Full text of "Paris and Edgar County, 1823-1973"

977.369 ....

P218 PARIS AND EDGAR COUNTY^ 1^3 -'^^^

UNIVERSITY OF

ILLINOIS LIBRARY

AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGH

tUNOlS HISTORICAL SURVEY

977.369
^218

Paris and Ed^ar County

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1823

1973

Paris — Edgar County Sesquicentennial Program

THURSDAY, SEPT. 6, 1973

4 p.m. Opening Ceremony, West Side
Square

4:30 p.m. — St. Marys Parent-Teacher Asso-
ciation Ice Cream Social
7 p.m. — Community Sing, Sponsored by
Community Concert Association

FRIDAY, SEPT. 7, 1973

12 noon — Lions Club Fish Fry

6 p.m. — Paris Jaycees Barbershop Quartet
Competition

7 p.m. — Junior Women's Club Style Show

SATURDAY, SEPT. 8, 1973

Kiwanis Club Pancake Day, all day
9:30 a.m. — Children's games, Paris Com-
munity YMCA

9:30 a.m. — All-County Spelling Bee, West
Side Square

2 p.m. — Sesquicentennial Parade, Central
Avenue

4:30 p.m. — Groundbreaking for Edgar Coun-
ty Airport, 6 miles North of Paris

DISPLAYS

Antique Quilt Show, Edgar County Savings &
Loan Association

Art Show, Edgar County Courthouse and Car-
negie Public Library'

Farmers Market, Tent on South Side Square
(Thursday and Friday)

Phyllis Wheatley Club Lemonade Stand, in
Meeting House

State of Illinois Historymobile, North Side
Square

Farrier's Exhibit (Horseshoeing) Satur-
day, South Side Square

Historical Displays in downtown business win-
dows.

The following booklet is offered neither as a
definitive history of Paris and Edgar County,
nor as a comprehensive study of the com-
munity and county as it is in 1973. Rather it
is a glance backward and a view of the pre-
sent as the foundation for the next 150 years.
Acknowledgement is gratefully made for the
help of those who offered pictures and infor-
mation for the contents of this book. Historic
pictures were compiled by Philip S. Foley
from the 1898 50th anniversary edition of the
Beacon, and the 1914 edition of a Paris Cham-

ber of Commerce oooklet, plus personal pic-
tures. Current photographs are from the files
of the Beacon-News photo staff and the Bea-
con-News editorial department assisted with
sections of the written material. The history
of the earliest years was written by Philip
Shutt with some additions by Del York, who
edited the manuscript. The sections on the
more recent years were written by Ned Jeni-
son. The book was published by the coopera-
tive efforts of the Witlick Printing Co., UMC-
Colson Co., and the Beacon-News.

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This is a copy of the page in the first volume of proceedings of the Edgar County Commis-
sioners which shows the initial plat of the original town of Paris as designated in June, 1823. Market Street
is now Main, and Madn Street became Central.

1823 PARIS - EDGAR COUNTY 1973

PROGRESS ON THE PRAIRIE

By PHILIP L. SHUTT

The territory in which Paris is located was
part of the Kickapoo Indian Hunting Grounds.
The old Indian boundary line, cutting down
across the eastern portion of Edgar Coimty
had been established by treaty between the
Kickapoos and General WiUiam Henry Harris-
on about 1809. Land was offered for sale as
early as 1816, most of it in the southeastern
and eastern portions of what subsequently
became Edgar County.

An Indian trail, laid out as a road between
Chicago and Vincennes by pioneer explorer
Guerdon S. Hubbard was helpful in bringing
people south through the territorj', but more
importantly providing a link with immigrants
from Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. From
these three states came most of the early
settlers around Paris.

The first family thought to have settled
about 1821 within the environs of Paris was
that of Thomas Jones, who, with his wife,
three sons, and five daughters arrived to make
their home in the wilderness. They came
from Christian County, Kentucky. Mr. Jones
died soon afterward, and the family moved
on to Texas, but not before one of the daugh-
ters married Hall Sims, another pioneer. Oth-
er eariy settlers in Paris were John Boyd,
John Houston and Smith Shaw.

Samuel Vance of Virginia, but latterly a
Tennessee man entered by purchase from the
U.S. Government on January 4, 1823, 164.96
acres near the center of what now is Edgar
County. Samuel Vance donated 26 acres of
land for the establishment of the town of Paris
and County Seat of Edgar County.

The original plat of the town was surveyed
and laid out by Amos Williams for the Vances.
The recorded plat in the County Clerk's office
is dated May 3, 1823.

After a survey of several parts of the pre-
sent county, the Paris site seemed a good one
because it was level, it had good drainage, it
was easily cleared, and it was central to tra-
vel. In the center of the 26 acres was an
old Jack-oak tree. What would be more na-
tural then as to emblazon upon its trunk the
word "Paris".

It is an educated guess that the name
"Paris" was chosen after the name of Paris,
Kentucky. That town would have been known
to some of the Kentucky people who were
attracted to the spot in Illinois.

North Arm, in tie eastern part of the
county platted 100 acres to be called Cam-
bridge City, hoping this would become the

County Seat of government. But Paris proved
to be more accessible, and Cambridge City
ne\^r came into being.

The first building erected in Paris was the
log house of Smith Shaw which was built
near tiie southeast comer of what is now
East Crawford and Shaw Avenue. Then Sam-
uel Vance and the adult members of his family
built log houses north of what is now the
square.

The first commercial building in Paris was
a log storehouse built by Milton K. Alexander
near the Square. Next to it he built his
residence.

Paris, as a town became incorporated in
1849. Before this year, the jurisdiction of the
growing community was in the hands of the
Edgar Commissioner's Court. Edgar County
had been set up in 1823.

There were 64 lots in the original piat of
Paris with four named streets and a "Public
Square". The two east-west streets were de-
noted as "Wood" and "Court". The two north-
south streets were called "Market" and
"Main". Market later came to be called
"Main" and "Main" became "Central".

On June 22, 1849, the people of Paris ga-
thered at designated polling places to decide
whether the town should be incorporated so
that it might have its own government. Only
28 persons voted, and of these, Wiley B. Ed-
wards and William Graham were the only
negative votes. Those, then, who desired a
corporate town, were: J.W. Blackburn, Char-
les BriseU, Robert Clark, J.B. Cole, D.J. Con-
nally, Albert Daggett, Austin Earnest, Samuel
Jordan, Jacob Harding, H.A. Hodge, Paul
Huston, J.D. Jaquith, S.P. Link, Nethaniah
Link, Thomas Martin, J.M. McConkey, W.G.
McReynolds, Washington Nebaker, L.T. New-
Ion, Jonathon A. Phips, J.J. Samuels, E.P.

Reservoir Dam and Municipal Waterworks, Early 1900s.

Second Court House, 1833-1885.

ISuisances Were Clearly Defined

Shaw, John Sheriff, James Steel, John Suther-
land and Jonothan Tucker.

A week later the officers of the "Corpora-
tion of the Town of Paris" began their duties.
L.T. Newlon was president, and J.D. Jaquith,
clerk. These officials proved temporary - just
to get the organization moving - for on June
29,1849, an election selected M.M. Dill as pre-
sident, and Mr. Newlon as clOTk, each to serve
one year. Trustees chosen were: M.M. Dill,
James Gordon, Nethaniah Link, Washington
Nebaker, and John Sheriff. In addition, John
Gist became Town Constable, auctioneer, and
tax collector; Henry Nevil, assessor and trea-
surer; William Benjamin and Jonathan A.
Metcalf, street supervisors.

At their first formal session "laws and
ordinances" were adopted. Tnese provided
for the duties of the town officers, taxation,
health regulation, sidewalk grades, prohibition
of "gaming", isolation of "nuisances", care
of horses, licensing of different businesses,
and penalities for disobeying the several
laws.

Two kinds of taxes were established: 1) a
tax of not to exceed one-half of one per cent
a year on town lots, dwellings, public hous-
es, and merchants shops; 2) a tax of one-
eighth of one per cent on real and personal
property. No estimate of the income from
such taxation is available.

