977.327 
 P435 
 
 Peru Centennial, 1835-1935
 
 iiiiNois HISTORICAL mm
 
 €NT€NNIAL 
 
 1935
 
 niir^.1 BiSTORic^L suRvn
 
 P€RU 
 
 ILLINOIS 
 
 C€NT€NNIAL 
 
 •MAY-25 -IG-IQBS- 
 
 COMMEMORATING 
 ONE HUNDRED YEARS 
 OF PERU'S EXISTENCE
 
 
 FOREWORD 
 
 In compiling this article, the Historical 
 Committee has endeavored to give a picture 
 of the development of Peru. It is necessarily 
 brief. Some of the material has been taken 
 from early histories of the city, county and 
 state. Much of it has been volunteered by 
 various citizens, to whom the Committee ex- 
 tends its thanks for their cooperation. 
 
 Every effort has been made to achieve 
 accuracy, but to compile a complete history 
 in so short a time would be impossible. 
 
 Meta F. Waldorf Mabel Delany Noon 
 Orvilla Hackman Rev. J. Lauer, O. S. B. 
 W. J. Stanton Lucy Waldorf 
 
 Fanny Snyder Liszt Lenzen 
 
 Margaret Poppe Jerome Koons 
 
 The Historical Committee
 
 THE STORY OF PERU 
 
 THE ILLINOIS RIVER and its valley were first 
 explored by white men in 1673- Louis Joliet, a 
 fur trader, "strong of build, dark of eye and beard, 
 alert, with intelligent face and energetic gesture;" 
 and Pere Jacques Marquette, of the Society of the 
 Jesuits, "smooth shaven, delicate of frame, his eyes 
 deeply sunken," explored the Mississsippi and the 
 Illinois in two canoes, with five Canadian voyag- 
 eurs at the paddles. One history* places the date 
 of their visit to the vicinity of Peru as between 
 the fifteenth and twentieth days of August. 
 
 Father Marquette in his journal said that they 
 had seen nothing like the Illinois Valley, "the fer- 
 tility of its soil, its prairies and woods, its cattle, 
 elk, deer, wildcats, bustards, swans, ducks, par- 
 roquets, and even beaver." He also said the river 
 was wide, deep and still, and spoke of the Indian 
 villages on its banks. One of these may have been 
 here, as it is known that the site of Peru was once 
 occupied by an Indian village. It is said that two 
 Indian burial grounds lay within the early limits 
 of the city. 
 
 The first record in America of the finding of 
 coal, the natural resource which played so large a 
 part in Peru's development, is shown on Joliet's 
 map made on this trip. A map made by Hennepin, 
 another early French explorer (1689) shows a "cole 
 mine" on the Illinois River above Fort Creve Coeur, 
 which was near the present site of Peoria. This was 
 probably an outcrop of a vein lying near the surface, 
 and may have been somewhere between Peru and 
 Ottawa, as suggested by Conger & Hull in a history, 
 "Illinois River Valley," published in 1932. It is 
 quite as likely to have been farther down the river, 
 between Bureau and Peoria, where today many such 
 mines can be seen. 
 
 By 1816 the American Fur Company, owned by 
 John Jacob Astor, had established trading posts 
 throughout most of Illinois, some of which were 
 located in what is now La Salle County. This busi- 
 ness flourished for ten or fifteen years. 
 
 The first white settler in Peru was John Hays 
 who, with his wife, four sons and one daughter, 
 came here from Tennessee in 1830. They built a cabin 
 near the present site of the Peru Products Company, 
 and farmed a piece of land on the river bank. For ten 
 years they ran a ferry across the river, near the spot 
 which later became the mouth of the canal. The 
 street now called Adam, which runs from Fourth to 
 Water Streets, just west of the present Lincoln School, 
 was in Peru's early days called Ferry Street, which 
 would seem to show that it led to the ferry. 
 
 The Hays' nearest white neighbors were at 
 Dixon's Ferry on the north; at Princeton on the 
 west, "except perhaps the Hoskins family near the 
 Bureau;"** at Cedar Creek on the south; and at 
 Utica or Ottawa on the east. The nearest mill was 
 at Bloomington, seventy miles away. 
 
 About a year after the Hays family came to 
 Peru, Simon Crozier, who had previously settled 
 near Utica, came to Cedar Creek and built a mill 
 there. At that time he was postmaster for this part 
 of the country, and carried the mail to and from 
 Peoria once a month. In 1836 a regular post office 
 was established in Peru, the mail coming from 
 Peoria by boat. 
 
 When trouble with the Indians broke out early 
 in 1831, Havs and his neighbors, two of whom, 
 Lapsley and Burton Ayers, are named in an early 
 history, started to build a fort on the present site 
 of La Salle. However, danger was nearer than they 
 had thought, and abandoning their fort, they took 
 to canoes and went to Hennepin. It was May, plant- 
 ing time, and after a few days two of the Hays boys, 
 Harrison and Jonathan, took a canoe and came back 
 to their farm to finish their corn planting. Next 
 day, about four o'clock in the afternoon, the steamer 
 Caroline came up the river with Capt. Wilbourn's 
 Company of Volunteers on board. When the cap- 
 tain of the boat saw the boys at work in the field, 
 he fired off a cannon, rounded to, and sent off a boat 
 to take them on board. 
 
 The Caroline went up the river as far as the 
 mouth of the Rig \^ermillion, where she lay all night, 
 anchored in the middle of the stream, with steam 
 up, and soldiers with loaded muskets promenading 
 the deck. Next morning the troops were landed on 
 the south side of the river, where they started to 
 build Fort Wilbourn. 
 
 The Caroline was the first steamboat ever to 
 come up the river beyond Beardstown. One histor- 
 ian tells us that many of the settlers along the river 
 did not know what a steamboat was, and some of 
 them fled in terror, while one man took his gun, 
 called his dog, and pursued the boat up the river as 
 he would wild game, until it outdistanced him. 
 From the mouth of the Vermillion a pilot named 
 Crozier, (probably our Cedar Creek postmaster) took 
 the Caroline to Ottawa, an undertaking that re- 
 quired considerable skill. 
 
 * Chronology of Father Marquette's Journeys to the Illinois 
 Country. 
 
 •* "The History of Peru" Henry S. Beebe. 
 
