  Letters,  reaching  their  destination  now  in  two 
days,  would  have  taken  two  weeks  or  more  at  that  time. 
A  letter  cost  twenty-five  cents  to  send,  and  twenty-five 
cents  was  not  always  forthcoming.  Postage  was  paid  at 
the  end  of  the  route. 

The  Post  Office  has  been  located  in  a  number  of 
places  around  or  near  the  Square,  but  in  1%2  the 
Colonial  stvle  Post  Office  was  built  and  dedicated  at 
106  South  High  Street. 

Pl/BLIC  LIBRARY 

In  1924  the  Mother's  Club  held  discussions  concerning 
the  organization  of  a  public  library  for  Washington. 
These  talks  went  on  through  the  years  until  1927,  when 
there  was  a  committee  appointed  to  interview  the  mayor 
(Rinkenberger)  concerning  the  library.  Later  that  year 
the  City  promised  to  furnish  a  heated  and  lighted  room 
in  the  City  Building  on  the  square  for  the  purpose  of 
establishing  a  public  library.  A  library  book  committee 
was  formed,  and  the  chairman  stated  that  donating 
suitable  books  for  the  library  would  be  greatly 
appreciated.  Also,  the  Ways  and  Means  committee  of  the 
club  discussed  ways  of  securing  money  for  the  Library 
Fund.  It  was  decided  to  put  on  a  play,  and  this  was  the 
first  of  several  others  which  followed. 

The  Library  Board  was  elected  by  the  Mother's  Club. 
The  first  board  consisted  of  the  following  members: 
Mrs.  Flora  Hoeflin.  Mrs.  Nora  Weeks,  Mrs.  Harriet 
Zinser,  Mrs.  Ada  Renter.  Mrs.  Anna  Goddard,  and 
Mrs.  Blumenshine. 

The  library  was  officially  opened  on  June  15.  1927. 
Bernice  Weeks  was  the  first  librarian.  She  was  paid  one 
dollar  for  each  time  the  library  was  open.  It  was  decided 
to  open  two  afternoons  and  one  evening  each  week. 
There  were  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  books.  The 
Mother's  Club  decided  to  present  a  book  to  the  library 
in  memory  of  each  member  who  passed  away,  and  this 
custom  continues  to  the  present  time. 

Mrs.  Margaret  Harvey  became  the  third  librarian  and 
continued  until  her  death  in  1958.  She  had  served 
twenty-four  years. 

The  library  was  not  tax-supported  until  a  levy  was 
voted  in  June,  1937,  and  the  first  tax  money  was  received 
in  June,  1938.  The  library  moved  to  the  new  library 
building  at  its  present  address,  301  Walnut  Street,  in 
1950. 

We  now  have  12.000  volumes  in  the  library,  and  the 
latest  census  shows  that  we  are  serving  an  area  of  approx- 
imately 12,000  people.  The  staff  now  includes  four  per- 
sons, and  the  library  is  open  forty  hours  per  week. 

An  addition  of  5,152  square  feet  was  made  in  1970 
at  a  total  cost  of  $116,037.  The  basement  of  the  new- 
addition  was  made  into  an  attractive  children's  depart- 
ment in  1972.  At  this  time  Mrs.  Mildred  Mover  became 
head  librarian  following  Mrs.  Herma  Hammond's 
retirement. 


At  this  time  the  library  serves  the  Washington  town- 
ship, a  population  of  18,366.  This  comprises  an  area  of 
fifty-four  square  miles,  including  the  communities  of 
Washington.  Beverly  Manor,  and  Sunnvland. 

WASHINGTON  PARK  DISTRICT 

The  Washington  Park  District  is  a  relative  newcomer 
to  the  community,  but  it  has  already  found  a  place  as  an 
important  element  in  the  city's  growth  and  serves  as  a 
constant  source  of  public  pride. 


Organized  in  1968,  the  voters  elected  Noah  Hickman, 
Mrs.  Kenneth  Richart,  John  Holtzman.  Dr.  H.  W. 
Engel,  Wilson  Kimmell  as  park  commissioners.  Officers 
of  the  Park  Board  elected  at  the  organizational  meeting 
of  January  16,  1968  were  John  Holtzman,  president; 
Wilson  Kimmell,  vice  president;  and  Mrs.  Richart. 
secretary.  Melvin  O.  Moehle  accepted  the  position  of 
Park  District  attorney. 

Immediately  the  newly-formed  Board  made  plans  to 
purchase  55  acres  of  land  located  between  Lincoln 
School  and  Devonshire  Estates  belonging  to  the  George 
Heyl  Estate.  At  a  purchase  price  of  $95,100,  the  land 
was  officially  purchased  in  July,  1969.  Local  organiza- 
tions and  individuals  contributed  over  $7,000  to  help  the 
Park  District  finance  and  develop  the  community 
recreation  area  now  known  as  Washington  Park. 

In  1971  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glenn  Weaver  donated  a  5.6 
acre  tract  of  land  now  known  as  Weaver  Park  and  desig- 
nated as  a  nature  study  area.  On  an  individual  basis 
the  Park  District's  part  time  park  superintendent. 
George  Curtis,  refused  to  accept  his  $1 ,500  annual  salary 


and  designated  that  it  be  put  in  a  special  baseball 
diamond  lighting  fund.  The  Park  Board  recognized 
Curtis'  generosity  in  1973  by  naming  the  baseball  dia- 
monds in  Washington  Park,  George  Curtis  Field. 

Voters  reacted  favorably  when  the  Park  District 
asked  for  passage  of  a  $260,000  bond  referendum  to  pur- 
chase and  renovate  the  Neptune  Swim  Club  in  Devon- 
shire Estates.  In  May,  1972  voters  approved  the  purchase 
of  the  pool.  An  architect  was  hired  to  design  a  second 
pool  at  the  facility,  and  Washington  Park  Pool  opened 
its  doors  to  public  swimming  May  31, 1973. 

With  the  purchase  of  the  pool  and  an  additional 
purchase  of  90  acres  of  undeveloped  property  known  as 
the  Schmoeger  Estate,  the  Park  Board  commissioners 
realized  that  a  fulltime  manager  was  needed.  On 
February  1,  1973,  Ronald  Gregg  was  hired  as  the  Park 
District's  fulltime  director. 

In  seven  years  the  Washington  Park  District  has 
provided  the  city  with  a  55  acre  park  with  picnic,  play- 
ground, and  baseball  facilities.  It  has  made  public 
swimming  a  reality,  and  it  is  working  to  provide  open 
space  for  the  enjoyment  of  nature. 

THE  WASHINGTON  RECREATION  ASSOCIATION 

The  Washington  Recreation  Association,  as  such, 
was  formulated  on  May  21,  1954.  An  organizational 
meeting  was  held  in  which  "Doc"  Thompson  was  elected 
President;  Andy  Anderson,  Vice  President;  Mrs.  Dana 
McConaghy,  Secretary;  and  William  Shuck,  Treasurer. 
Bylaws  were  drawn  up  on  June  1,   1954.  The  records 


show  a  transfer  of  funds  ($459.79)  from  the  American 
Legion  Post  Junior  Baseball  Program  to  the  newly  or- 
ganized Washington  Recreation  Association  on  the 
above  date. 

(Undoubtedly  a  recreation  program  of  some  kind 
existed  for  many  years  prior  but  did  not  have  a  title  nor 
a  formal  organization.  In  fact,  records  will  show  that 
through  a  concerted  effort  of  the  religious  congregations 
there  was  an  establishment  of  a  church  summer  baseball 
league  in  the  fall  of  1923,  which  was  then  called  the 
"Inner  Church  Recreation  Association.") 

Funding  initially  came  from  donations  from  organi- 
zations —  the  American  Legion,  the  many  churches  of 
the  area,  women's  clubs,  merchants,  individuals  and 
from  registration  fees  of  participants  plus  from  specials 
such  as  the  Donkey  Softball  Game. 

Membership  to  the  Washington  Recreation  Associa- 
tion actually  consisted  of  representatives  from  each  of  the 
organizations  from  the  Washington  community.  Old 
minutes  show  representatives  from  the  Civic  Club, 
Jaycees,  high  school,  PTA,  various  churches  and  also  an 
"at  large"  representation. 

Examination  of  the  ledger  sheet  reveals  the  main 
participation  in  1954  was  baseball;  the  number  signing 
up  was  143.  Dick  Van  Scyoc  was  in  charge  of  the  pro- 
gram, assisted  by  Tom  Adams.  Swimming  and  teen 
dances  were  added  in  1955,  followed  by  crafts, 
badminton,  etc.  as  introduced  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bob 
Paxson,  along  with  Arlene  Ward. 

A  "Rec  Round-Up"  held  at  the  end  of  the  summer  as  a 
windup  to  the  summer  program  was  a  picnic  type  of  a 
social  which  included  games  such  as  "Penny  Pitch" 
plus  a  general  get  together  of  everyone  involved, 
which  included  money-making  projects. 

In  1957  there  was  the  introduction  of  a  Fishing  Rodeo 
and  hobby  models.  The  Board  consisted  of  Glenn 
Harkins,  President;  Mabel  Dykstra,  Vice-President; 
Rose  Crabill,  Secretary;  and  Toby  Weyrich,  Treasurer. 

A  Certificate  of  Incorporation  was  obtained  October 
20,  1959,  with  the  Board  members  being:  Maurice  E. 
Young,  Richard  Alexander,  Goldie  Clark,  George  B. 
Grimm,  and  Marian  Sparling.  The  purpose  and  intent 
was  to  conduct,  administer  and  maintain  recreational 
facilities  for  the  City  of  Washington,  Illinois,  with 
particular  emphasis  for  recreation  for  the  youth  of 
the  community. 

In  1959  the  records  also  show  a  committee  study  with 
a  view  toward  establishing  a  permanent  recreational 
facility,  an  operating  organization  of  a  park  district 
type  for  the  City  of  Washington. 

As  the  Recreation  Association  developed,  the  pro- 
grams offered  led  from  baseball  and  general  summer 
games  to  biddy  basketball,  hobby  models,  arts  and 
crafts,  and  golf,  plus  dances  for  seventh  and  eighth 
graders,  swimming,  bowling,  and  a  fishing  rodeo.  The 
general  summer  games  were  relay,  dodge  ball,  cat  and 
mouse,  volleyball,  and  badminton. 


In  the  1%0's  girl's  softball  was  introduced  with  Jim 
Johnson  as  coach,  and  the  games  were  played  at 
Washington  Grade  School. 

The  Washington  Recreation  Association  bylaw  was 
revised  in  1969,  at  which  time  the  Board  members  were 
Lyle  J.  VanHook,  James  Nutty,  and  Mary  Eschelbach. 
Provisions  were  set  out  as  to  the  purpose  and  intent, 
which  were  to  encourage  and  promote  recreational 
facilities  and  to  develop,  by  precept  and  example,  the 
furtherance  of  good  citizenship,  fair  play,  observance  of 
the  "Golden  Rule"  and  the  highest  moral  standards; 
set  out  the  term  of  the  Board  members,  tenure  of  the 
President,  policies  of  the  Recreation  Association;  and 
provided  for  amendment  of  these  by-laws. 


Further  definition  was  achieved  in  December.  1972, 
when  the  by-laws  were  again  updated  to  fit  the  present 
needs  and  to  hurdle  some  problems  that  had  developed. 
The  President  for  1972  was  Jim  Maddock,  Vice- 
President  was  Rudy  Kantola,  Secretary  was  Mary  Bristol, 
Treasurer  was  Jim  Carman,  and  Board  members  were 
Ron  Lind.  Greg  Martin,  and  Bob  Ahten.  A  new  develop- 
ment occurred  in  1973  with  the  addition  of  a  newly  or- 
ganized group,  the  Washington  Baseball  League.  (It  is 
the  baseball  program  arm  of  the  Washington  Recreation 
Association,  handled  on  a  volunteer  basis,  headed  by 
Ludwig  Schmidt,  President,  and  Pete  Blackman, 
Player  Agent,  in  the  main.  Other  Board  members  are 
Bill  Porterfield,  Vice-President  and  head  of  the 
umpires;  Jackie  Legel,  Recording  Secretary;  Ron  Gregg, 
Safety  Officer;  Don  Mitchell,  Ways  &  Means;  and 
Rudy  Kantola,  Ex-Officio.  It  works  in  conjuntion  with 
and  responds  to  the  Washington  Recreation 
Association.) 

The  total  participation  in  activities  of  1974  is  about 
1,014  children.  The  total  involvement  of  people  helping 
out  in  the  program  on  a  voluntary  basis  is  about  275.  The 
Board  members  are:  Sally  Charlton,  President;  Pete 
Blackman.  Vice-President;  Verna  Lott.  Secretary;  Jim 
Carman,  Treasurer;  and  Jim  Maddock.  Greg  Martin, 
and  Rudy  Kantola. 

There  have  been  a  number  of  changes  throughout  the 
years  with  one  exception.  That  is  the  purpose  and  the 
intent,  which  still  remain  as  originally  intended,  to 
provide  recreation  facilities  and  recreation  for  the 
youth  of  the  Washington  community. 


CHURCHES 

AND 

WASHINGTON 

MINISTERIAL  ASSOC. 


Being  built  upon  the  foundation  of  the 
apostles  and  prophets,  Christ  Jesus  himself 
being  the  chief  cornerstone;  in  whom  each 
several  building,  fitly  framed  together, 
groweth  into  a  holy  temple  in  the  Lord;  in 
whom  ye  also  are  builded  together  for  a  habitation  of 
God  in  the  Spirit. 

Collation  of  Scripture         Eph.  2:20-22. 


BEVERLY  MANOR  MISSIONARY  BAPTIST  CHURCH 


Beverly  Manor  Missionary  Baptist  Church  is  located 
on  Vohland  Street  in  Beverly  Manor.  The  building  was 
purchased  from  Faith  Lutheran  Church  in  August.  I960. 
The  first  minister  was  the  Reverend  Mark  Maddox.  The 
congregation  had  thirteen  charter  members. 

The  Reverend  Wayne  Camp  came  to  be  the  minister 
on  January  24,  1965.  During  the  year  1965  a  Seminary 
was  started  with  seventeen  students;  at  present  there 
are  twenty-five.  An  addition  to  the  church  was  built  in 
1969,  doubling  the  size  of  the  building.  The  Reverend 
Wayne  Camp  is  the  present  minister,  and  the  present 
enrollment  is  three  hundred. 


THE  FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH 


The  Washington  Missionary  Baptist  Church  was 
organized  at  the  Roland  Manor  Baptist  Church  with 
twelve  charter  members  on  September  17,  1950.  In  1949 
cottage  prayer  meetings  were  held  regularly  with  Brother 
Lloyd  Shipley  as  leader.  The  need  for  a  Baptist  Church  in 
Washington  was  felt,  and  the  church  was  organized  with 
these  charter  members:  San  Boughan.  Bettye  Boughan. 
Bettye  Jean  Boughan.  James  Boughan.  Jerry  Boughan. 
Frank  Eastes.  Minnie  Eastes.  Lester  Lee,  La  Verne  Lee, 
Larry  Lee,  Leland  Sawyer,  and  Ruth  Sawyer.  Brother 
R.  G.  Bryant  served  as  moderator  for  the  organization. 
Brother  Otho  Williams  brought  the  message.  Brother 
Lester  Lee  was  called  as  the  first  pastor. 

At  the  first  business  session,  it  was  noted  that  we  be 
named  the  Washington  Missionary  Baptist  Church  and 
make  application  membership  into  the  Illinois  Vallev 
State  Association.  Southern  Baptist  Convention.  It  was 
also  decided  to  make  an  appointment  to  discuss  buying 
a  lot  for  a  church  building. 

Sunday  School,  morning  worship,  young  peopled 
meetings,  and  evening  worship  were  held  in  the  basement 
at  the  home  of  Brother  Sam  Boughan.  The  first 
musical  accompaniment  to  our  voices  of  praise  was  an 
accordian,  which  was  later  replaced  by  an  antique  pump 
organ. 

Just  one  year  after  our  organization,  on  September  16. 
1 951 .  our  basement  auditorium  was  dedicated.  The  guest 
speaker  at  the  afternoon  services  was  Brother  R.  G. 
Bryant.  During  the  first  year,  the  Lord  blessed  the 
church  with  fifty-one  additions.  It  was  in  March  during 
this  first  year  that  the  W.  M.  S.  was  organized. 

In  September.  1951.  Training  Union  was  organized 
and  officers  were  approved.  The  Brotherhood  was  also 
organized  at  this  time. 


Brother  Lee  served  as  our  pastor  until  September. 
1952.  In  December  of  1952,  Brother  Murvel  Huffstutler 
was  called  to  serve  as  our  pastor.  On  February  19.  1954, 
the  church  voted  to  purchase  the  residence  at  418  North 
Lawndale  for  the  church  parsonage.  In  the  spring  of 
1955,  work  began  on  further  construction  of  our 
building.  On  September  18.  1955,  our  five-year  anniver- 
sary was  held,  and  the  cornerstone  was  laid.  Services 
were  held  in  our  new  auditorium  on  January  1,  1957. 

The  Eureka  Mission  was  organized  as  a  Southern 
Baptist  Church  on  May  26,  1957,  at  the  Washington 
Missionary  Baptist  Church.  In  May.  1955.  the  church 
voted  to  sponsor  a  Mission  in  Eureka,  Illinois,  with  their 
morning  services  reversed  so  that  our  pastor  and 
Sunday  School  officers  could  serve  until  the  mission 
could  elect  its  own.  Brother  Huffstutler  served  as  pastor 
until  June.  1958.  Brother  Angel  was  called  in  August. 
1958. 

The  church  operated  a  kindergarten,  which  was  open 
to  the  public  from  1961  to  1965.  In  January.  196.1.  the 
church  called  Rev.  Floyd  Camp  as  pastor.  The  name  of 
the  Washington  Missionary  Baptist  Church  was 
changed  to  First  Baptist  Church  in  November  of 
1963.  The  Kimpling  Building  at  1109  Peoria  Street  was 
purchased  in  1968  to  give  additional  classroom  space 
and  parking.  George  S.  Wilson  was  called  as  pastor  and 
moved  to  Washington  August  4.  1968.  In  1969  the  park- 
ing lot  was  moved  from  the  front  to  the  back,  and  the 
front  lawn  was  sodded.  In  1970  we  remodeled  the  annex, 
removing  the  large  glass  windows  and  bricking  the  front 
of  the  building.  We  began  a  bus  ministry  in  1972.  The 
church  presently  has  two  hundred  thirty-four  members 
and  maintains  a  full  program  of  worship,  education,  and 
missionary  support. 


SALEM  MISSIONARY  BAPTIST  CHURCH 

On  February  18,  1970,  Temple  Missionary  Baptist 
Church  in  Moline,  Illinois,  voted  to  sponsor  a  missionary, 
Joseph  Sherman,  in  Washington,  Illinois,  for  the  purpose 
of  starting  a  Missionary  Baptist  Mission.  Pastor 
Sherman,  originally  from  Moline,  moved  to  this  area  to 
attend  the  Illinois  Missionary  Baptist  Institute. 

The  first  meeting  was  held  at  310  Washington  Square 
where  thirty-three  persons  gathered  to  hold  church 
services.  During  the  time  the  congregation  waited  to  have 
their  own  church  building,  they  held  services  at  501 
Walnut  and  310  North  Main.  They  were  able  to  purchase 
the  property  in  Westview  Addition  in  April,  1971  and 
began  to  build  shortly  thereafter. 


The  mission  organized  into  a  New  Testament  Church 
in  June  1971  at  services  held  in  Moline  by  the  sponsoring 
church.  At  that  time  they  chose  to  name  the  church 
Salem  Missionary  Baptist  and  called  Joseph  Sherman 
to  remain  as  pastor. 

One  member  of  the  congregation  was  a  preacher  from 
Germany,  Willie  Teubner.  He  was  attending  Illinois 
Missionary  Baptist  Institute  preparing  to  return  to 
Germany  to  do  mission  work. 

In  April,  1972  Salem  voted  to  sponsor  Willie  Teubner 
as  a  missionary  in  Germany  and  to  recommend  him  to 
the  American  Baptist  Association  as  a  foreign 
missionary  support  by  designated  funds.  This  was  a  big 
step  for  a  young  church. 

Pastor  Sherman  was  sent  to  Minnesota  to  start  mission 
work  under  the  sponsorship  of  Temple  Missionary 
Baptist  Church  in  September,  1972.  The  second  pastor 
was  Dewey  Williams,  who  continued  the  work  until  late 
in  the  year  1973,  when  he  was  called  to  serve  as  pastor  of 
New  Bethel  Missionary  Baptist  Church  in  Granite  City, 
Illinois.  The  present  pastor  is  Charles  Empey.  Pastor 
Empey  graduated  from  Washington  High  School  in 
1964  and  Illinois  Missionary  Baptist  Institute  in  1969. 
He  has  served  pastorates  in  Missouri,  Mississippi,  and 
Illinois. 

The  congregation  is  now  meeting  in  their  new  building 
at  11 15  Glenn  Street. 


GRACE  BIBLE  CHURCH  OF  WASHINGTON 

Grace  Bible  Church  of  Washington  assembled  for 
their  first  worship  service  on  the  first  Sunday  in  1958. 
This  meeting  was  held  in  the  former  Central  School 
Building  with  approximately  eighty  persons  attending. 
After  a  few  months  the  growing  congregation  purchased 
this  building  which  was  used  for  the  first  year.  On  the 
first  Sunday  in  1959,  the  first  service  was  held  in  the 
newly  completed  building  now  in  use  on  South  Main 
Street.  On  1971  this  building  was  expanded  to  provide 


needed  Sunday  School  rooms,  an  enlarged  sanctuary, 
and  a  fellowship  hall.  Attendance  in  now  about  three 
hundred. 

The  first  words  of  the  church  Statement  of  Faith  are 
"We  believe  that  all  Scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of 
God  —  the  whole  of  the  book  called  the  Bible".  From 
this  comes  the  church  name  and  order  and  also  the 
emphasis  on  Bible  teaching  in  Sunday  School,  worship 
services,  Youth  meetings,  and  during  the  week,  in 
Pioneer  Girls,  Boys'  Brigade,  and  Wednesday  Prayer 
service.  The  youth  have  won  national  first  place  three 
consecutive  years  in  the  Bible  quiz  of  the  Independent 
Fundamental  Churches  of  America. 

Pastor  Wesley  Phillips  is  the  minister  at  Grace  Bible 
Church  and  has  served  there  since  June,  1969.  Preceding 
pastors  were  Pastor  R.  O.  Ogden  and  Pastor  Ted 
Shickley. 

To  further  its  stated  goal  to  "publish  at  home  and 
abroad  the  true  plan  of  Salvation".  Grace  Bible  Church 
contributes  to  the  support  of  missionaries  on  all  con- 
tinents, many  of  whom  have  spoken  at  the  church.  A 
number  of  young  people  from  the  church  are  now  in 
pastoral  and  missionary  service,  and  others  are  presently 
in  school  for  that  purpose. 

Since  its  founding  the  church  has  used  as  its  theme, 
the  hymn  "To  God  be  the  Glory  —  Great  Things  He 
Hath  Done". 


CHRISTIAN  CHURCH 

The  town  of  Washington,  Illinois  was  just  seven  years 
old  when  the  Washington  Christian  Church  had  its 
beginning  in  the  little  school  house  one-half  mile  north- 
west of  the  city  in  1832,  known  as  the  "Old  Central 
School"  at  what  is  now  601  North  Wilmor  Road;  the 
school  was  on  the  Squire  Baker  farm.  The  organization 
was  not  perfected  until  1834. 

The  Christian  Church  was  organized  by  the  Reverend 
Richard  McCorkle.  It  was  the  second  church  organiza- 
tion in  Washington.  For  a  number  of  years  it  worshipped 
in  the  upper  room  of  the  building  that  was  once  known  as 
the  Roehm  Shoe  Store  on  the  corner  of  Washington 
Square  and  South  Main  Street.  Next,  they  purchased  a 
site  on  the  west  side  of  South  High  Street.  A  small  brick 
building  was  built  on  this  site  in  1851.  When  the  con- 
gregation outgrew  the  little  brick  building,  they  pur- 
chased two  lots  at  105  North  High  Street.  The  second 
building  was  dedicated  November  28,  1869.  It  burned 
from  a  defective  flue  on  Feb.  17,  1870.  The  congregation 
met  in  the  room  above  Zinser's  Drug  Store  on  the  corner 
or  North  Main  Street  and  Peoria  Street  until  the  church 
was  rebuilt  on  High  Street. 


The  third  building  was  dedicated  August  28,  1870.  It 
was  an  immense  edifice  with  the  height  to  the  spire 
being  one  hundred  twenty-seven  feet.  A  severe  electrical 
storm  on  October  29.  1876,  struck  the  spire  by  lightning. 
The  church  burned  to  the  ground. 

The  fourth  building  was  dedicated  July  29,  1877,  on 
the  same  site,  and  it  still  stands.  On  June  28,  1909,  the 
church  celebrated  its  seventy-fifth  anniversary.  Member- 
ship at  that  time  was  one  hundred  twenty-five. 

The  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  church  was 
celebrated  November  11.  1934.  On  October  25,  1959. 
the  church  celebrated  its  one  hundred  twenty-fifth 
anniversary.  Membership  at  that  time  was  two 
hundred  sixty-four. 

On  April  25,  1961,  the  congregation  purchased  five 
acres  of  land  at  928  North  Main  Street.  On  November  1. 
1964.  the  first  services  were  held  in  the  new  church 
building.  On  Sunday.  November  8,  1964,  dedication 
and  the  one  hundred  thirtieth  anniversary  celebration 
was  held. 

As  the  city  of  Washington,  Illinois,  celebrates  their 
sesquicentennial.  Washington  Christian  Church  will  be 
one  hundred  forty  years  old.  Present  membership  is  in 
excess  of  six  hundred  members.  William  Vandervoort 
is  the  minister,  and  Ron  Criswell  is  the  associate  and 
youth  minister  of  Washington  Christian  Church  at  the 
time  of  this  writing. 


FAITH  LUTHERAN  CHURCH 

Faith  Lutheran  Church  is  located  on  the  corner  of 
Washington  Road  and  School  Street.  This  church  was 
started  in  January.  1947,  in  the  home  of  Leonard  Hohen- 
bury.  There  were  six  charter  members.  Their  first  build- 
ing on  Vohland  Street  in  Beverly  Manor  was  started  in 
September,  1947.  It  was  finished  and  dedicated  in  1948. 
Their  first  pastor  was  the  Reverend  Russell  Comnick. 
who  came  in  1955.  At  that  time  a  parsonage  was  built. 

The  present  building  was  erected  in  1960.  The  pastor 
is  the  Reverend  George  Schlueter.  who  came  with  his 
family  in  September,  1965.  They  now  have  625  members. 


ST.  MARK'S  EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAN  CHURCH 


One  hundred  years  ago,  April  18,  1875,  there  was  born 
into  the  family  of  Washington  churches,  a  new  congrega- 
tion, with  a  small  but  devoted  membership  of  sixteen 
souls.  These  five  men  and  eleven  women  brought  into 
existence  this  new  organization  and  christened  it  "St. 
Mark's  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Washington, 
Illinois".  The  charter  members  were:  Josiah  Snyder, 
T.  L.  Benford,  John  Bradle,  Mary  Benford,  Sarah  C. 
Snyder,  Lavinia  Benford,  Minnie  Benford,  Sophia 
Benford,  Emma  Jones,  Mary  Heiple,  Clara  Denhart, 
Martha  Miles,  Mary  Bradle,  and  Mary  M.  Burton. 

Six  other  denominations  preceded  it,  some  as  much  as 
forty  years.  Among  them  was  St.  John's  Lutheran, 
organized  in  1868.  It  laid  the  foundation  upon  which 
St.  Mark's  built.  St.  John's,  therefore,  is  due  the  honor 
of  being  the  first  Lutheran  church  in  Washington, 
Illinois. 

In  1875  the  Baptist  Church  was  rented,  and  in  this 
church  the  Reverend  Simeon  D.  Harkey  preached  the 
introductory  sermon  and  installed  the  church's  first 
council  and  trustees. 

On  Aug.  26,  1877,  the  first  church  building  was 
dedicated  on  the  corner  of  what  is  now  North  Elm  and 
Walnut  Streets.  The  entire  cost  of  the  church  building 
was  $6,000.  The  congregation  worshipped  there  from 
1877  until  the  new  building  was  erected. 

The  new  church  was  made  possible  by  the  magnani- 
mous offer  made  by  Henry  Denhart  and  the  cooperation 


of  the  congregation  and  its  council.  The  corner  stone  was 
laid  June  4,  1911,  and  dedicated  Sept.  15, 1912. 

The  work  of  the  congregation  continued  to  go  forward 
under  the  leadership  of  the  Reverend  L.  J.  Powell  and 
pioneers,  such  as  the  Snyders,  Mahles,  Denharts,  Kings- 
burys,  Andersons,  Benfords,  Bradles,  Miles,  Rickmans, 
Cranes,  Stormers,  Hules,  Harms,  Heiples,  Strathmans. 
and  many  others. 

On  May  21, 1929,  with  the  Service  of  Ordination  being 
held  in  St.  Mark's  Church,  the  congregation  had  the 
joyous  experience  of  seeing  one  of  its  sons,  Raymond  R. 
Pfeiffer,  ordained  to  the  gospel  ministry. 

Reverend  Powell's  glorious  ministry  of  over  twenty 
years  came  to  a  close  on  Aug.  29,  1940,  when  the  Lord 
called  him  to  his  eternal  reward.  On  December  16,  1940, 
the  Reverend  Carl  D.  Kammeyer  and  his  family  arrived. 

The  following  years  saw  many  improvements  to  the 
structure  as  well  as  the  functioning  body.  On  May  31, 
1959,  "Dedication  Services"  were  held  for  the  Parish 
Educational  Building. 

The  first  fifty  years  had  seven  pastors  leading  the 
church.  They  were:  the  Reverend  Simeon  Harkey,  the 
Reverend  J.  M.  Cromer,  the  Reverend  G.  W.  Haldermen, 
the  Reverend  D.  F.  Smith,  the  Reverend  D.  F.  Thomas, 
the  Reverend  Paul  B.  Holtgreve,  and  the  Reverend  L.  J. 
Powell.  Our  last  fifty  years  have  been  lead  forward  by 
three  Pastors,  Pastor  Carl  D.  Kammeyer,  Pastor  Glenn 
G.  Gilbert  and  Pastor  Francis  W.  Johnson,  and  their 
assistants. 


OUR  SAVIOR  LUTHERAN  CHURCH 


Our  Savior  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of 
Washington  was  organized  in  November,  1965.  It  was 
started  by  the  Central  Illinois  District  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  -  Missouri  Synod  as  a  mission  project.  The  first 
several  years  found  the  congregation  holding  worship 
services  at  the  old  Tazewell  Theatre  on  the  Washington 
Square. 

In  January.  1%8  the  congregation  dedicated  their  pre- 
sent church  building  at  1209  Kingsbury  Road.  The  first 
full  time  pastor  of  Our  Savior  Lutheran  Church  was  the 
Reverend  Charles  Weinrich.  who  served  from  1967  to 
1971.  Prior  to  this  time  the  late  Reverend  Fred 
Rottermund  of  St.  Peter's  Lutheran  Church,  East 
Peoria,  served  on  a  part-time  basis. 

The  current  pastor  of  Our  Savior  Lutheran  Church  is 
the  Reverend  David  Likeness,  who  was  installed  on 
April  16,  1972.  Sunday  School  and  Bible  Classes  are 
held  at  9:30  A.  M.  and"  Divine  Worship  at  10:30  A.  M. 
each  Sunday.  Present  membership  is  270  souls. 


CALVARY  MENNONITE  CHURCH 


Calvary  Mennonite  had  its  beginning  in  May.  1866. 
The  first  meeting  was  in  the  Peter  Strubhar  home  east 
of  Washington,  which  is  now  the  Ralph  Vercler 
farm.  Reverend  Val  Strubhar.  son  of  Peter,  was  seven 
years  old  at  the  time.  Val  later  served  as  minister  from 
1893  to  1941.  The  earliest  song  book  used  was  the 
Ausbund. 

The  first  church  building  was  erected  in  1869  and  was 
called  the  East  Washington  Church.  In  1895  there  was 
an  outgrowth  which  brought  into  being  the  South 
Washington  Church.  This  group  retained  the  German 


language.  In  1925  the  present  main  building  was 
erected  in  town.  Several  additions  to  the  building  have 
been  constructed  since  that  time.  During  the  years  most 
of  the  former  German  language  group  united  with  the 
town  church. 