"Nuisances" were dearly defined, for which
one could be fined for their perpetration.
Listed were: allowing manure to remain for
more than three days; blocking of streets and
"allies" with dirt piles, chips and trash;
leaving vegetables, meats, slop, or "other
filth" Or anything likely to produce an of-
fensive smeU out in the open; discharging or
firing a pistol within 80 rods of the Court
House, (such shooting was later prohibited
altogether;) playing cricket, bandy cat, town
ball, comer ball, pitching quoits, dollars, or
any game of chance on the "sabbath day";
blowing of horns, trumpets, or bugles, ringing
beUs, beating drums, halooing and shouting,
at any time, making or firing squibs, crack-
ers or rockets; and permitting hogs to run
loose in the streets. The hog ordinance was
continually revised to cope with the problem-
even a hog "pound" seemed of little value.

In July, 1849, cholera threatened Paris, and
it was, in those days, a common threat due to
lack of sewage facilities. So the Trustees
took prompt action by establishing a "clean-
up day". The President and a special com-
mittee saw to it that all back-houses, out-
houses, pens, or other nusiances were cleaned,
as well as to see that the streets and "allies"
were cleared of rubbish. Property owners, or
anyone concerned who proceeded with such
cleaning were to be compensated for their
time out of an "improvement tax".

Early in the spring, 1850, the Trustees
found it necessary to purchase some equip-
ment for the small volunteer fire department.
Three fire hooks and two ladders and poles
for the hooks were purchased after a public
letting.

The first ordinance relating to keeping or
selling liquor was adopted at the August, 1850,
meeting. Since 1850, Paris has had very few
"dry" years! A house or other building where
excessive drinking or disorderly conduct was
allowed, were grounds for a fine. The pro-
prietors of such places, under this new or-
dinance, were given two day's notice, and if
such a "nuisance" was not abated within
that time, fines from $5.00 to $15.00 could be
assessed each day such a rendevouz was
open after the closing notice was given. This
ordinance was apparently aimed at three
gentlemen: B. Beck, Bennet Redmon, and W.
H. Stout. Mr. Redmon was fined quite often.

To make walking better around the four
sides of the Square, plank sidewalks of clear
white or burr oak were ordered laid out.
Such planks were to be 10 feet in length,
8 inches in width, and two inches thick. The
cost of such lumber was not to be more than
$1.25 per hundred feet-inch. James D. Ja-
quith contracted to do the work.

The first so-called "corporation tax" was
set at one-eighth of one per cent on every
$100.00 valuation of real and personal property
in 1850.

Of 10,692 people residing in Edgar County
in 1850, more than half were certainly resi-
dents of Paris. So the town had grown from
200 persons numbered in 1837. The increase
of population meant a greater demand for
better streets and better sidewalks.

A new law spelled out in detail penalities
for card playing, billiards, dice, or any other
"game of chance". Such games were now
prohibited in any house, store, grocery, wai*-
house, shop, out-house, or in any other build-
ing. This inclusive ordinance must have pro-
\ided some exciting moments for the Town
Constable, if so, he was compensated, when
the fines were given to him in lieu of salary.

An official seal for the town of Paris was
purchased in 1855, and the first set of rules
to govern the activities of the Council was
adopted.

A lithograph map of the town of Paris was
purchased from Robert J. Boylan.

The first duly elected Attorney for the town
was James Steele. He was to receive $40.00
a year and such other compensation as the
Council might determine.

In 1856 the publication of expenditures and
income of the town sened good reading in
the Valley Blade and Prairie Beacon news-

South Side of Square, Looking West, 1876.

East Court Street From Main Street, 1876.

Paris Becomes A City, M«y 28, 1868

papers. This was the first of similar publi-
cations.

Steps were taken in September, 1856, to
provide a more adequate water supply by
opening a new artesian well.

Stones were now set at each proper comer
of the Square to mark it off.

Now that the railroad passed tlirough Paris,
the Council found it necessary to adopt a
speeding ordinance, limiting the passage of
trains tlirough the town at 10 miles an hour.

In May, 1858, new lamps and posts were
erected at the comers of the Square for coal
oil, instead of candles. The Beacon editorial-
ized the hope that eventually gas illumination
would be used. The coal oil proved unsatis-
factory, so star candles were put back in.
A.A. Hannah held the contract for the change-
over.

A rather high corporation tax of 25 cents
per $100.00 valuation was adopted in July,
1858, without public outcry!

In 1859, the property tax was reduced from
25 cents to 20 cents, thus giving a measure
of relief to property owners.

There wei-e major public improvements
planned in 1863. The streets around the
Square, for example, would be paved with
stone. Property owners from the Booth store
on Market St., to the railroad were required
to build plank sidewalks eight feet in width.

They were to be spiked down with 12 or
16 inch spikes.

A new project was undertaken in March,
1866. Paris was divided into four wards for
the purpose of sanitary inspection. Inspectors
appointed were: C.W. Levings, J.R. Martin,
John Gist, Martin U.B. Mann. Implementing
this action, a Board of Health was created
made up of Doctors John Tenbrook, Stephen
J. Young and L. L. Todd.

The big project of 1868 was certainly the
building of a new Engine House and Market
House which would include a Council cham-
ber.

May 28, 1869, was a very special day for
Paris. It became a city, with a charter pro-
viding for a Mayor and Council. Four wards
were set up and the councilman would re-
present his particular ward in which he Uved.
About the same date, the Paris School Dis-
trict was given its charter. An official seal
was adopted showing a hand holding a pair
of scales.

The two main arteries through town now
had their names changed. Market Street be-
came Main street on the east side of the
Square, and Main became Central on the
west side.

As the new year opened in 1870, juvenile
delinquency was given a blow when an ordi-
nance was passed prohibiting minors from
playing billiards without written permission
from their parents.

Barber shops were now prohibited ft'om
opening on Sundays.

The first figures of real estate and per-
sonal property assessments were noted in the
minutes in 1870, amounting to $1,059,299.00.
A 5 mills tax was levied.

In 1872, an ordinance was passed formally
designating seven streets by name: Central,
Main, Jefferson, Wood, Court, Edgar and An-
drew. Numbering of houses and lots was or-
dered: all even numbers on the east and
north, with odd numbers on the west and
south sides of streets.

Macadamizing of city streets occupied the
attention of the Council in 1874, as such a pro-
ject was approved. The first street to be so
treated was Main street on the east side of
the Square. In other action on streets. South
street was re-named Elm, and Middle street
became Washington. Alexander street was
extended to Court street.

The year 1882 proved statistically interest-
ing. Paris had a population of 5,000; six
railroads served it; there were over 150 bus-
inesses; and 112 persons had telephones.

Electricity officially made its appearance
in Paris during the month of August, 1886.
The people had voted by a majority of 348
to set up an electric light system, and dis-
continue the use of gas for lighting. In May,
1887, the Beacon reported that 250 people had
already subscribed for electricity.

In January, 1896, the new reservoir was
designated as "Reservoir Park and Lake",
and on Arbor Day more than 200 shade trees
were set out. There had been an attempt to
name it "Alexander Park and Lake" to honor
J.W.S. Alexander, a pioneer citizen who had
lost his life in the Civil War.

In 1897, 45 new electric lamps were erected
on "neat iron towers" throughout the town.
The lights were at the end of an arm project-
ing 30 feet out over the streets.

A curfew ordinance - the first in the hist-
ory of Paris - was enacted in December,
1899. A 9:00 p.m,, time in summer and an
8:00 p,m,, hour in winter were agreed upon.
Any child 14 years of age or under had to be
off the sti-eets at those times unless accom-
panying their parents. The fire bell was to
be tapped as the warning bell.

A project which engaged the attention of
the public in 1902 was the establishing of a
free public library. The site settled upon was
the Myers- Gingerick property on south Main

!ea

Nurth Main Street From Wood to Railroad, Early 1900s.

South Side of Square About 1900, Looking East.

East Court Street From Main, About 190

Speed Limit Was 15 Miles Per Hour For Cars

St. The Woman's Club proposed to donate
1,000 volumes to the library as a start. J.E.
Parrish was the first chairman of the Library
Board, with Dr. E.O. Laughlin serving as se-
cretary.

The Paris Carnegie Library was completed
and opened in 1904. It is one of the out-
standing libraries in Illinois. The library adds
much to the culture and enlightenment of the
people of Paris and Edgar County. For near-
ly 70 years the library has rendered a ser-
vice in the community, which has been deeply
appreciated by thousands of patrons.

The people of Paris and Edgar County are
encouraged to acquaint themselves with lit-
erature of an educational, inspirational and
informational nature.

As of September, 1973, the library has the
following for loan or use:

Loan of books from a collection of 24,000
volumes.

