On the Square Blog
February 24th, 2017
Hot Times on in Downtown Bloomington June 19, 1949
This early summer scene shows a crowd gathered outside the Western Union office on the 200 block of West Washington Street. The business had been evacuated due to a fire call (note the BFD engine parked in the middle of the street). This block included several iconic Bloomington businesses, inclu...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
February 23rd, 2017
‘Craig’s Wife,’ February 1947 Community Players, Bloomington
On February 6 and 7, 1947, Community Players Theatre staged the domestic drama “Craig’s Wife.” The theater company’s current home on Robinhood Lane did not open until 1962, so at this time plays were held at the Scottish Rite Temple (now the Bloomington Center for Performing Arts). We don’t know ...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
February 22nd, 2017
Titans Thump Redbirds February 1953
On February 11, 1953, Illinois Wesleyan beat visiting Illinois State Normal 98-66 at the old Memorial Hall gymnasium (now IWU’s Hansen Student Center). The victors were led by forward Howie Berggren’s 25 points. That’s Titan guard Earl Neeman (#33) blocking Redbird forward Ed Hayes (dribbling). T...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
February 18th, 2017
Bloomington High Swim Team February 1953
Five BHS swimmers prepare for the Big 12 Conference meet in Peoria in this mid-February 1953 scene. Left to right: Peter Whitmer, Hal Johnstone, Ray Baxter, Chuck Dunbar, and Adlai Rust, Jr....
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
February 17th, 2017
Carrie Behrend Retires February 1, 1958
After 33 years with C.W. Klemm’s, a locally owned department store in downtown Bloomington, Carrie Behrend retired on Saturday, February 1, 1958. She had spent the past 14 years in the pattern department. Located on the north side of the Courthouse Square, Klemm’s closed in November 1981. Miss Be...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
February 16th, 2017
Spring Training Illinois Wesleyan, early March 1942
Spring training for Major League Baseball clubs began this week. In this early March 1942 scene on the Illinois Wesleyan University campus (that’s still-standing Memorial Hall) senior catcher Hugh Dickie (with bat) plays a little “pepper” with teammates (left to right) Berthyl Brigham, Walter Wad...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
February 15th, 2017
March of Dimes Coffee Day January 1953
UPDATE: The waitress' last name is actually McGath, and the restaurant pictured is the Tasty Bite, 215 E. Washington. Thanks to Jim Sears for figuring that out and sending us an email.Original Post: On Friday, Jan. 30, 1953, local restaurants donated proceeds from their coffee sales to the M...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
February 14th, 2017
Last-minute Valentine’s Shopping Livingston’s, February 1953
Leon Jaeger, an underwriting superintendent for State Farm Insurance, examines a frilly item for his wife Ruth several days before Valentine’s Day 1953. That’s longtime Livingston’s department store clerk Litta Ballow lending a helping hand.Who remembers shopping at Livingston’s?...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
February 13th, 2017
John Pratt, February 1953 Valentine’s Day Groom
John Pratt, who in a few days time would marry Geraldine Dillon in a Valentine’s Day ceremony, is seen here in a downtown Bloomington store sampling scents for his bride-to-be....
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
February 11th, 2017
Shirley by Horseback March 5, 1942
Earlier this week, we ran a photograph illustrating the severe WWII rubber shortage and its impact on Corn Belt farms. This photo comes from the same set. It shows an area resident preferring to visit downtown Shirley on horseback, presumably as a way to limit the wear and tear on his auto or tra...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
February 10th, 2017
‘Brick’ Young, March 1936 Pantagraph Sports Editor and Official
Normal resident Doug Rosenbaum served in the officiating crew as field judge for last weekend’s Super Bowl LI. Doug also worked Super Bowl XLV 2011. But he isn’t the first local resident to officiate the NFL’s biggest game! Way back on December 8, 1940, Pantagraph sports editor Fred “Brick” Youn...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
February 9th, 2017
Valentine’s Day 1947 Raymond School, Bloomington
The Pantagraph ran this photograph on Valentine’s Day 1947—nearly 70 years ago. Seen here are Raymond School students Jackie Myers and Carol Ann Kominoski sharing a special valentine’s moment … while the teacher isn’t looking, of course!Do you have any school day valentine memories?...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
February 8th, 2017
WW II Rubber Shortage Shirley Farm, March 1942
Arnold Beatty (left) and Colman Hicks, at the O.V. Douglass farm outside of Shirley, demonstrate patching a worn-out tire after yet another blowout. With a severe wartime shortage of rubber tires, area farmers were calling for the reintroduction of metal wheels for tractors and wagons....
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
February 7th, 2017
Urban Renewal, Bloomington Future Site of Library, 1971
This view, looking north-northeast, shows the future site of Bloomington Public Library (opened in 1977). Many of the residences shown here will be razed for the library and subsequent city public works department facilities. The 300 and 400 blocks of S. East St. are clearly visible. That’s the o...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
February 4th, 2017
Rockets, mid-1940s Twin-City Recreation Center
The Rockets were an informal team connected to the Twin-City Recreation Center, 318 S. Main St., Bloomington. They played games Friday night at the old Jefferson School. Reggie Whittaker (far left) was the head coach, and Willy Tripp (far right) his assistant....