 Pa^e Four
 
 During the Black Hawk war in 1832, after the 
 Battle of Stillman's Run, settlers rushed to the near- 
 est points of safety, one of which was Fort Wilbourn. 
 On May twentieth the Indian Creek Massacre oc- 
 curred. Shabbona, Chief of the Pottowattomies, 
 tried to warn the settlers, but they did not pay suffi- 
 cient heed to his warning. Sixteen white people 
 were killed by the Sacs, under Black Hawk, one of 
 whom was the daughter of John Hays. 
 
 A company of soldiers, among them the twenty- 
 three year old Abraham Lincoln, arrived at Fort 
 Wilbourn in June, 1832, but was mustered out on 
 June fourteenth by Lieutenant Robert Anderson. 
 
 Town Laid Out 
 
 An early act of the legislature set aside Section 
 Sixteen in every township for school purposes. 
 Therefore, when more settlers came to Peru in 1834, 
 the School Commissioners laid out and sold the 
 southwest quarter of Section Sixteen, and called it 
 "Peru." This is said to be the Inca Indian word for 
 "wealth." The original Town of Peru extended from 
 Water Street to North Street, (now Fourth,) and 
 from West Street to East Street, (now known as 
 Pine Street,) which runs south from the present 
 Andrew Hebel residence to Water Street. 
 
 In 1834 Ulysses Spaulding and H. L. Kinney 
 built the first building, (this must mean the first 
 business house, excluding the cabins of the settlers,) 
 and opened a store of which T. D. Brewster was 
 given charge. The Pottowattomies, under Shabbona, 
 made Peru a stop-over on their way to their Western 
 reservation, and did some trading at this store.* 
 
 The act incorporating the Illinois and Michigan 
 Canal, to terminate at or near the mouth of the 
 Little Vermillion, was passed late in 1835. The first 
 shovelful of earth was excavated on July Fourth 
 the next year, but it was not until the following 
 spring that any great number of people settled in 
 Peru. 
 
 In 1836 the legislature passed the "Internal Im- 
 provement Act," incorporating the "Central Rail- 
 road," which was to have run through Peru. How- 
 ever, after much work had been done on this road, 
 the course was changed to that of the present Illi- 
 nois Central Railroad. 
 
 Ninawa Addition, extending approximately from 
 Water Street to Sixth, and from West Street to 
 Calhoun, was owned by Lyman D. Brewster, who 
 died in the fall of 1835- It was platted and recorded 
 in 1836 by Theron D. Brewster. 
 
 In 1837-8-9 Peru thought pretty well of itself. 
 A good many more people were added to its popu- 
 lation, amongst them Fletcher Webster, son of Dan- 
 iel, who practiced law here for three years, and 
 John P. Tilden, who was employed by Daniel Web- 
 ster to manage some of the Webster farm land, part 
 of which was located within the present boundaries 
 of Peru. 
 
 Peru's first industry, a saw mill located near 
 the lower coal banks, was started in 1837. 
 
 At midnight on March 29, 1838, Father Raho 
 and Father Parodi, Catholic Missionaries, arrived 
 
 in Peru by boat. A crowd consisting of practically 
 the entire populations of Peru and La Salle awaited 
 them, in a flood of light from five hundred torches. 
 As they disembarked the air was filled with the 
 shrill whistling of the steamer, the roll of drums, 
 and the welcoming shouts of a happy people. They 
 were to be entertained at the home of^ William 
 Byrne of La Salle, who had the contract for the con- 
 struction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. When 
 they were mounted on horses brought for them by 
 John Cody, the escorting band struck up "Garry- 
 owen,"andthe whole assemblage followed them to 
 the Byrne cabin, where they listened while Mr. 
 Byrne's small daughter read an address of welcome 
 to the ambassadors of Christ. 
 
 Peru's first church was built by the Methodists 
 in the fall of 1838, facing on what is now Third 
 Street, between Fulton and Peoria. In 1854 this 
 church was sold to the German Methodists who had 
 organized a few years before. The building still stands, 
 a paintless, forbidding-looking frame structure in 
 the middle of the block on the north side of the 
 street. For a number of years while Mr. F. E. Eck- 
 enfelder was actively engaged in the furniture and 
 undertaking business, he used it as a warehouse. 
 
 After selling this church, the Methodists erected 
 a larger edifice on the site of the present Central 
 School. Being unable to support this church, the 
 society sold the building to the School Board, who 
 remodeled it and opened the Peru High School 
 therein. 
 
 "In December, 1870, the Methodist Society re- 
 organized, with twenty-four members, and met for 
 worship in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, which they 
 afterwards purchased."* This church was on the 
 corner of Plum and Bluff Streets. 
 
 A group of Presbyterians who had organized a 
 church in Rockwell in 1837, came to Peru two years 
 later, and very soon joined with the Congregational 
 Society. 
 
 In 1841 T. D. Brewster, in addition to building 
 his own home, which is now owned and occupied 
 by The Young Men's Athletic Club, built the town's 
 second church, a small, substantial stone edifice on 
 the north side of what is now Second Street, between 
 Peoria and Putnam, probably a little west of the 
 present Strohm residence. This was built for the use 
 of the Congregational Society. Mr. John C. Coffing 
 of Salisbury, Conn., father of Churchill Coffing, 
 donated a valuable bell which was used in this 
 church, and removed to the present church, where it 
 is still in use. 
 
 The church on'Second Street was later used for 
 a number of years by the Episcopalians. 
 
 The Zion Evangelical Church was founded in 
 September, 1852, and its edifice, on the northeast 
 corner of Sixth and Grant Streets, was built in 1866. 
 The same church, altered and improved, is still in use. 
 
 The original St. Joseph's Church in Peru was 
 erected as a mission church in 1854, and was attended 
 
 * The Past and Present of La Salic County, Illinois by H. F. Kett 
 & Co. 
 
 Page Five
 
 ■I 
 
 Methodist Church at Third and Putnam 
 Streets, Afterwards the Peru High School, 
 Known as the "Big Brick" 
 
 2. Methodist Church on Bluff Street 
 
 Theron D. Brewster's Home at 5- & 6. 
 
 Second and Peoria 
 
 4. Fletcher Webster's Log House, Which Stood 
 on Ground Now Owned by St. Bede College 
 
 Two Views of the Peru City Mills, 
 on the River Front 
 7- The Joseph Fleming, an Early River Boat 
 8. Boat Yard -
 
 by Vincentian Fathers from St. Patrick's until 1864 
 when St. Joseph's was made a parish church and the 
 first resident pastor was appointed. This church was 
 on the site of the present St. Joseph's Church, the 
 southeast corner of Fifth and Schuyler Streets. 
 