Loan of magazines from over 125 subscrip-
tions.

Current tax information (t'ederal Tax Guide)

Current stock market information (Moodys)

Loan of recordings from large record col-
lections.

Latest mysteries and novels (best sellers).

Late editions of ten sets of encyclopedias.

Up to date reference materials for research
projects.

Five daily newspapers and two weekly.

Access through Lincohi Trail Library Sys-
tem to state, university and city libraries for
materials rot in library collection.

Art reproductions, records and films pro-
vided by Lincoln Trail Library System.

Arranging series of films for institutional
and club programs.

Separate library on lower level for children
and young people with children's librarian in
attendance.

Story hour for three to five year old chil-
dren.

Films for children at regularly scheduled
dates.

Books for hospitals and nursing homes.

Telephone reference service and aid tor fin-
ding material at any ume by the Library
Staff.

Room available for civic meetings, showing
of films, etc.

Coin operated copying machine for use by

the public.

Large collection of historical data about
Paris, Edgar County, family history, etc.

The spring of 1903 presaged a building
boom. Already |250,000 worth of construction
was planned. The Beacon proudly listed all
of the prospective improvements.

The first Chautauqua Assembly - a popular
movement in the United States about this
time, was set for August 4-13, 1905, bringing
prominent speakers and entertainers to Paris.
Camp sites at the lake and park were rented
for this brief session.

Automobile speed limits were now set at 15
miles an hour on streets; this applied also to
bicycles and other kinds of vehicles.

The big news of 1908 was the opening of an
interurban transportation system between
Terre Haute and Paris.

A dog tax was levied for the first time in
1908.

To those who were thirsty during the sum-
mer, water coolers, filled with mineral water,
were placed at the comers of the Square.
For a penny a glass, one could quaff ice wat-
er. The cooler was simply a contrivance
whereby one deposited a penny and the water
appeared in a glass. W.W. Rector and W.W.
Hinds were the lessees.

Some population statistics interested Pari-
sians in 1911. The official U.S. Census gave
Paris 7,664 inhabitants, a gain of 1,559 over
1900. It was pointed out, however, that the
regular census was taken during a depression
period when many families had moved away-
had they been counted the figure would have
been closer to 9,000. For several issues of the
Beacon a banner head appeared on the front
page reading "Boost, Breath, Sing & Pray
Every Minute for 20,000 Population for Paris
in 1915." By the Federal census of 1910, the
Edgar County population figure showed a de-
cline, the total figure being 27,886. Paris and
Paris Township had 16,065 residents.

In 1914, police were ordered to force parked
autos around the Square to park inward in-
stead of parallel, to make more room, espe-
cially on nights during the summer when
band concerts were heard on the Court House
LawTi.

A major change in the government of Paris
occurred in 1915, when the commission form
was adopted. On Februarj' 26 by more than 2
to 1 majority the people of Paris voted to
change their government. The women's vote
was almost solid for the change. The Beacon
asked that the new "toy" be given a fair
chance to ope'-ate.

In 192C, the possibility of an airport for

Kidder Corn Miilins Plant. Forerunner of Illinois Cereal Mills.

Propst Lumber Company

Merkle-Wiley Broom Company, World's Largest, About 1914.

Street Cars Made Their Finall Run in 1928

Paris was discussed by the Council after hear-
ing flying enthusiast Archie Hickman tell of
the progress of commercial aviation.

In June, 1920, Sunday dancing was prohib-
ited at Reservoir Park.

The year 1921 opened with the establish-
ment of the first automobile parking lot. On
April 12th, George Bibo was granted permis-
sion to establish such a lot on the O'Hair
property on E. Wood St.

In the Fall of 1921, neai- the intersection
of .lasper and S. Main Sts. a park was opened
and it was a prideful improvement for that
area. It had been used by the city for a
water reservoir. The land for the Park was
given to the city by Maurice Sholem. It was
to be named Sylvain Park, named after his
son.

In October, 1921, the name "Sylvain" was
received for the park, with a stipulation that
it was to be retained by the city so long as
the use of the land was for park purposes.
Further, it was stipulated Sylvain Park be-
longs to the city of Paris only under one
condition. As long as there is water stored on
it, the park belongs to the city. In the event
the water tower reservoir is removed or the
park is not used for water works purposes,
the city will lose the deed.

On October 31, 1922, the Council granted

permission to O.L. and Laura Jarodsky to
conduct a motion picture house on the west
side of the Square.

Early in December, 1922, J. Edwin Vance,
Charles E. Shaw, and Walter S. Lamon were
appointed as a special committee to work
with other committees on the approaching
celebration of the 100th birthday of the organ-
ization of Paris and Edgar County.

The State Game and Fish Commission of-
ficially designated Reservoir Lake as a fish
preserve on May 15, 1923.

1928 was the last year for street cars in
Paris. A fire in January destroyed the street
cars of the Illinois Traction Co., and in May
its franchise was rescinded. However, the
company was authorized to operate a bus ser-
vice. Meanwhile, the street car tracks had to
be removed.

Sometime previously to 1937 Reservoir Park
had become Twin Lakes Park. A 20 mile
speed limit was placed on the road going
through the park.

As the year 1942 closed, Horace, Paxson

and Dick Link gave a parcel of land facing
West End avenue to the city for only park
purposes. They also contributed $2,500 toward
its improvements. It could not be used for
carnivals, fairs, or shows. Three persons liv-
ing in that vicinity were to be added to the

Park Board. If used for other than park
purposes the land reverted to the Links or
their heirs. If not used within two years after
the close of World War II, the money was to
revert to the donors. Finally, it was given
the romantic name of Sunset Park.

During 1943, the Midwest Body Co., provided
labor and materials for the constmction of
the Edgar County War Memorial on the east
side of the Courthouse grounds. The War Me-
morial is dedicated To Those From Edgar
County Who Served in World War I and World
War II. Preliminary planning is now under-
way to expand the War Memorial to include
those who served in Korea and Vietnam.

During 1944, Mr. Herschel B. O'Hair, pro-
vided money for the devdopment of a park
located at the corner of Edgar and High
Sts. The park is comprised of approximately
6 acres and is named Sunrise Park. The
park has a public playground and picnic area.
A baseball diamond and swimming pool for
youth under 12 years of age is available.
There are many unusual and rare trees in
Sunrise Park, such as: Japanese Cherry Bark
Maple, Golden Sweet Gum, Desert Ash, Lilly
of Valley, Mountain Maple and Flowering
Scanlan Cherry which is a cross between a
wild cherry and Japanese cnerry tree. Sunrise
Park is one of the beauty spots in Paris.
These beautiful trees provide a panorama of
color during Spring, Summer and especially
during the Fall.

Parking meters came to Paris in 1947.

Formal dedication of the Kiwanis Memorial
Park north of town occurred No\'ember 8,1948.
The Council was present to watch the unveiling
of a monument to the war dead of Edgar
County.

In February, 1951, an ordinance was passed
and approved, relating to the licensing, taxing,
and regulation of taxicabs within the City of
Paris.

During June, 1951, the Council received a
communication from Union 450 of the Brother-
hood of Painters, Decorators and Paper Han-
gers of America complaining of city employees
(Police Dept) working on time when not on
duty in competition to the recognized painting
contractors. The position of the Council was
that if city employees give the city of Paris i\s
money's worth while he was on duty and con-
duc-ted himself as a gentleman and good resi-
dent of the City of Paris, that was aU that
was necessary.

During August, 1951, tlie Council resolved
that the Paris Baseball Team be congratu-
lated on the dedication of the "Laker Sta-
dium" on August 25, 1951, and to extend a
hearty welcome to William "BUI" Veeck, as
the speaker for said occasion. "The Paris

Paris Street Car at Reservoir Park (Iwin Lakes Park) early 1900s.

Main Street Looking North, Early 1900s.

Big i-our Depot, Between Main and Central, About 1914.

Third Lake Is Built In 1960

Lakers are to be contratulated for their show-
ing in the M.O.V. League and they are a
worthy addition to the recreational facilities of
the Community."

During October, 1954, an ordinance author-
izing and providing for the issue of J350,000
waterworks and Sewerage Revenue Bonds
was enacted, for the purpose of defraying the
cost of constructing improvements to the ex-
isting combined waterworks and sewerage sy-
stem. This action was done in the best in-
terest of public health and safety.