Pastors  involved  included  Peter  Stuckev.  Peter 
Guengerich.  Jacob  Unsicker,  Michael  Kinsinger.  David 
Augsburger,  Valentine  Strubhar.  Christian  Imhoff, 
Ben  Esch,  John  Kennel.  Emil  Sommer.  Allen  Miller. 
Harry  Voder.  Heinz  Janzen.  Samuel  Ummel.  and  Ward 
W.  Shelly. 

The  Sunday  School  was  organized  in  1873,  and  the 
Women's  Organization,  originally  called  the  Nahe 
Virein.  was  formed  in  1906. 


REDEEMER  MISSIONARY  CHURCH 


On  November  30,  1964,  twenty-two  adults  met  at  the 
home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elmer  Hesselein,  201  Willa  Lane, 
Washington,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  new  church 
congregation  in  the  city. 

At  this  planning  meeting  it  was  decided  to  call  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Ralph  E.  Ogden  to  be  the  minister  of  the 
parish.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard  Traver  of  505  Hillcrest 
Drive  offered  the  use  of  their  home  for  the  Sunday  and 
Wednesday  services.  Plans  were  also  made  to  affiliate 
with  the  Missionary  Church  and  to  contact  the  Reverend 
Clayton  D.  Steiner, Central  District  Superintendent,  to 
meet  with  the  group  to  help  formulate  this  new  church 
body. 

The  first  service  of  the  congregation  was  held  on 
Wednesday  evening,  December  2,  for  the  purpose  of 
prayer.  Fifty  people  attended. 

On  Saturday,  December  5,  thirty-four  adults  met  with 
the  District  Superintendent  for  the  purpose  of  seeking 
information  about  establishing  a  Charter  Membership 
and  becoming  a  full  member  of  the  denomination. 

The  first  Sunday  services  were  held  on  December  6, 
1964,  with  an  attendance  of  64  in  Sunday  School  and  74 
in  the  Worship  Hour.  At  the  close  of  the  service,  the 
congregation  selected  Redeemer  Missionary  Church  as 
the  name  of  their  new  church. 

A  committee  of  four  men  was  appointed  to  investigate 
the  possibility  of  purchasing  the  vacant  Christian  Church 
building  at  105  North  High  Street.  A  purchase  agree- 
ment was  reached,  and  the  congregation  of  Redeemer 
Missionary  Church  met  for  services  in  the  church 
building  on  Sunday,  January  3, 1965. 

During  the  ten-year  history  of  the  church,  a  five-acre 
plot   of  land   has   been   purchased   at   the   corner   of 


Parkview  and  Kern  Road  for  building  a  new  church.  A 
new  parsonage  has  been  erected  on  the  five-acre  location. 
The  congregation  gives  partial  support  to  the  Reverend 
William  Harrigan,  missionary  -  translator  in  Sierra 
Leone,  West  Africa.  Two  young  ladies.  Miss  Doris 
Wehnes  and  Mrs.  Frances  Dunham  Rust,  are  now  en- 
gaged in  Christian  service.  Four  young  people  are  pre- 
sently attending  college  at  Fort  Wayne  Bible  College, 
preparing  for  a  Christian  ministry. 

The  purpose  of  the  church  has  been  to  maintain  the 
historic  Christian  faith,  to  proclaim  the  Biblical  message 
of  salvation  at  home  and  overseas,  and  to  encourage  its 
sons  and  daughters  to  give  their  attention  to  the  vocation 
of  the  Christian  ministry. 


EVANGELICAL  UNITED  METHODIST  CHURCH 


The  early  settlers  who  comprised  the  congregation 
came  from  the  East,  mainly  from  Ohio  and  Pennsyl- 
vania. During  the  year  1851-1852  the  Reverend  Jacob 
Schaefele,  an  early  circuit  rider,  began  to  preach  in 
Washington.  The  first  meetings  were  held  in  the  homes. 
For  a  while  they  were  permitted  to  hold  their  services  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  1853  the  congregation  was  organized  and  became 
known  as  the  Zion  Evangelical  Church.  The  growing 
membership  purchased  the  present  property  from 
David  Kern  for  $80.00  and  erected  a  log  church,  which 
was  dedicated  on  Christmas  Day,  1855. 

During  the  pastorate  of  the  Reverend  William 
Schmus,  the  second  church  building  was  constructed  at  a 
cost  of  $5,000.00.  The  large  frame  church  was 
dedicated  in  October,  1882. 

When  the  second  structure  would  no  longer  answer  the 
purpose  of  the  congregation,  the  present  building  was 
constructed.  The  new  edifice  incorporated  the  old  church 


which  had  been  moved  to  the  north  of  the  lot,  all 
veneered  with  the  vitrified  brick  of  which  the  new  struc- 
ture was  built.  Dedication  ceremonies  took  place  on 
December  31,  191 1 ,  during  the  pastorate  of  the  Reverend 
G.  A.  Manshardt. 

The  Farmdale  Church  merged  with  the  Washington 
congregation  in  1921.  This  was  followed  in  1922  by  a 
merger  of  the  Holland's  Grove  congregation  with  the 
Washington  church. 

In  1946  a  merger  took  place  between  The  Evangelical 
and  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ.  At  that  time  this  con- 
gregation changed  its  name  to  Zion  Evangelical  United 
Brethren. 

A  major  renovation  was  completed  with  reopening 
services  on  March  30,  1952.  This  improvement  came  dur- 
ing the  pastorate  of  the  Reverend  H.  O.  Zimmerman. 

On  Palm  Sunday,  April  10,  1960,  a  very  beautiful  and 
inspirational   chapel    and    three    attractive   classrooms 


parsonage,  in  anticipation  of  future  expansion.  On 
March  1,  1972,  the  congregation  decided  to  enter  a 
building  program.  The  new  Educational  Building  and 
Fellowship  Hall  was  completed  and  consecrated 
April  28.  1974. 

The  present  congregation  consists  of  375  active 
members  with  an  average  attendance  of  242  at  the 
worship  service.  In  1967  the  present  pastor,  the  Reverend 
Robert  W.  Hartman,  was  appointed  to  serve  this 
congregation. 


were  dedicated.  This  was  accomplished  by  remodeling 
a  portion  of  the  existing  building. 

In  1968  there  was  a  merger  of  the  Methodist  Church 
and  the  Evangelical  United  Brethren  Church.  As  a  result 
of  this  merger,  this  congregation  now  goes  by  the  official 
name  of  the  Evangelical  United  Methodist  Church. 

From  1964  through  1969.  the  congregation  accumu- 
lated   seven    pieces    of    property,    including    a    new 


UNITED  METHODIST  CHURCH 


Methodism  was  first  organized  as  a  class  meeting  at 
Holland's  Grove,  now  Washington,  in  1828.  James 
Walker,  a  Circuit  Rider,  began  a  regular  preaching 
schedule  at  that  time.  In  1839  a  church  building  was 
erected  in  Washington  at  the  corner  of  North  Main  and 
Jefferson  Streets.  This  building  was  a  plain  white, 
colonial  type  structure  with  a  tower. 

After  the  Civil  War.  1866-67,  a  new  building  was 
erected  on  the  present  site  at  Walnut  and  Elm  Street. 
This  structure,  magnificent  for  its  day.  cost  SI 0,500  and 
seated  six  hundred.  It  was  exceeded  by  only  two  churches 
in  Peoria  in  structure  and  size. 

One  writing  reminds  us  that  concerts,  choral  groups, 
socials,  and  drama,  as  well  as  revivals,  gave  zest  to  the 
church  and  community.  This  building  was  damaged  by 
a  tornado  in  the  early  twenties.  For  some  time  only  the 
basement  was  used. 

The  bell,  still  calling  to  worship,  cast  by  the  Buckeye 
Foundry  in  Cincinnati.  Ohio  in  1848,  was  on  an  Illinois 
River  steamboat  until  fire  destroyed  the  craft.  The  bell 
was  purchased  for  the  second  building  and  later  re-set 
in  the  tower  of  our  present  brick  structure. 

In  1925.  under  the  leadership  of  the  Reverend  Seldon 
L.  Myers,  the  main  part  of  the  present  church  building 
was  built.  On  April  11.1 954.  under  the  leadership  of  the 
Reverend  Clyde  Friend,  an  addition,  consisting  of  four 
class  rooms,  and  an  annex  to  the  sanctuary  were 
dedicated. 


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In  1962,  under  the  leadership  of  the  Reverend  Richard 
L.  Mader,  the  education  building  was  completed.  It  con- 
sists of  a  first  floor,  adapted  to  class  rooms  and  multi- 
purpose use,  and  offices. 

A  chapel  and  six  class  rooms  are  on  the  second  level. 
This  property  was  made  debt-free  in  1968.  Different 
committees  are  now  taking  a  serious  look  at  the  direction 
our  church  is  taking  as  it  looks  ahead  to  meet  the 
religious  needs  entrusted  to  it  in  this  growing 
community. 

Pastors  who  have  served  here  are:  Seldon  L.  Myers, 
C.  E.  Hawkins  (Supply  Pastor).  George  M.  Hoyle. 
Bronson  Smith.  Thomas  A.  Stamp  (Supply  Pastor). 
C.  E.  Johnston.  Clyde  Friend,  Robert  Evans.  Richard  C. 
Mader.  Harold  W.  Peterson.  Lloyd  W.  Barnard,  and 
Joseph  A.  White. 


THE  WASHINGTON  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 


On  November  16,  1834,  a  few  early  families  in  the 
settlement,  with  the  aid  of  the  Sangamon  Presbytery, 
organized  The  Washington  Presbyterian  Church.  The 
first  meeting  was  held  in  Charles  Dorsey's  store,  which 
was  a  log  cabin.  It  is  said  that  on  the  shelves  along  with 
the  scanty  items  of  merchandise  of  a  pioneer  store  was  a 
stock  of  liquor.  In  order  to  lend  a  dignified  background 
to  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion,  Mr.  Dorsey  obligingly 
covered  the  shelves  with  a  bed  sheet,  hand  woven,  no 
doubt,  and  the  meeting  was  called  to  order.  Horace  Blair, 
first  stated  clerk,  concluded  the  minutes  of  that  historic 
event  with  these  words,  "It  was  a  solemn  and  interesting 
meeting.". 

The  first  church  was  erected  at  the  present  site,  the 
corner  of  Walnut  and  Elm  Streets,  in  1837.  This  was 
followed  by  a  second  building  in  1850.  By  1871,  the  con- 
gregation required  larger  quarters.  It  was  then  that  the 
present  church  of  Gothic  architecture  was  built,  followed 
in  1887  by  the  addition  of  a  room  to  the  east  side.  In 
1953  a  full  basement  was  placed  under  the  building, 
giving  much  needed  space  for  Church  School  as  well  as 
a  dining  room  and  kitchen. 

In  1925  The  Washington  Presbyterian  Church  carried 
a  membership  of  ninety-eight.  Because  the  members  of 
the  older  families  gradually  passed  from  the  scene,  the 
activities  of  the  congregation  slowly  decreased.  During 
the  1940's  some  of  the  services  were  attended  by  no  more 
than  seven  or  eight  persons.  Only  by  the  dedicated 
tenacity  of  the  remaining  faithful  members  was  the 
church  able  to  survive.  Early  in  the  1950's  many  new 
families  of  Presbyterian  background  began  to  make 
Washington  their  home,  and  the  church  enjoyed  a  surge 
of  new  life.  The  membership  at  present  stands  at  two 
hundred  thirty-five. 

During  the  one  hundred  forty  years  of  its  existence,  the 
church  has  had  only  seven  installed  ministers.  The  pulpit 
has  often  been  filled  by  stated  supply  pastors.  The 
Reverend  Isaac  A.  Cornelison  served  the  congregation 


longer  than  any  other  minister,  a  total  of  forty-three 
years.  The  pastor  at  the  present  time  is  the  Reverend 
Perry  Tudor. 

In  1967,  because  the  congregation  appreciated  its 
simple  beauty,  its  members  voted  for  preserving  and 
restoring  the  church,  the  oldest  in  the  Presbytery.  It 
stands  as  a  symbol,  bridging  the  pioneers  days  of  the  Past 
with  the  modern  church  of  the  Present  and  the  onward 
thrust  of  the  Future,  all  designating  the  continuity  of  the 
Church  of  which  the  Presbyterians  are  justly  proud. 


ST.  PATRICK'S  CHURCH 


As  early  as  1857  there  were  Catholics  in  the 
Washington  area.  Some  of  these  went  to  a  church  four 
miles  west  of  Metamora.  One  Richard  White  used  to  go 
to  church  in  Peoria  on  foot  over  a  cowpath.  Preparations 
were  made  in  1863  to  build  a  chapel,  and  a  grove  on  the 
north  side  of  Jefferson  Street  was  donated  by  A.  H. 
Danforth  and  Company.  The  cornerstone  was  laid  on 
Sunday,  Sept.  13,  1863;  the  name  of  the  chapel  was 
St.  Vincent  de  Paul. 

No  record  has  been  found  of  what  became  of  that 
chapel  or  cornerstone,  but  in  1876  on  a  lot  donated  by 
Walter  T.  Berket,  the  St.  Patrick's  Church  on  the  south 
side  of  Jefferson  Street  was  erected.  Records  show  that 
the  first  baby  baptized  was  Helen  Quinn  and  the  first 


couple  married  were  Antoinette  Diener  and  Thomas 
Roche. 

Later  in  1896  the  little  church  was  remodeled  and  en- 
larged. It  was  then  served  by  the  Franciscan  priests  from 
Metamora.  Later,  St.  Patrick's  became  a  mission  of 
East  Peoria,  and  the  Reverend  Joseph  Fennen  served 
the  church  until  1941.  The  Reverend  Henry  Schubert 
was  appointed  as  the  first  pastor.  By  1951  there  were 
250  catholic  families  and  about  150  children  of  grade 
school  age.  Construction  of  a  school  began  in  the  spring. 

In  1954  it  was  necessary  to  add  another  floor  with  four 
more  rooms,  and  by  the  next  year  the  church  building 
was  no  longer  able  to  accommodate  the  parishioners 
adequately.  Arrangements  were  made  for  Mass  to  be 


said  in  the  school  basement,  and  the  church  was 
converted  into  a  hall.  In  1962  a  whole  new  winy  was 
added  to  the  school,  including  a  gym. 

Finally,  in  August.  l%b.  work  was  started  on  our  new 
St.  Parick's  church  at  705  E.  Jefferson  Street.  The  first 
Mass  was  said  there  on  Easter  Sunday.  April  14.  1%8. 
The  first  two  babies  to  be  baptized  were  Matthew  Lee 
Blain  and  Brent  Matthew  Cox.  Ralph  Braun  and 
Sharon  Steers  were  the  first  couple  to  be  married. 

The  Reverend  Henry  Schubert  retired  in  1971.  The 
current  pastor  is  the  Reverend  Robert  T.  Hughes,  and 
the  Reverend  Charles  Mooney  S.  J.  is  our  assistant. 


WASHINGTON  MINISTERIAL  ASSOCIATION 


The  earliest  existing  records  of  the  Washington 
Ministerial  Association  available  to  the  writer  at  this 
time  are  the  minutes  of  a  meeting  held  on  March  9.  1 923. 
It  is  evident  from,  them,  however,  that  the  organization 
had  been  in  existence  for  at  least  one.  and  most  probably 
several  years  prior  to  that  date.  The  first  order  of  busi- 
ness was  the  extending  of  appreciation  "for  the  efficient 
sen  ice  rendered  as  secretary  and  treasurer  of  this  organi- 
zation and  for  labor  in  the  general  uplifting  of  this  com- 
munity" to  Reverend  G.  A.  Manshardt.  who  was  leaving 
to  take  up  a  call  to  Placentia.  California.  None  of  his 
records,  unfortunately,  have  survived. 

Other  matters  discussed  at  this  time  ranged  from  the 
scheduling  of  the  final  Lenten  Union  Service  to  approval 
of  a  mass  meeting  on  April  23  at  which  Temperance 
leader.  The  Honorable  Thomas  Walker  of  the  Anti- 
Saloon  Laegue.  was  to  be  speaker.  Noon  Passion  Week 
meetings  were  held  on  the  square  under  Association 
auspices  at  this  time  and  that  the  possibility  of  pro- 
viding accompanying  luncheon  service  was  under  consid- 
eration. Steps  were  taken  to  arrange  another  first,  the 
establishment  of  a  Union  Vacation  Bible  School. 

The  first  recorded  meeting  had  seven  ministers  attend- 
ing. Perusal  of  subsequent  records  reveals  that  during 
these  first  years  of  its  existence,  the  Association  con- 
tained at  least  nine  clergymen  representing  at  least 
eight  District  congregations  in  an  area  exending  from 
"Caterpillar  Trail"  to  Secor  along  U.  S.  24. 

In  1923  the  Association  called  the  community's 
attention  to  the  plight  of  central  European  children 
orphaned  by  World  War  I  and  raised  over  $900.00  for 
that  cause. 

In  subsequent  years  it  has  raised  vearlv  $460.00  for 
Near  East  Relief"  (1924-27),  $36.00  out  of  pocket  for 
China  Famine  Relief  (1929).  2.200  pounds  of  clothing 
and  nearly  $40.00  remaining  after  pavment  of  postage 
to  Heart  Lift  for  Korea  (1951).  and  the  1954  UN  Milk 
for  Children  Drive  which  led  into  annual  participation  in 
the  Halloween  UNICEF  Drives.  Church  World  Service, 
the  John  Milton  Societv  for  the  Blind,  and  various  others 


that  have  been  recipients  of  the  Association's  concern 
and  resources  through  church  and  community. 

At  the  very  beginning  of  the  Association's  history  the 
temperance  movement  had  succeeded  in  getting  "Pro- 
hibition" enacted.  At  a  time  when  this  law  was  openly 
flouted  in  major  cities  across  the  land,  the  Association 
went  on  record  favoring  the  regulation  of  Pharmacy 
ownership  to  pharmacists  only  in  hope  of  curtailing  this 
common  way  station  of  the  bootlegging  trade  (Ethyl 
alcohol  was  legal  for  medicinal  purposes).  Observing  that 
enforcement  was  under  county  supervision,  the  members 
solicited  and  obtained  the  signatures  of  thirty-two  pillars 
of  the  community  who  agreed  to  cooperate  with  the 
authorities  in  this  matter. 

Even  after  repeal  concern  for  the  willful  abuse  of 
alcohol  led  the  Association  to  sponsor  public  meetings 
annually,  to  which  speakers  from  W.  C.  T.  U.  and  the 
Anti-Saloon  League  were  invited.  On  one  occasion,  in  the 
fall  of  1945,  the  Association  managed  to  obtain  enough 
support  to  cause  the  county  board  to  rescind  an  action 
liberalizing  tavern  hours. 

A  form  of  released-time  religious  education,  the 
Community  School  of  Religion,  was  begun  on  all  grade 
levels  of  the  public  school  system  in  the  fall  of  1923  and 
continued  until  1952.  During  these  years  the  Association 
arranged  for  the  teachers,  paid  all  costs  and  issued 
grades  and  reports  for  all  participating  students. 

Through  the  Twenties  and  the  first  half  of  the  Thirties 
when  many  of  the  congregations  were  too  small  to  be  able 
to  develop  and  maintain  programs  independently,  a  joint 
Sunday  School  organization  was  maintained  by  the 
Association  for  their  support.  The  Association  supported 
a  project  for  the  development  of  new  school  buildings 
and  programs. 

Among  the  first  concerns  mentioned,  in  the  fall  of 
1923,  was  the  establishment  of  a  church  summer 
baseball  league.  By  1926  this  activity  had  become  so 
popular  that  a  proposal  was  made  that  a  corporation 
be  formed  to  take  over  its  management!  In  its  formative 
stages   this   organization,    first    known    as    the    "Inter- 


Church  Recreation  Association  "  (although  it  would  in 
time  become  the  Washington  Recreation  Association 
of  today),  consisted  of  representative  clergy  and  laity  of 
the  member  congregations.  The  Association  continued 
financial  support  of  the  program  in  amounts  up  to 
$100.00  a  year  into  the  early  Sixties.  Spinoffs  from  this 
activity  have,  at  various  times,  included  golf,  basket- 
ball, bowling  and  other  off-season  activities.  The  need  to 
provide  facilities  for  ball  playing  led  to  the  development 
of  a  Park  Board. 

Edification  through  worship  opportunities  has  been 
amply  provided  through  a  multitude  of  channels.  The 
most  enduring  of  these  have  been  the  Union  Good 
Friday,  Easter  Sunrise,  and  Thanksgiving  services  which 
have  continued  into  the  present. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  recorded  period,  there  were 
two  other  regularly  scheduled  activities.  The  first  of  these 
was  a  "Week  of  Prayer"  emphasis,  normally  held 
through  the  first  week  in  January,  at  which  the  members 
were  teachers  and  worship  leaders.  This  program  con- 
tinued with  little  variation  until  supplanted  by  a  school  of 
religion  in  1970.  The  last  of  these  programs  was  the 
"Estate  Planning"  series  which  the  Association  spon- 
sored at  the  banks.  The  second  regular  activity  was  the 
series  of  Union  Sunday  Evening  Services  held  through 
the  summer.  At  first  these  were  held  in  the  open  on  the 
Square,  but  later  these  were  held  on  the  premises  of  the 
participating  churches.  These  were  discontinued  in  1949 


in  favor  of  occasional  special  service,  but  gradually 
interest  waned  in  the  community  and  the  practice  has 
discontinued. 

In  1951  arrangements  were  made  and  weekly 
devotional  services  begun  in  the  community  nursing 
facility.  When  the  Washington  Nursing  Center  opened 
in  1962,  a  similar  commitment  was  reached  and  con- 
tinues with  the  new  facility. 

Religious  surveys  of  the  Washington  Community  and 
environs  have  been  proposed  in  the  Association  approxi- 
mately every  ten  years.  The  latest  religious  census  was 
conducted  during  1973  Key  73  National  Evangelism 
Emphasis. 

The  Association  has  underwritten  the  purchase  of  a 
substantial  number  of  books  and  filmstrips  for  the 
Washington  Library,  sponsored  occasional  community 
and  inter-community  oratorios  and  song-fests,  at 
various  times  provided  teacher  training  laboratories, 
articles  for  the  Reporter,  and  Dial-A-Devotion  service. 
It  also  arranged  for  a  bulk  paper  and  printing  supply 
purchase  agreement  which  has  benefited  all  the  affiliated 
churches.  It  established  and  maintained  relations  with  a 
Council  of  Churches  under  a  modified  form  of  the  Peoria 
Council  of  Churches'  Constitution  from  1946  until  its 
demise  during  the  later  fifties. 

The  present  Washington  Ministerial  Association 
consists  of  fourteen  ministers  representing  twelve 
churches  in  the  Washington-Sunnyland  area. 


EVANGELICAL  CHURCH  AND  PARSONAGE 


A  HISTORY  OF 

WASHINGTON 

SCHOOLS 

A  study  of  the  early  history  of  Washington, 
Illinois,  reveals  that  education  has  always 
been  an  important  part  of  the  community. 
William  Holland  St..  the  first  settler  to 
build  a  house  and  improve  a  farm,  was 
responsible  for  the  first  school  in  Washington  in  1827. 
The  school  was  taught  by  George  H.  Shaw,  who  was 
traveling  through  the  country  prospecting  and  stopped 
overnight  at  the  Holland  home.  Mr.  Holland  soon  dis- 
covered Shaw's  fitness  to  teach,  employed  him  for  the 
winter  school,  and  gave  him  as  compensation  his  board, 
washing,  and  horse  feed.  A  one  room  log  building  was 
erected  that  year  on  the  site  of  what  is  now  the 
Professional  Building  at  1 18  Peoria  Street,  this  site  later 
being  donated  by  Holland  for  school  use.  Mr.  Shaw  was 
subsequently  employed  by  Mr.  Holland  during  the 
summer  as  a  surveyor  and  laid  out  the  original  town. 

The  early  schools  were  known  as  subscription  schools 
because  each  patron  would  subscribe  a  certain  number 
of  pupils  and  the  teacher  "boarded  round"  with  each 


patron.  Early  history  mentions  a  school  taught  by  Eli 
Redman  in  1828-1829  in  the  Highland  Park  section  of 
the  town  and  another  school  taught  by  John  Berry  in  the 
1830's  on  a  farm  near  the  corner  of  what  is  now  Wilmor 
and  Dallas  Roads.  The  subscription  school  started  by 
Mr.  Holland  and  Mr.  Shaw  continued  in  use  until  tax 
supported  schools  were  formed. 

There  is  a  conflict  as  to  the  date  that  the  first  public 
schools  were  formed.  One  account  credits  1837  or  1838 
as  the  year  a  district  school  was  formed  on  the  site  of 
the  west  schoolhouse  started  by  Mr.  Holland.  Another 
account  states  that  the  first  tax  supported  schools  were 
known  as  the  "East-side"  and  "West-side"  schools.  The 
West -side  School  was  located  on  the  Holland  property  at 
118  Peoria  Street.  The  East-side  School  was  built  on 
Church  Street  opposite  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
present  Washington  Grade  School  playground. 

Biographical  and  historical  sketches  compiled  at  the 
time  of  the  Washington  Centennial  mention  private 
schools  that  were  held  for  those  students  desiring  more 
advanced  work.  One  of  these  private  schools  was  later 
used  by  the  district.  A  Mr.  Kellogg,  an  Easterner  with  a 
vision,  came  to  Washington  with  his  family,  several  of 
whom  were  teachers.  On  the  land  at  the  corner  of 
Catherine  and  South  High,  he  erected  the  Seminary,  a 
three  story  brick  building.  Courses  at  the  high  school 


level  were  offered  at  the  Seminary,  which  was  designed 
also  as  a  boarding  school  with  the  third  floor  being  a 
dormitory.  Mr.  Kellogg's  plan  was  not  successful  as  he 
could  not  attract  enough  students.  After  the  Kelloggs 
moved  away,  the  brick  building  was  used  to  house  stu- 
dents from  the  West -side  and  East -side  Schools  for  some 
fifteen  years.  Here  in  1873  the  first  high  school  in 
Washington  was  organized. 


The  need  for  a  new  school  plant  for  District  52  was 
recognized  by  the  middle  of  the  1870's,  and  a  building 
was  constructed  at  105  S.  Spruce  Street  to  be  used  for 
grammar  and  high  school  students.  The  five  acre  site  was 
donated  by  William  Holland  Sr.  This  two  story  building 
consisted  of  eight  classrooms  and  had  a  full  basement, 
which  not  only  provided  space  for  the  heating  plant  but 
also  served  as  living  quarters  for  the  custodian  and  his 
family.  Written  records  show  there  were  four  high 
school  graduates  from  the  new  school  completed  in  1876. 
One  of  these  graduates  was  Mary  Italin  who  is  better 
known  to  many  Washingtonians  as  Miss  Mary.  Upon 
graduation  she  was  employed  to  teach  the  first  primary,  a 
position  she  held  for  sixty  years.  At  the  time  of  the 
Centennial  celebration  on  August  11,  1925,  Miss  Mary's 
service  was  recognized  by  the  community. 

Fifteen  years  after  the  construction  of  the  new  building 
on  Spruce  Street,  the  first  grade  was  moved  to  the  west 
school  at  118  Peoria  Street  and  this  school  became 
known  as  the  primary  school.  At  the  same  time,  the 
custodian  and  his  family  found  other  living  quarters  to 
make  room  for  more  classrooms  at  Washington 
School.  However,  this  was  only  a  temporary  solution  for 
more  space. 

By  1909  plans  were  made  for  an  addition  to  the  east 
of  the  1876  building.  This  annex,  completed  in  1912, 
consisted  of  two  large  and  two  small  classrooms  up- 
stairs, a  study  hall,  office,  and  library  on  the  main  floor 
plus  a  larger  heating  plant  in  the  basement.  For  thirty 
years  the  annex  was  used  for  high  school  classes  and  is 
still  in  use  at  Washington  Grade  School  today. 

About  the  time  the  1912  annex  was  built,  the  idea  of 
a  community  high  school  was  gaining  ground  in  the 
Middle  WesiJ^fc^alhjs  only  a  very  few  rural  students 


attended  the  city  high  school,  where  tuition  was 
reportedly  $2.50  a  month.  The  responsibility  for  the 
education  of  the  children  and  youth  of  the  rural  areas  of 
the  township  rested  with  each  district,  which  had  its  own 
school  of  grades  one  through  eight.  Schools  were 
governed  by  a  school  board  consisting  ot  three  members 
from  the  district,  and  the  schools  were  supervised  by  the 
county  superintendent  of  schools  in  Tazewell  County. 
Written  records  were  not  available  to  confirm  the 
dates  the  rural  districts  were  formed,  but  a  record  of  the 
office  of  the  County  Superintendent  of  Schools  dates 
back  to  1864. 

The  majority  of  the  rural  schools  were  one-room 
schools,  where  one  teacher  taught  all  grades.  Schools 
were  open  eight  months  of  the  year,  but  attendance  was 
erratic.  There  were  more  pupils  during  the  winter 
months  than  in  the  spring  and  fall  when  these  pupils 
stayed  home  to  help  on  the  farm.  Pupils  were  not 
classified  so  much  by  grade  as  by  the  reader,  speller,  or 
arithmetic  book  they  were  using  when  they  were  in 
attendance. 

Washington  Township  had  the  following  rural  schools: 
Stormer  School  Dist.  20  on  East  Dutch  Lane  Road; 
Cottonwood  Dist.  21  on  East  Cruger  Road;  Pleasant 
View  Dist.  22  on  Eureka  Road;  Green  Ridge  Dist.  23  on 
Irish  Lane;  Jefferson  Dist.  42  at  Cooper  Station;  Liberty 
Dist.  48  on  Metamora  Road;  Columbia  Dist.  49  on  Spring 
Creek  Road;  Hopewell  Dist.  50  on  Highview  Road; 
Central  Dist.  51  on  North  Wilmor  Road;  Franklin  Dist. 
53  on  Foster  Road;  Lafayette  School  Dist.  54  on  Schuck 
Road;  and  Union  School  Dist.  55  on  Farmdale  Road. 

In  1920  when  Washington  Community  High  School 
Dist.  308  was  formed,  pupils  came  from  Washington 
School  Dist.  52  and  from  the  rural  districts  just  men- 
tioned. The  new  high  school  board  rented  the  necessary 
classrooms  at  Washington  School  from  Dist.  52,  most  of 
the  classrooms  being  in  the  1912  annex.  At  the  time  the 
community  high  school  was  formed,  a  practical  business 
course  and  vocational  courses  were  introduced  along 
with  the  academic  subjects.  Sewing  classes  were  held  in 
rooms  rented  at  a  nearby  home.  The  first  building 
purchase  of  Dist.  308  was  a  portable  schoolhouse  better 
known  as  the  "Ag  Barn"  which  was  placed  to  the  south 
of  the  191 2  annex  for  use  by  agriculture  students. 

During  the  next  twenty  years.  District  308  not  only 
rented  the  facilities  of  District  52  but  also  shared  a  super- 


intendent  and  some  teachers  with  Dist.  52.  In  the  1930's 
state  requirements  for  accredited  schools  were  in- 
creased, and  Washington  faced  the  problem  of  a  place 
for  physical  education.  The  old  gym.  built  in  1906  on 
the  lot  back  of  the  primary  school,  had  been  condemned 
by  the  State  Fire  Marshal  in  1928.  Washington  schools 
rented  space  at  the  City  Building  for  basketball  practice 
and  games,  literary  activities,  and  other  school  events 
until  1934.  when  District  52  built  a  new  facility  on  the 
vacant  lot  north  of  the  Washington  Grade  School  build- 
ing. The  new  building  which  faced  Walnut  Street  pro- 
vided additional  classrooms  and  the  much  needed  gym 
that  also  served  as  an  auditorium. 

By  1940  Washington  was  faced  with  a  population 
explosion.  Both  grade  and  high  schools  were  crowded  by 
increased  enrollments.  A  decision  was  made  to  build  a 
separate  plant  for  the  high  school  and  the  new  building 
was  constructed  on  Bondurant  Street  in  1942.  A  solution 
to  problems  at  that  time,  the  new  high  school  was  built 
to  accommodate  400  students,  the  1 942  enrollment  being 
230. 


Central  Grade  School  on  Wilmor  Road  found  the  need 
for  a  new  school  building  in  1941  when  the  old  school 
was  destroyed  by  a  tornado.  The  new  1941  building  had 
a  basement  which  was  later  used  as  a  classroom  until 
the  present  Central  Grade  School  building  in 
Washington  Estates  was  built  in  1957.  Additions  were 
made  in  1960.  1963.  1965.  1967,  and  1969.  Central 
presently  has  an  enrollment  of  592  with  a  staff  of  25 
teachers,  a  Principal  and  a  Superintendent. 


The  story  of  Washington  area  schools  from  about 
1940  until  the  present  time  is  one  of  a  rapid  increase  in 
enrollment  prompting  numerous  building  programs. 


District  52  found  room  to  grow  when  a  site  was  pur- 
chased at  Lincoln  and  Jackson  Streets  for  the  new 
Lincoln  Grade  School,  constructed  in  1949.  followed  by 
additions  in  1953.  1962.  1967,  and  1971.  Washington 
Grade  School  on  Spruce  St.  erected  a  new  building  in 
1953,  part  of  it  occupying  the  site  of  the  original  1876 
building.  1953  was  also  the  year  that  the  primary  school 
at  1 18  Peoria  Street  was  closed.  District  52  now  has  an 
enrollment  of  1077.  557  at  Washington  and  520  at 
Lincoln.  The  staff  includes  a  Superintendent,  two 
Building  Principals,  and  52  teachers,  six  of  whom  are 
half-time. 


In  191 1  Hopewell  School  Dist.  50  was  proud  of  its  new 
concrete  block  building,  which  featured  two  classrooms, 
a  basement  with  a  furnace,  and  a  school  bell.  This 
building  was  large  enough  until  1939  when  the  Hopewell 
School  District  was  affected  by  the  development  of  the 
Sunnvland  and  Beverly  Manor  areas.  From  1939-1950 
Hopewell  and  Sundoer  Schools  were  classified  as 
Dist.  50.  In  1951  the  Hopewell  agricultural  area  became 
Dist.  271.  and  the  Sundoer  and  Beverly  Manor  Schools 
formed  Dist.  50.  Classes  continued  at  the  Hopewell 
School  until  the  district  was  consolidated  with  Central 
Dist.  51  in  1963.  increasing  Central's  enrollment  by  39. 


Columbia  Dist.  49  grew  in  population  with  the 
development  of  Harvard  Hills  on  Spring  Creek  Road.  In 
1961  a  new  building  was  constructed  with  an  addition  in 
1965  on  the  site  of  the  old  building.  Columbia,  a  four 
room  school  with  61  students,  was  annexed  to  Central 
Grade  School  Dist.  51  in  1974. 

In  the  spring  of  1951,  Father  Henry  Schubert  began 
construction  on  St.  Patrick  School  for  grades  one 
through  six  serving  118  students.  The  school  was  staffed 
by  three  Sisters  of  Mary  of  the  Presentation :  Sister  James 
Joseph,  principal;  Sister  Mary  Jane,  and  Sister  Mary 
Benedict.  The  next  year  the  enrollment  was  174,  and  the 
seventh  grade  was  added.  In  1954  another  of  four  rooms 
was  added  to  the  1951  structure. 


In  1962  a  whole  new  wing  was  added  to  the  school, 
which  included  a  gym,  a  library,  an  office,  restrooms, 
and  six  classrooms.  The  enrollment  had  grown  to  477 
and  the  staff  to  seven  Sisters  and  five  lay  people,  all 
Washingtonians:  Mrs.  Robert  Howell,  Mrs.  Louis  Volk, 
Mrs.  George  Goebel,  Mrs.  Florence  Carlon,  and  Mrs. 
Ben  DuBois.  In  1968  the  school  became  an  ungraded 
school  system. 

Now  in  1974  the  enrollment  is  333  with  a  staff  of  eight 
Sisters  and  nine  lay  people.  Six  of  these  are 
Washingtonians:  Mrs.  Shirley  Meagher,  Mrs.  Louis  Volk, 
Mrs.  William  Winslow,  Mrs.  John  McMullan,  Mr.  Greg 
Martin,  and  Mrs.  I.  H.  Sparling.  The  school  is  com- 
mitted to  the  continuous  progress  of  each  child  with  an 
emphasis  on  individualized  instruction.  The  Sisters  on 
staff  are:  Sister  Mary  Ann,  Principal;  Sister  Eloise 
Marie,  Sister  Irene  Marie,  Sister  Rose  Therese,  Sister 
Helen,  Sister  Augusta,  Sister  Leona,  and  Sister  Loretta. 

While  many  of  the  schools  in  the  Washington  area 
were  facing  increased  enrollments,  schools  in  the  rural 
area  were  experiencing  school  district  reorganization.  In 

1948  Pleasant  View  Dist.  622  was  formed  by  the  consoli- 
dation of  Stormer  Dist.  20,  Cottonwood  Dist.  21, 
Pleasant  View  Dist.  22,  Green  Ridge  Dist.  23,  Franklin 
Dist.  53,  and  the  northern  half  of  Jefferson  School  Dist. 
42.  The  new  building  for  Dist.  622  was  constructed  in 

1949  on  the  four-acre  site  at  the  corner  of  Pleasant  View 
and  Guth  Roads  with  a  necessary  addition  completed 
in  1962.  Liberty  School  Dist.  48,  the  last  one  room  school 
in  Tazewell  County  to  close,  was  annexed  to  Dist.  622  in 
1961,  increasing  the  enrollment  by  21  pupils.  Pleasant 


View  Dist.  622  which  is  nearly  all  agricultural  land, 
presently  has  an  enrollment  of  111  with  a  staff  con- 
sisting of  a  Superintendent,  five  teachers,  and  a  half 
day  kindergarten  teacher. 

Lafayette  Dist.  53  and  Union  Dist.  54,  located  in  the 
southwest  part  of  Washington  Township,  contained  farm 
land  in  both  Washington  and  Morton  townships.  With 
reorganization,  the  farm  area  in  Washington  Township 
belonging  to  both  districts  was  assigned  to  District  50. 
Union  School  was  closed  in  1953  and  Lafayette  School 
in  1960. 

Growth  of  Washington  Community  High  School  has 
been  parallel  to  the  growth  of  its  feeder  districts. 
Additions  to  the  high  school  structure  on  Bondurant  St. 
were  made  in  1956,  1962,  and  1963.  These  additions 
more  than  tripled  the  space  of  the  original  building.  At 
the  same  time,  the  physical  education  and  extra- 
curricular programs  called  for  the  construction  of 
Babcook  Field  and  Washington  Gymnasium.  Babcook 
Field,  located  on  Jefferson  Street  and  Wilmor  Road, 
was  dedicated  in  1962  in  honor  of  Golden  Babcook; 


ttmJ 


coach,  teacher,  and  administrator.  Washington  Gymna- 
sium, known  as  the  boys'  gym,  faces  Jefferson  Street  and 
was  completed  in  1963.  The  1974  building  program  has 
been  planned  to  accommodate  2000  plus  students  and 
includes  a  Vocational/Technical  Building  located  south 
of  Washington  Gymnasium  and  an  addition  to  the  front 
of  the  1942  building  on  Bondurant  Street.  The  new 
addition  will  provide  more  classrooms,  a  library /learning 
resource  center,  and  a  cafeteria/multi-use  area.  The  high 
school's  present  enrollment  is  1557  and  its  staff  consists 
of  four  administrators  and  79  teachers.  Feeder  districts 
to  Washington  Community  High  School  are  Districts 
50,  51,  52,  622,  and  St.  Patrick's  of  Washington. 

This  history  of  schools  in  the  Washington  area  dis- 
closes the  organization  and  reorganization  of  the  edu- 
cational system  in  150  years  and  the  necessary  building 
changes  that  have  accompanied  the  growth  of 
Washington.  No  attempt  has  been  made  to  trace  curri- 
culum changes  or  to  give  individual  credit  to  the 
personnel  —  administrators,  teachers,  school  board 
members,  parents,  interested  citizens  —  who  have  helped 
enhance  the  learning  experience  of  so  many  students. 
Through  the  years  the  educational  goal  has  been  the 
same:  to  provide  the  student  with  a  solid  foundation  for 
living  effectively  in  his  world  and  helping  to  perpetuate 
the  American  way  of  life. 


SPORTS 


WASHINGTON  GRADE  SCHOOL 


KEY:  Heavyweight  (Hw.) ;  Lightweight  (Lw);  Yord  (Yd.) 

Washington  Grade  School  athletics  have  been  some- 
what sporadic  depending  upon  the  physical  facilities 
available.  Track  probably  had  the  longest  tenure,  as  the 
track  was  located  around  the  playground.  Basketball 
was  limited  from  1934  to  1943  as  the  High  School  had 
first  priority  on  the  gymnasium. 

The  following  teams  have  won  at  the  State  Tourna- 
ments: second  in  1955,  Hw.  basketball;  third  in  1970. 
Hw.  track;  fourth  in  1971,  baseball;  and  first  in  1973. 
baseball. 

The  present  records  at  the  Washington  Grade  School 

in  track  are  as  follows:  Lightweights:  120  yd.  Hurdles,  J.  Lester 
16.5.  1967;  50  yd.,  G.  Day,  6.0,  1964;  100  yd ,,  K.  Day,  12.3,  1973, 
220  yd.,  T.  Koehl,  27.8,  1974:  440  yd.,  D.  Ferree,  65.3,  1971;  880 
yd.,  M.  Clary,  2,39.  1974  High-Jump,  Bob  Shullow  1963,  and  M. 
Lee    1972,  5    0 ":  Long-Jump,  J.  Martin,   16    10  ,   1965;  Pole-Vault, 

D.  Cook,  1968,  and  Dave  King,  1970,  8  8  ,  Shot-Put,  R.  Hickman, 
31  8  ,  1967;  Discus,  R.  Gaumer  93  10",  1965;  400  yd.  Shuttle- 
Relay,  52.4,  1973,  M.  Lee,  S.  Gundy,  R.  Blum,  and  M.  Wilson;  400  yd 
Relay  55  7,  1964,  Gregory.  J.  Martin,  M.  Wittekiend,  and  G.  Day 
and  880  yd.  Medley  Relay,  2:12,  1973,  W.  Kanaga  B.  Brubaker, 
M.  Hennig,  and  K,  Day. 

Hcao weights:  1  20  yd.  Hurdles,  Bob  Kimpling,  15.0,  1945;  50  yd., 
M.  Oberlonder.  5.9,  1970;  100  yd.,  Steve  Rediger.  10.8.  1965;  220 
yd..  Steve  Rediger,  23.8,  1965;  440  yd.,  M.  Neill,  55.1  1969;  880 
yd.,  J.  Ogborn.  213.  1973;  Mile  run,  K.  Grubb,  5:30,  1974;  High- 
Jump,  K  Kirkpotrick,  1970.  and  J.  Lester,  5  4 ",  1972;  Long-Jump, 
K.  Kirkpotrick,  19  3V.  1970:  Pole-Vault,  K.  Gall,  1970  and  B. 
Britnell.  1974,  10  0 ":  Shot-Put.  C.  Meurn,  47  4 ",  1960;  Discus  J 
Andrews,  144  2  ,  1964;  400  yd.  Shuttle-Relay.  48.4.  1963.  F.  Hoog 
E    Martin,  J.  Goddard  and  D.  Shotwell:  440  yd.  Relay,  49.5,   1964, 

E.  Martin,  J.  Andrews,  D.  Dingledine,  and  S.  Beemer:  880  yd.  Medley 
Relay.  1 :58.8.  1973.  M.  Ernst,  R.  Blum.  R.  Millard,  and  E.  Bernson. 


HIGH  SCHOOL 

Basketball 

Basketball  had  its  beginning  in  Washington  when  Lee 
I.  Knight  was  hired  as  science  teacher  and  coach  in  1903. 


They  would  practice  on  the  playgrounds  in  the  fall  and 
occasionally  played  games  in  Highland  Park.  When  the 
weather  got  cold,  they  played  in  the  back  room  of  the 
present  building  located  on  the  south  side  of  the  Square, 
106-110  Washington  Square.  There  was  room  for  two 
rows  of  chairs  placed  behind  chicken  wite  for  protection 
of  the  spectators. 

Mr.  Knight  inspired  the  community  to  build  a  gym- 
nasium in  1906.  This  was  done  at  the  cost  of  SI  100.00 
and  a  lot  of  volunteer  labor.  The  building  was  located 
at  118  Peoria  Street  and  seated  about  300  people.  There 
were  two  large  pot-bellied  stoves,  which  would  singe 
if  you  got  too  close.  The  water  faucet  in  the  corner  often 
led  to  a  puddle,  which  was  an  area  to  watch  closely. 

In  the  years  of  1905  and  '06,  they  won  30  straight 
games  on  the  home  floor,  beating  Bradley  College  26-24. 
While  playing  at  Normal,  our  scorekeeper  had  us 
winning  while  their  scorekeeper  had  us  losing.  During 
this  period  of  time,  there  were  many  fouls,  and  only  one 
man  on  each  team  was  designated  to  shoot  the 
freethrows. 

In  1907  Washington  was  declared  State  Champions 
for  about  two  months.  They  beat  Peoria  Central  51-14  to 
be  declared  area  champion.  As  Wheaton  was  the 
Chicago  area  champs,  we  beat  them  here  30-25. 
Washington  then  had  to  go  to  Wheaton,  and  beat  them 
29-27.  Washington  thus  declared  themselves  State 
Champions.  Two  months  later  Rockford  challenged 
Washington,  and  beat  them,  thus  our  claim  to  glory  was 
short. 

The  team  of  1908,  no  doubt,  holds  the  record  for  the 
first  team  to  score  over  100  points  and  surely  is  the  only 
team  to  beat  their  opponent  bv  100  points:  Washington, 
102  and  Brimfield.2. 

In  1909  the  Illinois  High  School  Athletic  Association 
set  up  definite  tournament  sites.  Washington  beat 
Decatur  on  their  home  court  41-20  and  were  declared 
Central  Illinois  champs.  They  got  second  in  the  State 
Championship  played  in  Bloomington.  It  was  a  contro- 


versial  game  as  they  lost  to  Hinsdale  by  5  points.  There 
were  31  fouls  called  against  Washington  and  only  14 
against  Hinsdale.  This  team  consisted  of  R.  Risser, 
S.  Zinser,  F.  Meyer,  M.  Ryf,  and  C.  Long.  The  game  was 
phoned  back  to  the  Washington  telephone  office.  At  a 
cost  of  25«f  you  could  hear  the  first-hand  results  within 
the  office  as  the  game  was  being  played. 

The  1911  team  won  the  Central  Illinois  Championship 
by  beating  Streator  41-29.  This  was  supposed  to  be 
Washington's  best  team,  but  they  were  defeated  by  Paris 
as  our  boys  had  been  weakened  by  contacting  the 
mumps. 

Mr.  Feik  coached  the  1912-13  teams. 

Virgil  Catlin  coached  from  1914-1918.  Washington 
had  another  good  team  in  1916.  They  had  a  20-1  record, 
losing  to  Canton  by  one  point.  This  team  consisted  of 
J.  Norris,  W.  Bennett.  E.  Pfeiffer,  S.  Crocker,  L.  Risser, 
and  H.  Ebert.  John  Norris  scored  46  points  against 
Metamora,  December  1916,  which  still  stands  as  a  school 
record. 

Si  Crocker  '18  and  Bob  Ryf  '18  played  at  Eureka 
College,  where  they  assisted  in  winning  the  Little  19 
championship. 

Harry  Wood  served  as  coach  in  the  years  of  1919-1920. 

Merle  Spicer,  a  math  teacher,  was  coach  in  1921. 

Ed.  Harris  coached  in  the  years  of  1922  and  '23. 

Walt  S.  Shafer  coached  in  1924  and  '25.  He  had  a  good 
ball  club  in  1925.  Frank  Belsley  '25  went  on  to  play  at 
Knox  College. 

In  the  year  1929,  the  gym  was  condemned,  and  the 
team  had  no  home  court.  The  team  practiced  some  in 
Metamora  and  Deer  Creek  but  played  all  their  games  out 
of  town. 

In  1931  the  City  Building,  formerly  located  at  141 
Washington  Square,  was  converted  into  a  gym.  There 
were  two  rows  of  seats  on  each  side,  and  the  stage 
added  some  seating.  One  had  to  be  careful  of  the 
radiator  at  one  end  of  the  court  and  the  stage  on  the 
other. 

Olie  H.  Carmen  coached  from  1926  to  1937.  During 
the  latter  part  of  this  era,  one  might  consider  taking  a 
shot  with  one  hand.  Charles  "Chick"  Roehm  '30  played 
at  Eureka  College. 

In  1934  a  new  gym  was  built  with  W.P.A.  funds.  This 
is  presently  the  Grade  School  Gymnasium.  They  even 
had  shower  facilities. 

Golden  Babcook  coached  basketball  from  1938  to 
1940. 

In  1941  a  second  coach  was  added  to  the  faculty  to 
coach  basketball,  and  he  was  Frank  Lorton. 

Fred  Eihausen  coached  for  2  years  in  1942  and  '43. 

A  new  high  school  was  built  in  1943  at  1 15  Bondurant 
Street.  This  is  the  present  girl's  gym,  which  had  a  seating 
capacity  of  about  800. 


Roy  Romani  coached  from  1944  to  '50.  He  had  a  very 
good  team  in  1945.  This  team  consisted  of  E.  Kilby,  who 
went  to  Univ.  of  Wisconsin,  V.  Strubhar,  Jr.,  R.  Harvey, 
D.  Opper,  A.  Montgomery,  E.  Hagen,  and  D.  Blair.  The 
Roy  Romani  Memorial  Trophy  is  presented  each  year 
to  the  athlete  who  also  excels  in  mathematics. 

Bob  Summer  '50  and  Leroy  Smith  '50  played  at 
Eureka  College. 

Frank  Beckman  coached  for  one  year  in  1951. 

Dick  VanScyoc  coached  from  1952  to  '66.  Washington 
placed  2nd  in  the  Pontiac  Tournament  in  1954  and  1st 
in  1955  by  defeating  Alton.  These  teams  consisted  of: 
Jerry  Graff  '55,  to  Drake;  Tom  Adams  '56,  to  Univ.  of 
111.;  Gordon  Faubel  '56,  to  Knox;  Marcus  Johnson  '56; 
Gene  Thraikill  '56;  C.  Bodmer  '57;  J.  Corpe  '57;  B. 
Dvorsak  '57;  K.  Hurst  '56;  S.  Sauer;  M.  Romani  '59; 
and  B.  Dixon  '57.  Jerry  Graff  had  the  scoring  record  of 
42  points  at  the  Pontiac  Tournament  for  a  long  time. 


Joe  Broz  '57  went  to  Purdue  and  the  U.S.   Naval 
Academy. 


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In  1962  Washington  went  to  the  State  Tournament 
and  was  defeated  by  Quincy,  45-37.  This  team  consisted 
of  J.  Gresham  '62,  to  111.  Wesleyan;  Clark  Pool  '63,  to 
Wake  Forest;  Virgil  McElfresh  '62,  to  Austin  Peay; 
Dave  Dearth  '62,  to  Western;  T.  Kelly  '62;  J.  Gordon 
'62;  C.  Meurn  '64;  S.  Bachman  '63;  R.  Boekler  '63,  and 
L.  Summer  '63. 

The  present  gym  was  finished  in  1963.  This  has  a  seat- 
ing capacity  of  3000  and  gives  the  school  a  most 
functional  athletic  program. 

Bob  Alexander  '65  went  to  MacMurray  and  Ron 
Romani  '65  played  at  Murray  State. 


Jack  Reeder  coached  in  1%7.  Dave  Reeves  '66  went  to 
111.  Wesleyan;  Ken  Meisehner  '66  to  Bradley,  and  Ron 
Hathcock  '67  went  to  N.  W.  Oklahoma  State. 

Mel  Roustio  was  coach  from  1968  to  1970.  Lon  Bradle 
'69  went  to  Sheridan.  Wyoming,  and  Northern  Arizona 
University.  Rick  Gaumer  '70  played  at  Lakeland. 

Chuck  Buescher,  the  present  assistant  at  Bradley, 
coached  in  1971.  John  Day  '72  went  to  Eastern,  and  Dave 
Dingledine  '72  to  111.  Wesleyan. 

Chuck  Westendorf.  our  present  coach,  started  in  1972. 
Washington  got  2nd  in  1972  in  the  Pekin  Tournament 
Championship  flight,  and  1st  in  the  Consolation  bracket 
in  1973.  Charlie  Thomas  '73  went  to  Eastern,  and  Loren 
Nofsinger  '73  to  Goshen  College.  Gary  Church  '74  is 
going  to  Bradley  University. 

Ed  Usnik.  although  not  a  graduate  of  Washington, 
served  as  official  scorekeeper  from  1953  through  1973. 

The  following  players  have  been  elected  for  All-State 
honors  in  recent  years: 

Tom  Adams  —  1955  and  '56  —  Also  played  in  the 
North-South  game  at  Murray.  Kentucky. 

Mel  Romani  in  1959  received  football  honors,  and  also 
honorable  mention  in  basketball. 

Virgil  McElfresh  '62  in  basketball. 
Clark  Pool  '63  in  basketball. 
Wm.  Hoagland  '68  in  football. 
Charlie  Thomas  '73  in  basketball. 
Football 

In  1902  the  school  bought  football  equipment  and 
started  practicing  on  the  playground.  Bob  Heiple  broke 
his  leg  in  practice  and  the  football  program  terminated. 

In  the  fall  of  1923  football  was  started  again  with  Walt 
S.  Shafer  as  coach.  Their  field  was  Minch's  pasture, 
which  was  east  of  700  South  High  Street  to  700  South 
Elm  Street.  There  were  a  few  dips,  which  helped  if  you 
were  going  in  the  right  direction.  Occasionally,  the  field 
has  to  be  cleared  of  cattle  or  hogs.  In  the  years  of  '25  to 
'28.  football  was  played  at  Sullivan  Field.  The  team 
moved  again  to  Minch's  pasture  in  '29-'30  and  moved 
permanently  to  Sullivan's  field.  802  Walnut  Street,  in 
1931.  Outstanding  players  at  this  time  were  Harper 
Roehm  '24,  to  Knox  College  and  Glen  "Sam"  Wagner 
'25,  to  the  University  of  Illinois. 


Olie  H.  Carmen  coached  from  1926  to  1937.  "Olie" 
can  surely  be  remembered  for  his  discipline,  wearing  the 


sidelines  down,  and  eating  grass.  His  nickname  of 
"Sickle  Foot",  which  was  surely  not  used  in  his  presence, 
described  his  pacing  on  the  sidelines. 

Golden  Babcook  coached  football  from  1938  to  1953. 
Lights  were  installed  on  the  field  in  1938  with  volunteer 
labor.  Eugene  "Fat"  Ellis  '40  went  to  the  Univ.  of  III.  and 
then  to  Purdue  in  the  V-12  program.  Dolph  Rosenburg 
'40  played  at  the  Univ.  of  Pittsburg.  It  was  in  1942  that 
Bob  Neuman  drowned  in  Lake  Eureka.  He  was  a  most 
promising  athlete  and  the  Sportsmanship  Award  is  given 
yearly  in  his  honor. 

In  the  year  of  1943,  a  new  football  field  was  developed 
at  115  Bondurant  Street.  This  was  quite  an  improve- 
ment, and  many  more  lights  were  installed  to  give  better 
playing  conditions. 

Leonard  "Red"  Ellis  '44  played  at  Bradley.  Vern 
Strubhar.  Jr.  '45  went  to  Eureka  and  111.  Wesleyan. 
Allen  Andrews  '46  served  as  manager  at  the  Univ.  of  III. 
and  presently  is  Chief  of  Police  in  Peoria.  Bob  Summer 
'47  played  at  Eureka  College  and  Joe  Bratcher  '50  at 
Western  Illinois. 

Noah  Hickman  coached  from  1956  to  '61.  John  Foster 
'57  played  at  Eureka  College;  Jerry  Essington  '58.  111. 
State:  Dan  McMillan  '59.  Eureka  College;  Bill  Roper 
'59,  Western  III.;  Bob  Blumenshine  '61,  Dartmouth; 
and  Orville  McElfresh  '61.  Wartburg.  Mel  Romani  '59 
was  selected  on  the  All-State  team  and  plaved  for  the 
Univ.  of  III. 

Babcook  Field  was  developed  in  1962  and  presentlv 
has  a  seating  capacity  of  2000.  Jack  Stromberger  served 
as  coach  from  1962  to  1966.  John  Stone  '65  played  at  III. 
State;  Steve  Queen  '65  at  Murray  State;  and  Ben  Esch  at 
Mac  Murray. 

Don  CI  ayberg  coached  from  1967  through  1969.  Steve 
Beemer  '68  and  Ernie  Pierantoni  '67  both  played  at 
Bradley. 

Bill  Farrell,  presently  the  coach,  came  to  Washington 
in  1971.  The  program  has  been  built  up  to  the  point 
where  close  to  100  boys  participate  each  year,  and  Bill 
has  six  assistant  coaches. 

Bill  Hoagland  '69  was  selected  for  All-State  recogni- 
tion and  played  at  Lakeland  College. 

The  following  play  college  football  at  the  present 
time:  Kurt  Koenig  '70,  Illinois  College;  Mark  Koenig 
'71;  New  Mexico  State;  Stu  Levenick  '71.  Univ.  of  III.; 
Roger  Hickman  '72  and  Joe  Chasco  '73  at  111.  Wesleyan. 

Track 

Lee  I.  Knight  started  the  Track  program  upon  his 
arrival  in  1903.  The  usual  procedure  in  those  early  days 
was  to  have  an  inter-class  meet  to  determine  somewhat 
the  abilities  of  each  boy.  The  Tazewell  County  High 
School  Association  was  formed  in  1906.  This  was  the 
beginning  of  the  County  Meet. 

In  the  year  of  1912,  the  County  Meet  was  held  in 
Washington  on  a  field  prepared  in  Sullivan's  pasture. 


About  2000  people  attended  this  event  with  one-half  of 
the  crowd  coming  on  a  special  train.  The  Literary  contest 
was  held  in  the  morning  and  the  Track  Meet  in  the 
afternoon.  Washington  participated  in  this  until  it 
reached  a  student  enrollment  of  500  in  1956. 

The  track  at  the  Grade  School  playground  was 
developed  in  the  late  teens.  This  was  about  a  one-sixth 
mile  cinder  track,  with  the  field  events  in  the  center 
between  the  trees.  There  was  barely  enough  room  for  the 
100-yard  dash,  the  220  had  two  curves,  and  sometimes 
the  discus  and  javelin  would  hit  the  trees. 

Since  early  records  and  meet  data  is  rather  difficult 
to  accummulate,  many  individuals  and  teams  will,  no 
doubt,  be  missed  in  this  summary.  Only  those  who  have 
possibly  held  a  local  record,  participated  in  track  while 
in  college,  or  advanced  to  the  State  Meet  are  included  in 
this  article. 

Wayne  Bennett  '16  participated  in  the  pole  vault  at 
the  Univ.  of  111.  Ed  Schabinger  '22  took  part  in  track  at 
the  Univ.  of  Chicago.  Washington  had  a  good  track  team 
in  1925.  Gib  Kyes,  115  So.  Cedar  Street,  ran  the  50,  100, 
and  220  in  times  of  5.3, 10.4,  and  22.1. 

During  the  years  of  1930-31,  Washington  had  another 
very  good  team.  Under  O.  H.  Carmen  they  participated 
in  the  Streator,  Gridley,  and  Lostant  relays  giving  a  good 
account  of  themselves.  Bob  Hornbeck  '31,  won  the  50, 
100,  and  220  two  years  in  a  row  at  the  County  Meet. 
Members  of  this  team  were  R.  Burkey,  R.  Chaffer, 
R.  Dingledine,  G.  Gross,  W.  Hughes  ,  R.  Hornbeck, 
D.  Imhoff,  M.  Kamp,  G.  Rosenberg,  H.  Shaeffer, 
and  J.  Strubhar. 

Tommy  Marshall  '40  participated  in  the  dashes  while 
at  Bradley.  Dick  Alexander  '44  held  the  C.  C.  I.  and  111. 
Wesleyan  records  in  the  one  and  two  mile. 

In  the  year  of  1956,  Noah  Hickman  was  assigned  to 
coach  track  exclusively.  Good  records  have  been  kept 
from  this  date.  Those  going  to  the  State  Meet  in  1957 
were:  G.  Faubel  '57,  high  jump;  J.  Schlosser  '57,  220; 
and  the  440  relay,  J.  Ernst  '57,  W.  Clausen  '58,  J. 
Schlosser  '57  and  W.  Dixon  '57. 

Babcook  Field  was  developed  in  1962.  This  offered  a 
1/4  mile  cinder  track  and  220  without  a  curve.  Jack 
Stromberger  coached  through  the  years  of  1962  through 
1967.  Jerry  Essington  served  as  coach  in  1968-'69.  Bob 
Shullaw  '68  holds  the  440  Intermediate  hurdle  record 
at  Knox.  John  Armstrong  '69  participated  in  the  cross 
country  and  mile  run  while  at  Bradley. 

Wm.  Farrell  is  presently  the  track  coach  and  has 
served  in  this  capacity  since  1970.  The  development  of 
the  Babcook  Field  facilities  and  the  fact  that  there  are 
two  track  coaches  in  the  school  have  created  much  more 
interest,  and  many  boys  are  participating  in  the  sport. 
Following  are  the  present  school  records:    100  yd., 

A.  Steck  '74,  10.1;  220  yd.,  J.  Schlosser  '57,  22.3;  440 
yd.,  K.  Koenig  '70,  50.5;  880  yd.,  J.  Armstrong  '69, 
2:01.7;  1  mile,  D.  Kelley  '63,  4:35.1;  120  high  hurdles, 

B.  Shullaw  '68,  15.4;  330  low  hurdles,  B.  Zeone  '74. 


41.8;  High  jump,  B.  Shullaw  '68,  6'  3";  Broad  jump, 

C.  Moore  '71,  22'  2x/i'\  Pole  Vault,  M.  Heinold  '73, 
13'  %";  Shot  Put.  M.  Murdoch  '68,  52'  8%";  Discus, 
M.  Koenig  '71,  158'  9";  Sprint  Medley, 
Steck-Killough-Hobbs-Heller  '74.  1:38.7;  440  yd.  relay, 
Fugitt-Hobbs-Kirkpatrick-Steck  '74,  44.9;  880  yd.  relay, 
Schlosser-Ernst-Clauser-Dixon  '57,  1:33.4;  Mile  relay, 
Heller-Wilson-Zeone-McFolling    '74,    3:29.5;    2    mile, 

D.  Krueger  '74,  9:57.2;  Triple  jump,  K.  Kirkpatrick  '74, 
42'  63/4". 

Baseball 

Frank  Lorton  came  to  Washington  in  1941,  and  this 
was  the  beginning  of  baseball.  Sullivan  Field  was  used  as 
the  home  diamond.  Fred  Eihausen  coached  in  1942  and 
1943.  Aaron  Martin  '42  played  at  Purdue  and  served 
as  captain  three  years.  Roy  Romani  coached  from  1944 
to  1950.  Olin  Martin  '45  also  played  at  Purdue  and  had 
four  years  of  professional  ball  in  Class  A  leagues.  Frank 
Beckman  coached  in  1951. 

Dick  VanScyoc  was  baseball  coach  from  1952  to  1965. 
The  baseball  diamond  was  developed  in  1962  at  Babcook 
Field. 

They  won  the  regional  championship  in  1953.  Bill 
Dixon  '57  played  college  ball  at  Bradley  and  some  pro 
ball  in  the  Giant  organization.  Gary  Bruington  coached 
from   1966  to   1970.  They  won  the  regional  in   1967. 

E.  Pierantoni  '68  and  Gary  Bowe  '69  played  at  Bradley. 
Brian  Wisher  started  in  1971  and  presently  is  serving 

as  baseball  coach.  He  has  one  assistant.  Mark  Hodges 
'73  is  at  MacMurray. 

Wrestling 

Wrestling  was  started  at  Washington  High  in  1962 
with  Noah  Hickman  serving  as  coach.  Don  Clayberg 
coached  from  1963  to  1969,  and  Ken  Frus  from  1970 
to  the  present  time. 

Wrestlers  of  particular  note  have  been  Brad  Ward  '66, 
Gary  Meyers  '68,  Dave  Stormer  '68,  and  Ken  Woodward 
'73. 

The  wrestling  program  today  consists  of  three  squads: 
Varsity,  Junior  Varsity,  and  Freshman.  About  70  boys 
take  part  in  these  programs. 

Golf 

Roy  Romani  started  the  golf  program  at  the  Eureka 
Golf  Course  in  1962.  In  1966  the  program  was  suspended 
due  to  lack  of  school  funds.  Jack  Stromberger  was 
appointed  coach  in  1968  and  presently  serves  in  that 
capacity. 

The  Stan  Smith  Award  was  created  in  1968.  Stan  was 
on  the  first  golf  team  and  was  killed  in  the  Vietnam 
War. 

The  1972  team  went  to  the  State  Meet.  Members  of 
this  team  were:  R.  Fuller,  M.  Nelson,  J.  Day,  J.  Maddock 
and  J.  Thiene.  E.  Habecker,  Jr.  '71  played  at  Loyola  of 
Chicago,  and  J.  Maddock  '72  is  at  Western  Illinois. 


Conference  Affiliations 

In  the  very  early  days  of  basketball,  the  games  were 
played  against  teams  usually  situated  along  the 
railroad  lines.  As  automobiles  came  into  use  in  the  teens, 
this  allowed  for  greater  diversity  of  traveling  to  games. 
Up  to  the  year  of  1945,  there  was  no  conference 
affiliation. 

During  the  years  of  1945  to  1955.  Washington  was 
associated  with  the  Illio  Conference.  This  Conference 
consisted  of  Chillicothe,  Eureka,  Farmington, 
Metamora,  Morton,  and  Tremont. 

As  Washington  High  became  larger,  the  smaller 
schools  objected  to  their  domination,  and  at  the  same 
time  the  school  desired  stronger  competition.  The  Corn 
Belt  Conference  was  formed,  and  Washington  was  a  part 
of  it  from  1957  to  1972.  The  teams  were:  Central 
Catholic.  Clinton,  Pontiac,  University-High,  and  with 
Normal  Community  and  St.  Teresa  for  a  period  of  time. 

The  Heart  of  Illinois  Conference  was  formed  in  1972. 
There  are  two  divisions:  The  East  consists  of  Central 
Catholic,  Clinton,  Olympia,  Pontiac,  and  U-High.  The 
West  consists  of  Canton,  Metamora,  Morton,  IVC 
(Chillicothe),  and  Washington.  This  has  allowed  for 
stronger  programming  of  games,  particularly  in 
football. 

INDEPENDENT  TEAMS 
Baseball 

The  first  organized  baseball  in  Washington  was  The 
Clippers.  They  played  in  the  Highland  Park  Field.  The 
main  battery  was  Roy  Miller,  pitcher,  and  Clayton 
Miller,  presently  of  203  Lincoln  St.  This  was  an  indepen- 
dent team  which  played  all  comers.  The  story  goes  that 
in  1907  or  '08  there  was  to  be  a  big  game  with  El  Paso. 
Washington  hired  a  good  pitcher  out  of  Roanoke.  There 
was  a  lot  of  betting,  and  supposedly  the  pitcher  threw 
the  game  and  Washington  lost.  Due  to  the  consequences 
that  developed,  baseball  was  not  supported  after  that 
incident. 

After  World  War  II  the  Bulldog  Insurance  Co.  of 
Washington,  through  the  guidance  of  Theodore  Roehm. 
formed  the  "Bulldog"  baseball  team.  During  the  years 
of  1920  to  1927.  they  were  considered  one  of  the  strongest 
teams  in  Central  Illinois.  They  played  at  Sullivan  Field, 
which  would  be  about  802  to  812  Walnut  Street.  Crowds 
were  so  large  that  often  a  canvas  was  placed  around  the 
field.  They  played  all  the  independent  teams  nearby,  the 
Colored  All-Stars,  and  a  few  times  the  traveling  House  of 


David  teams.  The  team  was  made  up  of  Guy  Bozarth, 
John  Ficht.  Bill  Engel,  Frank  Nutty,  Milton  Rich.  Bill 
Snyder,  Roy  Blumenshine,  Bill  Ellwanger,  Fred  Gueick. 
(pitcher),  Vern  Strubhar,  Lester  Blumenshine  and  Jack 
Carius,  with  Moss  Hughes  as  manager.  Jesse  Meyers. 
Percy  Lyons,  and  Clarence  "Furt"  Blumenshine  joined 
the  team  in  the  last  years.  Don  Strubhar  was  bat-boy. 
Van  Sellar  Mosley  was  the  concessionaire,  and  surely  all 
people  of  this  era  remember  his  chatter.  Frank  Bozarth 
and  Lou  Rider  often  served  as  umpires,  and  Dudley 
Brown  as  policeman.  As  the  Bulldog  lnsurnace  Company 
subdued  to  the  times,  so  did  the  baseball  team. 

During  the  years  of  1930  to  1947,  the  Washington 
Merchants'  baseball  team  was  formed.  They,  likewise, 
played  at  Sullivan  Field.  This  team  had  many  good 
years,  and  there  were  other  years  they  had  their 
problems.  They  represented  Washington  well  in  the 
Independent  League  of  surrounding  towns. 

The  American  Legion  has  sponsored  a  Legion  team  for 
the  most  part  during  the  past  25  years.  In  1940  the 
Washington  team  won  the  down  state  championship 
but  lost  to  the  Chicago  team  two  games  to  one  in  the 
finals.  Aaron  Martin,  Olin  Martin.  Glenn  Aberle.  and 
Bob  Newman  played  on  this  team. 

In  the  years  1929,  30,  and  31,  a  Softball  League  was 
formed  which  played  under  lights  every  night  but 
Sunday.  Most  every  boy  from  15  to  35  played  in  this 
eight-team  league.  There  were  two  games  per  night,  and 
this  league  dissolved  because  of  the  cost  of  running  the 
lights  and  tight  money  for  sponsorship.  Uncle  Billy's 
Sorghum  team  were  the  champions  each  year.  Ray 
Gardiner  managed  a  girls'  team  which  did  very  well 
and  played  throughout  the  state.  John  Norris  was 
president  and  E.  E.  Habecker  served  as  treasurer  of 
these  leagues. 

Independent  basketball  teams  were  very  popular  from 
1 918  through  the  20's. 


Tennis 

The  first  tennis  in  Washington  was  on  a  court  built  in 
the  center  of  the  Washington  Grade  School  playground 
in  about  1922.  This  was  a  clay  court  maintained  for  the 
most  part  with  volunteer  labor.  Most  of  the  time  it  was 
necessary  to  drag,  water,  roll,  and  line  the  court  before 
playing.  Then  of  course,  the  big  kids  would  push  you  off. 
This  court  had  its  good  and  lean  years  until  about  1946. 

A  private  grass  court  at  the  L.  J.  Danforth  house, 
804  South  Main  St.,  was  used  by  many  friends  and  neigh- 
bors. This  court  usually  needed  mowing  before  it  was 
ready  to  play,  and  did  you  ever  push  a  mower  without  a 
backroller? 

Tennis  players  of  note  in  Washington  have  been: 
Charles  "Chick"  Roehm,  M.D.,  '30,  Eureka  College; 
Robert  Esch,  '31,  Bluffton  College;  Wayne  J.  Kinsinger, 
D.D.S.,  '34,  111.  Wesleyan  University;  and  Rear  Admiral 
Arthur  Esch,  '35,  U.S.  Naval  Academy. 

Attorney  Kenneth  Black  has,  by  far,  been  the  most 
outstanding  player  in  Washington.  He  was  on  the 
Bradley  College  team  serving  as  captain  in  1934.  They 
won  the  Little  19  double  championship  in  '33  and  '34, 
the  Greater  Peoria  Singles  Championship  ten  times 
between  1933  and  1950;  an  the  Doubles  Championship 
fourteen  times  within  this  same  period  of  time. 
Kenny  played  and  won  many  other  tournaments  in  the 
area  which  are  too  numerous  to  mention. 

Bowling 

The  first  bowling  lanes  were  built  in  1938  by  Henry 
and  Willis  Hett  at  about  122  North  Main  St.  There  were 
six  lanes  which  were  managed  by  Bob  Noll,  Fred  Corder, 
Roy  Bradle,  and  Curley  Noll.  The  Uptown  Bowl  was 
filled  with  leagues  five  nights  per  week. 

The  East  Side  Lanes  was  opened  in  1940  by  Homer 
Waughop  at  904  Walnut  St.  The  four  lanes  were  closed 
in  1945.  In  1957  Tom  Brown  re-opened  the  four  lanes, 
and  this  was  expanded  to  eight  lanes  in  1959  when 
Jerry  Erickson  joined  as  a  co-partner. 

Plaza  Lanes  was  built  in  1962  with  Tom  Brown  and 
Jerry  Erickson  as  co-owners.  There  were  sixteen  lanes. 
Walt  Kuykendall  purchased  Tom  Brown's  interest  in 
1964.  The  alleys  were  increased  to  twenty  in  1973.  The 
21st  Annual  Mixed  Couples'  Tournament  was  completed 
in  1974  with  over  800  couples  competing. 

The  Washington  people  who  have  bowled  300  games 
are  Clarence  "Cuz"  Bradle.  1941,  East  Side  Lanes;  and 
Al  Brigg,  1962,  at  Plaza  Lanes. 

Dartball 

In  1952  the  Washington  Church  Dartball  League  was 
formed,  playing  their  games  in  the  City  Building.  The 
first  year  there  were  six  teams,  and  Donald  V.  Smith 
was  president  of  the  organization.  The  league  reached 
its  peak  in  1958-59  when  there  were  ten  teams  playing. 
The  league  was  dissolved  in  1965,  as  interest  waned. 


St.  Patricks  dominated  the  league,  winning  the 
championship  eight  times.  R.  Bauer  of  the  E.U.B. 
church  had  the  highest  average  of  718  in  1965-66  season. 
Gene  Copp  was  batting  leader  seven  years  in  succession. 

In  area  competition  an  All-Star  team  won  the 
tournament  once,  and  St.  Patricks  won  the  Tournament 
of  Champions  twice. 

At  the  present  time,  the  Sunnyland  Christian  and 
Evangelical  United  Methodist  teams  play  in  the  Peoria 
Protestant  League,  while  St.  Patricks  plays  in  the 
Peoria  Catholic  Dartball  League. 

Golf 

The  first  golf  course  in  our  area  was  Kaufman  Park, 
which  was  started  in  1 922  by  a  group  of  Eureka  business- 
men. This  is  located  west  of  Eureka  along  Walnut  Creek 
on  land  left  in  trust  to  the  organization  by  the  Kaufman 
family.  It  is  a  nine-hole  course  with  hills,  trees  and 
creek  to  challenge  the  golfer. 

As  Washington  golfers  played  the  course  and  took  part 
in  the  organization,  it  was  renamed  the  Eureka- 
Washington  Golf  Course.  The  Kaufman  family  later,  by 
trust  deed,  made  possible  a  permanent  recreation  site, 
and  at  this  time  the  course  was  named  Kaufman  Park. 


Al  and  Abe  Espinoso,  well  known  pro's  in  the  U.S.. 
played  the  course  often  in  the  1920's.  Abe  Espinoso  was  a 
brother-in-law  of  Elsie  Pfeiffer. 

At  present  there  are  the  Ladies.  Teachers,  and  Cater- 
pillar Leagues  at  the  course.  The  monthly  stags.  Golf 
Classic,  and  the  long-standing  Graham's  Handicap 
Tournament  are  popular  today. 

Hillcrest  Golf  Center,  1829  Washington  Road,  was 
constructed  in  1958  by  Harvey  Slagell,  LeRoy  Slagell. 
and  Roland  Brubacker.  This  consists  of  a  driving  range, 
miniature,  and  18-hole  course.  Ben  Brubacker  replaced 
the  Slagells  and  later  took  over  complete  operation  upon 
Roland  Brubaker's  retirement.  The  course  plavs  at  par 
59. 

The  following  leagues  are  active  at  the  present  time: 
Church  League.  Night-time  Ladies  League.  Ladies 
9-hole  League.  Ladies  18-hole  League.  Caterpillar 
Leagues,  and  Junior  League.  The  Junior  program  in  con- 


nection with  the  Washington  Recreation  Association 
was  started  in  1957.  This  program  covers  instruction  for 
boys  and  girls  between  the  ages  8  and  18.  To  date  there 
have  been  294  holes-in-one  at  the  Hillcrest  course. 

Pine  Lakes  Country  Club,  located  between 
Washington  and  Morton,  was  built  in  1963  by  Dayton 
Alt.  This  course  was  originally  a  public  fee  course  but 
later  changed  into  a  private  club.  The  facilities  include 
an  18-hole  course  with  clubhouse  and  dining  room 
available.  They  sponsor  Ladies  Leagues;  Ladies.  Mens, 
and  the  "Snow  Bird  Classic"  tournaments.  At  the  pre- 
sent time  Executive  Centers  of  America  are  owners 
of  the  course. 

Highview  Hills  Country  Club,  2215  Highview  Road, 
East  Peoria,  was  built  by  Warren  Keil  on  the  Keil  home- 
stead in  1973.  This  course  is  18  holes,  constructed  with 
Purwic  System  Greens,  with  a  clubhouse  and  dining 
room  open  to  the  public. 


OUR 

PROFESSIONAL 

CITIZENS 


PHYSICIANS 

The  first  physician  in  Washington  was  Dr.  R.  F. 
Goodwin,  coming  from  Vermont  in  1832.  Dr.  C.  F. 
Wood,  coming  also  from  Vermont,  joined  Dr.  Goodwin 
in  1835  in  what  proved  to  be  a  very  successful  partner- 
ship. They  originated  the  Goodwin  and  Wood's  land 
development. 

DR.  C.F.WOOD  (1800-1871)  studied  in  Vermont  until 
he  was  18,  then  moved  to  Tazewell  County  and  became  a 
student  with  Dr.  Dundee.a  pioneer  physician. 

DR.  R.  w.  BURTON  (d.  1859)  came  from  Kentucky  and 
settled  here  in  1838.  He  not  only  practiced  medicine  but 
started  the  first  regular  drug  store. 

DR.  E.  F.  WOOD  (1829-1894),  the  son  of  Dr.  C.  F.  Wood, 
started  practicing  with  his  father  in  1847.  He  studied 
at  the  State  University  in  St.  Louis  for  three  years  and 
returned  here  in  1849  to  practice. 

DR.  R.  B.  M.  WILSON  (1827-1879)  took  his  medical 
training  in  Ireland  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  had  his 
degree  in  medicine.  He  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
and  started  practicing  with  Dr.  C.  F.  Wood.  In  1858  he 
was  elected  to  the  State  House  of  Representatives.  In 
1862  he  was  elected  to  help  form  a  new  state  constitution. 
In  1877  he  returned  to  Washington  and  formed  partner- 
ship with  Dr.  E.  F.  Wood.  His  professional  reputation  ex- 
tended throughout  the  entire  area,  and  most  every  train 
brought  patients  from  a  distance. 

DR.  wm.  T.  Griffith  (1833-1910?)  came  to 
Washington  in  1865  and  practiced  on  Walnut  Street. 
Born  in  Indiana,  he  studied  in  Cincinnati  and  practiced 
successfully  in  Washington. 

DR.  ALFRED  ALPHONSO  (1835-1901)  came  to 
Washington  in  1875.  He  was  born  in  Berlin,  Germany, 
studied  medicine  in  Berlin,  and  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  in  1861.  He  practiced  in  Chicago  for  two  years  and 
served  as  acting  surgeon  during  the  Civil  War  with  Co. 
C,  17th  Cavalry.  He  started  the  Alphonso  Drug  Com- 
pany, which  was  carried  on  by  his  daughter.  In  1877  he 
erected  the  Washington  Academy  of  Music  and  became 
extensively  engaged  in  this  business. 

DR.  henry  GULICK  (1839-  ?  )  came  to  Washington 
in  1876  and  practiced  on  the  east  side  of  the  Square. 
He  received  his  education  at  Jefferson  College  in 
Pennsylvania.  Dr.  Gulick  served  in  the  Civil  War. 


DR.  wm.  H.  weirich  (1841-1912)  had  his  medical 
training  at  Lombard  University  in  Pennsylvania  and 
served  in  the  Civil  War  as  Surgeon  with  Co.  F.,  213  Pa. 
Infantry.  In  1876  he  came  to  Washington  to  associate 
with  Drs.  Wood  and  Wilson.  He  then  opened  his  office 
at  about  126  South  Main  Street  and  had  a  very  successful 
practice. 

DR.  wm.  A.  GOTT  (1874-1945)  attended  schools  in 
Washington  and  graduated  from  Medical  School  in 
Chicago  in  1901.  As  stated  in  an  early  publication,  "Dr. 
Gott  is  a  home  product  and  Washington  has  consider- 
able pride  in  watching  his  successful  development". 
(1906). 

Dr.  Gott  spent  time  in  the  service  during  World  War 
I.  His  office  was  at  126  South  Main  Street.  He  worked 
diligently,  as  all  doctors  of  this  time,  in  the  flu  epidemic 
or  1918.  This  was  probably  the  most  severe  epidemic  of 
flu  that  Washington  ever  experienced.  There  was  hardly 
a  family  in  town  that  didn't  have  a  relative  die  during  this 
period. 

Dr.  Gott  moved  his  practice  to  Peoria  in  the  1920's. 

DR.  willis  A.  Mansfield  (1858-1936)  came  to 
Washington  in  1894.  He  was  born  in  Marengo,  Illinois, 
and  graduated  from  the  University  of  Illinois  in  1881  and 
from  Northwestern  Medical  School  in  1884.  He  prac- 
ticed for  ten  years  in  Metamora  and  then  at  201  Walnut 
Street  in  Washington. 

Dr.  Mansfield's  greatest  love  was  to  fish  and  hunt.  His 
cottage  at  Rome,  Illinois,  was  a  meeting  place  for  all 
his  friends  to  gather  for  fish,  pheasant,  and  mushroom 
dinners.  Each  year  he  would  go  to  Nebraska  to  hunt 
pheasants.  He  was  the  expert  in  our  community  to 
identify  mushrooms. 

He  was  active  in  his  early  years  in  community  projects. 

DR.  HARLEY  A.  zinser  (1871 — 2-15-1942).  Attended 
local  schools  and  Lake  Forrest  University  and  graduated 
from  Rush  Medical  College  in  1895.  He  practiced  in 
Roanoke  for  ten  years  and  came  to  Washington  in 
1905.  His  father  operated  the  Zinser  Drug  Store.  He 
served  in  World  War  I  and  was  commissioned  a  1st  Lt. 
in  the  Medical  Corps. 

Dr.  Zinser  was  well  known  by  all  with  his  friendly  wit 
and  a  nickname  for  most  everyone.  In  his  later  years 
he  nearly  lost  complete  eyesight,  and  his  Airedale  dog 
always  accompanied  him  to  the  drug  store.  Dr.  Zinser 
was  respected  for  his  most  complete  knowledge  of 
medicine. 

Mrs.  Caroline  Martini,  a  daughter,  lives  at  the  home- 
stead, 105  Washington  Street.  Mrs.  Martini  has  two 
daughters:  Mrs.  Marilyn  Tanton,  who  has  three  boys, 
and  Mrs.  Roslyn  Gott,  who  has  a  set  of  twins  (boy  and 
girl)  and  a  daughter.  Both  families  live  in  the  area. 

Eugene  S.  Zinser,  a  son,  has  two  boys  and  a  girl.  His 
daughter,  Mrs.  Patricia  Nevels,  has  one  boy  and  one  girl. 
The  son,  Steele,  has  one  daughter  and  one  son.  This 
family  lives  in  Dallas,  Texas.  This  makes  a  total  of  five 
grandchildren  and  ten  great  grandchildren  for 
Dr.  Zinser. 


DR.  O.  P.  BENNETT  (d.  1944)  Dr.  Bennett  practiced  in 
Washington  thirty-eight  years,  having  been  in  Chicago 
for  six  years  and  ten  years  in  Mazon.  Illinois.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Chicago  Physicians  and  Surgeons  School, 
a  branch  of  the  University  of  Illinois.  He  served  in  World 
War  I  as  a  Captain  in  the  Medical  Corps. 

Dr.  Bennett  was  a  prominent  physician,  politician 
(Democrat),  stock  raiser,  and  dog  fancier. 

He  imported  Collie  dogs  from  England,  bred,  and 
shipped  them  throughout  the  United  States.  He  wrote  a 
book  on  the  history  and  handling  of  Collie  dogs  and  was 
considered  one  of  the  foremost  authorities  on  Collies  in 
the  United  States. 

His  love  for  purebred  stock  then  turned  to  registered 
Shorthorn  cattle.  He  became  president  of  the  Shorthorn 
Cattle  Association.  In  later  years  he  turned  to  registered 
Duroc  hogs.  He  always  strived  for  the  best. 

Dr.  Bennet  was  very  active  in  the  Democratic  Party. 
Before  coming  to  Washington,  he  served  in  the  State 
Legislature.  While  in  Washington,  he  served  as 
Township  Supervisor  for  many  years.  It  was  through  this 
tenure  that  South  Main  Street  was  paved. 

His  first  office  was  above  the  Danforth  Bank  Building 
and  later  at  126  South  Main  Street,  which  is  presently 
the  parking  lot  for  the  First  National  Bank.  He  was  a 
very  ambitious  man,  both  in  his  practice  of  medicine  and 
in  his  many  diversified  activities. 

His  daughter.  Mrs.  Marguerite  Harvey  (deceased), 
was  instrumental  in  the  continuing  growth  of  our  Public 
Library. 

A  son,  Wayne,  retired,  was  active  in  the  banking 
business  in  Chicago,  serving  as  a  vice-president. 


DR.  LEE  E.  MONROE  (1885-1973)  A  friend  to  all  was 
Dr.  Monroe,  who  was  a  practicing  physician  in 
Washington  for  forty  years.  He  was  born  in  Eureka, 
Missouri,   February  22.   1885.  son  of  L.  E.  and   Marv 


Brown  Monroe.  He  married  Vere  Paul  April  27,  1910,  in 
Kansas  City,  Missouri.  Mrs.  Monroe  is  now  living  in 
Poplar  Bluff  .  Missouri,  near  their  only  child,  a  son, 
L.  E.  Monroe,  and  the  three  grandchildren.  Dr.  Monroe 
graduated  from  the  University  of  Missouri  School  of 
Medicine  in  St.  Louis. 

Before  coming  to  Washington,  he  was  chief  surgeon 
for  Missouri  and  Pacific  Railroad  in  Kansas  City. 
Missouri.  He  practiced  for  two  years  in  Eureka, 
Missouri,  two  years  in  Bonne  Terre,  Missouri,  and  for  a 
short  time  in  St.  Louis. 

Dr.  Monroe  was  a  first  lieutenant  in  the  United  State 
Medical  Corps  during  World  War  I.  He  was  a  staff 
member  at  Proctor  Hospital  for  twenty  years.  He  was 
affiliated  with  Phi  Beta  Kappa  and  Sigma  Nu. 

His  life  was  devoted  to  helping  his  fellow  man  in  any 
way. 

DR.  M.  H.  whitlock  came  here  in  1933  and  practiced 
for  about  five  or  six  years.  His  office  was  at  127  South 
Main  Street.  He  previously  practiced  in  Peoria. 

DR.  GEORGE  L.  COHEN  (1902-1959)  came  to  Washing- 
ton in  1938.  His  office  was  in  the  Heiple  Bldg.,  107  North 
Main  Street.  He  was  born  in  Jersey  City,  New  Jersev. 
and  was  a  veteran  of  World  War  II.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Consistory,  Shrine,  and  all  of  the  local  medical 
societies.  He  can  probably  be  best  remembered  for  his 
rather  keen  and  dry  humor.  He  always  participated  in 
local  affairs  and  was  a  member  of  the  Washington 
Civic  Association. 

dr.  Lawrence  foulke  came  to  Washington  in  1937. 
He  practiced  here  four  years  with  offices  in  the  Heiple 
Building.  He  enlisted  in  the  service  and  is  presently 
practicing  in  Crystal  Lake,  Illinois. 

DR.  lillian  L.  RICH  opened  an  office  at  201  Walnut 
Street  in  1940  and  stayed  at  this  location  for  twenty-two 
years.  She  was  the  first  woman  physician  in  Washington, 
having  previously  worked  in  the  Peoria  State  Hospital 
for  four  years  and  for  a  short  period  of  time  had  an  office 
in  Pekin,  Illinois. 

Dr.  Rich  attended  Washington  High  School. 
University  of  Illinois,  and  graduated  from  Rush  Medical 
College,  a  division  of  the  University  of  Chicago,  in  1934. 

Her  friendly  smile  and  concern  for  all  seemed  to  be  a 
trademark  of  her  practice.  There  were  many  years  that 
she  delivered  100  babies  in  our  community.  As  she  often 
said.  "This  is  the  happiest  part  in  the  practice  of 
medicine." 

She  left  Washington  in  1962  with  the  idea  of  retiring 
in  North  Carolina.  Her  plans  of  developing  the  hobby  of 
marquetry  soon  diminished  as  she  continues  to  be 
active  in  the  medical  profession  in  Black  Mountain. 
North  Carolina. 

DR.  JULIO  BARRON  started  practicing  in  Washington 
in  1960.  He  graduated  from  School  of  Medicine  of 
National  University  of  Mexico.  Mexico  City  in  1951. 
His  native  town  in  Mexico  City.  Dr.  Barron  worked  at 
the  Peoria  State  Hospital  before  coming  to  our  city  and 


locating  at  118  Peoria  Street  and  then  moving  to  201 
Walnut  in  1962.  He  left  his  practice  to  work  in  the 
Medical  Department  of  Caterpillar  Tractor  Company 
in  1972. 

DR.  HERBERT  HOSTETLER  was  here  from  1962  to  1967. 
He  was  called  into  the  service.  Then  he  specialized  in 
anesthesia,  and  presently  is  practicing  in  Albuquerque, 
New  Mexico. 

Physicians  Presently  In  Washington 

DR.  C.J.  FORRETTE  came  to  Washington  in  1949.  He 
graduated  from  Loyola  University  College  of  Medicine  in 
1943.  Office  at  102  Walnut  Street.  Hometown — Chicago. 
Illinois.  Wife's  maiden  name  —  Harriet  Schultz, 
Chicago,  Illinois.  Children:  Mrs.  Carol  Carius,  David 
John,  and  Patty. 

DR.  GREGORio  F.  MORI  came  to  Washington  in  1968. 
Graduated  from  Havana  University  Medical  Schhol, 
Havana  Cuba,  in  1967.  Office  at  1412  Washington  Road. 
Hometown  —  Havana,  Cuba.  Wife's  maiden  name  — 
Sonya  Fernandez,  Havana,  Cuba.  Children:  Sonya, 
Juan  Carlos. 

DR.  WENDELL  E.  CARTER  came  to  Washington  in 
1962.  Graduated  from  University  of  Illinois  in  1959. 
Office  at  2465  Washington  Road.  Hometown  —  New 
Lennox,  Illinois.  Wife's  maiden  name  —  Lois  Hutch- 
craft,  Peoria,  Illinois.  Children:  Vicky,  Genanne,  Leslee, 
Bobby,  Melodie,  and  Wen 

dr.  PHILLIP  H.  BAER  came  to  Washington  in  1973. 
Graduated  from  University  of  Illinois  College  of 
Medicine  in  1969.  Office  at  1 18  Peoria  Street.  Hometown 
—  Tremont,  Illinois.  Wife's  maiden  name  —  Maryjane 
Unsicker,  Tremont,  Illinois.  Children:  Jane,  Bryan,  and 
Jill. 

DR.  N.  A.  ANTONY  came  to  Washington  in  1974. 
Graduated  from  Trivandrum  Medical  College  in  1957, 
Kerala,  India.  Hometown  —  Kumbalanghi,  Cochin, 
India.  Wife's  maiden  name  —  Rosey  George  of  Ernakul- 
an.  Cochin,  India.  Children:  None. 

DR.  WARD  C.  ADAMS  came  to  Washington  in  1945. 
Located  at  the  present  address  of  205  Walnut  Street. 
Took  over  Dr.  Gerald  Barker's  practice,  who  had  moved 
here  one  and  one-half  years  previously  from  California. 
He  attended  Eureka  College  three  years  prior  to  going 
to  Kirksville  College  of  Osteopathy  and  Surgery  1935- 
1939.  Children:  Robert,  Sharon,  and  Thomas  (deceased). 


DENTISTS 

The  first  dental  work  in  Washington  was  done  by 
physicians,  and  this  was  the  extracting  of  teeth.  It  has 
been  told  that  occasionally  a  dentist  would  come  into  the 
Hotel  for  a  few  days  and  do  some  dentistry.  There  were 
dentists  in  Peoria,  and  many  people  who  were  in  the  need 
for  restorative  work  would  either  take  the  train  or  make 
the  all-day  trip  in  the  buggy. 


dr.  J.  F.  hoover  (1838-?)  was  the  first  dentist  of 
note  in  Washington,  coming  in  1863.  He  came  from 
Ohio  to  Illinois  in  1855  and  served  his  dental  apprentice- 
ship in  Peoria.  His  office  was  at  1 10  Washington  Square, 
and  he  had  a  successful  practice  until  1898. 

dr.  edwin  A.  MORROW  (1868-1932)  started  practice 
in  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  came  to  Washington  in  1899. 
He  was  first  associated  with  Dr.  J.  F.  Hoover  but  soon 
started  to  practice  at  110  Washington  Square.  He  was 
born  in  Creighton,  Missouri,  and  graduated  from 
Kansas  City  Dental  College. 

Dr.  Morrow  held  many  positions  of  trust  and  respon- 
sibility in  Washington,  serving  as  president  of  Commer- 
cial Club,  the  first  president  of  Kiwanis  Club,  president 
of  school  board,  member  of  Oak  Knoll  Sanitorium,  and 
past  master  of  the  Masons.  As  quoted  in  the  Tazewell 
Count}'  Reporter,  "We  found  him  a  true  friend  and  up- 
right and  honorable  in  every  way.  He  was  always  glad 
and  willing  to  do  his  part  in  every  good  endeavor." 

His  widow,  Mrs.  Ethel  (Morrow)  Storey,  lives  at  200 
South  High  Street. 

DR.  CLAIRE  McCLUNG  practiced  for  twelve  years  be- 
fore coming  to  Washington  in  1908.  His  first  office  was 
in  the  Esser  Building  and  later  moved  to  the  Heiple 
Building  at  107  North  Main  Street.  He  left  Washington 
in  1 925  to  practice  in  Chicago. 

dr.  LYONS  practiced  in  the  Heiple  Building  at  107 
North  Main  Street  from  1925  to  1928. 

DR.  DANIEL  B.  CLYMORE  (d.  1964)  came  to  Washing- 
ton in  1929.  He  was  a  native  of  Vienna,  Illinois,  and 
graduated  from  the  University  of  St.  Louis  Dental 
School.  Prior  to  his  coming  to  Washington,  he  worked 
at  the  Peoria  State  Hospital.  He  was  active  in  the 
church,  Masons,  school  board,  and  also  in  the  Peoria 
Dental  Society.  He  pra  cticed  for  ten  years  in  the  Heiple 
Building,  107  North  Main,  but  spent  most  of  his  years 
practicing  at  128  South  Main  Street. 

Mrs.  Faye  Clymore  lives  in  Newcastle,  Indiana.  A  son 
Daniel,  resides  in  Alliance,  Ohio. 

DR.  HURST  spent  one  year  in  the  Heiple  Building  in 
about  1939. 


Dentists  Presently  In  Washington 

DR.  HOWARD  K.  MUERI  came  to  Washington  in  1932. 
Graduated  from  Washington  University  Dental  School 
in  1931.  Office  at  1 10  Washington  Square.  Hometown  — 
Highland,  Illinois.  Wife's  maiden  name — June  Higgins, 
Greenville,  Illinois.  Children:  Mrs.  Shirley  O'Neil, 
Aurora,  Illinois.  Dr.  Mueri  was  recently  made  a  life-time 
member  of  the  American  Dental  Association. 

DR.  WAYNE  J.  KINSINGER  to  Washington  in  1946. 
Graduated  from  University  of  Illinois  in  1941.  Office  at 
301  South  Main  Street.  Hometown  —  Washington, 
Illinois.  Wife's  maiden  name  —  Ruth  Robison,  Delavan, 
Illinois.  Children:  David  and  James. 


DR.  H.  w.  engel  to  Washington  in  1954.  Graduated 
from  Loyola  University  Dental  College  in  1954.  Office  at 
1 18  Peoria  Street.  Hometown  —  Carlock.  Illinois.  Wile's 
maiden  name  —  Marvine  Schultz.  Stanford.  Illinois. 
Children:  Tami.  Karen.  Jill  and  Penny. 

DR.  ROBERT  B.  SULLIVAN  to  Washington  in  195". 
Graduated  from  Loyola  University  Dental  College  in 
1951.  Office  at  511  Peoria  Street.  Hometown  —  Eureka. 
Illinois.  Wife's  maiden  name  —  Mary  Ann  Wetzbarger. 
Peoria.  Illinois.  Children:  Michael,  John.  Barth  and 
Mary  Kathleen. 

DR.  RONALD  R.  JOHNSON  to  Washington  in  1%4. 
Graduated  from  Northwestern  University  Dental  College 
in  1%1.  Office  at  2465  Washington  Road.  Hometown  — 
Chicago.  Illinois.  Wife's  maiden  name  —  Marie 
Devanev.  Galwav.  Ireland.  Children:  Kenneth  and 
Keith. 

DR.  FRANK  W.  IFRLLLI  to  Washington  in  1964. 
Graduated  from  Loyola  University  Dental  College  in 
1964.  Office  at  112  South  Main  Street.  Hometown  — 
Peoria,  Illinois.  Wife's  maiden  name  —  Jan  Norvell, 
Litchifeld.  Illinois.  Children:  Katherine.  Mary  Lee. 
Frank,  John,  and  Judith. 

CHIROPRACTIC  PHYSICIANS 

DR.  JAMES  R.  MARSA  came  to  Washington  in 
December  of  1963.  He  opened  his  first  office  at  120 
Walnut  Street  on  January  20,  1964.  On  February  20. 
1966.  the  office  was  relocated  to  its  present  address, 
609  Peoria  Street.  Dr.  Marsa  graduated  from  Adelphian 
Academy  and  attended  Andrews  University  for  three 
years  in  Berrien  Springs.  Michigan.  He  graduated  from 
National  College  of  Chiropractic  in  Chicago  in  1963.  He 
served  two  years  in  the  U.  S.  Army  Medical  Corps.  He 
received  a  certificate  for  300  hours  of  post  graduate 
study  in  orthopedics  and  is  a  qualified  Chiropractic 
Orthopedist.  His  home  is  Filion.  Michigan.  He  and  his 
wife,  the  former  Marlyn  Jean  Judy  of  East  Peoria. 
Illinois,  have  three  children  Tamara  Jean,  David  Wayne, 
and  Kimberly  Sue. 

DR.  STEVEN  R.  SAUDER  started  his  practice  in 
Washington  in  April  of  1971.  He  studied  at  the 
University  of  Illinois  from  1964  to  1966.  Dr.  Sauder 
graduated  from  the  National  College  of  Chiropratic 
(Lombard,  Illinois)  in  1970  and  took  his  internship  at 
Chicago  General  Health  Service.  Additionally,  he  has 
served  as  resident  in  Clinical  Neurology  at  Lombard 
Clinic  Teaching  Assistantship  ii,  Anatomy.  National 
College.  He  is  a  native  of  Washington  and  Peoria  and  is 
married  to  the  former  Vicki  Dawn  Rocke.  Delavan, 
Illinois.  Their  children  are  Jennifer  Leigh.  Barbara 
Christine,  and  Amy  Dawn 

HISTORY  OF  PHARMACIES 

Since  William  Holland  founded  the  city  of 
Washington  in  1825.  the  inhabitants  of  this  city  have 
received   excellent   medical   treatment.   An   example  of 


such  treatment  is  ever  present  in  the  pharmacies  that 
have  served  the  Washington  area  for  one  hundred  thirty- 
six  years. 

It  was  in  1838  when  Dr.  R.  W.  Burton  opened  the  first 
pharmacy.  Over  a  twenty-one  year  period.  Dr.  Burton 
continued  his  practice  in  medicine,  as  well  as  running  a 
drug  store.  Then,  in  1859,  Dr.  R.  W.  Burton  died, 
leaving  Washington  without  a  pharmacy. 

After  nine  years  of  waiting.  Washington  once  again 
had  a  drug  store.  A  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Israel 
Zinser  had  decided  to  get  into  the  pharmacy  business, 
and  in  1868  Mr.  Zinser  and  Solomon  Sonnenstein  be- 
came partners  in  the  Zinser  Drug  Store.  Mr.  Zinser  left 
Washington  in  1871  to  start  a  drug  store  in  Plainfield 
but  returned  to  Washington  in  1873  to  reunite  his  old 
partnership.  By  1876  Mr.  Zinser  had  purchased  the 
whole  interest  in  the  business  and  was  well  on  his  way  to- 
ward being  a  leader  in  pharmacy.  Mr.  Zinser  received 
recognition  at  the  organizational  meeting  of  the  Illinois 
Pharmaceutical  Association  held  in  Springfield,  Illinois, 
in  1880  when  he  was  appointed  to  a  committee  to  draft 
the  first  Pharmacy  Practice  Act  for  Illinois.  Israel  Zinser 
continued  to  serve  the  Washington  area  until  his  death 
in  1901. 


Upon  the  death  of  Israel  Zinser.  the  Zinser  Drug  Store 
was  taken  over  by  Elmer  Zinser.  Elmer  dispensed  medi- 
cations with  the  same  precision  which  he  had  learned 
from  his  father  and  carried  on  the  drug  business  until 
his  death  in  1920.  While  the  Zinser  Drug  Store  was 
becoming  a  legend  in  its  own  time,  a  second  pharmacy 
was  being  started. 

In  1875.  Dr.  Alfred  Alphonso  came  to  Washington 
and  opened  the  Alphonso  Drug  Store.  Dr.  Alphonso  was 
also  very  interested  in  music  and  therefore  brought  a 
touch  of  the  fine  arts  to  Washington  by  erecting  the 
Washington  Academy  of  Music  in  1877.  These  two 
interests  kept  Dr.  Alphonso  busy  until  he  died  in  1901. 

Dr.  Alphonso  left  a  daughter  behind  who  ran  the 
business  until   1909.  when  Frank  Brady  purchased  the 


drug  store.  Mr.  Brady  had  originally  worked  under  Israel 
Zinser  but  left  Zinser's  store  due  to  an  argument  to  join 
Sutliff  and  Case,  a  wholesale  drug  company,  until  he 
bought  the  Alphonso  store.  Since  Mr.  Brady  was  not  a 
registered  pharmacist,  he  hired  Charles  Strathmond  to 
work  in  his  pharmaceutical  department.  Upon  Mr. 
Brady's  death  in  1918,  Viola  Brady  ran  the  store  for 
several  months  before  selling  to  Walter  Under,  her 
nephew-in-law.  Walter  Linder  was  born  and  raised  in 
Peoria;  he  attended  the  University  of  Illinois  but  never 
received  his  degree  in  pharmacy.  As  manager  of  the 
Linder  Drug  Store,  Mr.  Linder  hired  a  registered  phar- 
macist and  thus  afforded  himself  the  time  to  converse 
with  his  customers,  which  resulted  in  a  very  friendly 
atmosphere  in  the  store. 

In  1944,  Mr.  Linder  died  and  his  widow  sold  the  store 
a  month  later  to  Mr.  Carl  Pope.  Mr.  Pope,  who  also  was 
not  a  pharmacist,  decided  to  convert  the  store  to  a  drug 
sundry  shop.  This  conversion  led  the  way  to  Mr.  Pope 
selling  the  store  in  1946  to  Mr.  William  Tully,  Sr.  Mr. 
Tully  took  over  the  sundry  shop  on  the  north  side  of 
Commercial  Square  for  a  period  of  three  years.  In  1949, 
Mr.  Tully  decided  to  go  out  of  business  because  he  felt 
that  "when  grocery  stores  start  selling  drug  items,  it's 
time  for  me  to  sell  out."  And  sell  out,  he  did.  He  sold  his 
store  to  an  industrious  man  by  the  name  of  Conibear. 
R.  C.  Conibear,  who  owned  a  store  in  Morton,  recon- 
verted the  drug  sundry  business  into  a  regular  pharmacy. 
Over  the  eight-year  period  which  Conibear  owned  the 
Conibear  Drug  Store,  he  was  in  constant  competition 
with  a  man  by  the  name  of  Frank  W.  Steimle. 


Frank  Steimle  came  to  Washington  when  the  widow  of 
Elmer  Zinser  sold  the  Zinser  Drug  Store  in  1921.  This 
twenty-eight  year  old  man  had  to  endure  everything  from 
the  depression  to  a  fire  which  burned  his  store  to  the 
ground.  The  tragic  fire  in  1931  showed  how  dedicated 
Mr.  Steimle  was  to  the  people  of  Washington,  for  he 
simply  started  a  new  store.  As  a  public  servant  for  thirty- 
eight  years,  Mr.  Steimle  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education  for  the  Washington  Grade  School  for  ten 
years,  city  alderman  for  twelve  years,  active  in  church 
affairs,  and  a  member  of  many  other  local  organizations. 

Upon  his  death  on  January  16,  1959,  the  store  was 
sold  to  man  by  the  name  of  Arthur  Stephan  of  Fairbury, 
Illinois.  Mr.  Stephan  did  not  own  the  store  long,  how- 
ever, due  to  health  reasons,  and  he  decided  to  sell  the 
store  just  two  weeks  after  he  bought  it.  March  17,  1959, 


\  * 


Donald  R.  Gronewold  from  Farmington  bought  the  old 
Steimle  store  and  set  up  a  business  called  Don's 
Pharmacy,  Inc.  He  was  later  joined  by  E.  R.  Lewis,  Jr. 
and  E.  R.  Lewis,  Sr.  of  Canton,  Illinois,  to  form  an  in- 
corporated business.  As  the  new  owner,  Don  Gronewold 
was  predestined  to  start  where  Frank  Steimle  left  off. 
Mr.  Gronewold  immediately  became  involved  in  local 
politics,  serving  as  an  alderman  as  well  as  a  member  on 
the  police  commission.  This  University  of  Illinois  College 
of  Pharmacy  graduate  has  been  past  chairman  of  the 
township's  Cancer  Fund,  president  of  Civic  Club,  mem- 
ber and  past  president  of  the  Rotary  Club,  member  of 
the  Washington  Association  of  Commerce,  and  a 
member  of  the  United  Methodist  Church.  As  an  active 
member  in  pharmaceutical  organizations,  Don 
Gronewold  is  presently  a  member  and  past  president  of 
the  Central  Illinois  Pharmaceutical  Association,  as  well 
as  being  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  for  the 
Illinois  Pharmaceutical  Association.  In  1970,  Don 
Gronewold  was  honored  by  receiving  the  "Bowl  of 
Hygeia",  an  award  presented  yearly  to  one  pharmacist 
in  each  state  of  the  union  by  the  A.  H.  Robins  Company. 
In  1971,  Don's  Pharmacy,  Inc.  moved  from  the  old 
Steimle  Building  to  100  South  Main  Street  where  it  has 
been  now  for  three  years. 

Don's  Pharmacy,  Inc.  was  not  the  only  pharmacy  in 
Washington  during  these  years,  because  when  R.  C. 
Conibear  sold  his  store  in  1957,  Mr.  Vaubel  and  Mr. 
William  Fry  purchased  the  store  on  a  joint  business  deal. 
Mr.  Fry,  who  graduated  in  1952  from  St.  Louis  College 
of  Pharmacy  was  a  native  of  Springfield,  Illinois.  Like 
Frank  Steimle,  Mr.  Fry's  store  was  struck  by  fire  in 
1959,  and  he  was  forced  to  rebuild.  In  1965,  Mr.  Fry 
bought  out  Mr.  Vaubel  to  become  sole  owner  of  the 
business.  Mr.  Fry  continued  his  business  until  1973, 
when  he  closed  his  store  to  enter  hospital  pharmacy  at 
St.  Francis  Hospital  in  Peoria,  Illinois. 


At  that  point,  it  may  have  appeared  that  Washington 
would  have  only  one  pharmacy  in  town,  but  on  August  5, 
1974,  a  native  Washingtonian,  James  Arn  opened  an 
apothecary  on  Wilmor  Road.  A  graduate  of  the 
University  of  Illinois  College  of  Pharmacy,  Mr.  Arn  has 
gained  vast  experience  from  the  jobs  he  held  in  Chicago. 
Washington,  and  Peoria. 

As  anyone  can  see.  Washington  has  been  treated  well 
by  the  pharmaceutical  profession  in  the  last  one  hundred 
thirty-six  years.  It  has  taken  men  like,  Zinser,  Alphonso. 
Steimle,  Fry.  Gronewold,  and  Arn  who  have  been 
dedicated  to  serving  people  to  fight  sickness.  They 
deserve  the  praise  of  a  grateful  community. 

WASHINGTON  HOSPITAL 

On  November  17.  1942,  a  nursing  home  and  hospital 
was  opened  at  127  South  Main  Street,  Washington,  by 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  A.  Lasance.  Sr.  The  first  three  patients 
were  Mrs.  Jennie  Davis.  Mrs.  R.  F.  Tanton,  and  Miss 
M.  Cummings.  On  November  26,  1942.  the  first  baby,  a 
boy  named  Charles  Allen,  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  Feucht  at  the  facility.  In  December  of  that  year,  a 
hospital  staff  was  named  comprised  of  O.  P.  Bennett 
M.  D.,  President;  L.  E.  Monroe  M.  D.  and  George 
Cohen  M.  D.,  Vice  Presidents;  L.  L.  Rich  M.  D.,  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer;  and  Roberta  Lasance  R.  N..  Superin- 
tendent. The  above  officers  plus  Dr.  D.  B.  Clymore  and 
Dr.    H.    K.   Mueri  constituted   the   Board  of  Directors 


which  determined  hospital  policies.  Many  individuals 
donated  money  for  equipment  and  the  Washington 
American  Legion  Post  organized  a  drive  for  funds  to  be 
used  for  necessary  medical  and  surgical  equipment. 

By  the  end  of  March,  1943,  it  was  apparent  that  there 
was  not  sufficient  room  available  to  meet  demands  so 
efforts  were  made  to  find  larger  quarters.  The  following 
month  the  Reyburn  home  on  Holland  Street  was  pur- 
chased by  the  Lasance  family  who  moved  to  that  location 
in  May.  1943.  Extensive  remodeling  was  done  to  the  six- 
teen room  structure,  and  more  equipment  was  pur- 
chased. Because  of  the  war  some  equipment  was  difficult 
to  obtain,  so  Robert  Anderson  of  Washington  built  the 
autoclave  used  for  sterilizing  surgical  needs. 

Open  house  was  held  at  the  new  location  on  October 
10,  1943.  with  over  600  visitors  touring  the  building, 
consisting  of  rooms  for  the  elderly  on  the  first  floor,  a 
maternity  wing  with  nursery  in  front  upstairs,  and  a 
medical-surgical  section  to  the  rear  on  the  second  floor. 

At  that  time  the  name  of  the  facility  was  officially 
changed  from  Lasance  Hospital  to  Washington  Hospital 
in  appreciation  of  the  cooperation  of  Washington 
citizens  and  organizations.  During  that  first  year  of 
operation,  approximately  fifty  babies  were  born,  and  the 
facility  was  used  not  only  by  the  four  local  doctors  but 
also  doctors  from  the  surrounding  area.  In  1945,  Ray 
Lasance,  Jr.  joined  his  father  in  the  business;  later  his 
wife,  Tiena,  and  his  sister.  Mary,  were  active  in  the 
operation  of  the  hospital. 

Following  the  death  of  the  senior  Mr.  Lasance  in  1949 
and  the  subsequent  illness  of  his  wife  the  following  year, 
a  decision  was  made  to  terminate  ownership  of  the 
hospital  and  an  offer  was  made  to  turn  it  over  to  the  city. 
During  the  seven  years  of  its  operation,  1,250  hospital 
cases  plus  other  miscellaneous  surgical  and  medical 
cases  were  served  by  the  hospital  in  addition  to  caring 
for  the  elderly.  In  December,  1950.  the  property  was 
purchased  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Max  Baltz  for  use  as  a 
nursing  home  for  the  aged. 


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WASHINGTON  NURSING  HOME 

In  December  1950  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Max  H.  Baltz  pur- 
chased the  Washington  Hospital  from  Mrs.  Robert 
Lasance.  After  extensive  remodeling  and  refurnishing 
the  Illinois  Department  of  Public  Health  issued  a  license 
to  operate  the  facility  as  a  Nursing  Home  effective 
January  15,  1951. 

The  first  patient.  Miss  Cora  Hill,  was  admitted  on 
January  15,  1951.  She  had  lived  on  Market  Street  most  of 
her  life  but  had  been  hospitalized  and  unable  to  return 
home.  She  spent  two  and  a  half  years  at  the  home. 

It  took  about  a  year  and  a  half  to  reach  capacity  of 
forty  patients.  For  the  next  twenty-two  years  the  Home 
averaged  at  least  90%  of  capacity  at  all  times.  The  staff 
grew  from  six  (with  the  owners  relieving  on  days  off)  to 
about  twenty-five  full  time  employees.  In  1972  the  nur- 
sing home  was  licensed  by  the  Illinois  Department  of 
Public  Health  as  a  sheltered  care  home.  It  closed  its 
doors  as  a  health  care  facility  on  June  22, 1973. 

During  these  years  over  seven  hundred  patients  were 
admitted;  the  average  length  of  stay  was  about  one  and  a 
half  years.  The  last  patient  admitted  was  Katherine 
Seizinger  from  Peoria;  the  last  one  discharged  was 
Floyd  E.  Bradshaw  of  East  Peoria. 

In  1957  a  rehabilitation  nursing  program  was  started 
in  the  Home,  one  of  the  first  in  the  nation.  It  was  a  three- 
year  demonstration  program  sponsored  by  the  Office  of 
Vocational  Rehabilitation  (Federal),  Illinois  Public  Aid 
Commission  (State),  and  Forest  Park  Foundation  (Local). 
Many  other  states  later  adopted  the  program.  The 
rehabilitation  nursing  program  has  been  continued  at 
the  Washington  Nursing  Center. 

The  Washington  Nursing  Center  on  Newcastle  Road 
was  opened  with  fifty-one  beds  in  October  1962.  The 
facility  was  planned  and  built  specifically  for  an  active 
rehabilitation  nursing  program.  In  1966  an  additional 
thirty-eight  beds  were  built  along  with  enlarged  services 
areas,  and  in  1970  another  thirty-three  beds  were  added 


for  a  total  of  122  beds.  An  average  occupancy  of  95% 
as  been  maintained. 

The  first  patient,  admitted  on  October  9,  1962,  was 
David  Guthrie,  Lexington,  Illinois.  A  total  of  1,350 
patients  have  been  admitted  during  this  time. 

Due  to  the  highly  skilled  rehabilitation  program, 
the  average  length  of  stay  has  declined  to  seven  months 
with  22%  of  discharged  patients  returning  to  their  home 
or  homes  of  relatives,  and  another  14%  discharged  to 
lesser  skilled  facilities  at  lower  cost. 

The  "volunteer"  program  was  started  in  1957  when 
sixty  community  volunteers  were  recruited.  Today  there 
are  about  250  volunteers  who  visit  the  patients  and  put 
more  "living  into  their  lives". 

In  1973,  5,000  volunteer  hours  were  given,  with  an 
accumulation  of  more  than  16,000  hours  in  all.  The  first 
activity  director  was  Emojean  Hexamer  of  Washington, 
and  presently  Betty  Olds  of  Beverly  Manor  heads  this 
department,  having  served  in  this  capacity  for  nine  years. 
This  department  now  has  two  assistants  and  is  respon- 
sible for  recruiting,  training  and  coordinating  the  volun- 
teers and  their  duties. 

To  further  strengthen  the  nursing  rehabilitation  pro- 
gram, all  registered  nurses  and  licensed  practical  nurses 
are  encouraged  to  continue  their  education  by  taking 
extra  recognized  nursing  courses.  Nurse's  aides  are 
offered  opportunities  to  participate  in  one  and  two  day 
workshops.  Today  there  are  125  full  and  part-time 
employees  at  Washington  Nursing  Center. 

The  Center  participates  with  Illinois  Central  College 
through  its  Division  of  Health  Occupations  to  provide 
twelve  weeks  of  clinical  experience  in  Geriatric 
Rehabilitation  Nursing  for  Registered  Nurse  and 
Licensed  Practical  Nurse  students.  There  is  also  a  clinic- 
al program  for  Dental  Hygiene  and  Medical  Records 
Assistant  students. 

Over  the  years  it  became  apparent  that  many  people 
could  remain  out  of  institutions  longer  if  they  had  some 


^ 


supportive  and  protective  services  available,  so.  to  com- 
plete the  Health  Care  Facility  Complex  at  Washington 
Nursing  Center,  an  eight  unit  apartment  complex  was 
planned,  designed  and  built  in  1970  for  retired  couples 
and  singles.  On  October  15.  1970  the  first  resident  was 
Mrs.  Edith  Kern,  who  lived  alone  for  three  years.  At  age 
95  she  moved  to  live  with  a  relative.  Mr.  E..  E.  Habecker, 
Sr.  was  the  second  resident  and  lived  in  one  of  the  single 
apartments  for  two  and  one-half  years. 

In  May.  1973  fourteen  more  apartment  units  were 
opened  to  complete  the  New  Castle  Apartment  Complex. 

LAWYERS  IN  WASHINGTON 

The  first  lawyer  to  practice  in  Washington.  Illinois, 
was  THORNTON  WALKER  who  came  from  Virginia.  No 
records  are  available  to  indicate  at  what  precise  time  he 
came  or  how  long  he  remained. 

JOHN  w.  DOUGHERTY  was  born  in  New  Castle  County, 
Delaware,  in  1882.  In  1857  he  settled  in  Washington  and 
became  engaged  in  the  grocery  business.  He  then  com- 
menced the  study  of  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  January.  1874.  He  became  the  first  City  Attorney  of 
Washington  in  1878.  He  compiled  a  history  of 
Washington  in  1878  which  is  one  of  the  few  existing 
records  of  its  beginning.  He  died  in  1901  and  is  buried  in 
the  Glendale  Cemetery. 

ALBERT  R.  RICH  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Metamora 
in  1845.  In  1876  he  graduated  from  Union  College  of 
Law  in  Chicago  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  on  July  4, 
1876.  He  moved  to  Washington  in  1901  and  engaged  in 
the  general  practice  of  law.  His  son,  Ernest  Rich,  was 
graduated  from  the  University  of  Illinois  Law  School  in 
1912.  He  joined  his  father  then  in  the  practice  of  law  for 
a  short  time.  Albert  R.  Rich  died  in  1918  and  is  buried 
in  the  Glendale  Cemetery. 

CHARLES  A.  WALTMIRE  was  born  in  New  Salem. 
Fairfield  County.  Ohio.  He  received  his  legal  education 
at  the  University  of  Michigan,  moved  to  Washington  in 
1897.  and  engaged  in  the  general  practice  of  law.  He 
served  several  terms  as  city  attorney  and  was  a  prominent 
Republican  leader. 

RAE  C.  HEIPLE  was  born  in  Washington,  Illinois,  in 
18%.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1923  and  has 
engaged  in  the  general  practice  of  the  law  in  Washington 
ever  since.  He  has  two  sons  who  are  lawyers.  One  son. 
Rae  C.  Heiple  II.  who  was  born  in  1929  and  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1953,  practices  law  in  Abingdon.  Illinois.  The 
other  son,  James  D.  Heiple.  who  was  born  in  1933  and 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1957,  is  an  Associate  Circuit 
Judge  sitting  in  Pekin.  Illinois. 

E.  J.  ELLIOTT  graduated  from  Northwestern  Law 
School.  He  came  to  Washington  in  1921  and  practiced 
law  here  for  a  short  time. 


WAYNE  C.  TOWNLEY.  a  native  of  Macomb.  Illinois, 
graduated  from  Illinois  Wesleyan  Law  School  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar.  He  married  Isabella  Danforth  of 
Washington.  Illinois.  They  lived  in  Washington  from 
1924  until  the  early  1930"s.  and  he  engaged  in  the 
general  practice  of  law  here  unti  he  moved  to 
Bloomington.  Illinois. 

KENNETH  w.  BLACK  was  born  in  1912.  in  Peoria, 
Illinois,  where  he  attended  local  schools,  graduating 
from  Bradley  University  in  1934.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1937,  after  receiving  his  J.  D.  degree  from  the 
University  of  Chicago.  He  and  his  wife  moved  to 
Washington  on  September  1.  1938.  and  have  lived  here 
ever  since.  During  that  time  he  has  engaged  in  the 
general  practice  of  law  in  Washington  and  also  in  Peoria 
with  the  firm  of  Black.  Black  &  Borden.  He  served  as 
the  City  Attorney  from  1941  to  1953  and  from  1957  to  the 
present  time.  He  is  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
of  Bradley  University. 

i  ..\ERNE  ESSER  BLUMENSHINE  was  born  in  1920  and 
raised  in  Washington.  Illinois.  She  was  graduated  from 
the  University  of  Illinois  Law  School  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1944.  She  has  only  recently  engaged  in 
general  practice  of  the  law  in  Washington.  Illinois. 

melvin  o.  MOEHLE  was  born  in  1922  in  Okawville. 
Illinois  and  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1948.  after  graduating 
from  the  University  of  Missouri  Law  School.  He  and  his 
family  moved  to  Washington  in  1950  and  have  lived  here 
ever  since.  Since  that  time  he  has  engaged  in  the  general 
practice  of  the  law  in  Washington  and  has  also  engaged 
in  general  practice  in  Pekin  with  the  Professional 
Corporation  of  Moehle,  Reardon.  Smith  &  Day,  Ltd. 
He  served  as  City  Attorney  from  1953  to  1957  and  has 
been  instrumental  in  the  formation  of  the  Washington 
Park  District  in  1968  and  the  development  of  the  District 
since  that  date. 

BRUCE  w.  black  was  born  in  1944  and  attended  local 
schools.  Following  his  graduation  from  Bradley 
University,  he  graduated  from  the  University  of  Illinois 
Law  School  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1971.  He  is 
associated  with  his  father  in  the  practice  of  law  in 
Washington  and  Peoria,  Illinois. 

DEAN  R.  ESSIG  was  born  in  1942  and  raised  in 
Washington,  Illinois,  where  he  attended  local  schools.  He 
graduated  from  the  University  of  Illinois  Law  School  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  spring  of  1974.  He  is  now 
engaged  in  the  general  practice  of  law  in  Washington. 
Illinois. 

KENNETH  L.  black  was  born  in  1942  and  attended 
local  schools.  Following  his  graduation  from  Bradley 
University,  he  graduated  from  the  University  of  Louis- 
ville Law  School  in  the  spring  of  1974.  Following  his 
admission  to  the  bar.  he  will  be  associated  in  practice 
with  his  father  and  brother. 


H.   D.  Harms,  banker  and  real  estate  dealer  in  large 
tracts  and  timber  lands,  was  born  in  Washington. 


Frank    W.    Hops,    cashier   at    Henry    Denhart   &    Co.. 
bankers,  moved  with  his  parents  to  Washington  in  1874. 


CLUBS 

CHAPTERS 

TROOPS 

VETERANS 


WASHINGTON  CIVIC  ASSOCIATION 

The  Washington  Civic  Club  meets  every  Tuesday 
evening  at  the  Tally-Ho  Restaurant,  as  a  Knife  and  Fork 
Club,  to  have  a  program  of  current  events  and  fellow- 
ship. This  organization  is  the  oldest  of  the  men's  social 
groups  within  our  community  and  presently  has  a 
membership  of  thirty-six. 

The  club  had  its  beginnings  as  the  Kiwanis  Club 
which  was  organized  July  24,1924.  Meetings  were  held  in 
Woodman  Hall,  which  was  in  the  Heiple  Building.  This 
was  a  very  active  group  within  the  community,  having 
a  charter  membership  of  thirty-seven.  The  depression 
in  1932  caused  the  Kiwanis  Club  to  be  disbanded,  as  the 
membership  declined  to  the  point  of  not  being  practical. 

It  was  decided  to  re-organize  the  Kiwanis  Club, 
November  26,  1936,  since  the  charter  had  not  been  can- 
celled. The  meetings  were  held  in  the  basement  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  the  church  women  served  the 
meals.  It  was  during  this  period  that  the  club  was  very 
active.  They  organized  the  first  Boy  Scout  Troop  in 
1936,  the  first  Cub  Scout  Troop  in  1938,  and  held  the 


first  Athletic  Banquet  for  high  school  athletes  in  1937. 
Due  to  the  fact  that  smoking  was  not  allowed,  the 
meeting  place  was  changed  to  the  J.  B.  Hoke  Restaurant, 
September  5,  1940,  which  is  presently  the  Mary  Rachel 
Antique  Shop. 

The  Washington  Civic  Association  was  organized 
January  9,  1941,  as  a  locally  controlled  organization,  for 
they  resented  paying  the  national  dues  to  the  Kiwanis 
Club.  It  was  also  January  9,  1941,  that  the  club  decided 
to  have  their  own  meeting  room  above  the  Danforth 
Bank,  now  the  Washington  Federal  Savings  &  Loan 
Building. 

A  kitchen  was  installed  and  furniture  was  furnished 
from  the  Hoke  Restaurant.  It  was  within  these  facilities 
that  the  club  became  a  closely  knit  organization  and 
many  used  the  rooms  throughout  the  week.  When  cur- 
rent topics  were  not  debated,  pinochle,  shuffleboard, 
and  even  ping-pong  tournaments  were  the  sources  of 
interest  for  all.  The  Eureka  Golf  Course  summer  stags 
and  picnics  have  been  an  institution  with  club  members. 

It  was  decided  to  move  again  as  a  caterer  could  not  be 
found  to  carry  meals  upstairs.  The  next  move  was  to 
Martha's  Town  House,  215  East  Jefferson  in  1965.  The 
club  remained  there  until  it  moved  to  the  Neptune  Swim 
Club  in  1968.  In  1969  the  location  was  changed  to  the 
Tally-Ho  Restaurant. 

As  stated  within  the  constitution  of  the  Washington 
Civic  Club,  the  organization  has  always  strived  "to  pro- 
vide, through  this  club,  a  practical  means  to  form 
enduring  friendships,  to  render  altruistic  service,  and  to 
build  a  better  community  ". 


ASSOCIATION  OF  COMMERCE 

The  Washington  Association  of  Commerce  was  or- 
ganized April  6,  1959  with  an  address  at  108  Washington 
Square,  with  a  membership  fee  of  $10.00  per  year. 

The  Charter  Incorporators  were  Richard  L.  Bayless.  Robert 
J.  Roehm,  Clarence  O.  Zimmerman,  Clarence  A.  Linsley.  Joseph 
Archibald,  and  William  E.  Fry.  The  first  officers  were  Richard  L. 
Bayless,  President;  Clarence  O.  Zimmerman.  Vice  President  and 
Treasurer;  Joseph  Archibald.  Secretary.  The  First  Board  of 
Directors  were  Robert  J.  Roehm.  Herman  F.  Essig.  Clarence  A. 
Linsley,  William  E.  Fry.  Richard  Scott,  and  James  Ward. 


The  purpose  of  the  Association  is  to  advance  the  com- 
mercial, agricultural,  industrial,  and  civic  interests  of 
the  City  of  Washington  and  adjacent  territories. 

The  first  Association  of  Commerce  Day  was  planned 
with  a  tent  in  the  Dr.  Forrette  lot  at  the  corner  of  Walnut 
Street  and  Washington  Square.  There  have  been 
numerous  projects  discussed  and  accomplished  over  the 
years;  one  of  the  early  projects  was  the  need  for  doctors 
in  the  city.  The  Association  was  instrumental  in  bringing 
Dr.  Barron.  Dr.  Hostetler,  Dr.  Mori,  Dr.  Baer,  and 
Dr.  Antony  to  our  city. 

Other  early  projects  include:  better  traffic  controls  for 
the  city  and  the  square;  Booster  Days  for  merchant 
promotions;  Christmas  decorations;  better  lighting  for 
the  square;  removal  of  the  Sullivan  Building  for  parking 
and  as  removal  as  a  blight. 

The  first  Washington  Day  Banquet  was  held  February 
22,  1960.  The  speaker  was  Publisher  W.  Dean 
McNaughton  who  told  of  his  personal  experiences  on 
a  trip  to  Russia.  The  banquet  was  held  at  St.  Mark's 
Lutheran  Church  in  the  Educational  Building.  The 
Association  is  responsible  for  the  annual  Washington 
Day  Banquets,  whose  purpose  is  to  honor  the  senior  and 
junior  citizen  who  have  made  a  significant  contribution 
to  the  community.  Citizens  that  have  received  awards  are 
Miss  Louise  Harte.  Glenn  Harkins.  Dr.  Lee  Monroe.  Richard 
Alexander.  Mrs.  Paul  Trailkill.  August  Esser.  Mrs.  Rufus  Rich.  Miss 
Frances  Whittaker.  Herman  Essig.  Mrs.  E.  K.  Mosny.  Ray  Abernathy. 
Mrs.  Alice  Snell.  James  I.  McDaniel.  Ed  Habecker  Sr..  Norman 
Martin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Laban  Lytic.  Tom  Boyd.  Rev.  Ben  Esch.  Robert 
Dubois.  Fred  Sweitzer,  Mrs.  Guido  Tiezzi.  Earl  M.  Zimmerman. 
Robert  A.  Paxson.  Claire  Crabill.  Ronald  Dingledine.  and  Henry 
J.  Vogelsang. 

Another  project  of  the  Association  of  Commerce  was  a 
contest  for  a  town  slogan.  A  $25.00  Savings  Bond  was 
given  for  the  best  slogan  for  the  City  of  Washington.  The 
slogan  adopted  was  "City  On  The  Grow". 

The  Civic  Improvement  Committee  met  with  Governor 
Kerner  at  Pekin.  and  he  assured  them  that  the 
McCluggage  Bridge  Inter-Change  program  would  be 
completed  by  1963. 

A  motion  was  made  and  the  project  was  accomplished 
that  the  Association  petition  the  City  Council  to  name 
the  city  square  Washington  Square. 


The  Association  wrote  a  letter  to  the  City  of 
Washington  to  endorse  the  proposed  junior  college,  the 
site  for  the  college  to  be  east  of  McCluggage  Bridge  on 
top  of  the  hill  between  Route  24  and  Highview  Road. 

On  April  12,  1966,  brochures  were  prepared  on  avail- 
able business  buildings  and  land  in  and  around 
Washington. 

On  May  9.  1966  the  Association  moved  that  a 
memorial  fund  be  set  up  for  Mayor  John  Blumenshine 
who  passed  away  suddenly. 

The  Association  supported  the  Farmdale  Reservoir  as 
a  recreation  and  conservation  area. 

In  the  fall  of  1971,  the  Association  started  the  project 
of  beautification  of  the  city,  especially  the  commercial 
buildings.  Kenyon  &  Associates  were  hired,  and  the 
plan  is  still  underway. 

A  current  project  begun  in  1973  is  working  with  the 
Washington  Business  Council. 

The  Association  of  Commerce  has  had  a  struggle  to 
survive.  Good  men  have  spent  long  hours  on  projects 
with  small  results  at  times,  but  eventually  the  goal  was 
accomplished.  Old  members  have  become  discouraged 
working  for  what  seemed  at  the  time  a  lost  cause,  but 
then  new  young  members  have  come  along  to  take  up  the 
yoke  and  carry  it  on  a  little  further.  As  is  true  of  all 
organizations,  the  job  of  keeping  interest  is  a  great  one. 
The  efforts  have  been  worthwhile,  for  the  Association  of 
Commerce  has  been  a  good  thing  for  Washington. 

WASHINGTON  BUSINESS  COUNCIL 

The  Washington  Business  Council  is  an  affiliate  of 
the  Chamber  of  Commerce.  It  began  May,  1973. 

The  purpose  of  this  organization  is:  (a)  to  develop  and 
maintain  good  will  relationship  between  businesses,  (b) 
to  develop  and  assist  in  the  planning  and  organizing  of 
business  activities,  (c)  to  promote  Washington  as  a  site 
for  commercial  development,  (d)  to  improve  communica- 
tions between  business  community  and  the  governmental 
divisions,  (e)  to  provide  assistance  and  services  to  new 
and  existing  businesses. 

Accomplishments  of  the  organization  have  been:  1) 
set  up  an  office  with  a  paid  secretary,  located  behind  the 
office  supply  section  at  Herbst  Company,  2)  newsletter 
published  monthly  and  mailed  to  all  Washington  area 
businesses  and  civic  organizations.  They  have  organizaed 
the  following  promotions:  Independence  Days  in  July, 
1973;  Moonlight  Madness  Sale;  Fall  Harvest  Sale, 
Santa  Claus  project  with  cooperation  of  the  Washington 
J.  C's.  They  have  had  several  informative  speakers  during 
the  year.  Special  events  will  be  planned  each  year. 

WASHINGTON  JAYCEES 

The  Washington  Jaycees  is  a  non-profit  civic  organiza- 
tion composed  of  young  men  in  the  community  between 
the  ages  of  21  and  35.  The  Jaycees  have  been  organized 
for  the  following  purposes:  A)  to  provide  civic  services 


to  the  local  community  and  its  citizens  by  means  of 
active  participation  in  projects  designed  to  improve  the 
City  of  Washington,  B)  to  provide  young  men  in  the  com- 
munity an  opportunity  to  become  involved  in  local 
affairs  and  to  enable  them  to  obtain  training  for  future 
community  leadership. 

In  March,  1949  the  Washington  Jaycees  were  formed 
at  an  organizational  meeting  attended  by  twenty-seven 
men.  The  first  president  of  the  chapter  was  Bob  Johnson, 
and  the  first  project  undertaken  was  to  clean  and  paint 
the  City  Building. 

Since  the  inception  of  the  club  in  1949,  the 
Washington  Jaycees  have  undertaken  many  valuable  and 
worthwhile  projects  that  have  benefitted  the  community. 
Some  of  the  more  notable  projects  are  as  follows: 
Christmas  Decorations,  Light  Bulb  Sales,  Evergreen 
Trees  in  Square,  Jaycee  City  Welcome  Signs,  Founder 
Day  Banquet,  Scholarship  Awards,  Chicken  Bar-Be- 
Que,  Flying  Flags  on  Holidays,  Miss  Washington 
Pageant,  Jr.  Sports  Jamboree,  Punt,  Pass,  and  Kick, 
Fountain  Cover,  Haunted  House,  and  Playground 
Equipment. 

Since  1973  the  major  project  for  the  local  club  has 
been  to  purchase  playground  equipment  for  the  City 
Park.  Thanks  to  the  active  members  of  the  club  and  the 
support  of  the  people  of  Washington  we  now  have  the 
playground  equipment  installed  and  in  use.  Hopefully 
within  a  few  months  our  financial  obligation  will  be  paid 
in  full.  We  must  now  seek  a  new  project  that  will  make 
our  community  an  even  better  place  to  live. 

WASHINGTON  JAYCETTES 

One  fine  day  in  the  autumn  of  1951,  after  a  Jaycee 
meeting,  the  wives  of  these  dedicated  men  decided  they 
could  organize  a  club  that  would  supplement  the  Jaycees 
in  their  activities.  They  might  also  go  out  on  a  limb  and 
do  a  project  on  their  own,  if,  of  course,  the  membership 
felt  the  project  was  not  too  daring.  The  only  qualification 
to  join,  then  as  now,  is  the  candidate  has  to  be  the  wife 
of  a  Jaycee  in  good  standing. 

It  took  six  months  to  organize  a  project  that  was 
mutually  acceptable  to  the  members.  The  project  was  a 
hat  show  and  card  party,  held  on  March  7,  1952,  in  the 


city  building.  It  was  quite  a  success  with  a  capacity  crowd 
attending. 

This  was  the  start  of  the  Jaycee  Auxiliary,  known  as 
the  Washington  Jaycettes  since  1959.  Since  then  they 
have  come  a  long  way,  sponsoring  major  projects  such  as 
the  Washington  Haunted  House  in  the  autumn  of  1973. 

WASHINGTON  ROTARY  CLUB 

The  Washington  Rotary  Club  was  formed  in 
September,  1955,  with  twenty  charter  members.  The  club 
has  now  grown  to  forty-six  members.  The  first  meeting 
place  was  the  basement  of  the  United  Methodist  Church 
with  the  minister  of  that  church,  Robert  A.  Evans,  as 
its  first  president.  In  1956,  the  meeting  place  was  moved 
to  Kay's  Kitchen,  which  name  was  later  changed  to  the 
Washington  Town  House,  and  the  meeting  place  has 
been  the  same  since. 

The  Washington  Rotary  Club,  as  all  Rotary  Clubs,  has 
a  common  format  with  a  weekly  meal  meeting  followed 
by  a  speaker  of  community  or  general  interest.  Each 
rotary  club  throughout  the  world  is  encouraged  and  ex- 
pected to  provide  useful  projects  and  services  to  their 
community  and  the  world  at  large.  The  Washington 
Rotary  Club  is  no  exception  and  utilizes  all  its  income 
and  people  resources  for  community,  youth  and  inter- 
national projects. 

The  community  project  that  the  club  takes  the  most 
pride  in  is  its  participation  in  the  formation  of  the 
Washington  Park  District.  Although  several  referen- 
dums  had  failed  in  the  past,  the  Washington  Club  in 
1966  formed  a  committee  of  Rotarions  to  promote  a  park 
district.  Four  possible  sites  were  found,  and  the  club  took 
options  on  two  of  them.  Finally,  the  55-acre  Heyl  pro- 
perty adjacent  to  Lincoln  School  was  chosen.  Options  on 
this  land  taken  in  October  of  1966  were  held  until  the 
park  district  was  formed  and  the  land  was  purchased  by 
the  park  district.  The  club  worked  to  have  the 
petitions  signed  for  a  referendum  election  and  paid  the 
necessary  costs  of  the  election.  This  referendum 
was  passed  and  the  park  district  was  formed  in  January 
of  1968. 

The  club  has  continued  to  support  the  park  and  in 
1973  provided  two  basketball  standards  for  the  park 


district  and  in  1974  provided  a  picnic  shelter  and  lane 
dividers  for  competitive  swimming  in  the  park  pool. 
These  last  two  items  cost  in  excess  of  $3,600. 

The  rotary  has  found  time  and  energy  to  support  the 
library.  From  time  to  time  it  has  provided  magazine  sub- 
scriptions and  in  1972  purchased  a  study  carousel  and 
chairs.  In  1958  the  club  honored  Mrs.  Marguerite  Harvey 
for  many  years  of  excellent  services  as  librarian  by  pre- 
senting her  with  a  special  plaque. 

Over  the  years,  the  Washington  Rotary  Club  has  been 
a  source  of  money  in  various  amounts  for  numerous  pro- 
jects of  community  nature.  There  are  too  many  to 
mention,  but  they  concern  primarily  youth  activities. 

For  thirteen  years  now  the  Rotary  Club  has  furnished 
a  travelogue  program.  This  program  is  held  on  Saturday 
evenings  at  the  Washington  High  School  and  provides  a 
professional  speaker  with  either  a  slide  or  movie  pro- 
gram. There  are  seven  programs  a  year,  and  they  provide 
interesting  entertainment  for  people  in  the  community 
as  well  as  a  major  source  of  income  for  the  club. 

The  club's  interest  in  the  youth  of  the  community  has 
been  strong  since  the  inception  of  the  club.  For  many 
years  the  club  has  sponsored  a  boy  to  Boy's  State,  sent 
girls  to  the  Girl  Scout  Camp  and  provided  financial 
assistance  to  organized  baseball  programs  in  the  area. 
For  a  number  of  years  the  club  provided  $100  scholar- 
ships for  high  school  students  who  were  going  on  to 
college;  in  all,  16  students  received  this  help.  The  club 
also  sponsored  the  athletic  banquet  at  the  high  school 
until  recently  when  the  Boosters  Club  was  able  to  take 
over  this  activity.  Financial  support  was  provided  to 
build  the  two  tennis  courts  near  the  high  school  in  1963. 
Opportunities  for  service  of  a  person-to-person  nature 
became  available  several  years  ago  when  a  TV  set  was 
given  to  a  crippled  young  girl  at  the  Washington  Nursing 
Home.  On  another  occasion  many  members  went  to 
Peoria  to  donate  blood  in  memory  of  a  girl  who  had  died 
from  leukemia. 

As  there  are  many  Rotarians  and  Rotary  Clubs  world- 
wide, it  is  only  natural  that  Rotarians  have  interests  of 
an  international  nature.  For  a  number  of  years  the 
Rotary  Club  was  the  only  source  of  financial  support  for 
the  AFS  program,  providing  $1,000  to  $1,500  each  year 
in  which  students  qualified  for  travel.  The  AFS  program 
provides  for  foreign  students  to  come  here  for  a  school 
year  and  reside  with  a  Washington  family  and  also  for 
qualified   Washington   High   School  students  to  travel 


abroad  and  live  with  a  family  in  a  foreign  country.  As 
AFS  has  now  become  a  Washington  tradition,  it  has 
become  more  self-sufficient,  and  the  need  for  Rotary 
financing  has  been  reduced. 

Another  Rotary  International  program  is  the  Experi- 
ment in  International  Living.  The  club  provides  finan- 
cial support  for  a  college  age  person  from  a  foreign  coun- 
try to  spend  six  weeks  in  the  Washington  area. 
These  people  live  in  the  homes  of  the  club  members 
and  move  from  family  to  family,  staying  with  each  family 
about  a  week.  Rotary  has  run  this  program  for  a  number 
of  years  and  have  had  young  people  from  England, 
France,  Sweden,  Italy  and  Germany. 

The  club  participates  in  Rotary  Foundations,  main- 
taining a  donation  level  of  $50  per  member  in  this  foun- 
dation. Rotary  Foundation  provides  for  international 
exchange  study  programs  primarily  concerning  young 
adults.  Occasionally  study  groups  of  this  program  from 
foreign  countries  visit  this  area  and  are  hosted  by  the 
club. 

The  men  of  the  Rotary  Club  of  Washington  feel 
privileged  to  live  and  work  in  and  to  be  of  service  to  the 
Washington  area  community.  They  are  all  optimistic 
about  the  future  of  the  area  and  hope  to  make  future 
business  or  professional  contributions  according  to  their 
individual  calling  and  to  be  of  service  as  a  club. 

WASHINGTON  LIONS  CLUB 

The  Washington  Lions  Club  was  chartered  April  3, 
1971.  In  October  of  1971,  the  Lions  held  their  first  Candy 
Day.  This  is  an  annual  event  held  each  October.  The 
money  raised  is  used  entirely  for  sight  conservation  and 
blind  activities. 

On  August  24,  1972,  the  Washington  Lions  sponsored 
the  Lions  Mobile  Glaucoma  Screening  Unit  (supervised 
by  the  Illinois  Society  for  the  Prevention  of  Blindness) 
in  Washington.  One  hundred  twenty-eight  people  were 
tested  with  two  confirmed  cases  of  glaucoma  detected. 


On  April  8,  1974,  the  Lions  kicked  off  their  first 
Broom  Sale.  The  people  of  Washington  generously 
supported  the  broom  sale.  The  money  raised  was  used  to 
buy  a  plastic  model  of  the  eye  and  ear  for  Central  Grade 
School,  Washington  Grade  School,  Lincoln  Grade 
School,  and  St.  Patrick's  Grade  School. 

Each  year  the  Washington  Lions  have  raised  money 
to  buy  eye  examinations  and  eye  glasses  for  needy  local 
school  children.  Also,  each  year  money  has  been  sent  to 
the  following:  Hadley  School  for  the  Blind,  Leader 
Dogs  for  the  Blind,  Illinois  Camp  Lions  for  Visually 
Handicapped  Children,  Dialogue,  Illinois  Society  for  the 
Prevention  of  Blindness,  CARE,  and  beginning  in  1973- 
74  to  Lions  of  Illinois  Deaf  Activities. 

Past  Presidents  of  the  Washington  Lions  Club  are: 
Samuel  Stimpert.  Rudolph  Koepple,  and  Clifton  Snow. 

HOPEWELL  GRANGE 

Back  in  March,  1907  a  group  of  residents  of  Hopewell 
community  decided  to  join  some  farmers'  organization 
for  the  benefits  that  might  accrue.  Louis  Keil,  who  lived 
for  a  time  in  Ford  County  and  had  belonged  to  a  Grange 
there,  favored  the  Grange  (or  Patrons  of  Husbandry), 
and  through  his  influence  it  was  decided  to  invite  Oliver 
Wilson  of  Magnolia  Grange  in  Putnam  County  to  come 
to  address  an  invited  group.  Mr.  Wilson  was  later  to  be- 
come State  Master  and  finally  National  Master  of  the 
Grange.  Louis  Keil  met  him  at  the  train  in  Peoria  and 
brought  him  to  the  meeting.  He  spent  the  night  at  the 
Daniel  Keil  home  and  next  morning  Daniel  took  him  to 
Peoria. 

As  a  result  of  this  meeting,  a  charter  list  was  begun 
which  was  increased  at  a  following  meeting  to  thirty- 
eight  members.  At  this  meeting  officers  were  elected. 
Among  them  were:  Louis  Keil,  Master;  Louis  Stahl, 
Secretary;  and  his  daughter  Anna  Stahl,  Lecturer;  to 
the  last  two  belongs  much  of  the  credit  for  establishing 
the  firm  foundation  on  which  Hopewell  Grange  was 
founded.  They  were  leaders  who  insisted  that  the  rules  of 
the  Order  be  strictly  obeyed  and  the  ritualistic  work  be  in 
no  way  neglected.  Anna  Stahl,  while  Lecturer,  printed 
the  first  program  and  organized  a  team  for  each  of  four 
degrees.  Later  she  became  the  first  Matron  of  Hopewell 
Junior  Grange.  She  and  her  parents  attended  the  early 
meetings  of  Illinois  State  Grange,  and  in  that  body  she 
very  successfully  filled  the  office  of  Lady  Assistant 
Steward,  Flora  and  Lecturer. 

The  meetings  of  Hopewell  Grange  were  held  in  the  old 
Hopewell  School  house.  There  was  some  opposition  to 
holding  closed  meetings  in  a  public  building,  but  this 
subsided  and  progress  continued. 

About  1911,  when  the  new  Hopewell  School  was  built, 
the  old  structure  was  purchased  and  moved  across 
what  now  is  School  Street  and  remodeled  to  better  suit 
the  needs  of  a  meeting  place.  This  served  as  a  prominent 
community  center  for  many  years.  The  Grange  meets 
every  week  and  often  three  or  four  times  a  week  for  com- 


mittee meetings,  degree  team,  or  play  practice.  It  would 
be  well  to  add  here  that,  often  when  roads  were  impass- 
able for  vehicles,  people  (especially  the  young)  would 
gather  in  tens  and  dozens  to  walk  to  the  meetings. 

At  first  the  main  inducement  for  membership  in  the 
organization  was  the  opportunity  afforded  for  collective 
buying.  This  was  practiced  for  a  time  but  was  over- 
shadowed in  importance  when  members  learned  of  the 
educational,  social,  and  legislative  values  the  Grange  had 
to  offer. 

The  neighborhood  in  that  early  day  was  strictly  rural, 
with  practically  all  of  the  folks  being  of  German  descent, 
industrious,  (perhaps  to  a  fault),  honest  in  the  highest 
degree,  and  possessing  a  very  well-developed  sense  of 
responsibility.  Their  forefathers  came  from  Europe, 
where  their  chances  of  owning  land  was  very  small.  When 
they  saw  this  good  land  and  realized  that  by  working 
they  could  own  it  for  themselves,  they  gave  this  priority 
over  some  of  the  finer  things  of  life.  In  no  case  did  they 
minimize  spiritual  values  and  loyalty  to  God. 

Now  in  listing  some  of  the  major  contributions  of  the 
Grange,  one  should  note  that,  in  the  sixty-seven  years 
of  its  existence,  it  has  never  been  dormant,  has  always 
been  active,  and  that,  while  the  neighborhood  was 
strictly  rural,  membership  took  in  practically  100%  of 
the  population.  In  accordance  with  changing  times,  em- 
phasis has  been  changed  from  a  farmer  organization  to 
a  rural  community  organization. 

Some  of  the  noteworthy  accomplishments  are:  present- 
ing the  operetta  "Sylvia",  given  in  an  open-air  setting, 
(the  first  effort  of  its  kind  in  the  surrounding  area), 
maintaining  a  Softball  diamond  for  some  years,  and 
building  a  shelter  in  Washington  Park.  Also,  in  any 
cooperative  effort,  such  as  the  Washington  Farmers 
Co-op  or  the  Peoria  Milk  Producers,  Grange  members 
could  always  be  counted  upon  as  wholeheartedly  giving 
their  support. 

The  Grange  since  1952  has  been  housed  in  a  40'  X  80' 
hall  with  auditorium,  stage,  kitchen,  and  dining  area. 
This  building  has  been  available  for  church,  local  func- 
tions, and  district  Grange  affairs. 

The  Grange  is  a  fraternity.  To  the  practical-minded, 
who  think  in  terms  of  legislative  or  material  achievement, 
the  very  word  fraternity  denotes  solidity  and  unity  of 
action. 

There  are  three  charter  members:  Anna  Stahl,  Elmer 
Keil,  and  George  Keil,  all  living  in  the  area. 


WASHINGTON  MOTHER'S  CLUB 

On  October  1,  1912.  this  club  was  organized  by  Mrs. 
Clara  Kingsbury  Denhart,  a  member  of  St.  Mark's 
Lutheran  Church  for  mothers  of  the  church.  There 
were  seventy  charter  members.  The  programs  were 
planned  for  the  benefit  of  mothers  in  homemaking, 
helping  the  needy,  and  raising  children.  The  first  dues 
were  ten  cents  a  year.  For  charity  work,  donations  of 
needed  items  were  accepted  from  many  people. 


Four  members  of  the  club  in  1924  began  talking  about 
a  Public  Library  in  Washington.  In  1927  the  Mayor  was 
contacted,  and  the  city  furnished  a  heated  and  lighted 
room  in  the  City  Building,  which  was  formerly  the 
Danforth  Hotel.  A  Library  Board  was  elected  from 
members  of  the  club.  The  official  opening  was  June  15. 
1927.  Plans  were  formed  to  turn  over  the  library  to  the 
city.  This  was  done  in  June  of  1928  and  is  now  tax 
supported. 

The  Mother's  Club  is  still  a  part  of  Washington  social 
and  service  work.  It  is  the  oldest  and  continuous  club  in 
Washington,  sixty-two  years  this  year.  It  is  now  open  to 
all  women  of  the  community  and  meets  the  last  Tuesday 
of  the  month  from  September  through  May  of  the  year. 
Visitors  are  always  welcome,  and  we  hope  many  new 
members  will  join  us.  Past  Presidents  are:  Mesdames — 
Laura  Payne.  Elna  Chellburg.  Bert  Weeks.  Clyde  Strubhar.  Charles 
Fish.  William  Sommers.  L.  J.  Powell.  F.  S.  Heiple.  Ft.  B.  Urban.  Louis 
Wehner.  Alvin  Duvall.  Buford  Thomas.  Lloyd  Risser.  Edith  Brown. 
Emma  Petri.  Beatrice  Loser.  Henry  Orth.  John  Norris.  Louise  Linder. 
Flora  Hoeflin.  Jessie  Dixon.  Helen  Blumenshine.  Viola  Glabe.  George 
Faubel.  R.  M.  Grafton.  Harold  Ebert.  Guv  Lucas.  Leo  Clark.  Rudy 
Bachman.  Benj.  H.  Smith.  Mary  Wiese.  Pat  Christ,  and  Vila  Wenger. 

WASHINGTON  WOMAN'S  CLUB 

In  1923  a  group  of  Washington  women  organized  a 
Woman's  Club  and  chose  the  following  as  their  officers: 
Mrs.  Ida  Mansfield.  President:  Mrs.  Viola  Bussc.  Vice  President: 
Miss  Frieda  Streid.  Recording  Secretary;  Mrs.  Jennie  Denhart. 
Corresponding  Secretary:  Mrs.  Francis  Ropp.  Treasurer. 

The  Constitution  stated  that  the  object  of  the  Club 
would  be  to  promote  civic,  educational,  and  social  im- 
provement. From  those  early  days  the  three  departments 
have  expanded  to  include  many  new  avenues  of  service. 
Not  only  have  the  cultural  and  education  programs  em- 
braced  new  dimensions,   but   the  Club  also  promotes 


many  projects  of  a  practical  nature.  A  few  of  them  are 
summer  workshop  scholarships  for  high  school  students, 
sponsorship  of  the  Bloodmobile,  a  new  kitchenette  for 
the  City  Building,  and  evergreen  plantings  for  the  City 
Park.  Over  the  years  the  list  of  contributions  is  long  and 
impressive. 


V        i 

In  May.  1973  the  Club  observed  its  fiftieth  anniverary. 
The  charter  members,  Mrs.  John  Atwater.  Mrs.  Chester  Birkett. 
Mrs.  Lester  Blumenshine.  Mrs.  John  Ficht.  Mrs.  Rae  C.  Heiple.  Miss 
lona  Heyl.  Mrs.  Faye  Land.  Mrs.  Lloyd  Risser.  Mrs.  George  Storey. 
Mrs.  J.  W.  Stormer.  and  Miss  Frieda  Streid.  recalled  with  pride 

their    long    association    as    members    of    Washington 
Woman's  Club  and  its  achievements. 

After  more  than  fifty  years  the  object  of  the  Club 
remains  the  same  with  only  a  few  added  words.  Now 
it  reads,  "The  object  of  the  Club  shall  be  to  promote  the 
moral,  educational,  and  civic  betterment  of  the  com- 
munity of  Washington  and  to  work  in  harmony  with  the 
County,  District,  State  and  General  Federations.". 

At  present  there  are  one  hundred  ninety-four 
members. 

The  Past  Presidents  are:  Mrs.  Ida  Mansfield.  Mrs.  Jennie 
Denhart  Schwab.  Mrs.  Hattie  Bennett.  Mrs.  Ethel  Morrow  Storey. 
Mrs.  Laura  Wepner  Wells.  Mrs.  Mae  Tanton.  Mrs.  Edith  White.  Mrs. 
Minnie  Nutty.  Mrs.  Viola  Busse.  Mrs.  Clara  Weeks.  Miss  Katherine 
Harms.  Mrs.  Isadore  Kilby.  Mrs.  Ray  Grafton.  Mrs.  Ray  Cooper. 
Mrs  John  A.  Roehm.  Mrs.  Rae  C.  Heiple.  Mrs.  Katie  B.  Kinsinger. 
Mrs.  J  W.  Stormer.  Mrs.  Henry  L.  Ringel.  Mrs.  David  Snell.  Mrs. 
Mildred  Adams.  Mrs.  O.  L.  Sundstrom.  Mrs.  Wilson  Kimmell.  Mrs. 
Paul  W.  Busse.  Mrs.  David  E.  Larson.  Mrs.  Edward  Essig.  Mrs.  Alan 
Mann.  Mrs.  Ira  Miller.  Mrs.  Edwin  H.  Starke.  Mrs.  Carol  Maxwell. 
Mrs.  C.  F.  Boon  Burk.  Mrs.  Ben  H.  Smith.  Mrs.  William  Shuck,  and 
Mrs   Wayne  Kinsinger. 

WASHINGTON  JUNIOR  WOMAN'S  CLUB 

On  April  27,  1955  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  home  of 
Mrs.  David  Snell  to  form  a  Junior  Woman's  Club  in 
Washington,  Illinois.  Thirty-one  prospective  members 
attended.  Leta  Walsmith  was  elected  temporary  chair- 
man and  Mary  Lee  Simpson  was  elected  temporary 
secretary. 

The  organizational  meeting  was  held  May  25.  1955,  at 
the  Civic  Club  rooms;  our  constitution  and  by-laws  were 


adopted.  The  following  officers  were  elected  and  in- 
stalled: Leta  Walsmith.  President;  Pat  Zuck,  1st  Vice  President; 
Mary  Habecker,  2nd  Vice  President;  Delia  Scoggins.  Recording  Secre- 
tary; Donna  McCoy.  Corresponding  Secretary;  Harriet  Maddock, 
Treasurer;  and  Mrs.  David  Snell,  Contact  Chairman  from  Washington 
Woman's  Club. 

The  first  regular  meeting  of  the  Washington  Junior 
Woman's  Club  was  held  September  28,  1955.  Meetings 
were  held  once  a  month,  with  the  first  annual  luncheon 
being  May  19,  1956. 

Over  the  years  Washington  Junior  Woman's  Club  has 
kept  the  same  aims  and  goals  that  they  have  strived  for. 
In  the  early  years  the  philanthropic  activity  of  the  club 
was  the  sponsorship  of  Stone  Cottage  of  Bartonville 
State  Hospital.  Local  civic  projects  have  been  supporting 
Recreation  Programs,  Jaycee  Tennis  Court  Project  in 
1957-1958,  helping  needy  families.  Public  Library, 
participating  with  the  Art  Fair,  and  Booster  Days.  In 
1972-1973  the  Juniors  started  the  "Helping  Hand" 
project;  this  helps  children  and  other  needy  persons  in 
a  time  of  distress. 

When  possible,  the  club  participates  in  all  of  the  state 
and  federated  projects.  Many  worth  while  money-making 
projects  have  been  held  to  enable  these  projects  to 
become  finalized.  The  current  philanthropic  activity  is 
the  annual  Style  Show  for  the  Crippled  Children  Center 
in  Peoria.  All  proceeds  from  this  show  are  given  to  the 
center. 

WASHINGTON  REGISTERED  NURSES  CLUB 

The  Washington  Registered  Nurses'  Club,  a  local 
group  with  no  state  or  national  affiliation,  was  organized 
in  1943  by  seven  nurses.  These  charter  members  were: 

Mrs.  Edna  Ficht,  Mrs.  Sally  Cadwell,  Mrs.  Mina  Summer,  Mrs.  Helen 
Naffziger.  Mrs.  Catherine  Funk,  Mrs.  Catherine  Hultgren.  and  Mrs. 

Faye  Clymore.  At  the  time  of  organization,  most  of  the  club 
members  were  on  the  nursing  staff  of  the  Washington 
Hospital,  located  on  Holland  Street. 

The  only  fund  raising  projects  the  group  has  is  its 
annual  dues  and  two  auctions  per  year.  From  these 
donations  are  given  to  various  worthy  causes,  such  as 
the  contribution  for  the  new  Rescue  Squad  Ambulance. 
Also,  a  scholarship  fund  has  been  set  up  for  worthy 
senior  nursing  students.  The  nurses  also  volunteer  their 


time  to  assist  with  the  local  schools'  immunization  pro- 
gram and  the  Bloodmobile  Program  each  year.  This 
club  meets  eight  times  a  year  with  an  average  attendance 
of  twenty  to  twenty-five  nurses. 

P.  E.  O.  SISTERHOOD 

On  January  21,  1869,  seven  girls  founded  the  P.  E.  O. 
Sisterhood  on  the  campus  of  Iowa  Wesleyan  College, 
Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa.  The  original  membership  of  seven 
has  grown  to  183,030  in  United  States  and  Canada,  of 
which  15,116  reside  in  Illinois. 

The  Sisterhood  is  a  philanthropic  and  educational 
organization.  In  addition  to  owning  and  operating 
Cottey  College,  a  two  year  accredited  liberal  arts 
Women's  college  at  Nevada,  Missouri,  the  Sisterhood's 
projects  include  the  International  Peace  Scholarship, 
the  Educational  Fund,  the  P.  E.  O.  Foundation,  and  for 
Illinois  P.  E.  O.'s,  the  home  at  Knoxville. 


P.  E.  O.  came  to  Washington  on  March  20,  1950, 
with  the  organization  of  Chapter  HG.  To  date  there  are 
34  resident  members  and  9  nonresident  members. 

PARENT  TEACHERS'  ASSOCIATION 

The  Washington  Parent  Teachers'  Association  started 
in  the  early  1940's  and  was  quite  active.  Records  are 
unavailable  until  1956.  At  that  time  the  PTA  was  an 
organization  made  up  of  parents  of  both  grade  and  high 
school. 

Meetings  were  held  every  month  with  a  variety  of 
programs.  The  first  recorded  meeting  was  held  at  the 
home  of  Loren  Abbott. 

In  1970  it  was  decided  to  split  the  PTA  into  two 
separate  organizations,  one  for  the  high  school  and  one 
for  both  Lincoln  and  Washington  grade  schools.  The 
number  of  meetings  per  year  was  changed  to  six. 

Each  year  a  money-making  project  is  held  to  purchase 
needed  items  for  the  schools.  Some  of  the  accomplish- 
ments to  their  credit  are:  band  uniforms;  equipment  for 


the  high  school  library  listening  center;  a  new  piano: 
drinking  fountains;  bicycle  racks;  playground  equip- 
ment: various  library  and  learning  center  supplies;  and 
new  drapes  for  Washington  Grade  school  gym.  These 
money-making  projects  are  still  being  held,  with  the 
money  split  evenly  between  the  two  grade  schools. 

Objectives  for  the  PTA  are: 

1.  To  promote  the  welfare  of  children  and  youth  in 
the  home,  school,  church,  and  community. 

2.  To  raise  the  standards  of  home  life. 

3.  To  secure  adequate  laws  for  the  care  and  protection 
of  children  and  youth. 

4.  To  bring  into  closer  relation  the  home  and  the 
school,  that  parents  and  teachers  may  cooperate  intell- 
gently  in  the  training  of  the  child. 

5.  To  develop  between  educators  and  the  general 
public  such  united  effort  as  will  secure  for  every  child 
the  highest  advantages  in  physical,  mental,  social,  and 
spiritual  education. 