 In August, 1867, Rev. A. J. Pettit came to Peru 
 to organize the English speaking Catholics into a 
 parish which was called St. Mary's. The lots on 
 which the present church, rectory and convent now 
 stand, on Sixth Street, between Plum and Rock 
 Streets, were purchased, and a frame church was 
 erected and ready for services on Christmas day of 
 the same year. 
 
 On July 29, 1890, St. Valentine Society purchased 
 four lots and a small home, between Syracuse and 
 St. James Streets on Pulaksi, for the purpose of build- 
 ing a church. In 1892 the Rev. A. M. Sikorski was 
 appointed first resident pastor. 
 
 St. John's German Lutheran Church organized in 
 1884, and nine years later built a church on North 
 Calhoun Street. St. John's English Lutheran Church 
 was formed in 1919, and the two bodies combined. 
 Their present church is at the southeast corner of 
 Seventh and Fulton Streets. 
 
 In 1913 First Church of Christ, Scientist, of 
 Peru, Illinois, had its beginning as a Society, which 
 was incorporated under the laws of Illinois in 1924. 
 In 1931 steps were taken to become a church and 
 the present name was adopted. The church edifice, 
 purchased in 1924, is located at the northeast corner 
 of Third and Grant Streets. 
 
 Borough Organized 
 
 On December 6, 1838, Peru's inhabitants met 
 at the tavern of Zimri Lewis, and voted to take 
 preliminary steps to organize as a borough. The 
 population then was 426, 175 of whom were males 
 past twenty one. The vote cast on December fifteenth 
 carried the proposition, 40 to 1. On the same day 
 M. Mott, F. Lebeau, C. H. Charles, Z. Lewis, and 
 O. C. Motley were elected Trustees, and they elected 
 Z. Lewis, President; T. D. Brewster, Clerk; Z. Lewis, 
 Jr., Constable; and James Myers, Assessor. 
 
 In June of 1839 Daniel Webster, accompanied 
 by his daughter, made a tour of the West, and came 
 up the river from St. Louis to visit his son Fletcher, 
 who lived in a log house a mile and a half west of Peru. 
 The Fletcher Websters were regarded as the town's 
 "best people," and gave many parties in their home. 
 Naturally, the visit of so distinguished a man as 
 Daniel Webster to a favorite citizen created great 
 excitment in the town, and the people of the sur- 
 rounding country were out to welcome him. They 
 gathered at the Webster cabin and made a night 
 of it, with songs, stories and champagne. The wild 
 enthusiasm is shown by the fact that one of the two 
 boats which made the trip from St. Louis was burned 
 to illuminate the town. 
 
 Simon Kinney, at that time President of the 
 village of Peru, was a warm friend of the Webster 
 family. On this trip Daniel Webster visited him, 
 and presented him with a fine pair of dun colored 
 mares, much better stock than was then common 
 
 here. When he left Peru, Henry L. Kinney, a son of 
 Simon, took him to Chicago by carriage. 
 
 The tract of 659 acres adjoining the present 
 township of Peru on the west, was held by Web- 
 ster as long as he lived, and was bought from the 
 executors of the Webster estate in 1852 by Tilden 
 Ames and J. P. Tilden. It was cut up into small 
 tracts, and changed hands a number of times. The 
 Webster cabin with two hundred acres of land was 
 bought by Christian Dingier in about 1877, and sold 
 by him in 1889 to the order of Benedictine Monks. 
 It is now the site of St. Bede College. 
 
 In 1839 Peru was drunk with prosperity. Large 
 forces were employed on the Canal, and on the "Cen- 
 tral Railroad," which was still expected to run 
 through Peru. Numerous other projects were talked 
 of, all planned to bring added population and capital 
 to Peru. 
 
 A Mr. Ford joined with Geo. W. Holley to start 
 a newspaper, the Ninawah Gazette, with Mr. Holley 
 as editor. This was a weekly, the second paper to 
 be published in this part of Illinois. It ran for about 
 two years here, and then the press was moved to 
 Lacon. Because there were no railroads, air mail, 
 telegraph, telephone or radio in those days, news 
 was slow in getting from one part of the country to 
 another. News from Europe was usually five weeks 
 on the way, and Atlantic Coast happenings were 
 rarely known here in less than two weeks. Harrison's 
 death, for instance, was reported as a rumor twelve 
 days after it occurred, and confirmed a week later. 
 Most metropolitan news was taken from the St. 
 Louis papers, which came in by boat. The few local 
 happenings were supplemented by poetry, essays and 
 stories which filled a large part of the paper. 
 
 In the flush of prosperity Peru's first brick build- 
 ing, a three story structure, was erected. Part of 
 this building was occupied in 1855 by the Peru Sen- 
 tinel, a weekly newspaper published by J. L. Mc- 
 Cormack and Guy Hulett. In August of that year 
 the building was destroyed by fire. 
 
 In 1840 the bubble burst. Foreign capitalists 
 refused to lend more money. The state had been 
 borrowing to build railroads, prisons, hospitals, 
 asylums and State Houses. Counties borrowed to 
 build court houses and jails. Although millions had 
 been squandered, not one public enterprise had been 
 completed. Every State in the Union was in practi- 
 cally the same condition. 
 
 Probably what hit Peru the hardest — and no 
 place sufi^ered more — was that the Canal was being 
 built on borrowed money, and since there was no 
 money to proceed, the work was stopped and the 
 laborers thrown out of employment. Henry L. Kin- 
 ney must bear his share of the blame. He had taken 
 contracts for a large amount of the work on the 
 canal, and was unable to meet his obligations. He 
 left town, but many of the people who had come here 
 at his instigation, and had either lived on his bounty 
 or been employed in his enterprises, were ruined by 
 his failure. 
 
 Money was so scarce that the raising of a quar- 
 ter was an enterprise, and the spending of one was 
 
 Page Seven
 
 not lightly undertaken. In those days postage was 
 not prepaid, but was collected at the post office 
 when delivery was made, and during this time people 
 did not call for their mail, simply because they did 
 not have the money to pay the postage. Even the 
 governor of the state was unable to claim official 
 letters, since neither he himself nor the state had 
 sufficient money. 
 
 In order to avoid payment of freight, the one 
 Peru merchant who was able to keep his business 
 open took wheat, (accepted from farmers in pay- 
 ment of debts,) to Chicago by wagon, where it 
 brought about fifty cents a bushel. This supplied a 
 little money and enabled the merchant to buy goods. 
 The Illinois soil was fertile, and no one was in actual 
 danger of starvation, but the depression was so se- 
 vere that there was competition among citizens for 
 the honor of being the poorest — poverty was just as 
 fashionable as it was in 1930. 
 
 Things continued bad for three or four years, 
 but must have improved to some extent, at least 
 during the summers, since Peru was the western 
 terminal of the Frink & Walker stage line. A great 
 many people traveled between New York and St. 
 Louis or New Orleans by way of the lakes and rivers. 
 Sometimes five or ten four-horse coaches would leave 
 Peru for Chicago, Springfield, Dixon and Pontiac 
 at the same time. 
 
 Winters probably were pretty dull, for the ar- 
 rival of the first steamer in the spring was eagerly 
 awaited, all of the population watching it pull up 
 the river, and speculating on its identity. The news 
 of its arrival would soon spread through the country, 
 and people would come from as far away as Ottawa, 
 ostensibly on business, but really to see the steamer, 
 and learn what news it had brought. 
 
 The four-horse stage coaches also attracted much 
 interest as they dashed through the streets. The 
 guard would blow the horn, and people would run 
 out to watch them much as they would a circus 
 parade. The stage coach stables were located about 
 where the Peru Lumber and Coal Co. yards are now. 
 
 Our old friend the Canal, both the hero and 
 the villain in Peru's early history, stepped in again 
 in 1843 to improve conditions. The legislature passed 
 "An act to provide for the completion of the Ill- 
 inois & Michigan Canal, and the payment of the 
 canal debt." When work began, new people came 
 to town, warehouses and workshops were built, 
 and things began to look bustling and business like. 
 
 By 1845 the town had achieved prosperity un- 
 dreamed of three years before. A large trade had 
 gradually been built up. Farmers would come from 
 a distance of sixty, eighty, or a hundred miles, 
 their wagons loaded with produce, sell their wares 
 here, and return with loads of merchandise. Fred- 
 erick J. Denny, the veteran weighmaster of the Peru 
 City Scale House, who came to Peru in 1841 with 
 his parents, is quoted as follows: 
 
 "I remember when the levee was loaded with 
 merchandise. At that time the roadway and wharf 
 sloped from the sidewalks down to the river. There 
 were two large white warehouses on the river front, 
 
 and almost any day in the week you could see two 
 or three, and sometimes more, boats unloading their 
 cargoes of merchandise and taking on a load of 
 grain. The farmer would bring in a load of grain 
 and take away with him a load of groceries or other 
 supplies. The grain was taken to St. Louis, or some- 
 times as far as New Orleans." 
 
 In May of 1846 Peru's second weekly newspaper. 
 The Beacon Light, was started by Nash and Elliott. 
 The name was later changed to Junction Beacon. 
 The paper ran for two years. 
 
 Peru's first attempt at a fire department does 
 not seem to have been as successful as her later ven- 
 ture. On December 5, 1846 an ordinance was passed 
 authorizing formation of a Hook and Ladder Com- 
 pany, and $33-00 appropriated for implements, which 
 historian Beebe tells us were never available for 
 use in cases of emergency, although Peru had many 
 serious fires. Members who enrolled were exempt 
 from jury duty. The Minutes of the Town Board, 
 December, 1846, list the original members of the 
 Hook and Ladder Company: 
 Isaac D. Harmon George Low 
 
 Chas. S. Huntoon Lucius Rumrill 
 
 John S. Coates Isaac Abraham 
 
 Dennis Dunnavan Theron D. Brewster 
 
 David Perry David Dana 
 
 OzRA McKinsie Edwin R. Kerr 
 
 Samuel W. Raymonds Isaac Day 
 William Paul John White 
 
 On March 26, 1852, members of the Hook and 
 Ladder Company presented a petition to the City 
 Council asking for the increase of the company from 
 twenty to thirty, although it seems to have been 
 organized with sixteen. The petition was granted, and 
 that seems to be the last that was heard of the Hook 
 and Ladder Company. 
 
 In 1847 the city purchased land for a cemetery, 
 and had it laid out by a board of trustees. The 
 People's Hospital now occupies a part of this tract. 
 The property was owned by Theron D. Brewster, 
 and was sold with the condition that the city kept 
 title only so long as the land was used as a cemetery. 
 When part of the property was wanted for the hos- 
 pital, it had to be re-purchased from the Brewster 
 heirs. 
 
 Ice Business and Boat Yards 
 
 1847 saw the beginning of Peru's ice business, 
 which for many years was the most important of 
 Peru's industries. The development evidently was 
 rapid, for an historian of 1858 writes: "The ice trade, 
 (packing and shipping to a southern market,) is a 
 very important business here. Three hundred men 
 are employed during the winter, and seventy during 
 the summer." 
 
 For years the business grew and prospered, reach- 
 ing its peak about the middle seventies. At that time 
 Peru's boats were known not only all along the 
 Mississippi and the Illinois, but on the Tennessee, 
 the Arkansas and the Red Rivers as well. The decline 
 started in the late seventies. The harvesting and 
 shipping of ice was discontinued about 1890. The 
 decrease in the business was due largely to the de- 
 
 Page Eight
 
 velopment of ice making machines and the perfect- 
 ing of large mechanical cooling units. 
 
 The pioneer in the industry was Capt. John 
 Lowery McCormick, who came here from Penn- 
 sylvania in 1847- He had a number of interests, a- 
 mong them farming and trading in stock. He built 
 some valuable buildings along Water Street, as well 
 as his residence which was erected in 1848. His 
 principal interest was in shipping, in which he had 
 been engaged in the east, and as he had had some 
 experience in the ice business there, he was quick 
 to see its possibilities here. Others soon followed 
 his lead, among them the Huse and Loomis Ice & 
 Transportation Co., the Crescent City Ice Co., and 
 the Memphis Co., consisting of Bohlen, Huse and 
 Graves. 
 
 Some ice houses were located on the south bank 
 of the lower slough; others near the canal cut; 
 some on the north bank of the river in the west end 
 of town; and others west of Peru on the banks of 
 small bayous. 
 
 A few of the tow boats in the industry were: 
 The Alps and S. C. Baker owned by the Crescent 
 City Ice Co., Capt. Peter Bowers, Manager; the Joe 
 Fleming, Polar Wave, Jack Frost and Jim Watson 
 owned by the Huse & Loomis Ice Co., and the 
 Petrel owned by J. L. McCormick. 
 