During April, 1955, it was resolved by the
Council that salaries of employees of the City
of Paris be increased 15 percent effective May
1, 1955.

During February, 1955, an ordinance divid-
ing the City into four voting precincts and
fixing boundaries thereof for the Primary and
General Municipal Elections was adopted.

An ordinance was passed in Feb. 1955, au-
thorizing the central Illinois Public Service
Co., to construct, operate and maintain a gas
utility and electric light, heat and power sy-
stem in the City of Paris.

During Feb. 1955, an ordinance grantmg the
right and permission to Deluxe Transit Ser-
vice Co., to maintain and operate a motor bus
system for hire upon the streets of Paris.

An ordinance was passed during Aug. 1955,
regulating and licensing the operation of mo-
tor boats on Twin Lakes.

The Council passed an ordinance during
August, 1955, for a Municipal Retailer's Oc-
cupational Tax. The tax imposed upon all
persons engaged in the business of selling
tangible personal property at retail in Paris
at the rate of ^ of one percent of the gross
receipts.

During Nov. 1956, a special election was
held in Paris to elect a Police Magistrate.
Grover Hoff received 775 votes and was elec-
ted to the office of Police Magistrate.

The Council met in special session June 28,
1957, for the purpose of taking necessary em-
ergency action in regard to damage and loss
caused by app. 10 inches of rain which start-
ed the night of June 27th and continued
through most of the following morning and
resulting in washing out the lower spillway.

An ordinance authorizing and providing for
the issue of $510,000 Waterworks and Sewer-
age Revenue Bonds was made in February,

1959, for the purpose of defraying the cost of
constructing improvements and extensions to
the waterworks and sewerage system.

Action was taken by the Council in Feb.

1960, for the contract and constructing the
Third Lake Dam to provide additional water
supply to Paris.

During the period 1960 to 1965, five new in-
dustries were established in Pans, which add-
ed app. $7,000,000 annually in pay for the em-
ployees livmg in Paris and Edgar County.

During early 1962, many new streets and
new additions were dedicated and added to the
city of Paris.

An ordinance was adopted in May, 1965, au-
thorizing and providing for the issue of
$2,700,000 water works and sewerage
revenue bonds in the interest of public health
and safety in order that the combined water-
works and sewerage system be improved and
extended.

During March, 1966, Council authorized the
hiring of a City Engineer effective April 1,
1966.

How much does it cost to operate the City
of Paris? Appropriations for fiscal year May,
1966 thru April, 1967 were authorized to defray
all expenses and liabilities of the City of
Paris - a grand total of $1,088,398.40 was au-
thorized. For fiscal year May, 1967 thru April
1968, $1,225,562.66 was authorized.

During 1966 and 1967, Council made arrang-
ements for purchase of property for addition-
al off street parking areas.

An ordinance in Jan. 1968, annexing Fair-
way Acres subdivision to the City of Paris
was enacted.

During Sept. 1968, the Council authorized
the Central Illinois Public Service Co., to pre-
pare an engineering survey providing for the
conversion of the street lights of the city to
7,000 Lumens by the installation of mercury
vapor lights.

The City of Paris was formally incorporated
and reorganized under Special Act of the 26th
General Assembly of the State of lUinois, on
April 15, 1869, and subsequent voter approval
and effective on June 1, 1869. The Council in
Jan. 1969, resolved that the week of June 1st
through 8th, 1969, be designated as "Paris
Centennial of Incorporation Week."

In Feb. 1969, the Council resolved that the
datum point established by the United States
coast and Geodetic Survey situated in the
Courthouse yard be adopted as the official
datum point for the City of Paris, said point
being represented by a sunken post with a
U.S.C. & G.S. Standard Disk stamped
"Paris" (elevation 726.30 M.S.L.) located at
the S.W. Comer of Edgar County Counhouse
grounds.

In Oct. 1969, the Council granted permission
to install a historical marker in the City Park
situated north of Twin Lakes and west of
Illinois Highway No. 1. The marker contains
information relative to the establishment

Paris High School, About 1914

Paris Schools, Early 1900s.

]\ew Paris YMCA-Hangar Building Opens in 1972

of the community now known as Paris, Illi-
nois.

During Nov. 1969, a resolution, adopted
for constnicting, purchase and equipping a
new central fire and police station building
for the City of Paris was approved.

An ordinance was introduced in Jan. 1970,
for remodeling of the City Office Building at
123 S. Central Ave.

On November 9, 1970, the new Paris Com-
munity Hospital was opened with a capacity
of 100 beds.

During Nov. 1970, Council resolved that it is
the intent of the Paris City Council to enter
into a cooperative agreement with the Edgar
County Board of Supervisors to help finance
a county wide ambulance service and to make
application for assistance under the Highway
Safety Act. The resolution was adopted and
passed.

In 1971, Samuel Vance Park was establish-
ed at the N.W. comer of Washington and
Central Ave. The park was established to
honor Samuel Vance who founded Paris in
1823. This park was given to the people of
Paris by Louise Cole Link, a descendant, and
Paxson Link.

In March, 1971, an ordinance annexing real
estate of Hospital and Medical Foundation of
Paris, Inc., to the City of Paris was intro-
duced in Council.

In May, 1971, a resolution was moved, pass-
ed and adopted congratulating radio station
WPRS on their 20th anniversary.

During 1971, a major beautification and
landscape project was initiated by interested,
public spirited citizens. The project included
the planting of 18 linden trees, dogwood trees,
red bud trees, evergreen trees on the Edgar
County Courthouse grounds.

In July, 1971, an ordinance was introduced
annexing i-eal estate of the Heritage House of
Paris, Inc., The Edgar County Children's
Home to the City of Paris.

In March, 1972, a resolution was made to
cooperate with the County in maintaining an
Investigative Officer.

A resolution was passed and adopted in
March, 1972, to participate in the continuous
Highway Needs Study.

In April, 1972, a resolution was passed and
adopted acct^pting the recommendation of the
Paris Plan Commission to subdivide a parcel
of land located north of the Pinnell Motel on
Route 1.

One of the highlights of 1972 was the open
house on Sunday, June 25th of the Paris Com-
munity YMCA-Hangar building on E. Madison
St. The building was open for business on
Monday, June 26th. A plan plus determina-
tion and the enthusiastic support of the entire
community, made possible the opening of the
fantastic new $650,000 locally financed YMCA-
Hangar building.

Special features; swimming pool 40 x 75 ft.
- six lane competition size. Multipurpose i-oom
-recreational-meeting room. Meeting rooms.
Hangar with lounge, food service and recre-
ational area.

This fine community building is truly an
outstanding community achievement.

A resolution approving a contract between
Edgar County and City of Paris for a Detec-
tive Bureau was passed and adopted in Jan.
1973.

In Jan. 1973, Council passed and adopted
a resolution commending the Paris High
School band on their participation in the
Washington D.C. Inaugural Parade.

The present Mayor and City Commissioners
were elected in April, 1971, for four years;

Mayor William R. Quinn

COMMISSIONERS

Wayne L, Blume

Dr. Nolan M. Sullivan

L. Leon Foltz

Harold H. Cartwright

Frances N. Clearwater is City Clerk

So Paris ended 150 years of progress which
saw nothing startling or abnormal in its
growth. New industries and business estab-
lishments had livened the business of the
community. Over the years the Paris Cham-
ber of Commerce has been a vital link in the
growth of Paris and making the city a good
place to work and live. Paris has a great
future.

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Steamer 'The City of Paris' Carried 125 Passengers on Reservoir Lake In 1898.

Old Paris Hotel, East Court Street, About 1900.

Original Paris Fire Station Built In 1868, and Edgar County Jail.

Map of Edgar County - 1910

tiRAC'^ KiMscoi'AL Church.

St. Mary s C.\tholk' Chi kch.

Mbtuodist Protestant Church.

Skcond BAiTiaT Church.

Pkbsbvtbrias Church.

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U. B. Chi KCH.

Churches of Paris, 1898.

Brief History of County, Towns ^ Villages

Edgar County was organized on Jan. 3,
1823. It perpetuates the name of General
John Edgar, whose greatest service to his
country was that he saved Vermont and, in
all probability, New Hampshire and Maine
from becoming a part of Canada. He was
the greatest landholder and the wealthiest
resident of Illinois in his day.