Some  of  the  past  presidents  are:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loren 

Abbott:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ohmar  Wegrich;  Mr.  Dwight  Parker;  Mrs. 
Nordling;  Mr.  William  Morris;  Mr.  Maurice  Young;  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Charles  Brandt;  Mr.  Charles  Keeran:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell  Day; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard  Masters;  Mr.  Warner;  Mrs.  Frve;  Mr.  Dygert: 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bob  Brown;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marion  Sizemore;  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jim  Marshall;  Mrs.  Sally  MacDonald;  and  Mrs.  Carolyn 
McLaughlin. 

WASHINGTON  UNIT  11  OF 

TAZEWELL  COUNTY  HOME  EXTENSION 

In  February.  1945.  the  Washington  Unit  11  of 
Tazewell  County  Home  Extension  was  organized.  At  that 
time  it  was  called  Home  Bureau,  and  there  were  nine 
Charter  members.  Two  are  still  members  of  the  Unit; 
Mrs.  Laverne  Eilers  and  Mrs.  Merle  Eilers.  We  were  a 
small  and  close  group  in  the  early  days  of  our  Unit.  We 
all  brought  our  small  children  and  had  several  potlucks 
through  the  season.  The  children  would  play  in  the  cen- 
ter of  the  room  while  the  meeting  was  conducted. 

We  are  very  active  in  crafts;  when  crafts  are  offered  to 
the  Unit,  almost  everyone  participates.  We  help  with  the 
4H  Fair,  and  some  of  our  ladies  have  been  leaders  for 
several  years.  On  March  20,  1946.  we  started  sewing 
cancer  bandages  and  hospital  gowns  from  old  sheets  and 
white  shirts.  We  have  continued  this,  and  at  this  time  we 
meet  one  day  a  month  to  sew.  In  1950.  the  Unit  made 
and  donated  a  United  Nations  Flag  to  the  Washington 
Grade  School.  We  donate  to  the  South  Side  Mission  at 
holidays.  We  give  to  the  various  local  drives,  along  with 
supporting  the  fund  for  a  PTA  Award  for  the  local 
schools.  The  Recreational  Association  of  Washington 
also  receives  our  support. 

We  have  breakfast  one  morning  a  month  to  keep  our 
treasury  supplied  with  funds  for  our  various  expenses 
through  the  year.  This  started  as  a  surprise  "Galloping" 
breakfast  in  1951.  In  looking  through  the  files,  we  find 


the  First  mention  of  an  annual  banquet  starting  on 
August  31,  1955.  This  is  one  of  our  special  activities  of 
the  year,  and  we  usually  have  a  speaker.  On  September 
29,  1955.  the  Unit  voted  to  change  our  meeting  from  the 
last  Wednesday  of  the  month  to  the  first  Thursday  of 
the  month. 

We  have  had  many  close  associations  through  the 
years.  Many  of  our  members  have  moved  to  other  states. 
but  we  still  remember  the  warm  friendships  that  we 
have  shared  and  feel  as  if  we  have  gained  much  by 
being  organized  in  a  friendly  and  worthwhile  organiza- 
tion, Home  Extension. 


The  Extension  Homemaker's  Creed  —  "We  believe  in 
the  present  and  its  opportunities,  in  the  future  and  its 
promises,  in  everything  that  makes  life  large  and  lovely, 
in  the  divine  joy  of  living  and  helping  others;  so  we  en- 
deavor to  pass  on  to  others  that  which  has  benefited  us. 
striving  to  go  onward  and  upward,  reaching  the  pinnacle 
of  economic  perfection,  in  improving,  enlarging,  and 
endearing  the  greatest  institution  in  the  world.  THE 
HOME".  The  past  presidents  are:  Mesdames  ■  Onille  Kamp. 
Tillman  Ficht.  Elmer  Faubel.  Harold  Faubel.  Richard  Scott.  Merle 
Eilers.  Laverne  Eilers.  Evelyn  Schilf.  Glen  Eilers.  Don  Knabe.  Lynn 
Doremus.  Herman  Mover.  Donald  Conner.  Dclmar  Knecht.  Herbert 
Sharp.  Richard  Riehl.  Frank  Hoog.  Franklin  Jones.  John  Schviar/en 
traub.  Gene  Aberle.  George  Johnson.  Ben  Smith.  Elmer  Zimmerman. 
Parker  Jero.  Bertil  Nordhelm.  John  McCoy.  Charles  Hagen.  and 
Clifford  Smith. 

NEWCOMERS  CLUB 

In  1949  Mrs.  Clarence  (Sylvia)  Hammond  established  a 
community  club  to  promote  neighborhood  friendship. 
The  seven  original  club  members  were  restricted  to  a 
one-year  membership,  and  they  met  in  members'  homes. 
Today  the  organization  has  grown  to  eighty  members, 
who  are  eligible  for  five  years  of  active  membership  and 
who  meet  monthly  at  the  Washington  State  Bank.  It  is 
interesting  to  note  that  the  monthly  club  meeting  has 
remained  the  second  Thursday  of  the  month  at  7:45 
P.M.  from  September  thru  May. 

During  these  twenty-five  years  the  organization 
developed  by-laws  and  regulations  governed  by  four 
elected  officers  and  nine  appointed  chairmen.  The 
general  membership  is  structured  with  new  Washington 
and  area  residents  who  take  an  active  role  in  supporting 
community  projects  as  well  as  becoming  friends  as  new 
neighbors,  thus  adopting  the  club  name  of  Newcomers 


Club.  One  special  project  is  the  financial  and  voluntary 
support  of  the  Peoria  Association  of  Retarded  Children 
(PARC).  Other  club  functions  include  the  annual 
President's  open  house,  informal  coffees,  pinochle  and 
bridge  marathons,  family  picnics,  style  shows  and 
couples'  evening  parties  which  may  include  a  hayride  and 
square  dance. 

Over  the  years  Newcomers  has  changed  through  the 
thoughts  and  minds  of  past  presidents  and  members, 
but  one  thought  has  remained;  our  club  goal  is  making 
friends. 

Five  of  the  original  seven  are  living  in  this  area:  Mrs. 
Clarence  Hammond  in  Eureka,  Illinois;  Mrs.  Edward  Essig,  Mrs. 
Lester  Novy,  Mrs.  John  Heiser.  Mrs.  Frank  Wilson  all  in 
Washington. 

WASHINGTON  TOWNSHIP 

FEDERATED  WOMEN'S  REPUBLICAN  CLUB 

The  purpose  of  the  club  is  to  advance  the  best  interests 
of  the  State  and  Nation  through  the  agency  of  the 
Republican  Party  and  to  uphold  and  promote  Republi- 
can principles  by  educational  and  political  activities  and 
to  assist  in  the  election  of  Republican  candidates  to 
office. 


to  elect  Republican  candidates.  It  was  not  until  the 
spring  luncheon  in  1965  held  at  Rider's  Town  House 
that  the  women  voted  to  become  affiliated  with  the 
National  Federation  of  Republican  Women. 

Prior  to  becoming  a  part  of  the  National  organization, 
the  written  records  of  the  work  done  by  these  dedicated 
women  appear  to  be  few.  This  has  made  it  necessary  to 
rely  on  the  memories  of  some  of  the  early  leaders  for  a 
history  of  the  club. 

It  was  at  least  thirty  years  ago  that  the  women  were 
sponsoring  public  events  to  bring  political  aspirants  here 
to  meet  with  the  "grass  root"  voters.  The  names  of 
political  personalities  the  club  brought  here  are  many. 

Some  of  the  projects  supported  by  the  club  include  a 
contribution  to  the  Everett  Dirksen  Library  at  Pekin 
and  the  purchase  of  a  place  setting  of  china  for  the 
Governor's  Mansion  at  Springfield. 

The  present  membership  in  the  club  is  102. 

During  the  existence  of  the  club  it  appears  that  only 
nine  women  have  held  the  office  of  president.  The  first 
president,  according  to  recollection  was  Mrs.  George  (Ethel) 

Storey.  She  was  followed  by  Mrs.  Rae  C.  Heiple,  Mrs.  Roy  Swan, 
Mrs.  Donald  Guedet,  and  Mrs.  Jack  Potter,  all  serving  prior  to 
becoming  federated. 

Following  the  federation  of  the  club,  the  presidents 

were  Mrs.  Harrv  Ward,  Jr..  Mrs.  Kenneth  Black,  Mrs.  Robert  Hult. 
and  Mrs.  Lyle  Hunziker. 

The  club  is  open  to  all  women  interested  in  the  pur- 
poses of  the  club. 

TOWN  AND  COUNTRY  GARDENERS 

In  the  spring  of  1958,  a  group  of  eighteen  ladies  with  a 
common  interest  in  flowers  and  gardening  got  together 
to  form  a  club.  They  voted  to  become  a  part  of  the 
Federated  Garden  Clubs  of  Illinois.  Their  goals  were  to 
advance  the  members'  knowledge  and  skill  of  flower 
culture,  appreciation  of  the  beauty  of  flowers  and 
plants,  and  to  encourage  civic  beauty  and  roadside 
beautification. 


The  Republican  women  of  the  Washington  area  have 
long  been  known  to  have  one  of  Tazewell  County's 
oldest  and  strongest  organized  groups,  working  together 


One  of  their  outstanding  local  projects  was  the 
beautifying  of  the  city  square,  including  the  drive  to 
build  a  fountain  to  replace  the  old  bandstand.  The  foun- 
tain was  dedicated  on  Memorial  Day.  1963. 

The  first  president  was  Mrs.  James  Shinneman. 
followed  by  the  late  Mrs.  Katie  Kinsinger.  The  group  has 
a  limited  membership  of  twenty-five  and  of  the  present 
members  seven  are  charter  members. 

The  present  civic  projects  are  helping  the  Park 
Board  with  the  landscaping  of  the  new  City  Park  on 
Lincoln  Rd.  and  the  planting  around  the  new  swimming 
pool. 

THE  ILLINOIS  VALLEY  UNIT  OF  THE 
NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION  AND  THE  ILLINOIS 
ASSOCIATION  OF  PARLIAMENTARIANS 

The  Illinois  Valley  Unit  of  the  National  Association 
and  the  Illinois  Association  of  Parliamentarians  was 
organized  by  the  State  President.  Mrs.  William  Collins, 
on  July  17,  1961.  in  the  home  of  Mrs.  David  Snell,  spon- 
sor of  the  unit.  On  August  4,  1961  the  unit  was  chartered 
by  the  National  Association  of  Parliamentarian's 
President,  Mrs.  Herberta  Ann  Leonardy. 


Mrs.  David  Snell,  the  thirteenth  person  to  become  a 
registered  Parliamentarian  in  the  State  of  Illinois, 
taught  Parliamentary  classes  which  formed  the  unit. 

Charter  members  of  the  Illinois  Valley  Unit  were: 
Mesdames  E.  J.  H.  Bentz.  W.  C.  Cadwell,  L.  C.  Cox.  F.  E.  Jones. 
W.  W.  Kimmell.  Alan  Mann.  Carl  Maxwell.  Ira  Miller.  David  Snell. 
O.  L.  Sundstrom.  H.  J.  Vogelsang.  C.  E.  Woodruff,  and  Miss  Helen 

Tomm.  The  first  officers  of  the  Illinois  Valley  Unit  were: 
Mesdames  David  Snell.  President:  W.  W.  Kimmell.  Vice  President; 
H.  J.  Vogelsang.  Secretary:  and  C.  E.  Woodruff.  Treasurer. 

The  stated  purpose  of  the  organization  is  to  work  in 
harmony  with  the  National  Association  of  Parliamen- 
tarians, to  promote  interest  in  and  study  of  parliamen- 
tary procedure,  to  interest  deliberative  groups  in  the 
application  of  principles  of  parliamentary  procedure  in 
their  organizations,  to  encourage  an  interest  in 
parliamentary  procedure  in  both  elementary  and  second- 
ary schools,  and  to  provide  opportunities  for  the  study 
of  parliamentary  procedure. 

The  Illinois  Valley  Unit  entertained  the  Illinois 
Association  of  Parliamentarions'  Convention  three  times. 


beginning  in  1964  when  Mrs.  David  Snell  was  the 
State  President.  Other  members  of  the  unit  who  have 
served  as  state  officers  were:   Mrs.  L.  F.  Kerr,  Mrs.  C.  E. 

Woodruff,  and  Mrs.  W.  W.  Kimmell 

In  1963  The  Illinois  Valley  Unit  sponsored  an  Institute 
for  persons  interested  in  Parliamentary  procedure.  The 
members  of  the  Unit  have  assisted  and  continue  to 
advise  area  organizations  in  Parliamentary  procedure. 
Meetings  are  held  from  September  through  May  with 
lessons  conducted  by  members.  Visitors  are  always 
welcome. 

BUSINESS  AND  PROFESSIONAL 
WOMEN'S  CLUB 

The  Washington  Business  and  Professional  Women's 
Club,  Inc.,  was  chartered  February  24,  1968,  with  thirty 
members.  It  is  affiliated  with  the  State  and  National 
Federation,  which  is  the  largest  organization  of  working 
women.  Our  objectives  are  to  elevate  the  standards  of 
working  women.  Anyone  actively  engaged  in  business  or 
a  profession  is  eligible  for  membership. 

Our  local  project  has  been  an  annual  contribution  to 
the  PARC  Chorus.  We  are  active  in  local  affairs  and  civic- 
projects  as  well  as  those  on  the  state  and  national  level. 

Our  membership  now  is  fifty-three.  We  meet  the  first 
Monday  night  of  every  month.  The  Past  Presidents  are: 
Helen  Moynan,  Ann  Blumenshine,  Marguerite  Wallace.  Barbara 
Hickam.  and  Carol  Andris. 


TAZWOOD  ART  LEAGUE 

The  Tazwood  Art  League  was  founded  on  June  8, 
1970,  by  Joanne  Blender,  Judith  Wilkerson,  and  Joanne 


Bell.  The  goal  of  the  organization  is  to  have  two  shows 
and  a  sale  annually  and  to  make  information  available 
to  members  on  area  shows  and  sales. 

The  organization  has  quarterly  meetings  which 
include  demonstrations  by  a  member  or  a  guest  speaker 
on  some  phase  of  painting. 

Membership  is  open  to  all  interested  persons.  Most 
members  are  hobby  artists,  although  there  are  a  few 
professionals.  The  annual  $5.00  dues  are  used  to  defray 
the  cost  of  the  shows. 

F.  R.  P.  WOMAN'S  AUXILIARY 

The  Fireman's  Woman's  Auxiliary  was  originated  by 
Leri  Slonneger  on  May  9,  1972.  At  this  time  they  decided 
to  ask  the  Rescue  Squad  wives  if  they  would  also  like  to 
join  the  Auxiliary.  In  January,  1973  the  policemen's 
wives  were  asked  to  join  so  the  name  was  again  changed 
to  the  Fireman,  Rescue,  and  Police  (F.  R.  P.)  Woman's 
Auxiliary.  The  Auxiliary  meets  the  first  Tuesday  of  each 
month  at  the  fire  house  with  community  service  being 
the  main  goal  of  the  group. 


Bake  sales  are  held  at  least  three  times  a  year  along 
with  various  other  projects.  The  Auxiliary  helps  with 
the  annual  Fire  and  Rescue  Open  House  in  the  fall  by 
serving  refreshments.  Emergency  phone  numbers  have 
been  placed  in  the  windows  of  all  Washington  business 
places  in  case  of  an  after-hour  emergency.  This  helps 
the  Fire,  Rescue,  and  Police  Departments. 

The  Auxiliary  has  had  and  will  continue  to  have  house 
numbers  available  for  anyone  who  would  like  to  have 
them  for  a  small  donation  to  the  Auxiliary.  Stop  and 
Think!!  If  you  were  to  have  an  emergency,  do  you  have  a 
house  number  the  fire,  rescue,  or  police  can  easily  see?? 
This  could  mean  the  difference  of  life  or  death! 

The  women  also  provide  coffee  and  refreshments  for 
the  men  during  fires. 

One  of  the  many  goals  of  the  F.  R.  P.  Woman's 
Auxiliary  is  to  make  the  people  of  Washington  more 
familiar  with  our  Fire,  Rescue,  and  Police  Departments 
in  case  there  is  an  emergency. 

Leri  Slonneger  has  been  the  Auxiliary  President  for 
two  years. 


WASHINGTON  YOUTH  GUIDANCE  COUNCIL 

In  1973  Mayor  Thomas  Boyd  appointed  a  Steering 
Committe  to  study  the  need  for  a  Washington  Youth 
Guidance  Council.  This  committee  pursued  studies  that 
resulted  in  an  ordinance  creating  the  Washington 
Youth  Guidance  Council  in  the  summer  of  that  same 
year.  The  committee  also  drafted  bylaws  for  the  Council. 
Members  of  the  committee  were:  Pastor  Francis  W. 
Johnson.  La  Verne  E.  Blumenshine,  City  Administrator 
Rod  Clausen,  James  Dougherty,  and  James  Funk. 

Mayor  E.  E.  Habecker,  Jr.,  who  succeeded  Mayor 
Boyd,  appointed  Pastor  Francis  W.  Johnson.  La  Verne  E. 
Blumenshine,  Mrs.  Wayne  Kinsinger.  Miss  Frances 
Whittaker,  and  Dr.  Roy  J.  Wright  of  Illinois  Central 
College  to  the  Washington  Youth  Guidance  Council 

The  stated  purpose  of  this  Council  is:  "To  offer  coun- 
seling service,  at  its  discretion  to  youths  who  are 
referred  to  and  by  schools,  police  and  courts,  churches, 
parents,  and  other  agencies  that  may  wish  to  refer  youths 
with  problems. 

PI  EPSILON  CHAPTER 

OF 

BETA  SIGMA  PHI  SORORITY 

Beta  Sigma  Phi  celebrated  the  forty-third  anniversary 
of  the  organization's  founding  on  April  30,  1974.  The 
first  chapter  of  Beta  Sigma  Phi  sorority  was  formed  in 
Abilene,  Kansas.  There  are  now  approximately  10,500 
chapters  and  225,000  members  in  the  United  States, 
Canada,  twenty-three  foreign  countries  and  territories, 
with  the  International  Headquarters  in  Kansas  City, 
Kansas. 

Pi  Epsilon  Chapter  of  Beta  Sigma  Phi  was  organized 
on  June  1,  1969  in  Washington  with  nine  active  members 
after  splitting  from  the  Washington -Metamora  Omicron 
Lambda  Chapter.  Pi  Epsilon  Chapter  received  its 
Charter  from  the  Executive  Council  of  Beta  Sigma  Phi 
on  January  6,  1970  upon  having  ten  or  more  qualified 
members.  Pi  Epsilon  Chapter  consists  of  twenty  mem- 
bers as  of  May  1 5, 1 974. 

The  purpose  of  Beta  Sigma  Phi  Sorority  is  to  enrich 
its  members'  lives  culturally  and  socially.  Its  members 
also  experience  the  joy  of  helping  others  through  the 
chapter's  service  programs.  Membership  is  transferable 
from  one  chapter  to  another  chapter  upon  request. 


GIRL     SCOUTING 

Before  Girl  Scouting  began  in  Washington,  we  learned 
that  there  were  Campfire  girls  in  1916-17-18,  at  which 
time  Mrs.  Viola  Risser  was  a  member,  with  Mrs.  Laura 
Payne  as  the  leader. 


Mrs.  Ethel  Morrow  Storey  organized  a  Girl  Scout 
Troop  in  1924.  She  was  the  leader,  known  as  captain 
then,  until  sometime  in  1926.  She  recalls  twenty-four 
seventh  and  eighth  grade  girls  in  her  first 
troops.  They  met  in  the  room  above  the  old  hotel  build- 
ing, later  City  Hall.  They  also  met  where  the  Habecker 
Funeral  Home  is  now.  The  Troop  kept  quite  active, 
such  as  camping  at  Mackinaw  Dells. 

The  Patrol  system  was  used.  They  studied  materials 
for  requirements,  not  the  same  as  the  present  day 
badges. 

Marching  in  the  Memorial  Day  Parades  and  being 
drilled  for  marching  by  Mr.  Fred  Swietzer.  they  partici- 
pated in  the  Centennial  Celebration.  They  loved  parties 
and  always  looked  for  an  excuse  to  have  one.  Money- 
making  projects  included  socials,  cookouts,  candy  sales 
and  collecting  old  newspapers. 

Mrs.  Storey  (age  93)  recalls  these  girls  being  in  her 
troop:  Blanche  Dingledine  Esser.  Gertie  Ochenridcr  Kimmell,  Aliee 
Kimmcll  Snell.  Helen  Habecker  Waldeck,  Vera  Voglesang  Ruble. 
Dorothy  Small  Borgardus  (deceased).  Kathryn  Inhofl  LaSalle, 
Katherine  Spring  Funk.  Ethel  Bradle  Brown.  Alice  Bradle  Barton. 
Anna  Handschu  Sullivan.  Kathleen  Dantorth  McDougal.  and 
Elizabeth  Storey.  Eleanor  Jenkins  and  Margaret  Belsey  Triebel 
(deceased)  were  the  assistant  leaders. 

There  seems  to  be  a  period  of  inactivity  in  Girl  Scout- 
ing until  1934  when  Mrs.  Hill  possibly  re-started  a  Girl 
Scout  Troop  of  thirty-three  to  thirty-five  girls.  The  meet- 
ing places  were  first  in  Mrs.  Hill's  home  and  later  in  the 
old  City  building.  Assistant  leaders  were  Gladys  Muller 
and  Eleanor  Steimle  Muller.  They  sang  a  lot  because 
they  liked  to  sing.  They  learned  to  tie  knots  and  code 
with  flags  (semaphore).  They  took  part  in  Memorial  Day 
parades.  Sonic  of  the  members  were:  La  Verne  Esscr  Blumen- 
shine.  Gwen  Hepler  Kubley,  I  ucille  Orth  Schmidt.  Dorothy  Slonneget 
Bccnders.  Jean  Dunnington  Morris.  Anna  Mae  Kimpling  Zimmerman. 
Ethel  Hartman  Scott.  Shirley  Norris  Pudik.  Doris  Spring  Kunard. 
Rachel  Smith.  Harriett  Land  Brown,  and  Libbv  Imhofl  Bradle 
Garrison. 


In  1938  the  Washington  Area  Council  of  Girl  Scouts 
was  fortunate  to  have  Mrs.  Kenneth  (Edith)  Black  as  a 
leader.  She  tells  us  that  they  met  above  what  is  now  the 
Knit  Shop.  Their  registration  money  was  sent  directly 
to  National  Headquarters.  Mrs.  Black  received  the 
Thank  Badge,  highest  award  in  the  council  in  1954  for 
her  numerous  tasks  of  leadership  through  the  years. 

When  Mrs.  Winifred  (Virginia)  Himmel  moved  to 
Washington,  she  was  a  troop  leader  in  1941  with  Mrs. 
Wilbur  (La Verne)  Habben  as  assistant  until  1943.  They 
met  in  the  old  Primary  School  building  where  the 
Professional  building  stands;  they  also  met  in  the  Legion 
room  (Scout  Room)  in  the  old  City  Building.  She  recalls 
twelve  or  more  girls  in  her  troop.  The  badges  were 
different  and  the  leaders  attended  training  sessions. 
Uniforms  were  khaki-colored  and  made  from  a  regula- 
tion Girl  Scout  uniform  pattern.  They  were  button 
down-the-front  type.  Mrs.  Paul  Smith  was  Neighborhood 
Chairman  at  this  time. 


Mrs.  Russell  (Esther)  Planck  has  been  involved  in 
every  phase  of  Scouting  leadership  in  Washington  Area 
Council  and  Kickapoo  Council.  She  started  the  first 
Brownie  Troop  in  Washington  in  1947,  and  most  of  those 
girls  continued  with  her  through  eighth  grade  and 
possibly  beyond  that.  Mrs.  James  (Jane)  Putman  was  one 
of  the  many  leaders  in  this  decade  also. 

Mrs.  Ira  Miller  has  been  active  in  many  phases  of  Girl 
Scouting  also.  Along  with  Verla  Miller.  Edith  Black,  and 
Esther  Planck  we  noted  other  multi-duty  leaders  over 
the  years.  Mrs.  Herman  (Millie)  Mover.  Mrs.  Clarence  (Dorothy) 
Bradle.  Mrs.  John  (Doris)  Stone  (who  became  a  professional  scouter 
in  I960).  Mrs.  Emil  (Helen)  Mosny,  Mrs  red  (Virginia)  White,  Mrs 
Edward  (Jeannel  Essig.  Mrs.  William  (Winifred)  Ebert.  and   many 

others  too  numerous  to  mention  have  extended  their 
services  into  the  1960's 

Washington  was  known  in  Girl  Scouting  organization 
as  the  Washington  Neighborhood  of  Girl  Scouting  and 
later  Washington  Area  Council  before  joining  with  six 
counties  to  make  up  the  Kickapoo  Council  in  Peoria  on 
January  1.  1951. 

In  March.  1956  Washington  ordered  and  sold  three 
hundred  cases  of  cookies  on  the  Square.  Although  cookie 


orders  were  taken  before,  Washington  was  part  of  this 
order-taking  project  for  the  first  time  in  1957. 

In  May,  1957  Camp  Tapawingo  was  dedicated  near 
Metamora.  Linda  Ellenwood,  age  8,  named  the  camp, 
which  means  "Place  of  Joy". 

A  few  of  the  leaders  in  the  era  of  the  60's  were  Mrs. 
Deanne  (Fanny)  McCoy,  who  began  with  a  group  of  girls 
in  1959,  and  eleven  of  these  girls  continued  on  into 
Senior  Scouting  with  her  as  leader  until  1967.  Her  troop 
took  a  trip  to  the  Indiana-Michigan  Sand  Dunes  and 
camped  there  two  summers  in  a  row,  using  the  cookie 
sales'  profits  to  finance  their  trips.  At  least  three  of  her 
girls  attended  Round-up  and  Jr.  Round-up,  as  did  a 
few  other  girls  in  Washington. 

Many  activities  have  kept  the  girls  busy  and  interested. 
Some  of  the  highlights  of  the  years  include  camping, 
working  on  the  badges,  back  packing,  hiking,  bicycling, 
roller  skating,  canoeing.  Dad's  Date  Night.  Mother- 
Daughter  teas,  ditty  bags  for  Pekin  Red  Cross,  many 
projects  for  Project  Concern,  tray  favors  and  adopting 
an  older  person  at  the  nursing  homes,  Doll  Shop,  PARC, 
Zeller  Zone,  writing  and  presenting  plays  and  skits. 
Sparkling  Waterways  Clean-ups,  weaving  for  Tri- 
Centennial,  numerous  trips,  and  horseback  riding. 

Mrs.  Charles  (Sue)  Thomas  had  a  Junior  troop  for  a 
year  or  two.  Other  leaders  over  the  years  were:  Mrs. 
Herman  (Milly)  Moyer.  Mrs.  Adeline  Martins.  Mrs.  Merle  (Margaret) 
Eilers,  Mrs.  Glen  (Pat)  Housch,  Mrs.  Dan  (Diane)  Hoover,  and  many 
others  who  have  spent  countless  hours  in  service  to  the 
girls  in  Washington. 

The  1970's  have  brought  Scouting  many  more  leaders 
and  girls  too  numerous  to  mention.  Scouting  in 
Washington  Neighborhood  of  Kickapoo  Council  now 
includes  a  Neighborhood  chairman  and  vice  chairman,  a 
secretary,  and  four  school  organizers  for  the  seventeen 
troops.  There  are  thirty-seven  to  forty  leaders  and 
approximately  three  hundred  girls  as  of  May  1,  1974. 
More  information  may  be  found  in  the  Washington 
Public  Library. 

BOY  SCOUTS  IN  WASHINGTON 

The  first  scouting  unit  in  Washington  was  Troop  62, 
organized  in  1924.  Nate  Crabtree  was  Scoutmaster, 
and  they  met  in  Dunnington  barn,  the  present  site  of  the 
Firehouse.  Upon  request  by  the  owner,  they  later  moved 
to  Kern's  barn  at  about  109  Catherine  Street. 

Apparently  affiliation  with  the  Creve  Coeur  Council 
started  for  Troop  62  in  1929.  Frederick  E.  Sweitzer 
served  as  Scoutmaster,  and  they  met  in  the  old  City 
Building  at  about  141  Washington  Square.  The 
Kiwanis  Club  was  the  sponsoring  organization. 

O.  H.  Carmen  served  as  Scoutmaster  from  about  1931 
to  1933.  In  1932  the  City  Council  was  the  sponsoring 
organization  for  two  years.  James  W.  D.  Hill  was  Scout- 
master from  1932  to  1936.  The  American  Legion  Post 
#100  was  the  guiding  organization  from  1934  to  1936. 


A  Home  Patrol  was  formed  for  one  year  in  1936  with 
Cy  Broadstone  as  the  leader. 

A  group  of  citizens  were  the  sponsors  for  the  troop 
from  1937  to  1943.  Gilbert  Gross  served  as  Scoutmaster, 
and  they  continued  to  meet  in  the  City  Building. 

The  Washington  Civic  Association  took  over  sponsor- 
ship from  the  years  of  1943  to  1956.  The  following 
Scoutmasters  served  through  this  time:  Mark  Howard.  Dr. 
Wayne  J.  Kinsinger.  Donald  L.  Diebel.  Harold  Sieg.  Clayton  Smith  and 
Dick  Jafford.  Troop  62  dissolved  at  this  time. 

Cub  Pack  #62  was  sponsored  by  the  Kiwanis  Club  in 
1938  and  Max  Cooper  was  Cubmaster.  The  Mother's 
Organization  was  the  guiding  club  for  the  Pack  from 
1945  to  1949.  D.  C.  McMillan  and  Lawrence  Huckins 
served  as  Cubmasters.  American  Legion  Post  #100 
sponsored  the  Pack  from  1950  to  1953,  and  Paul 
Prutsman  and  Richard  Van  Pelt  were  the  leaders. 

The  Men's  Club  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  carried 
the  Pack  from  1953-1958.  Richard  Van  Pelt,  Howard  Tunnell. 
Donald  Frank  and  Harry  Ward  were  Cubmasters. 

Troop  163  was  organized  in  1949  with  the  Methodist 
Church  as  the  sponsoring  organization.  They  meet  in 
the  Methodist  Church.  Scoutmasters  who  have  served 

with  the  troop  are:  A.  W.  Montgomery.  Lowell  Peck.  Merle  Reed. 
Roland  Hughes.  H.  M.  Kiley,  Jack  MacLaren.  David  Greer.  Robert 
Ahlgren  and  F.  O.  Koch.  The  present  Scoutmaster  is 
Dave  Doremus. 


Explorer  Post  163  of  the  Methodist  Church  was  in 
existence  from  1950  to  1%7.  Advisors  were  Russell  Planck. 

Akin  Montgomery,  Donald  Smith.  Robert  Ahlgren.  William  Kellow, 
Frank  Koch.  Eugene  Plouzek.  Steve  Mason  and  Ron  Nieukirk. 

Cub  Pack  163  was  organized  in  the  Methodist  Church 

in  1950.  Cubmasters  have  been  Claude  Wilson.  Paul  Dearth. 
Charles  T.  White.  Robert  Reeves.  Ralph  Gaumer.  Alan  McLees. 
H.  E.  Bunton.  John  Adlcr.  Francis  Andrews.  Robert  Ahlgren.  Dwight 
Parken.  Don  Sunderlin,  James  C.  Hengst.  Donald  Harris  and  Dave 
Doremus.  Present  Cubmaster  is  Charles  Pyle. 

Troop  164  was  organized  in  1949  by  St.  Mark's 
Lutheran  Church.  Scoutmasters  have  been  Charles  Dillard. 
Paul  Dearth.  Glen  Benway,  Herbert  Nelson.  William  Dick. 
Robert  Alt.  and  present  Scoutmaster  Malcolm  Kinsinger. 

Cub  Pack   164  was  started  in   1950  by  St.   Mark's 

Church.  Cubmasters  have  been  Lowell  Peck.  Frederick  Beyer. 
Lowell  Amdor.  Merlon  Koch.  William  Dragoon.  Rolla  Nieukirk. 
Dr.    Robert    Sullivan.    Robert    McFeeters,    H.    G.    Millard.    Elmer 

Spring.  Donald  Davison,  and  present  Cubmaster  Richard 
Eichelkraut. 

Explorer  Post  164  was  organized  in  1969  by  St.  Mark's 
Lutheran  Church.  Advisors  have  been  Steve  Mason  and 
Ron  Nieukirk,  and  Robert  Watts  is  serving  at  the  present 
time. 

Troop  168  was  started  by  St.  Patrick's  Holy  Name 
Society  in   1953.  Scoutmasters  have  been  R.  H.  Hunger. 