 Mr. McCormick also had the packet Prairie 
 Bird. This boat was one of the Five-Day Line, the 
 deluxe line of its time. The line took its name from 
 the fact that its boats required five days for a round 
 trip between Peru and St. Louis. 
 
 About sixty-five barges owned by the various 
 companies were used in transporting ice. Most of 
 the barges were wintered in nearby sloughs. They 
 were loaded with ice in winter. The capacity of 
 barges ranged from 600 to 3500 tons. One of the 
 old river barges of 3500 tons capacity held as much ice 
 as could be packed in 105 of thepresent day boxcars. 
 
 Some years, in addition to filling all the houses 
 and the barges, ice was stacked in large piles. Some 
 of these were roofed over with boards; others simply 
 covered with straw. It is estimated that over 100,000 
 tons of ice were harvested some winters. 
 
 When conditions were favorable in the ice bus- 
 iness there was work for all. The hours were from 
 7 a. m. to 6 p. m. The pay per day for men was $1.50 
 to $1.75; boys from 75c to $100, a team and driver, 
 $2.50. Often thirty to forty teams would be needed 
 to clear away heavy falls of snow. 
 
 As soon as the river opened in the spring the 
 tow boats and barges would start for the South, the 
 tow boats soon returning with empty barges. The 
 loading and transporting of the ice usually required 
 several months. The work gave employment to a 
 large number. 
 
 It took a man of skill to pilot a boat and tow 
 of barges. The pilot's job was by no means a simple 
 one, for he had to know every snag, shallow place 
 and turn in the river, and to be constantly alert for 
 changes in the channel. 
 
 Closely allied to the ice business was that of 
 building and repairing boats and barges. The boat- 
 
 yard in the southwest end of Peru, which for many 
 years was operated by the Huse & Loomis Co., was 
 built about the middle fifties. The first boat caulkers 
 came from Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit and other 
 eastern cities. Caulkers were considered the most 
 skilled mechanics of their time. Some of the earliest 
 can not now be ascertained but a few working here 
 in the late sixties and the early seventies were Geo. 
 Munn, Patrick Stanton, Martin Cullen, John Porter, 
 and a Mr. Holmes. 
 
 The Huse & Loomis yard was one of the best in 
 the west. It was equipped to build and repair the 
 largest of river craft. It employed about seventy 
 caulkers and about fifty laborers. 
 
 The Memphis Co., also called the Bohlen Co., 
 and the Crescent Ice Co., also called the Bowers Co., 
 operated small yards where they built and repaired 
 their own barges. Sawyer & Stanley had a small 
 floating dock used principally for canal boat re- 
 pairing. 
 
 The boat yards were successfully operated for 
 many years. As they were closely allied with the 
 ice business, the fortunes of both were inter-twined, 
 and the yards passed out of existence on the decline 
 of the ice industry. 
 
 The closing of the boat yards and the extinction 
 of the ice industry were symptomatic of the lethargy 
 into which all river traffic had fallen, so that, with 
 the exception of pleasure craft, few boats were seen 
 on the Illinois during the early decades of this cen- 
 tury. 
 
 In 1848 the Canal made its last major appear- 
 ance as a factor in Peru's development. The work 
 was completed in the spring, and thereafter Peru 
 gradually lost her importance as a shipping point 
 and junction, as much of the grain which had been 
 brought here was now shipped from other points on 
 the Canal. 
 
 The first loaded boat through the Canal was 
 the Goldona, A. J. Hobart, Captain. It cleared 
 Chicago with a load of lumber, and reached Ottawa 
 at 2 p. m. on a Sunday afternoon. People saw it 
 coming, and ran to meet it, cheering all the way. 
 
 Peru's third weekly paper began publication in 
 October of 1848. It was the Peru Telegraph, owned 
 by Holbrook and Underbill. The first substantial 
 stone warehouse in town was erected in the same 
 year by T. D. Brewster, directly on the river bank 
 near the foot of Putnam Street. 
 
 Flood and Cholera 
 
 In the Spring of 1849 this part of the Illinois 
 Valley suffered the worst flood known since the settle- 
 ment of the country. Heavy rains in January raised 
 the river out of its banks, overflowing the bottom. 
 The weather turned cold, and the water froze into a 
 huge lake of ice, which extended as far up the river 
 as Utica. A heavy snow fell. About the first of March 
 there was a sudden rise in temperature, accompanied 
 by heavy rains. Every creek and run, every ravine 
 and slough, contributed a flood of water to the 
 swelling "river, which on March ninth was twenty- 
 five feet above low water. 
 
 Pagi Nini
 
 TuLLER, Dodge & Pitts Plow Works, 
 Second & Grant Streets 
 2. Pilot House of Capt. J. L. 
 McCormick's Prairie Bird 
 
 First Rock Island Engine to Reach Peru 
 4. "America," The Silver Engine 
 5. Turn Hall, Burning, 1892 
 
 Earlier Picture of Turn Hall, Showing 
 Bands Competing in a Tournament 
 7. Northwestern Light Guard Band
 
 The river's sudden rise loosened the ice sheet 
 without breaking it up. Beebe says, "One of these 
 came down, miles in length and breadth, entirely 
 filling the space between the bluffs, and crushed 
 everything in its course." Evidently when his his- 
 tory was published about ten years later, some of 
 his fellow townsmen thought he had told rather a 
 tall tale, for in a foreward he says, "for 'length 
 and breadth' the reader will please substitute 'ex- 
 tent' — this is positively all the abatement that can 
 be made." But why spoil a good story? It must have 
 been a phenomenal flood, sweeping away huge trees, 
 and whatever else got in its way. Mr. Beebe says 
 it crushed the Brewster warehouse, built the year 
 before, and occupied by Brewster and Beebe, "like 
 an eggshell." Although this was the greatest flood 
 since the white settlers came to the Illinois Valley, 
 the Indians had related to the earlier settlers ac- 
 counts of even higher waters. 
 
 Cholera followed the flood. In April and May 
 several citizens fell victim, and in June it suddenly 
 assumed a malignant and virulent character. Hun- 
 dreds died in a few weeks. Citizens were panic strick- 
 en, and many fled. Old timers still tell weird and 
 gruesome tales of those days — of how the crews 
 of the river boats (many of them negroes) died, and 
 of how, when the boats docked here, their bodies 
 were laid in rows on the river bank and hurriedly 
 buried at night. There was no time to provide cas- 
 kets for any of the cholera-dead, but for those who 
 were citizens and had families here, some sort of 
 coffin, or at least box, was contrived. In the case of 
 river employes, a trench was dug and the bodies 
 placed directly in it. When the excavating for the 
 hospital and the surrounding streets was done, 
 many bones of those so buried were found. 
 