Born in Ireland, John Edgar commanded a
British vessel on Lakes Huron and Erie
when the American revolution began. He
espoused the cause of the colonies, was ar-
rested Aug. 24, 1779 by the British in Detroit
and served over two years in prison. Later he
learned of a plot to betray Vermont to the
enemy. He got the message to Congress
which then was sitting in Philadelphia. The
conspiracy was foiled as a result of Gen.
Edgar's information and three states were
saved to the young nation. Congress showed
its gratitude by voting him a grant of 2,240
acres of land on April 7, 1798. The Edgars
arrived in Kaskaskia, Illinois in 1784. He be-
came a merchant, built flour mills and manu-
factured and sold salt. In a few years his
great business ability and thrift enabled him
to accumulate about 50,000 acres of land in
Illinois, as well as large tracts in Ohio, In-
diana and Missouri. Although not formally
education in the law, he served ably for near-
ly a quarter of a century on the bench of
the Court of Common Pleas.

i»^

When Illinois was admitted into the Union
as a state, in 1818, it was composed of fif-
teen counties. One of these, Crawford, includ-
ed what is now Edgar County. The farthest
north of any of these counties was Bond,
whose northern boundry was limited only by
the State-line. Indeed, it would have been
rather difficult for a geographer to have de-
finitely pointed out the exact limits of any
county on its northern boundary. Only about
one-fourth of the State was really embraced
in these counties. The settled portions of
Illinois were all south of a line from Alton
via Carlisle to Palestine, near the Wabash.

The organization of the State drew the at-
tention of emigrants toward it, and a conse-
quent enlargement of the settlements. This
necessitated the formation of more counties.
The influx of immigrants to the northern
portions of Crawford County, in 1819 and 1820,
led to the formation of Clark County, which
by a simlar manner, in the spring of 1823
suffered a division, and Edgar County was
the result.

When Edgar County was established, it
included all territory to the north to the
Wisconsin border, including Ft. Dearborn, or
Chicago, at that time a pioneer outpost. One

popular story concerns the efforts of the first
sheriff of Edgar County to travel by horse-
back to Chicago to collect taxes due. Since he
had to meet expenses out of the tax Income,
it cost him more than he collected. The next
year he paid the taxes himself, and saved
the trip.

Samuel Vance and his family, including
two married sons, two married daughters
with their families, unmarried children, and
his brother John with his family came from
Bount County, Tennessee to what is now the
center of Edgar County in October 1822. En-
route he stopped at the Land Office at Pales-
tine, Illinois and entered and paid for 80 acres
of land where Paris now stands. Upon this
land he and his relatives built their log
homes. In January and again in April 1623,
Samuel returned to Palestine and entered and
paid for additional tracts, which, with the
original entry, totaled 5fi5 aci«s. In 1830 he
acquii-ed 160 acres more by entry. FYom the
early purchases he gave the land for the ori-
ginal town of Paris — 26 acres surveyed from
an oak tree he designated in its center. TTie
Court House is in exactly the center of this
26 acres.

BROCTON

One of the early business establishments
in the village of Brocton was a firm comh
posed of Link and Ed Gillis. TTiey carried
a full line of furniture, hardware, stoves,
guns, and tinware. This firm also did under-
taking and embalming. C. A. Merica was
the proprietor of Merica's Bank in Brocton.
Stewart & Payne Lumber Company flourish-
ed for several years prior to J A. Green's
purchasing it in 1890. Brinkerhoff & Wright
were grain dealers and Henn & Cryder were
operators of the Brocton Elevator. An early
physician was Henry C. Kerrick who grad-
uated from Rush Medical College and est-
ablished at Brocton in the early 1890's.

CHRISMAIS

Chrisman had a population of over 1,500
in the 1890's and had a flourishing business
in the northern part of the county. One of
the town's business men was Joseph S. Cham-
bers who settled in that area in 1863 and
Tater moved in to Chrisman to engage in busi-
ness and to become one of the town's early
Mayors. W. J. McAnally established a lunv
ber business in Chrisman in 1888. John Mit-
chell & Co. was doing business in a 20 x 150
foot building with an upstairs where were solid
carpets, oil cloths, window shades, etc.; down
stairs general dry goods, clothing, etc. W.
F. Wood ran the racket store for a "thousand

Chrisman Main Street, About 1914.

Big Four Railroad Station In Chrisman, About 1914.

Kansas Main Street, About 1914.

otJier thiflgs too numerous to mention." Isaac
Scott's adjustable groave box cover was
manufactured here in 1892. In 1887, A. S.
Harmony was editor of the Chrisman Cour-
ier. He was known as a bold and fearless
writer and a strong fighter for the good of the
community. A. E. Schnitker operated the com-
er drug store back in 1891 and sold all drug
lamps, jewelry, etc.

Chrisman celebrated its centennial in
July, 1972 with a week's program that drew
thousands of visitors for parade, pageants,
and special e^■ents. The community conUnes
to grow, being only city beside Paris to
show a population increase, with construc-
tion of a new post office and a large new
full nursing care center marking economic
progress. The community also is developing
a new city park.

DUDLEY

When the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad
bypassed Grandivew in 1853 the slow demise of
that community led to the rise of the nearest
•ail stop, the town of Dudley. The land on which
the village stands was owned by John Cline and
was surveyed in 1855. The first house in the
village already was standing, built by Alexan-
der Young. By 1879 the town included some
300 residents, had a physician, a post office,
a two-story frame schoolhouse and a "new"
lodge hall for Grandview Masonic Lodge No.
198 — the majority of the members of the
lodge by this time living in Dudley, not Grand-
view.

EDGAR

The village of Edgar was laid out for N.
3. Stage in 1872. Gideon Minor built the
Jirst home in the village. In its early days
there were several stores run by Frank Hun-
ter, Gideon Minor, A. L. Stanfield, and W.
A. Hiers. L. T. Church was one of the early
blacksmiths and wood-workers in the 80's.

A few houses and an empty school are all
that now remain at Edgar.

ELBRIDGE

The village of Elbridge was platted in
18S6 and a post office was secured in that
same year. Elbridge experienced an "indus-
trial boom" m the late 1960s when Midwest-
em Gas Transmission Co. laid a natural gas
transmission line past the community, and
then developed huge underground natural gas
storage "domes" in the Elbridge and Nevins
areas.

GRANDVIEff

Aric Sutherland and Thos. Gary came into
the county and settled in 1823 at what is now
known as Grandview. At one time the vill-
age of Grandvaew was looked upon as the
permanent county seal, being even more

popular than Paris in the early days. The
first "tavern" in the county was erected in
thethe village of Grandview and the
first sessions of school in the township were
held there. The Baptist Church was the first
organized with the Methodists coming short-
ly thereafter in 1835. The village was laid
out in 1831.

HORACE

H. Guthrie laid out the village of Horace,
June 6, 1876 for A. Tucker. D. F. Stroll
was the leading merchant there back in 1881
and was also the freight and ticket agent for
the Big Four Railroad. G. K. Tucker operat-
ed the grain business for Oscar Jones and in
addition was a practicing veterinarian. Rev.
E. C. Lile was an early pastor of the Mis-
sionarj' Baptist Church.

HUME

With the completion of the I. D. & S. R. R.,
Hume was laid out in 1873. Geo. W. Hughes
was President of the Hughes' Bank. The
cashier was H. E. Shepherd. Oliver Lyon
established a lumber yard in Hume in 1884.
0. H. Rogers and A. J. Davis established a
general store in 1884. T. J. Gallivan and
T. C. Touhey built a tile and brick plant in
1889. Hughes and Connelly were proprietors
of the Emporium where the "largest, best
selected and best kept stocks of dry goods,
groceries, clothing, hats, caps, boots, shoes,
crockery, glassware, and goods of all de-
scriptions suitable for everj' taste and adapt-
ed to every purse could be showed." C. O.
Rogers established a harness business m 1880,
and Dave McCall was a blacksmith and hard-
ware dealer in 1884.

Hume celebrated its centennial this July
with a three-day observation including a
brief return visit by one of its most distin-
guished natives. Dr. Edward Doisey of St.
Louis. Edgar County's only Nobel Prize win-
ner.

ISABEL

The location of the Paris and Decatur Rail-
road was the signal for a system of town-
building by the railroad developers. Isabel was
one of these communities, near the early settle-
ment of New .Athens. In 1871 the railroad
was built and in 1872 the town was ordered
to be laid out by Messrs. Corzine. Timmons
and House). The town was named after John
Cornne's wife, Isabel Corzine. .^n elevator was
soon opened by Corzine and Walls. Dr. J. G.
Mulvane was the first physician, settling in
1872. Isabel had a population of 100 in 1879.