S.  J.  Schmidt.  Robert  C.  Howell.  Robert  Fink.  Lester  Now.  and  John 
McGlaughlin. 

Cub  Pack  168  organized  by  St.  Patrick's  in  1954  has 
had  the  following  Cubmasters:  James  L.  Schmidt.  James 

Slaughter.  Robert  Fink.  Lars  Bakken.  Daniel  Afeld.  Alva  Edgar. 
David  Coovert.  Wm.  R.  Ziegle.  Donald  Wispeleare.  Paul  Zuckerman 
and  Phillip  J.  Millar,  the  present  Cubmaster. 

The  following  boys  have  achieved  the  highest  honor 

in  Scouting,  an  Eagle  Award:  Theodore  Roehm.  Troop  62. 
1944;  David  Harget.  Troop  62.  1944:  Dale  Montgomery.  Post  163. 
1956:  Allen  W.  Wilson.  Troop  163.  1959;  John  A.  McLees.  Troop  163. 
1963;  Malcolm  Kinsinger.  Troop  163.  1963;  Michael  Kinsinger.  Troop 
163.  1963;  David  R.  Novy,  Troop  168.  1963;  John  P.  Marlin.  Troop 
168.  1964;  Michael  Marlin.  Troop  168.  1964:  Gary  W.  Ahlgren.  Troop 
163,  1965;  Larry  Fellhauer.  Troop  163,  1965;  Donald  Guimond,  Troop 
168,  1965;  Douglas  Abernathic.  Troop  163.  1965;  Allen  L. 
Ravenscraft.  Troop  168.  1966;  Dennis  Guimond.  Troop  168.  1966; 
Frederick  J.  McGlaughlin.  Troop  lti8.  1967;  Gary  Guimond.  Troop 
168.  1970:  Gerald  A.  Novy.  Troop  168.  1971;  Alan  C.  Diehl.  Jr..  Troop 
lt>3.  Iir2;  Kevin  Elliott,  Troop  163.  1973;  James  R.  Stevens.  Troop 
liV  1973;  David  R.  Hunt.  Troop  164.  1973;  and  Paul  A.  Kinsinger. 
Troop  164.  1973. 

Washington  has  been  fortunate  to  have  had  four  men 
selected  for  the  Silver  Beaver  Award:  Russell  Planck. 
W.  Cuyler  vanDyck,  Wm.  F.  Keely,  and  A.  S.  McKloskey.  This 
award  is  given  for  outstanding  service  to  a  citizen  in  the 
entire  Council  area. 

The  scouting  program  in  Washington  will  be 
remembered  by  all  of  those  who  have  participated.  It 
could  be  for  the  paper  drives  of  the  1920's  and  30's  to  get 
money  to  go  to  Scout  Camp.  It  might  be  for  going  down 


the  tracks  to  "Goat  Springs"  to  pass  a  cooking  and  path- 
finding  requirement.  For  those  in  the  1920's,  going  to 
Scout  Camp  at  Bath.  Illinois,  and  learning  to  swim  in 
the  Illinois  River  were  typical.  Usually  these  boys  had 
learned  to  swim  at  the  "Dam"  if  you  lived  in  the  south  or 
west  part  of  town,  or  at  "Red  Tip"  if  you  lived  in  the 
east  part  of  town. 

Camp  Wokanda  at  Mossville.  Illinois,  was  developed 
in  the  1930's.  Here  boys  will  remember  drinking  "sky 
juice"  at  the  mess  hall;  the  usual  tricks  that  happen  at 
camp;  and,  of  course,  the  final  bonfire  on  the  last  night 
of  camp.  Many  boys  from  Washington  have  been  in- 
ducted into  the  Order  of  the  Arrow  by  this  time.  These 
facilities  have  been  developed  to  give  a  much  more  com- 
plete experience  in  scouting. 


The  Cub  Packs  can  best  be  remembered  for  the  Pine- 
wood  Derby  and  the  parent's  night  potlucks.  Surely,  we 
cannot  forget  the  "Den  Mothers"  and  their  devoted 
service. 

The  scouts  in  Washington  have  served  our  community 
well,  and  a  most  generous  thank  you  should  be  extended 
to  all  who  have  made  this  program  a  success. 

TAYLOR  LODGE  NO.  98  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 

The  first  meeting  of  a  Masonic  Lodge  in  Washington 
was  called  at  2;00  P.M.  on  the  27th  day  of  December 
1850.  The  Lodge  was  called  Washington  Lodge  under 
dispensation  and  was  so  called  until  October  5,  1851. 
when  a  charter  was  granted  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Illinois;  it  was  the  98th  Lodge  chartered  in  this  state,  and 
the  name  Taylor  Lodge  was  adopted.  The  name  was 
probably  that  of  some  man  who  had  been  prominent  in 
Masonry,  but  little  could  be  found  on  anyone  by  that 
name  in  any  of  the  Masonic  encyclopedias. 

The  charter  members  at  the  first  meeting  were  John  T. 
Jones;  who  was  elected  the  first  Worshipful  Master. 
Haven  Peirce  —  Senior  Warden.  R.  W.  Maywhirter  — 
Junior  Warden,  Jazen  Sickler  —  Secy.,  John  Galey,  and 
Elisha  Haines.  Mr.  N.  Brown  and  Mr.  Amos  Brown  were 
visitors  from  another  Lodge  at  the  first  meeting. 

Brethren  Sickler,  Maywhirter.  and  Peirce  were  ap- 
pointed as  a  committee  on  bylaws  and  recommended 
that  the  Bylaws  of  Peoria  Lodge  No.  15  be  adopted  as 


Bylaws  for  the  new  Lodge.  Between  December,  1850,  and 
October,  1851,  nine  more  members  were  added  and  were 
members  when  the  charter  was  granted.  Mr.  James  H. 
Miles  was  the  first  new  member  initiated;  David  Kern,  James 
Huggins,  C.  S.  N.  Anthony.  S.  T.  Graham.  John  H.  Anthony.  Elias 
Wenger.  James  T.  Wathan.  and  J.  W.  Parish  were  the  others. 

From  the  minutes  of  the  May  17,  1872,  meeting  there 
was  a  bill  presented  by  Brother  Peter  B.  Smith  for  $1.50 
for  transferring  coal  and  cleaning  spittoons. 

A  search  has  been  unable  to  identify  where  the  first 
Lodge  Hall  was  located;  but  in  September,  1891,  the 
Lodge  built  a  third  floor  on  a  two-story  building  located 
behind  the  present  Heiple  Building  and  was  owned  by 
the  father  of  Brother  Rae  C.  Heiple.  They  remained  there 
until  January,  1923,  when  they  rented  the  second  floor  of 
the  then  new  Esser  Building  over  what  is  now  the  V  &  S 
Hardware  Store.  They  remained  there  fifty  years,  until 
constructing  the  present  building  on  Wilmor  Road, 
which  was  occupied  in  April,  1973. 


One  of  the  members  who  contributed  much  time  to 
Taylor  Lodge  was  Brother  G.  A.  "Al"  Brunnenmeyer, 
who  was  secretary  from  1923  until  his  death  in  1965, 
except  for  two  years  when  he  was  a  Warden  and  Master 
of  the  Lodge.  One  of  our  oldest  members  in  this  area  is 
Brother  Robert  Smith  at  the  Washington  Nursing 
apartments.  Our  present  Master  is  C.  A.  Taylor;  we  have 
thirty-two  living  Past  Masters:  P.  E.  Gerken.  c.  w.  Hagen, 
R.  W.  Brown,  D.  E.  Lee,  M.  D.  Lee,  D.  G.  Ownes,  C.  J.  Coone,  R.  M. 
Rentfro,  R.  Nunley,  E.  E.  Kuykendall.  H.  Bess,  R.  L.  Underwood, 
E.  F.  Hagan.  P.  W.  Luthy,  A.  R.  Carman,  R.  F.  DeLay.  G.  R.  Rose. 
J.  A.  Wilson,  H.  Poderman,  M.  J.  Sprague,  L.  C.  Imbler,  W.  A.  Crist. 
W.  H.  Turley,  N.  H.  Scharp.  T.  L.  Lytic  R.  C.  Heiple.  C.  P. 
Blumenshine.  H.  L.  Heitzman.  R.  K.  Ebert.  W.  B.  Morris.  G.  H. 
Rinkenberger,  and  R.  W.  Miller. 

We  have  the  complete  minutes  from  1871  to  the 
present,  but  many  of  them  are  handwritten  and  hard  to 
read. 

WASHINGTON  CHAPTER  #115 
ORDER  OF  THE  EASTERN  STAR 

The  Washington  Chapter  #115  of  the  Order  of  the 
Eastern  Star  was  chartered  on  March  30,  1888  with  the 
first  meeting  being  held  on  April  11,  1888.  The  first 
meetings  were  held  in  the  Heiple  Building,  located  on  the 


T\     rf3  Jyrn-iJ'**.  C* 

^1*3 

^1  wm 

J/V/J 

it 

\w  ?*m 

tit-'  1 

1 

■            1 

east  side  of  North  Main  Street  and  which  now  has 
become  a  parking  lot.  This  building  was  the  only  one  in 
town  with  three  floors  and  was  known  as  the  "sky 
scraper".  This  was  built  by  Eli  Heiple,  the  grandfather 
of  Mr.  Rae  Heiple,  a  resident  of  Washington. 

The  first  Worthy  Patron  was  Dr.  James  F.  Hoover  and 
the  first  Worthy  Matron  was  Mrs.  Emeline  S.  Hoover. 
Mr.  Chas.  Rapp  was  secretary.  Meetings  were  held  on 
the  first  Wednesday  of  each  month  until  April,  1906, 
when  the  night  was  changed  to  the  first  Friday  of  each 
month.  This  has  remained  the  same  over  the  years.  In 
1923  the  Chapter  moved  to  the  second  floor  of  the  Esser 
Building,  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  Square.  Meet- 
ings were  held  in  this  location  until  the  Masons  com- 
pleted a  new  Masonic  Hall,  located  on  Wilmor  Road, 
in  1973. 

There  are  several  fifty-year  members  living  in  this  area 
and  also  one  member  living  in  Peoria,  Miss  Gertrude 
Wilson,  who  was  initiated  into  the  Chapter  in  March, 
1903.  The  members  are  wives,  widows,  mothers,  sisters, 
daughters,  and  granddaughters  of  Masons,  striving  to 
benefit  mankind. 

The  aim  is  to  maintain  the  high  principles  set  for  the 
organization  in  1888  by  the  founders  of  the  Chapter. 

The  National  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star  is  now  one 
hundred  years  old. 

The  Past  Matrons'  Club  was  organized  November  14, 
1936,  by  eleven  Past  Matrons.  First  officers  of  the  Club 
were  Mrs.  Mable  Malone  Kastien,  president,  and  Mrs. 
Hattie  Burkey,  secretary  and  treasurer.  Requirement 
for  membership  is  service  as  Worthy  Matron  of 
Washington  Chapter  Order  of  Eastern  Star;  when 
finished,  the  officer  is  welcomed  into  the  club.  This  is  a 
social  club  with  at  least  four  regular  meetings  each  year. 
The  purpose  is  to  help  the  local  Chapter  of  Eastern 
Star. 

Projects  are:  to  send  helpful  items  to  our  two  Eastern 
Star  Homes  at  Rockford,  Illinois  and  Macon,  Illinois. 
These  two  homes  are  for  the  elderly  ladies  who  are 
members  of  Eastern  Star.  An  annual  Christmas  Party 
for  members  and  husbands  is  held  each  year.  The  pre- 
sent membership  is  thirty-five  members.  The  officers 
for  1974  and  1975  are  Mrs.  Agnes  Dorward,  president 
and  Mrs.  Grace  Carman,  secretary-treasurer. 


AMERICAN  LEGION  POST  100 

The  Washington  Post  of  the  American  Legion  was 
organized  in  the  spring  of  1919,  and  a  Charter  was 
applied  for  August  19,  1919. 


Fred  E.  Sweitzer  was  appointed  as  temporary  chair- 
man and  Ralph  Swallow  as  temporary  secretary.  There 
two  men  later  were  elected  to  serve  in  the  capacity  of  the 
first  commander  and  the  first  secretary  for  year.  1920. 
There  are  no  records  available  from  this  point  until 
March  3,  1926.  except  the  names  of  commanders. 

The  first  regular  meetings  of  the  Post  were  held  at 
various  places,  such  as  the  Civic  Club  Room,  Council 
Room,  and  the  City  Hall,  all  in  the  old  City  Building. 
The  May  4.  1927  regular  meeting  and  those  that 
followed  were  held  upstairs  in  the  City  Building  in  the 
Legion  Room.  This  meeting  room  was  presented  to  the 
Post  by  the  city,  and  was  used  by  the  Post  until  the  pre- 
sent building  was  finished  in  1949.  In  October,  1939  a 
frame  building  was  erected  on  a  plot  of  land  leased  from 
the  Joseph  Reeser  farm  at  the  forks  of  the  road  west  of 
town.  A  few  of  the  regular  meetings  were  held  there, 
but  the  property  was  used  mainly  for  the  annual  Trap 
Shoots  and  other  activities. 

In  January.  1947  the  Post  was  notified  that  the  land 
had  been  sold,  and  the  Post  building,  known  as  the 
Chateau,  was  sold.  A  search  was  started  to  find  a  new 
location  for  the  Post's  home.  In  1949  the  twenty-one-acre 
timber  tract  was  purchased  from  Ben  Pfeiffinger. 
and  the  present  Legion  Quonset  was  erected,  where  all 
present  activities  have  taken  place. 

The  first  markers  for  the  Veterans'  graves  in  the  local 
cemetery  were  purchased  in  1926.  and  Memorial  Services 
were  held  at  various  graves  on  Memorial  Day.  On  June 
15,  1953  the  Washington  Council  approved  a  motion 
that,  as  long  as  the  American  Legion  Post  exists  in 
the  City  of  Washington  and  conducts  Memorial  Day 
Services,  they  may  use  the  plat  of  ground  where  the 
Memorial  Services  have  been  held  since  1956. 

One  of  the  activities  of  the  Legion  was  the  scrap  drive 
in  1942.  Some  one  hundred-two  tons  of  scrap  iron  were 
salvaged,  and  the  proceeds  were  given  to  the  Defense 
Council  of  the  American  Legion  for  the  China  Relief 
Drive.  In  1948  the  Post  engaged  in  a  drive  to  collect 
money  to  purchase  hospital  equipment,  loaned  to  Mrs. 
Raymond  Lasance.  to  be  used  at  the  Washington 
Nursing  Home. 


In  1929  a  Drum  and  Bugle  Corps  was  organized 
with  twenty  members.  This  group  was  quite  active  for 
several  years,  participating  in  many  conventions, 
activities  locally,  and  within  the  division. 

In  June.  1955  a  firing  squad  was  organized,  and  in 
1956  uniforms  were  purchased.  The  squad  has  taken 
part  in  many  local  funerals  and  parades.  This  squad  is 
now  known  as  the  Post  Color  Guard  and  has  had  the 
honor  of  escorting  the  State  Governor  on  Veterans 
Day  at  the  Illinois  State  Fair  on  several  occasions. 

Many  activities  have  been  sponsored  by  the  Legion 
and  Auxiliary,  such  as  the  Easter  Egg  Hunts.  Trap 
Shoots,  the  annual  Fall  Festival,  and  Community 
Auction.  The  Fall  Festival  has  been  abandoned. 

The  Sons  of  the  American  Legion  was  organized  in 
December,  1962  with  a  charter  membership  of  one  hun- 
dred boys.  The  Post  participates  in  many  programs  that 
are  beneficial  to  the  Washington  community.  They  have 
sent  local  boys  to  Boys  State;  this  program  teaches  young 
about  our  form  of  government.  Also,  they  actually 
participate  in  their  own  campaigns,  caucuses,  and 
election  of  officers. 

On  Veterans  Day.  1964  was  the  occasion  on  which  the 
Post  and  Auxiliary  presented  the  Flag,  Flag  Pole,  and 
Plaque  situated  in  the  City  Square,  to  the  City  of 
Washington. 

There  were  sixty-three  charter  members  by  August 
19.  1919.  As  far  as  we  know,  there  are  twenty  survivors. 
On  November  11,  1964  seventeen  of  these  charter 
members  were  honored  by  the  Post  and  were  given  life 
memberships  in  the  Post. 

Over  fifty  years  of  service  to  God  and  Country  is  quite 
a  long  time  for  a  human  being  to  serve.  Just  because 
those  men  and  women  no  longer  wear  the  uniform  of 
their  particular  branch  of  the  armed  forces  does  not 
mean  they  no  longer  serve.  The  Legion  Cap  they  wear  is 
a  symbol  of  service.  They  receive  it  with  respect  and  they 
wear  it  with  pride. 

There  are  many  hundreds  of  Veterans  who  receive 
benefits  and  services  in  medical  aid  and  financial 
assistance  from  the  American  Legion. 

The  building  of  a  baseball  diamond,  with  the 
generous  help  of  the  Marine  Corps,  is  in  progress  now 
and  will  be  ready  later  this  summer. 

AMERICAN  LEGION  AUXILIARY 

The  American  Legion  Auxiliary  Unit  #100  was  char- 
tered in  1924  with  Mrs.  Harriet  Zinser  as  the  first  presi- 


dent.  The  membership  on  January  31,  1974  is  one  hun- 
dred eighteen  senior  members.  The  Junior  Auxiliary  for 
daughters,  sisters,  and  granddaughters  under  eighteen 
years  of  age  is  twenty-two  members. 

The  membership  includes  women  who  serve  the 
Washington  community  in  many  different  ways.  At 
least  two  of  the  members  have  been  recipients  of  the 
Washington  Hatchet  Award  from  the  City  of 
Washington. 

One  compelling  purpose  binds  the  auxiliary  together, 
a  desire  to  serve  side  by  side  with  the  American  Legion 
in  working  for  the  best  interests  of  America.  The 
fundamental  purpose  is  to  help  build  a  stronger 
America  and  to  inspire  in  all  women  who  feel  a  more 
devoted  patriotism. 

Monetary  contributions  to  the  community  and  to  the 
American  Legion  and  American  Legion  Auxiliary  pro- 
grams, both  state  and  national,  amount  to  some  $600.00 
yearly. 

PAST  PRESIDENTS'  PARLEY 

The  Past  Presidents'  Parley  was  organized  in  1952. 
The  purpose  of  the  Past  Presidents'  Parley  is  to  continue 
in  active  service  to  the  American  Legion  Auxiliary  the 
women  who  have  served  as  Unit,  Department,  and 
National  Presidents.  It  has  no  special  activities  in  its 
charge  besides  its  objective,  "The  Care  of  the  Disabled 
Ex-Service  Women",  unless  so  assigned  by  the  Unit, 
Department,  or  National  organization,  but  gives  its 
support  to  the  entire  American  Legion  Auxiliary  pro- 
gram. The  training  and  experience  of  Past  Presidents' 
can  be  highly  useful  in  any  activity  needing  special 
support  or  emphasis.  Past  presidents  of  Past  Presidents' 
Parley  are:  Mesdames  —  Lester  Blumenshine,  Ralph  Belsly, 
Art  Belt.  Ida  Goodyear.  Louise  Jenkins,  Wilma  Williams.  Mary 
Joesting.  Walter  Holland.  Georgia  Geltmaker,  Henry  Wiese,  Ralph 
Swallow,  Emil  Mosny.  Glen  Eilers,  Frances  Mooberry,  Earl 
Zimmerman,  Harry  Ward,  Mabel  Allen,  Rita  Nauman,  Jack  Potter, 
Charles  Wilson,  Fern  Moberly.  E.  L.  Livingston,  Dorothy  Belsly, 
Benj.  H.  Smith,  and  RoyGoeker. 

WALKER  DANFORTH 
V.  F.  W.  POST  9016 

In  March  1967  plans  were  made  for  the  formation  of  a 
veterans'  organization,  called  the  Veterans  of  Foreign 
Wars  of  the  United  States.  In  May  1967,  after  much 
work,  the  organization  was  formed  and  named  the 
Walker  Danforth  Post  after  the  first  Washingtonian 
killed  in  World  War  II.  William  Forden  was  nominated 
and  elected  the  first  commander  of  this  new  post.  The 
Post  received  its  Charter  at  the  Installation  in  May  at 
the  Washington  Community  High  School  with 
Comrade  Tom  Russell  of  Park  Ridge  as  the  installing 
officer.  There  were  over  sixty  members  on  the  Charter. 

The  Post  held  its  meetings  at  the  old  City  Building  in 
a  room  on  the  second  floor.  After  the  old  City  Building 
was  demolished,  meetings  were  held  at  the  new  City 


Building  and  the  new  Washington  State  Bank's  Muller 
Room. 

In  February,  1972,  under  the  Commander  Robert 
Noirot,  with  a  membership  of  one  hundred  twenty,  the 
Post  purchased  the  old  Rinkenberger  Office  Building 
at  301  West  Washington  Street.  After  much  remodeling 
inside  it  has  become  the  new  Post  Home.  The  present 
membership  is  one  hundred  twenty-five. 

The  objectives  of  the  Veterans  of  Foreign  Wars  are 
fraternal,  patriotic,  historical  and  educational:  to  main- 
tain true  allegiance  to  the  government  of  the  United 
States  of  America  and  fidelity  to  its  constitution  and 
laws,  to  foster  true  patriotism,  to  maintain  and  extend 
the  institution  of  American  Freedom,  and  to  preserve 
and  defend  the  United  States  from  all  her  enemies. 

WALKER  DANFORTH  LADIES 
AUXILIARY  POST  9016 

Walker  Danforth  Ladies  Auxiliary  Post  9016  was 
instituted  in  1968  with  twenty-four  members.  The 
Auxiliary  was  named  after  Walker  Danforth,  who  was 
the  first  service  man  in  the  Washington  area  killed  in 
action  during  World  War  II. 

The  Auxiliary  is  a  fraternal,  patriotic,  historical,  and 
educational  organization,  to  assist  the  Post  and  members 
of  the  Veterans  of  Foreign  Wars  and  our  own  members 
families  whenever  possible. 

The  Auxiliary  has  contributed  to  many  National, 
District,  and  Community  projects.  Some  are:  Christmas 
gifts  for  veterans  at  the  Nursing  Home,  gifts  to  State 
Hospital,  donations  to  Kidney  Foundation,  Cancer 
Fund,  P  T  A  awards,  and  tornado  and  food  relief.  Past 
presidents  are:  Maxine  Williams,  Mary  Noirot.  Glenna  Forden, 
Kathy  Forden,  and  Grace  Sanders. 


VETERANS  OF  WASHINGTON 
V 


William  Holland,  the  first  white  settler  of  Washington, 
was  reputed  to  be  a  Veteran  of  the  War  of  1812.  Since 
his  day  Washington  has  been  well  represented  in  all 
of  the  wars  the  United  States  has  engaged  in. 

In  the  Mexican  War  of  1846-48.  of  the  total  of  78,718 
who  served,  two  men  from  the  community  were  engaged. 
Thomas  Cooper  of  Cooper  Station,  and  John  Norris, 
grandfather  of  our  ex-postmaster  of  the  same  name. 

Of  the  2,213,363  men  who  served  in  the  Union  Army 
during  the  Civil  War  of  1861-65,  about  75  came  from  the 
community.  During  this  war  doctors  were  not  an  inte- 
gral part  of  the  Army,  but  served  as  contract  physicians 
and  surgeons.  Two  of  these  were  Alfred  Alphonso.  who 
operated  a  drug  store  for  many  years  in  the  building  now 
occupied  by  Dr.  Antony,  and  William  H.  Weirick  who 
practiced  medicine  here  until  about  1910.  The  Veterans 
of  the  Civil  War  organized  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  the  first  post  being  established  at  Decatur. 
Illinois,  on  April  6,  1866;  and  a  chapter  was  formed  here 
with  the  name  of  Bogardus  Post  in  honor  of  a  Captain 
Bogardus,  who  was  an  early  casualty  of  the  war.  The  first 
Decoration  or  Memorial  Day  was  observed  on  May  30th. 
1868.  From  then  until  1920,  the  Grand  Army  was  in 
charge  of  the  parade  and  ceremonies. 

The  Union  Army  consisted  almost  wholly  of  volunteers 
until  the  last  year  of  conflict,  when  a  form  of  the  draft 
was  instituted;  but  if  the  man  drafted  did  not  want  to 
go  and  had  money,  he  could  pay  someone  to  take  his 
place.  Companies  and  regiments  were  recruited  locally 
and  the  officers  were  elected  by  the  men.  The  47th 
Illinois  Infantry  Regiment  was  commanded  by  Lieut. 
Colonel  Daniel  L.  Miles  of  Washington,  who  was  killed 
in  action  on  May  9,  1862.  He  had  under  him  his  brother 
J.  B.  Miles  with  the  rank  of  Major,  who  participated  in  a 
number  of  battles,  was  wounded  and  mustered  out  on 
October  11,  1864.  D.  S.  Shephard  was  a  captain  in  the 


2nd  Illinois  Cavalry,  was  mustered  out  as  a  major,  and 
was  later  Postmaster  of  Washington.  The  last  surviving 
veteran  of  the  Civil  War  was  Ike  Graves  who  died  about 
1936. 

306,760  men  were  recruited  for  the  Spanish  American 
War  of  1898.  Some  of  those  who  served  from  Washington 
were  Dudley  Brown.  Lester  Wood,  a  man  named 
Bamber.  and  Theodore  McNutt  and  son  who  volunteered 
together.  An  organization  known  as  the  Spanish 
American  War  Veterans  was  formed,  but  there  were  not 
enough  to  form  a  local  post. 

World  War  I.  1917-18.  was  manned  by  4.734.991 
officers  and  men,  some  of  whom  were  allowed  to  volun- 
teer early  in  the  war,  but  most  were  selected  by  the 
modern  draft  system.  Junior  officers  were  trained  at 
Officer  Candidate  Schools  for  three  months.  These 
officers  were  derisively  labelled  "90  day  wonders"  by 
the  enlisted  men.  One  of  the  schools  was  at  Fort 
Sheridan.  Illinois,  which  opened  May  12,  1917,  and 
graduated  enough  officers  up  to  the  rank  of  captain  and 
a  few  majors  to  officer  a  complete  division,  and  a  Depot 
Brigade  assembled  at  Camp  Grant,  Rockford. 
Illinois,  on  September  1,  1917. 

There  were  about  107  men  from  Washington  in  the 
conflict,  and  they  organized  Washington  Post  #100 
American  Legion  in  the  summer  of  1919.  The  first 
assembly  of  the  returned  veterans  was  on  the  occasion  of 
the  funeral  of  James  Berney.  a  Civil  War  Veteran  on 
May  2.  1919.  In  1920  the  American  Legion  took  over 
from  the  aging  GAR  the  duties  of  celebrating 
Memorial  Day.  Doctors  serving  in  the  Medical  Corps 
during  this  war  were  —  Major  O.  P.  Bennett.  Capt. 
W.  A.  Gott.  and  Lieut.  Harley  Zinser.  Dr.  Lee  Monroe 
presumably  served  in  the  Corps,  but  his  rank  is  unknown 
to  the  composer  of  this  article. 

World  War  II.  1941-45.  was  manned  by  14.903.213 
officers  and  men.  Exact  statistics  as  to  those  serving  from 
Washington  are  not  available,  but  there  must  have  been 
at  least  300,  probably  more.  The  returned  veterans  of 
this  war  seemed  to  be  satisfied  with  the  record  of  the 
American  Legion  in  advocating  legislation  beneficial 
to  the  veteran  as  most  of  them  joined  local  Post  #100. 
although  there  were  several  minor  organizations.  The 
Walker  Danforth  Post  #9016  of  the  Veterans  of  Foreign 
Wars,  which  was  organized  in  Washington  in  1967.  also 
claimed  a  large  share  of  World  War  II  and  subsequent 
war  returnees.  Dr.  C.  J.  Forrette  served  in  the  Medical 
Corps  of  the  Navy  and  was  retired  as  a  Lieutenant 
Commander  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  Korean  War  of  1950-53  was  served  by  5.720.000. 
but  no  records  are  available  as  to  the  exact  number 
serving  from  here.  The  same  is  true  of  the  Viet  Nam 
conflict.  We  know  that  about  as  many  Americans  were 
killed  in  the  last  war  as  in  World  War  I. 

Since  World  War  II  the  U  S  A  has  been  the  bulwark 
for  the  World  against  aggressive  totalitarianism  and  it 
has  cost  us  plenty  in  lives,  physical  disabilities,  and 
treasure.  We  hope  the  World  appreciates  it. 


About  1870 


William  Roehm 


MISCELLANEOUS 
PICTURES 


Peoria  St.,  West  of  Square  Above  -  1974 


Sunday  Morning  Outing  Bowery  Boys 


Rugby  Team 


Pfeiffer  Store 


Old  Post  Office 

i 


■ 


^ 


rtalderman's  Cubs  1906 


It.   I 


T.P.  &  W.  Depot 


T.P.  &  W.  Telegraphers 


The  first  train  through  Washington  was  the  Toledo,  Peoria  and 
Western  in  1857. 


The  first  class  graduated  from  high 
school  in  1876.  Our  beloved  "Miss 
Mary"  was  one  of  the  four  students 
who  graduated  in  this  class. 


S  Girls  of  Graduating  Class  1903 


Reverend  Holtgrieve  1900 


Building  of  (annerv  Factorv  1910 


Street  Paving 


Washington  News 
Typesetters 


First  Washington  High  School  Band 


WASHINGTON  PARK  1974 


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

Contributing  information  or  assistance 


Mrs.  Robert  Hays 

Mrs.  Francis  Johnson 

Mrs.  Noah  Hickman 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Wayne  Kinsinger 

Mr.  William  McNett 

Mr.  Fred  Sweitzer 

Mrs.  John  H.  Blumenshine 

Mr.  Robert  Summer 

Mrs.  Clarence  Zimmerman 

Mrs.  Melvin  O.  Moehle 


Mrs.  William  Crist 
Mrs.  Clayton  Summer 
Mrs.  C.  R.  Fahnestock 
Mrs.  Alvin  Montgomery 
Mr.  Kenneth  Black 
Mrs.  William  Tullv  Jr. 
Mrs.  Ola  Hughes 
Mr.  Richard  Scott 
Mr.  Mark  Heiser 
Mr.  Laban  Lytle 


Artist 

Mrs.  Herbert  Paul 


Editors 

Mrs.  Bill  Valentine 
Mrs.  A.  M.  Martini 


Historical  Material 
Picturesque  Washington,  Illinois 
Early  History  of  Washington,  Illinois 
History  of  Washington,  Illinois,  and  Its  Early  Settlers 
Atlas  of  Map  of  Tazewell  County,  Illinois 


Photographer 

Mr.  Herbert  Paul 


History  of  Tazewell  County 

Washington  Public  Library 

Tazewell  County  Reporter 


We  appreciate  the  material  furnished  by  the  churches,  families,  and  organizations. 
We  apologize  for  all  errors  and  omissions. 


SESQUICENTENNIAL  COMMITTEE 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Ebert 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Wayne  Kinsinger 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carl  Maxwell 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Summer 
Mrs.  Laverne  Filers 
Mrs.  Bill  Valentine 


PAGEANT 

Mrs.  Laban  Lvtle 


ACTIVITIES 

July  4,  1975  Arts  and  Crafts  Fair  on  the  square 

Display  of  antiques  in  store  windows 

July  5,  1975  Washington  Pageant  at  Washington  Community 

High  School 

July  6,  1975  Old  Fashioned  Day  in  the  park 

Band  Concert 
Ice  Cream  Social 
Baseball  Game 

Display  of  Antique  Automobiles  from 
Peoria  Antique  Auto  Club 


"Here  we  are,  here  we  have  been  150  years,  and  here  we  continue  to  strive  —  in  this  America  in 
microcosm  this  fertile  land,  this  unfinished  symphony,  this  Washington.". 


Ton-iit)lnp   -t>  X 


"~  Range  ;iW 


J|an<i<>  ZW.aT  3SP.M. 


t 


GEOLOGIC  STRUCTURE  OF  THE  EARTH 
WASHINGTON,  ILLINOIS 


Washington  was  once  the  bottom  of  a  lake.  While  rock  is  near  the  surface  in  Peoria  and  west  of  that  city,  it  is 
between  300  and  400  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  land  in  this  section.  This  would  indicate  that  the  land  on  which 
we  now  live  was  once  a  great  lake  over  400  feet  deep  in  spots,  which  later  filled  with  sand  and  dirt  by  glaciers 
whirh  moved  over  the  country  from  the  north. 


/KWM-BO^V 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 

977  354H6292  C001 

HISTORY  OF  WASHINGTON,  ILLINOIS  WASHINGT 


3  0112  025392934