 Of course, there were no funerals. The disease 
 was so virulent, and the people so terrified by it, 
 that burial was made as soon as possible after death. 
 It seems that in cholera, death is often preceded by 
 a catalepsy, or suspended animation, and tales are 
 told of people about to be buried when some friend 
 observed signs of life and rescued the victim. 
 
 Perhaps the reason for the panic was that up to 
 this time Peru had been unsually free from disease. 
 From the arrival of John Hays until the appearance 
 of the cholera in 1849 there had been practically 
 no sickness, with the exception of a few cases of 
 bilious fever in 1838-39. For one whole year there was 
 not a single death from natural causes. No wonder 
 the appearance of so devastating a contagion as 
 cholera filled the townsfolk with deadly fear. 
 
 They were evidently brave enough in the face of 
 dangers they could see and fight. Many stories are 
 told of wolves in the surrounding country, and 
 actually within the limits of the town itself. One 
 family driving over the river on the ice, to have 
 dinner with friends living on the Silver Spoon Road, 
 between here and Granville, were pursued by a pack 
 of wolves and were obliged to throw out their 
 buffalo robe to distract attention from themselves. 
 On their return, their host sent an armed man on 
 horseback to escort them to the river. 
 
 One citizen tells us that after the Hoffman 
 
 House burned the corner where it stood was allowed 
 to grow up to brush, and provided shelter for wolves. 
 A former Peruvian recalls that even after the 
 river bridge was built there were wolves in the 
 woods south of town. When animals died during the 
 winter the bodies would be dragged across the river 
 and left on the ice, and on moonlight nights the 
 wolves would be seen eating the carcasses. The 
 people who were so terrified of disease seemed to 
 accept wild animals as a matter of course. 
 
 The cholera seemed to stop as suddenly as it 
 had started, and though for the next two summers it 
 continued its ravages in all the surrounding country, 
 Peru escaped until the summer of 1852, when it 
 came back with a vengeance. It was estimated that 
 between five and six hundred people died — about one- 
 sixth of the population. No place in the United 
 States had a higher death rate. But this time there 
 was less panic and excitement. People had learned 
 to face disease with the courage with which they 
 braved the other perils of pioneer life 
 
 After the second siege of the cholera, the city 
 again became a healthful place to live. No major 
 epidemic occurred until the early sixties, when for 
 three or four winters Peru was swept by smallpox. 
 People did not realize the necessity for quarantine 
 in those days. Neighbors "ran in" to help care for 
 the sick, and seem not to have connected that action 
 with the fact that they or their families come down 
 with the disease. 
 
 City Incorporated 
 
 In August of 1850 Peru had its first serious 
 loss by fire. The largest and best building in town, 
 the National House, owned by Zimri Lewis, was 
 destroyed. 
 
 Peru's fourth weekly newspaper was started in 
 October, 1850, by Hammond and Welch. The Peru 
 Democrat soon became one of the leading papers of 
 interior Illinois. 
 
 The Township of Salisbury was organized April 
 2, 1850. A few years later it was re-named "Peru." 
 
 On Nov. 9, 1850, a resolution passed the Board 
 of Trustees authorizing the town to subscribe $25,000 
 toward the capital stock of the Rock Island and Peru 
 Railroad, on condition that the road should make its 
 eastern terminus on Section Sixteen. 
 
 On March 15, 1851, the town of Peru was in- 
 corporated as a city. The territory incorporated em- 
 braced, approximately, the land between Water 
 Street and Eighth, and between Calhoun Street and 
 Peru Street, the present eastern limit of the city, 
 also the land between Water Street and the north 
 bank of the river, east of Pine Street, extended. In 
 February, 1857, the City Limits were extended to 
 include all of Sections Sixteeen and Seventeen, which 
 took in the land between the Cemetery and Shoot- 
 ing Park Roads on the north, and the south line of 
 Water Street, and between the present eastern and 
 western limits of the city. 
 
 The city as incorporated in 1851 was divided 
 into two wards. The chief reason for the incor- 
 poration was that it would enable the city to issue 
 
 Page Eleven
 
 bonds to cover its subscription for railroad stock. 
 
 The first city election was held in April, 1851, 
 resulting in the election of T. D. Brewster, Mayor, 
 George W. Gilson and Jacob S. Miller, Aldermen 
 for the First Ward; and Erasmus Winslow and John 
 Morris, Aldermen for the Second Ward. 196 votes 
 were cast. This Council appointed Churchill Coffing, 
 Clerk; P. M. Kilduff, Treasurer; F. S. Day, Assessor; 
 A. Roberts, Marshall; Z. Lewis, Street Commiss- 
 ioner; and James Cahill, Collector. 
 
 The question of issuing bonds to pay for sub- 
 scriptions to the stock of the Rock Island and La- 
 S-ille Railroad, (the charter having been amended 
 to continue the road to Chicago,) was submitted to 
 a vote of the people on May 17, and the result was 
 unanimously affirmative. 
 
 During this year a new survey of the town was 
 made, since conflicting claims had arisen out of 
 discrepancies between former surveys. This year also 
 saw the start of the town's first major manufact- 
 uring industrv, a Plow Works established by Tuller, 
 Dodge & Pitts. This occupied the greater part of 
 the block on which the American Nickeloid Company 
 is now located — the block bounded by Second, 
 Grant, Third and West Streets. In 1855 it became 
 the property of August Guibor, who sold it in 1858 
 to T. D. Brewster. In common with most of Peru's 
 early buildings, this factory burned, but ir was re- 
 built, and continued for some vears in that location. 
 Later the plant was moved to Water Street, and the 
 buildings on Second Street were razed. 
 
 In February, 1850, the Peru and Grandetour 
 Plank Road Company had been organized. Among 
 the first directors elected were the following Peru- 
 vians: T. D. Brewster, J. H. McMillan, William 
 Paul, and J. L. McCormick. Bv September of 1851 
 the road had been completed far enough that the 
 company was permitted, under the charter, to collect 
 tolls. It was later completed as far as Arlington. 
 The tollgate in Peru was on the southwest corner 
 of Twelfth and Peoria Streets. Mr. Peter Gillette 
 was the tollmaster. 
 
 The Plank Road was laid like a double track 
 railroad, a track on the east for northbound traffic, 
 and one on the west for southbound. 12" x 12" 
 timbers were laid lengthwise of the road, for string- 
 ers, and three-inch planks laid across these. 
 
 It was thought that this road would be a great 
 advantage to the town and to the country through 
 which it passed. For a number of years it made 
 possible heavy traffic which could not have got 
 through without it. Funds were lacking to complete 
 it, however, and the builders soon found that they 
 couldn't afford to keep it in repair. It began to wear 
 out before they had completed it. Railroads were be- 
 ginning to operate through the country, and grain 
 was no longer hauled so many miles to market. 
 The road was allowed to run down, and the planks 
 removed. By 1858 it was impassable for loaded 
 teams, and very nearly so for any vehicle. Thus it 
 became almost as much of a detriment to the town 
 as it had at one time been an advantage. 
 
 Probably everyone in Peru has heard of Peak's 
 
 Tavern, and the Peak's Tavern Road, but regrettably 
 little real information can be unearthed about it. 
 It was one of many such taverns which studded the 
 main highways of the country, much as "hot dog" 
 stands and filling stations do today. It stood two 
 and a half or three miles northwest of Peru, where 
 the Peak's Tavern Road enters the Plank Road. 
 It was a large, unpainted frame building which 
 contained a barroom and sleeping quarters, and was 
 one of the stations at which the stage changed 
 horses. Since the stage took six fresh horses at every 
 change, Peak's Tavern needed a large stable. Sleep- 
 ing quarters did not need to be so commodious, 
 since many travellers stopping there, and requiring 
 shelter for their horses, were quite willing to roll 
 up in a blanket on the ground. 
 
 During the life of the Plank Road, Peak's Tavern 
 probably prospered. Just when it was built, or how 
 long it ran, nobody seems to remember. That it 
 was often a lively place, sometimes the scene of 
 violence, and occasionally the home of the bizarre, 
 no one seems to doubt. 
 
 On February 22, 1852, the people of Peru voted 
 on the question of issuing bonds to cover a $40,000 
 subscription to railroad stock, including the $25,000 
 previously authorized. In the meantime the railroad 
 charter had been amended a second time, the name 
 now being the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad 
 Company. In spite of strenuous efforts to defeat the 
 subscription, there were 280 affirmative votes to 
 16 negative. $40,000 worth of ten percent bonds 
 were issued, and that amount subscribed to the stock 
 of the railroad, upon which much work was done 
 that fall and winter. 
 
 In the same year the Five Day Line was organ- 
 ized to run between St. Louis and La Salle. The boats 
 were owned by individual companies, and each 
 was run on its owner's account. Some of the fast- 
 est boats of that day were engaged in this trade, 
 among them the Prairie Bird, owned bv Capt. John 
 L. McCormick. When this boat was retired from ser- 
 vice the pilot house was brought up the bluff, with 
 some difficulty, and placed in his yard just south of 
 the house, where it may still be seen. 
 
 For a time Capt. McCormick also owned and 
 operated a saw mill a mile or two west of Peru, on 
 the river bank. It was a large frame building which 
 he later floated up the river on barges, took up 
 Marion Street hill, now the foot of Putnam Street, 
 on rollers, and west to the ground on which his 
 residence stands, where it served as a barn. 
 
 Early in 1853 there was a serious fire on Water 
 Street which destroyed two large, three-story stone 
 stores, with most of their contents. One was oc- 
 cupied by E. Higgins & Co. as a hardware store, and 
 the other by J. H. McMillan & Co. as a dry goods 
 store. 
 
 On March twenty-first the first Rock Island 
 passenger train arrived in Peru from Chicago. The 
 citizens of Peru celebrated the event enthusiastically. 
 About a year later the line was opened as far as 
 Rock Island, which was then expected to be its 
 western terminus. This extended service did not have 
 
 Fage Twelve
 
 the beneficial effect upon local business for which 
 the citizens had hoped. 
 
 By the spring of 1869 the Rock Island tracks had 
 been laid into Council Bluffs, and in June the " 'Sil- 
 ver Engine," known as "America" started on its 
 first trip from the Great Lakes to the Missouri. 
 Later this engine, by its speed, won a mail contract 
 for the Rock Island, and was put into regular ser- 
 vice. Many Peruvians will remember it. It was an 
 "eight-wheeler," its boiler covered with a jacket 
 of German Silver; its trimmings, handles, whistle, 
 pump, flag staffs, headlight brackets, were of pure 
 silver. It was shown at the International Exposition 
 in Paris, France, in 1867, and later purchased by 
 the Rock Island. 
 
 Peru's fifth weekly newspaper began publication 
 on March 1, 1853. It was the Peru Weekly Chronicle, 
 published by J. F. & N. Linton. They continued it 
 for three years, and for ten months of that time also 
 published Peru's first daily paper, the Daily Chron- 
 icle, which was, Mr. Beebe says, "in all respects 
 creditable to them and to the town." 
 
 On August twentieth the issue of $5,000 in ten 
 percent bonds was authorized. The money was to be 
 used to build a City Hall, and for current expenses. 
 These were never issued, but instead $10,000 in seven 
 percent bonds were authorized in September. 
 
 TURNVEREIN AND MuSICAL ORGANIZATIONS 
 
 The Peru Turnverein was organized in 1854. It 
 was inactive during the Civil War, and when it re- 
 organized in 1865, was re-named the Peru Turnge- 
 meinde. About this time it built a gymnasium on the 
 corner of Ninth and Peoria Streets. This building 
 was moved to the northwest corner of Fourth and 
 Fulton Streets in 1874, and two years later a frame 
 hall was added. 
 
 In 1892 the building was completely destroyed 
 by fire. The present Turn Hall was built the follow- 
 ing year at a cost of $45,000, a staggering sum in 
 view of the fact that the whole country was in the 
 grip of a depression. 
 
 For many years the Turn Hall served as a gym- 
 nasium and community hall. It housed all the "turn- 
 ing" activities, including the annual exhibitions of 
 skill and strength. The nicest dances, public and 
 semi-private, were held there. An event of special 
 interest was the Annual New Years Eve Masquerade 
 given by the Turners. It also served as a theatre, 
 some of the best talent available appearing on its 
 stage. 
 