KANSAS

settlement began in Kansas Township as
early as 1823 with the arrival of Frederick
and Abraham Boyer from Kentucky. The

Big Four Station In Kansas, 1914.

Interurban Station, Vermilion, 1914, The Building Still Remains.

Big Four Railroad, Vermilion, 1914.

village of Kansas was laid out in 1830 for
Lovel Willioit, who caused the town to be sur-
veyed and platted in June of 1853. The vil-
age was called Midway because of its loca-
tion between Paris and Charleston and In-
dianapolis and St. Louis. The village of Kan-
sas was incorporated in 1858 and was named
to con-espond with the township which was
organized a year earlier. John W. Hogue
was the first merchant and displayed his
wares in a 16 x 30 foot building just north
of the railroad. The first hotel was run by
Riley McDavitt, The first regular saloon was
kept by a Mr. Burdette. J. K. and W. F.
Boyer pioneers in the hay and grain business,
which Kansas monopolized for the area. The
Staff Bros. Cannery Company built in 1888
was the largest of its kind west of Baltimore.
The first newspaper began publication in
1868, the first telegraph line came through
in 1847, and telephones were first used in
1899. The private banking house of Pinnell,
Boyer & Co. began operation in 1872.

The historic name of "Midway" is now in
use again with the development of a new
apartment complex just south of the business
district, known as "Midway Manor" apart-
ments.

METCALF

At the intersection of the I. D. & S. R. R.
and the Narrow Gauge Road (known now
as the Nickle Plate R. R.) the village of
Metcalf was established. In 1874 Mr. John
A. Metcalfe laid out the town and later deed-
ed this property to the town itself.

Metcalf was a tliriving little community,
at one time having a population of about 750,
several business houses, a church, schools,
and a bank. Some of these early proprietors
were — S. C. Cash who ran the General Store
featuring everything from "needles to thresh-
ing machines"; William Jennings, ilie black-
smith, and J. H. Jones, who in the 1880's own-
ed and maintained the tile factory. R. J.
Smith and Harry Epps who ran the local
elevators which were two of the largest in
the area. In 1894 the community erected the
first Methodist Church building and establish-
ed the Farmer's Bank which later was re-
established as the First National Bank of
Metcalf.

NKVim

Nevins was th** re.sult nf the rharterinc of
the Paris and Terre Haute railroad in 1872. and
was laid out bv Countv Survevor Ceoree Fore-
man earlv in 1874 on land belonging to James
and B. F. Parrish and Ashler Morton. Mr.
l\Torton and his brother .Tohn erected a een-
pral ^fnre apf^ p nnsi off'pp wpc .se^'urpd pnd
named in conjunction ivith the town in honor
nf RobPrt N. Neyins of Paris. A blacksmith

shop soon opened, and the Baptists erected a
"very neat" church.

OLIVER

Oliver was established in 1875 under the
name of Big Siding. Oliver Davis, living in
the immediate area, took an active part in
starting the village and in his honor the name
was changed. Since timber was abundant, the
first businesses including the making of char-
coal, and of barrel staves. The store and post
office were opened by M. S. Brewer.

REDMOIS

Redmon was a flourishing community with
these business houses by the early 1870's.
J. S. Gordan was the first postmaster and
merchant. He operated a general store with
his son. C. N. Standley operated the drug
store and was also the veterinary surgeon.
On the side he maintained a coal agency
and wrote insurance. R. D. Roberts also op-
erated a general store. The Ferguson Bros,
were proprietors of the Redmon RoUer Mills
which they bought in 1890. Daniel McMullen
and Sidney Myers operated a grocery and
general store. W. M. White came from Isabel
to become the boot and shoe maker of Red-
mon in 1890. He also made and carried a full
line of harness, bridles, halters, etc. Willis
Brinkerhoff was a grain dealer in the early
90's. Jacquart Bros, were manufacturers of
tile and brick having established their busi-
ness in 1874. H. S. Helmer established a
blacksmith shop just south of the Vandalia
Depot in 1879.

Just west of Redmon, the Embarrass Park
remains a popular community center, with
the former church and its wooded picnic
grounds frequently in use throughout the sum-
mer.

SCOTTLAISD

The plat for the building of Scottland was
recorded September 17, 1872. It was laid out
for Wm. Scott. The first cost office was
established in 1873. Some of the merchants
were A. N. Workman who was a general
merchant. W. S. O.sbom who carried a line
of drugs, patent medicines, school books and
other goods. A. Wekenman, dry goods, cloth-
ing, groceries, boots, hardware, etc.

Scottland celebrated its centennial in 1972
with a brief celebration. The town still in-
cludes a number of homes, several business-
es, and the Scottland school, now the junior
high and upper grade school for Community
Unit Six.

VERMILION

Edward Wolcott surveyed and laid out the
town of Vermilion in 1856 for James S. Ver-
milion. The first store was established here

'Bird's Eye View' of Paris at Turn of the Century.

Pavii.ios, 4l>x6) Fkbt- RusEKvoiit Pakk.

Mbkry-»0'Round — Kbskkvoir Park.
Scenes of 'Reservoir Park' in 1898, Site of Present Scout Park.

in 1857 by Abram Showalter. In 1861 the first
post office was established with C. Showalter
as postmaster. In 1872 Vermilion was incor-
porated as a village. The first Church built
in Vermilion was by the United Brethren in
1856 at a cost of $500.00.

Some of the eariy business men were D. S.
Van Sickel, who had a 22 x 80 foot general
store just north of the Big Four Depot. The
Store was established in 1878. 0. N Koonu
was a contractor and builder. J. A. Homberger
was in business about 1861 as a carpenter and
contractor and later operated a building sup-
plies and general hardware store.

Some early landmarks including the Strat-
ton Masonic Lodge hall, and the Paris-Terre
Haute interuruban station built during the
World War One era, still stand, but the old
Vermilion school has been razed. In connec-
tion with the Illinois Sesquicentennial of 1968
Vermilion organized a three-day Frontier
Festival for the old "Pike Precinct" terri-
tory of Edgar county, which was quite popu-
lar.

At one time Vermilion was the strawberry-
growing capital of east-central Illinois with a
large cooperative shipping warehouse in op-
eration. Scarsity of labor following World War
II terminated this agricultural effort.

This history of Paris and Edgar County
gives the reader something of the background
of the men and women who settled and
developed this good land of ours. From the
eartiest white men who invaded the Kickapoo
Hunting Grounds in the first two decades of
the 19th Century through the era of pur-
chase of additional lands from the Indians
in 1822 (which added greatly to the land
that General Harrison surveyed in 1799 and
sold to the white settlers in Vincennes as
early as 1816) progress had been steadily
made.

The progress of thirteen decades has mold-
ed a new civilization. Little did these first
settlers realize that the land they first clear-
ed would be populated by television-viewing,
radio-listening, jet aircraft-fljing descendants.
In the time it took the first settler to travel
down to the land office on horseback to Pales-
tine, Illinois or Vincennes, we can now fly
tine, Illinois or Vincennes, we can now
fly to Europe, it may well be that the next
history to be written will find Edgar County
people sUU producing the food and fiber
for an ever greater industrial civilization
and travel even farther and faster by atomic
rocket and space shpp through the galaxy.

There are many other "communities" in
the county which are now just place names
on a map or plat book, but which once were
the beginnings of communities or hopes for
communities.

Among these are Isabel and Borton just
north of Route 133 at the vk«st edge of the
county, still containing some homes; Dudley
just north of Route 16 and Oliver at the
south edge of the county on Route One which
contains homes, businesses and churches;
and Hildreth, McCown Station, Mortimer
Station, Woodyard Station, Cherry Point,
Raven Station (llliana); Dayton, Kidley,
Bloomfield, Hughes Station, Melwood Station,
Payne Station, Garland, Wetzel Station, Lo-
gan, Baldwinsville, Ne\v Athens, Warrenton,
Flemington, Conlogue, Mays Station, Grover,
Swango, Midway (near Nevins), Marley, Fer-
rell, west Sandford, and Kentucky or "Ken-
tuck Station."

Wood Street, North Side Square, 1914.

Original Mayo School, Built as The First High School

SECTION OF COURT STREET

North Main Street Looking North From Court Street, 1914.

West Court Street, Looking East, 1914.

The "Big Four" Freight Yards From Buena Vista Bridge Looking West

North Main Street Looking South From Union Street, 1914.

Original Fire Department, City Hall Building, 1914.

Logan Lumber Yard, 1914, Now Present Paris City Kail.

T.A.FO'u- . V

BAUD SmvCO HAROynXHM

Foley Sawmill, 1914, Oldest Famiiy-Operated Business In Edgar County.

feA<;<- ■'•('««>>< ■■•'■i>." : ■

Bits of History Still Remain. Three original log cabins still stand but only one is in use. Upper left, last sur-
viving portion of a stagecoach tavern and bam, on the Lower Terre Haute Road near the Indiana State Line;
upper right, the two-room log cabin built at the turn of the century by C. P. Hitch, Beacon publisher, on the
"new" Reservoir Lake, still being used as a lakeside cottage; lower left, abandoned one-room (plus lean-to) log
cabin across from the Kidley School east of Logan; lower right, one of a number of abandoned one-room rur-
al schools weathering away— this one the South Union School District No. 128.

Palmer Academy, One of the Earliest Educational Institutions, Just Before It Was Razed In 1971.

^■'-^^:^-n- -■*

■-■•:^.vt^'

Last Remaining Section of Original Clinton Road Brick Pavement, First Hard Road To Be Laid In County 50
ifears Earlier, Remains Near Golf Course With Rebuih Highway In The Background.

Mosi General Stores, This One at
Elbndge, Had Closed By 1970.

The Paris & Terre Haute RR Was
Built in 1872, Abandoned 100 Years
Later.

News today, history tomorrow

Paris has enjoyed generally good fortune
— and even misfortune which turned into
good fortune — Ir recent years. The city has
experienced steady if not spectacular residen-
tial de\elopment, business gi-owth and en-
richment of recreational and educational ser-
vices.

One historic misfortune came in a record
Ifl-ijich rainfaD on June 27-28, 1957, washing
away the top portion of the East Lake spillway,
and flooding the entire community. Earlier, in
1954-55, the lakes had dried up to a mud-
hole, and the city was feverishly drilling tem-
porary wells to meet the worst drought in
Paris' history. These events, plus a less
severe drought in 1958 combined to spark a
campaign for a new "third lake" financed by
a half million dollar bond issue approved by
the city council. The lake was completed in
1961.

The appearance of the community continued
to change, generally for the better. Part of tlie
facelifting came with municipal improvements
as the old "city hall" dating back to the
Civil War era, was torn down, A stylish new
fire and police station was erected on Wash-
mgton street and city hall quarters on South
Central were remodeled in 1970. This left the
corner site of the original city haU for the new
ornamental Samue] Vance Park, featuring gas
lights, a Lion's Head fountain and sunken
garden, all provided by a private benefactor
as a gift to the city. The park honors the
memory of the city's founder, Samuel Vance,
v/ho donated the oringinal 26 acres for Paris
150 years ago.

It sits across the street from one of the
most historic buildings in Paris, the imposing
home of Gen. Milton K. Alexander, a pioneer
Paris businessman and contemporary of Abra-
ham Lincoln.

Downtown business interests, in cooper-
ation with the county government, also under-
took major facelifting in the 1970s with a com-
plete relandscaping of the courthouse yard.
This included perimeter planting of Linden
trees and new ornamental foundation shrub-
bery, and new sidewalks around the court-
house. The Chamber of Commerce also
launched a system of uniform sidewalk can-
opies on the business sides of the square,
tying the district into one connecting
"shopping center" with protection from sum-
mer sun and inclement weather.

Business modernizations and landscaping,
as well as new construction by aU four finan-
cial institutions in the past decade further en-
hansed the downtown community. Greatest
change occurred along North Main and East
Wood streets during these years. Several
dozen of the century-old buildings were razed
for the Union Street extension between Main
and Central, development of city and bank

off-street parking lots, and remodeling of
property fcllowing a disasterous fire in Jan-
uary, 1972 which gutted a half block of Main
street north of the square.

BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
A post-war Industrial boom started late in
the 1950s when the Chamber of Conmierce pro-
vided land for a new district office complex
for the Illinois Division of Highways. The site,
at the west edge of Paris on Route 133, was
expanded into a true industrial park with the
LusterUte division of Eagle Picher Industries
locating in 1959, Central Electronics division
of zenith in 1960, Bastian Blessing in 1964,
later housing the Federal division of Unarco
Industries. Latest addition is Beaman steel
fabricators, and a short distance away the
Northrup, King & Co. hybrid seed com pro-
cessing plant.

Meanwhile established industry also contin-
ued to expand with Meco and Midwest Body
both const meting additions and the Illinois Cer-
eal Mills expanding in 1960, 1964 and 1967.
Butler Specialties, furniture manufacturers, oc-
cupied the former Merkle Broom Co. and a
new home-developed industry, Litteralite, open-
ed across the street. Windbreaker-DanvUle,
manufactures of Windbreaker jackets, moved
into downtown property.

As a matter of historic note, the oldest con-
tinually operating business in Edgar County is
a small industry, the Paris Beacon Publishing
Co. which publishes the Beacon-News. Tlie
"Beacon" has been continually published
since 1848 and will mark its 125th anniversary
this November.

RECREATION
In addition to quadrupling the municipal
/vater supply, construction of the additional lake
in 1959 provided ex-panded water recreation
facilities including a new 33-acre park. In
1970-71 the park was improved through a state
grant with boat ramps and docks, rest rooms,
and lighted and paved parking area. Fishing,
boating, and water spOrts are enjoyed on both
lakes.

Many other improvements in recreation,
leisure-Urne and cultural activities have come
to the city. Although the Class D professional
jaseball team, the Paris Lakers, played its final
game in 1959, the stadium and field was do-
noated to the city park system and has con-
tinued in use, together with one of the finest
Softball and Little League baseball complexes
in the area provided by the American Legion.

A new bowUng alley and a family member-
ship outdoor swimming pool opened in 1962, and
a new dov/ntown movie theatre opened in 1970.
The Edgar County Community Concert Asso-
ciation moved into its tiiird decade bringing
finest in live performing ails to the local stage,
and the Paris International Thanksgiving Fel-

lowship for more tliar a dozfin years has
turned thf community into a vs-orid cosmopoli-
tan center each Nov-ember, with smaller visi-
tations throughout the >-ear.

TTie Carnegie Public Library underwent ex-
tensive renovation and remodeling in 1972 to
expand its usefulness and attractive quarters.

The biggest recent recreational development
was the opening of the new Paris Community
YMCA and Youth Center in 1972. The youth
center, known as the "Hangar," was establish-
ed toward the end of World War II for junior-
senior high students and now is credited with
being the oldest continually operating down-
stale youth center. The Y, established in Paris
in the 1890s, was reestablished in 1967. The
new 2,400 square foot facility, financed en-
tirely by local donations, provided the first
year-around swimming pool plus other com-
munity meeting and family recreational facili-
ties.

TRANSPORTATION

First stagecoach routes, and later railroads
were the key to location and growth of com-
munities in Edgar Cotinty, and the county it-
self.

By the late 1950s rail passenger service was
near'ly extinct, and m 1960 the last scheduled
passenger train — a single coach on the New
York Central run from Indianapolis to St.
Louis, passed through Paris. (By then the old
Big Four station, freight house, and all other
traces of once flourishing rail traffic, had been
torn down).

Highway and air transportation filled the
gap. By 1971 Interstate 70 (parallelling the (Ad
Route 40 or "The National Road") had been
completed to the south of the county, and the
north-south Interstate 57 opened from Mem-
phis to Chicago just west of the county, near
Mattoon. Although Paris was still not on an
interstate, plans for a north-south supplemen-
tal freeway, designated "F4ir' were advancing
as fa.st as state and federal financing would
permit and the freeway, passing Paris on its
western edge, was expected to be a reality by
the end of the 1970s.

A project of at least 30 years planning was
even closer tu reality, as work was expected to
start early in 1974 on rebuilding the "Clinton
Road," One of the earlte.st and heaviest traveled
of the county highways, between Paris and
many communities on the western Indiana bor-
der.