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
February 3rd, 2017
Freitag children, rural Stanford February 1959
Jane and Doug Freitag horse around with a canine friend at their family farm outside of Stanford in Allin Township. They’re standing atop a cob pile outside a smart-looking corn crib. It probably didn’t mean much to them back then, but their father, 31-year-old Ward G. Freitag, was just tabbed as...
February 2nd, 2017
Twin Cities Bowler Peggy Schultz February 1942
This photograph comes from the Museum’s expansive Pantagraph Negatives Collection. Unfortunately, we know only who’s featured here, Peggy Schultz, and the date, February 5, 1942. We don’t know why this photograph was taken, or why it never appeared in the newspaper. We don’t even know the bowling...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
February 1st, 2017
Redd-Williams Legion Post January 1942
For much of the 20th century the Twin Cities had segregated American Legion posts. Seen here are Redd-Williams post members and auxiliary leaders planning a President’s Birthday Ball for January 30, 1942. These balls, held across the country in President Franklin Roosevelt’s honor, raised funds t...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
January 31st, 2017
Lea Kallish Fashionable Hats, 1959
On February 8, 1959, The Pantagraph featured photographs of local women wearing the latest in fashionable hats. Seen here is Lea Kallish of Bloomington sporting a tall, linen-like, straw cloth hat. Although this photo is in black-and-white, we’re told the hat’s color was known as “cherry fizz.” T...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
January 30th, 2017
Beich Plant Bloomington’s West Side, undated
This undated aerial offers a wealth of fascinating detail. “A” indicates West Washington Street; “B” the old west side Union Depot (closed in 1990; burned out in 1997); “C” the Chicago & Alton Railroad line (later Gulf, Mobile & Ohio, and today Union Pacific / Amtrak); “D” the old Paul F....
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
January 27th, 2017
McLean County Basketball Tournament Championship Game, Jan. 24, 1959
Gene Durham (22) of Saybrook-Arrowsmith High attempts a layup during the 1959 county tournament championship game. Attempting to thwart the layup is Bill Hutson (20) of Octavia, the consolidated high school in Colfax (the school is known as Ridgeview today). Octavia won 66-58 for its third...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
January 26th, 2017
Moose Hunters Bag Rabbits January 23, 1947
Members of the Bloomington Loyal Order of the Moose staged a rabbit hunt in south-central Illinois, between Pana and Vandalia, in January 1947. Thirteen chapter members bagged 124 rabbits, which would be cleaned and cooked for the Moose banquet the following week in Bloomington. Front row (left t...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
January 25th, 2017
Grand Champion Poland China ISNU Farm, January 16, 1947
Thelma Thomas and her brother Glenn examine her grand champion gilt at the Illinois State Normal University Farm. In mid-January 1947, ISNU served as the host for an Illinois Poland China Breeders Association show. Thelma was an ISNU student. For you city slickers out there, the term “gilt” means...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
January 24th, 2017
Normal Police Chief Lectures ‘Prisoner’ February 14, 1947
In mid-February 1947, Normal police picked up this adorable troublemaker at Normal Community High School. Charged with disturbing the peace, she had to endure a good talking to by Police Chief Grant Ridenour....
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
January 24th, 2017
Mitsubishi Motors joins Museum's campaign for local education, exhibits
The Mitsubishi Motors U.S.A. Foundation, in partnership with O'Brien Mitsubishi of Normal, presented the McLean County Museum of History today with a $50,000 gift to support the Museum’s free education programs and to help complete ongoing upgrades that are outlined by the Museum’s Extending...
2 mins read by Lauren Lacy
January 23rd, 2017
Soap Box Derby Saybrook, July 14, 1937
That’s Bob Butler on the white pony towing Eugene Stauffer, third-place soap box derby finisher in the Class B division. Some 350 area residents lined the course in downtown Saybrook to watch the races. The top two finishers in Saybrook competed in the Central Illinois district competition held J...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
January 21st, 2017
Gamma Phil Circus March 1947
This unidentified Illinois State Normal University student prepares for the eleventh annual Gamma Phil Circus, held March 21, 1947, at McCormick Gymnasium on the ISNU campus. Illinois State’s Gamma Phi, America’s oldest collegiate circus, will stage this year’s show April 7 and 8 at Redbird Arena...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
January 20th, 2017
Payless Drugs, July 1940 Downtown Bloomington
Payless Drugs, 317 N. Main St., opened on July 18, 1940. “It’s new! It’s different! It’s the latest in modern drug stores,” promised a grand opening advertisement. Payless remained at this location into the 1950s....
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
January 19th, 2017
World War II Scrap Drive Colfax, June 1943
In the early summer of 1943, some forty Colfax area residents, mostly farmers, gathered twenty tons of scrap for the war effort. That’s W.Y. Miller, the local elevator manager, who served as “weigh master” for the scrap campaign....
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
January 18th, 2017
Face-off! Angler’s Club, Bloomington January 1938
The hockey players are Davis Carson, Marvin Bower, Ray Smith, Laurie Rasmussen, Tom Walsh, and Bob Redman—though who’s who we’re not sure!Located on the south end of Bloomington, Angler’s Lake is one of several old clay pits excavated in the 19th century for the manufacture of brick and drain til...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp