I started researching the history of peoria, illinois back in the winter of 1982 by. This is a round trip excursion ticket stub from peoria to chillicothe. Owen muelders the underground railroad in western illinois is a wonderful and the most comprehensive work on the ugrr along the illinois and missouri border. See more ideas about peoria illinois, illinois and east peoria. About the east peoria historical society the east peoria historical society was formed in 1999 as a result of the city of east peoria receiving the gift of the doering homeplace, built circa 1888, from dr. Its property was sold at foreclosure to several new companies in the 1920s. Peoria il, and its sister pekin, across the illinois river is an unusual railroad hub in a state crisscrossed by main line railroads although peoriaeast peoriapekin is a sizable, industrial illinois metropolitan area, it does not straddle any of the primary rail arteries serving the state. The peoria watch company of peoria, illinois was incorporated on december 19, 1885 by clarence howard, j. By my count, only 3 of the big eastern railroads made it to peoria, nyc, prr. Alton illinois southern illinois underground railroad history timeline my family history history images african american history history books that way. This book is a must read for all those interested in the abolitionist underground.
History of the illinois central railroad company and representative employes. Aug 22, 2012 explore enjoypeorias board history peoria, il area, followed by. It stands today as the fairbury rock island depot museum, a fascinating stop for any railroad enthusiast. Because it was supposed to allow freight to bypass the congestion in chicago, it sometimes used the slogan peoria gateway. High speed trains get set for illinois but not in peoria. The front of the ticket stub says grey eagle, but it was a ticket for a riverboat named rescue. Visit us at the main library, lower level one, in downtown peoria from 9. The state was once home to the most class i railroads of all time and today is the only state to claim all seven north american class is within its borders. Peoria, illinois historic book collection 11 books exploring peoria, its history, culture and its genealogy important citizens in the 19th and early. United states postal contracts helped provide revenue to make this service viable. History of the chicago parental school northeastern illinois university.
It dawned on me then that the real historians initially were newspaper reporters. Find 3 listings related to illinois central railroad in peoria on. Thats a far cry from the position peoria once held. Browse maps, pictures and histories of abandoned railroad lines in the state of illinois. As a crossroads state, as well as incorporating the city of chicago, a terminus of industry going back to the 19th century. The danville, urbana, bloomington and pekin railroad company was incorporated in 1866, building its rail line from danville to pekin and to the eastem boundary of illinois. According to the 1889 peoria city directory, the rescue was owned by solomon york of peoria.
Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. Norm kelly is a peoria historian and author of 7 books on the history of peoria. The river station, formerly known as the rock island depot, is a simply adorned brick building with an overhead shelter that sits in the revitalized riverfront section of peoria, illinois. History of the illinois central railroad railroads of america john f stover on. Peoria history peoria and bureau valley railroad stock. One was about railroads in southern illinois, and another about rail.
I was reading an excellent book on the expansion and contraction of the prr and related entities last night, and the author was talking about how the prr at first envisioned the line to peoria as a chicago bypass, until other priorities rose to. The underground railroad in western illinois mcfarland. The rock island depot was built in fairbury in the early century. Streetcars did more than transport people, their routes. Old historical city, county and state maps of illinios. Peoria, illinois historic book collection 11 books. The following day, the company acquired such a railroad from charles h. Peoria, illinois historic book collection 11 books exploring peoria, its history, culture and its genealogy important citizens in the 19th and early 20th centuries tha new media llc on.
Historical maps of illinois are a great resource to help learn about a place at a particular point in time. Its main yard and roundhouse are in east peoria, illinois, and it owns track on both sides of the illinois river. Railroad history in the united states is nearly as old as the country itself, dating back to the mid1820s. Over the years there have been various efforts to get the city back on track. History of the illinois central railroad railroads of. Naturally, growing population and industry attracted interest from the railroads. The passenger railroad reorganized in 1937 as the illinois terminal railroad itr and continued to provide electricpowered interurban, longdistance multiple car passenger train service peoria danville to st. The toledo, peoria and western railway reporting mark tpw is a short line railroad that operates 247 miles 398 km of track from mapleton, illinois, through peoria across illinois to logansport, indiana. So mcnear, with apparent clear sailing would continue with his railroading, nothing or no one could stop peorias railroad man. Additional records are listed on the county and state pages. A quarter century later, peoria could boast ten railroads, but a tangled network of track, along with its natural consequences of congestion, sabotage, and court injunctions begged for change. Bradley university, the peoria historical society and the peoria public library to. A history of the growth and development of one of the leading arteries of transportation in the united states, from inception to its present mammoth proportions, together with the biographies of many of the men who have been and are identified with the varied interests of the illinois central railroad.
Peoria and pekin union railway news newspapers books. The company also owns a rail bridge over the river. Living history of illinois the digital research library. Though no longer a railroad station, railroad tracks still are visible, and, to my understanding, still active. Illinois railroads easily are the nations most important in terms of the region they serve and volume of traffic which is handled. The illinois state historical library has county plat books and atlases available for the years of around 1870 to 1930. The peoria and eastern railway railroad history and. The peoria and pekin union railway reporting mark ppu is a switching and terminal railroad in illinois that began operating in 1881 and was leased to the tazewell and peoria railroad in 2004. History of the illinois central railroad company and. Swedishamerican historical book collection north park university swedishamerican historical quarterly north park university. Illinois maps are vital historical evidence but must be interpreted cautiously and carefully illinois map collections.
Coster and samuel spencer, who had purchased the railroad in a foreclosure sale of the ohio. After settling in peoria in 1834, the pettengills lived in a house at the corner of liberty and jefferson streets, where the peoria civic center now stands, from 1836 to 1862. The peoria watch company purchased the machinery of the fredonia watch company. The railroads history has certainly carried numerous twists and turns but its future appears. Its main yard and roundhouse are in east peoria, illinois, and it owns track on. This heirloomquality, coffeetable pictorial book features hundreds of images. History of the illinois central railroad, by john f. He has written 10 books about the history of peoria, il, writing mostly about the bawdy, seedy and dangerous elements of peorias long history, 1845 through 1950. Bob mosher believes that the reason for more than one railroad line for each railroad color may be that the lines probably had contractual agreements. The peoria and eastern railway was incorporated on february 21, 1890, for the purpose of constructing or acquiring a railway between pekin, illinois, and indianapolis, indiana. The chicago, rock island and pacific railroad had a profound effect on the town. Peorias railroad man peoria public library peoria, illinois. On february 27, 1943, the bridge was struck by the towboat, sylvia t. By 1850, the city of more than 5,000 residents bustled with industry such as breweries, distilleries, flour mills and meat packers.
Stover, railroads of america series, macmillan, new york, 1975. Peoria stands as the largest metropolitan area in the state without passenger rail service. Membership in the peoria historical society supports our two museum houses, maintenance of over 600,000 artifacts in our collection, and the ability to share and celebrate peoria history at numerous events and venues. This book about railroads in champaign county is my eighth one.
Containing a history of the northwesthistory of illinoishistory of the county, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc. To understand peorias role in the history of the underground railroad, the story of moses and lucy pettengill must be explained. This 575 page tome covers the history of the illinois central railroad from its founding to the merger with gulf mobile and ohio to form the illinois central gulf railroad. There was no explanation in the book about the many railroad lines for one color line. At this point is located their main yard, engine house, repair track, etc. I started researching the history of peoria, illinois back in the winter of 1982 by reading the 1845 newspapers. He has written close to 300 short stories, including mystery, fiction and adventure pieces.
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