Another idea of long standing, dating back
at least to the 1930s, was about to become
reabty as construction began in the fall of 1973
on the new Edgar County Airport. The field,
located midway between Paris and Chrisman
on Route One, was financed primarily by state
and feaeral aviation funds. Promoters of tlie

airport predicted its future economic import-
ance would be equal to the coming of the rail-
roads more than a century earlier.

GOVERNMENT
Local government, closest to the people, also
is slowest to change and what change comes
often is by the dictate of state or federal
directive.

Most dramatic change in recent years came
from the historic "one man, one vote" decision
by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1960s. This
led to election, on April 4, 1971, of the first
seven-member "Edgar County Board," wil'i
apportioned "districts" of the county. It re-
placed the old 18-member Edgar County
Board of Supervisors, made up of super-
visors and assistant supervisors from the
county's 15 townships.

The county also in 1973 was about to lose
an elected official, the "county school superin-
tendent." With his title already changed, the
office faced consolidation into a multi-county
"superintendent of an educational service re-
gion" by 1977.

Also coming up within the next few years
is a change in one of the oldest forms of
local government — the township. Legislation
will require consolidation of smaller townships
into larger "more efficient" govenunental
units.

EDUCATION

School improvements continued countywide
in the past 20 years. New school facilities
were built for the consolidated area around
Paris in 1955 with the opening of Crestwood
School,, and eventual closing of all
smaller schools in the district, wth the old
Vermilion grade and high school last to go.

Unit Two consolidated its four schools at
Hume, Metcalf, Redmon and Brocton into a
new modem Shiloh grade and high school just
outside Hume; Kansas expanded its grade and
high school facilities; and Chrisman built a
new grade school to replace the original high
.school building. Later Chrisman and Scottland
voters approved school district merger with
a new Unit Six formed in 1972.

In Paris, St. Marys built a new parocliial
grade school and Paris completed Carolyn
Wenz and Memorial grade schools
in the 1950s, but then faced
voter resistance, voting dowii re-
peated bond issue attempts in 1960s and
early 1970s to remodel and expand Paris High
School and-or build new elementary schools
to replace the aging Redmon, Vance, Tarmer
buildings. Tanner school was declared unsafe
and torn down in 1972. Paris school board
built an addition to the high school vocational
building with "available, accumulated" funds
after winning a lengthy court battle.

HEALTH CARE

Most dramatic improvement in health care
services for the area in recent years came
through the development of the new Paris
Community Hospital located on a spacious
site at the east edge of the city. The 120-
bed facility opened Nov. 9, 1970, but
the project actually started when the form-
into a community not-for-profit hospital in
er Paris Hospital was turned from a private
1965 leading to a successful $1 million local
fundraising campaign that helped finance the
new $3 million hospital.

Improved health facilitJes also came in 1958
with the opening of the new Medical Center
Clinic south of the old hospital which in part
helped to attract several new physicians and
surgeons to the community in the 1960s.

The former hospital building, now designat-
ed the Human Resources Building, is the loca-
tion for a greatly expanded Edgar County
Mental Health and Rehabilitation Center hous-
ing an outpatient clinic for counseling and treat-
ment of mental and emotional problems; the
Alcohol and Drug Council; and the Sheltered
Workshop and Work Acitivty Day Center for
retarded and handicapped citizens of Edgar
and Clark county.

Nursing and sheltered care facilities expand-
ed in the 1970s, in part in response to string-
ent state regulations that closed many of the
former "rest home" operations. Heritage
House sheltered care facility opened
near the new hospital, and local in-
terests purchased and completely rebuilt the

former Coding Shoe Co. plant into an at-
tractive Shady Rest Manor nursing home.
This fall (1973) construction started on the
new Pleasant Meadows Christian Village
nursing home at the west edge of Chrisman
following a successful fundraising campaign
with a $100,000 local goal.

CHURCH AND CHARITY

Concern and care for others continued to
be evident in the Paris and Edgar county area.
Several new church buildings have been con-
structed and older churches have expanded
or retiovated their buildings extensively.
Working together, several churches sponsor
a "Fish" program of volunteer assistance to
the aged and homebound, providing food,
transportation, and personal concern.

The First United Methodist Church of Paris,
oldest church in the county, celebrated its ses-
quicentennial year in 1973 after dedicating a
new educational wing in 1971.

In 1965 the former Community Chest was
revived in a United Fund annual campaign.
This provides one fund campaign to tmder-
wriie charitable activities of man local organi-
zations. It has successfully met its goal and
financed up to 14 member agencies each year
since.

The Red Cross Blood Program was
established to provide a constant supply of blood
yhen needed by any Edgar County resident, and
successfully meets quota requirements as the
Bloodmobile visits Paris, Chrisman and Kan-
sas periodically.

1823

1973

Panis and Edgatt County
150 ycatt$ Later

Following is a section of photographs of Paris and Edgar County as of 1973.
Although during this Sesquicentennial Celebration most attention is turned to the past,
and the origins of the city and the county, there should be some attention paid to the
present as it will become history to succeeding generations. Therefore, for readers at the
time of the Bi-Centennial of Paris and Edgar County (2023) or before or after, here are
scenes of contempory life as of 1973 - - and a few pictures of historic features still re-
maining on view in Paris and Edgar County.

Edgar County Courthouse, 1973, Showing New Landscaping On Courthouse Yard, Looking Northeast.

Aerial View of City's West Industrial Park Area, 1971.

Downtown Paris Business District, East Side of Square With Decorative Canopy, 1973.

fr-'f

New City Public Safety Building For Fire, Police Departments in 1971.

Paris Fire Department Equipmgnt and On-Duty Shift of Firemen, 1971.

11 *jp

Remodeled Paris Citv Hall On South Central Avenue, 1972, With Samuel Vance Park at left.

Samuel Vance Park, Honoring City's Founder, On Site Of Original Paris City Hall.

jU^i^y^^^/^ifr^^^S^

Edgar County Jail, North Central Avenue, Built In 1890
and Little Changed in 1973.

(Right) Detail of Ornate Stonework On Edgar County Courthouse Still Sound In 1973,

■^

f5*W ^^

Paris Community YMCA and Youth Center Opened In 1972 On Madison East of Main Street

Paris Community Hospital, 120-Bed Facility Opened in 1970 Financed In Part by $1 Million

Local Contributions.

:>uimming and Boating During Warm Summer Weekends In "New" East Lake After 1960.

Edgar County Officials 1973

Edgar County Board

Harry Woodyard, Chrisman, District One

Mrs. Betty Helton, Brocton, District Two

Max Carrington, Grandview, District Three

Russell Elledge, Paris, District Four

Lawrence Bishop, Paris, District Five

Paul Sears, Paris, District Six and Board
Chairman

Harry Farris, Paris, District Seven

Shirley Eldredge, County Clerk

CJayton H. Sprouls, Circuit Clerk

Randall Wallace, Treasurer

Ben Jenness, supervisor of Assessments

Karl Famham, Sheriff

Dr. W. A. Bittner, Coroner

Radph S. Pearman, Circuit Judge

Carl A. Lund, Circuit Judge

Richard Scott, Associate Judge

Arthur A. Jones, State's Attorney

Carl Jones, Regional School Superintendent

Theron Beesor, Probation Officer

Jack Leathers, County Superintendent of
Highways

Jack Asher, Chairman, Airport Advisory
Board

CUy of Paris Officials 1973

William Quinn, Mayor

Wayne L. Blume, Commissioner of Accounts
& Finances

Dr. N. M. Sullivan, Commissioner of Public
Health & Safety

Harold Cartwright, Commissioner of Streets
& Public Improvements

L. Leon Foltz, Commissioner of Public Prop-
erty

Mrs. Frances Clearwater, City Clerk

Edward Gillum, City Treasurer

Alfred Bonaldi, City Attorney

0. M. Starbuck, aty Engineer

Frederick Johnson, City Building Inspector

T. J. Trogdon Jr., Chairman, City Plan Com-
mission

Mrs. Wayne Blume, President, Paris Library
Board

Mrs. Eva ainton. President, Paris Park
Board

Sesquicentennial Committee

T. J. Trogdon, Jr., Paris, General Chairman
Walter Kimble, Paris, Secretary
Philip S. Foley, Paris, Treasurer
Mrs. Betty Helton, Brocton, City-County Co-
ordinator

Harry Parrish Jr., Paris, Corresponding Secre-
tary
John Harris, Chrisman, Parade Marshal

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA
p"ri?AND EDGAR C0UNt"Vb23-1S73 PARIS

3 0112 025396661