 The love of the German people for music, par- 
 ticularly choral music, was responsible for the ex- 
 istence and success of the early singing societies. 
 The earliest of these, of which we have any record, 
 was the Maennerchor, established as a branch of the 
 Peru Leseverein, on September 29, 1863. It met 
 for a number of years in the Apollo Hall, built by 
 Mr. Gerhardt Seepe, on the northwest corner of 
 Second and Pike Streets. This hall later burned. 
 
 Another singing society, under the direction of 
 Mr. Louis Briel, was organized in 1866. Early in 
 1870 it was taken into the Turngemeinde in a body, 
 
 and called the Turner Gesang Section, after which 
 It held its meetings in the Turn Hall. When this 
 burned, the society lost all its song books and sheet 
 music in the fire. No wonder they stood sadly in 
 the ashes and sang, "Stille Ruht die Erde" (Silent 
 Rest the Earth.) 
 
 When the new Turn Hall was completed, the 
 society reorganized under the name. Singing Society 
 of the Peru Turngemeinde, and continued until 1917, 
 when it disbanded. 
 
 The Philharmonic Society of Peru, consisting 
 of a mixed chorus and orchestra, with a total mem- 
 bership of approximately seventy people, was or- 
 ganized in 1876. Mr. David Facicler, who came to 
 town about this time and started the "soda factory" 
 on North Peoria Street, conducted the orchestra. 
 
 In 1880 a singing society called the Saenger- 
 lust was organized, and met weekly in a building 
 at the corner of First and Church Streets. About 
 the same time another singing society, the Mozart 
 Club, was organized under the direction of E. J. 
 Lenzen, and held its meetings in the Joseph Schmitt 
 building on Fourth Street. 
 
 These societies took part in many public cele- 
 brations, sang at funerals of their members or of 
 prominent citizens, and gave public concerts. In 
 1900 and in 1912 saengerfests, or singing competi- 
 tions, in which all of the singing societies of Central 
 Illinois took part, were held in Peru. 
 
 Another musical organization was the North- 
 western Light Guard Band, originally called "Union 
 Cornet Band of Peru, 111.," which consisted of brass 
 and reed instruments. It was organized in 1877 under 
 Mr. E. J. Lenzen, who was both leader and teacher. 
 It was regarded as one of the best bands in this 
 part of the state. In connection with the Light Guard 
 Band, Mr. Lenzen also led the Northwestern Concert 
 Orchestra, of eighteen pieces. 
 
 A later musical organization was the Peru 
 Symphony Club, organized in January, 1905. It was 
 a study club composed of a number of women who 
 were accomplished musicians. Its chief claim to 
 prominence is that it sponsored Maud Powell's first 
 concert appearance in Peru. 
 
 Madame Powell was born in 1867 in the Capt. 
 Henry Hicks house, now known as 1112 Bluff Street. 
 Her father, W. B. Powell, was superintendent of the 
 Peru Schools, and her mother, whose parents were 
 cholera victims, was a foster daughter of Wm. Paul. 
 
 Maud Powell's first concert here was on February 
 16, 1908. About four hundred people made their 
 way to the Turn Hall, through the worst snow storm 
 and blizzard of many years, "to hear Peru's own 
 daughter, and one of the world's greatest violinists, 
 play her magnificient Guadagnini with the hand of 
 genius." All seats had been sold, but many were 
 vacant because people from out of town could not 
 get here. Train and street car service was stalled 
 by the storm, and only horse-drawn vehicles could 
 get through. 
 
 Not a musical organization, but a society which 
 flourished for many years, was the Ancient Order of 
 Hibernians, organized in 1852. 
 
 faff Thirteen
 
 II 
 
 Maud Powell's Birthplace, 1112 Bluff St., 
 Known as the Capt. Henry Hick's House. 
 Built by a Mr. Dana. 
 
 2. Maud Powell, Peru's Celebrated 
 Violinist 
 
 The Chambers House, with City Hall in 5. Bank of Peru, on Water Street 
 
 THE Background 6. Capt. McCormick's Residence, at Second 
 
 4. "Big Steps" on West Street, Showing THE and Peoria Streets 
 
 City Hall and Hose Tower from the South 7. The Merrick Mine, Looking East. 
 
 8. Concordia Hall, Sixth & Pboria Sts.
 
 An applicant for membership in this society 
 had to furnish proof that he was a Catholic, of 
 good moral character, and that he was a citizen, or 
 had signified his intention of becoming one. 
 
 The Peru unit, known as local Division No. 5, 
 was the first division in La Salle County, and it 
 very soon had a membership of over one hundred. 
 
 Division No. 5 of the Ancient Order of Hibern- 
 ians held its meetings in Bart Denny's hall. The 
 big event of the year to them was St. Patrick's Day. 
 The society would begin its celebration of the day 
 by attending Mass in a body, the members attired 
 in the full regalia of the order: scarfs and baldrics 
 of emerald green, fringed with silver and ornamented 
 with stars, shamrocks, and harps, bearing the letters 
 A. O. H. There would be a stirring sermon by the 
 priest on St. Patrick and his works. 
 
 The next event was a parade to some central 
 meeting place, where a program was held, consist- 
 ing of addresses and songs. Some of the songs usu- 
 ally sung were; "The Harp of Tara," "Kathleen 
 Mavourneen," "Killarney," and "Wearing of the 
 Green." . 
 
 The speaker was usually an orator of ability 
 who would urge his audience to continue the un- 
 selfish patriotism that has always been displayed 
 by the Irish race, from the time of General Stephen 
 Moylan, of Washington's staff, who was the first 
 president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. 
 
 This patriotism was shown in the contribution 
 of five hundred thousand dollars to Washington and 
 his army by the Hibernian Society. Washington him- 
 self made "St Patrick" the password of the Am- 
 erican army on the day of the evacuation of Boston. 
 
 The St. Patrick's Day celebration would end 
 with a dance. 
 
 The local Division No. 5 aided in the establish- 
 ment of a Division in Spring Valley, and later of 
 three in La Salle, but as membership in Peru's di- 
 vision dwindled, it gradually was absorbed by the 
 La Salle Divisions. 
 
 Chambers House and City Hall 
 
 The Chambers House, a four-story brick 
 building on the southwest corner of Second and West 
 Streets, was built by a stock company in 1854, at 
 a cost of $24,000. Back of it were large stables for 
 the stage horses. In its day the Chambers House 
 was the scene of community social functions. Many 
 brilliant balls were held there, which must have 
 been gorgeous and colorful affairs. 
 
 The Chambers House was not alone in that. An 
 invitation has been discovered to a "Cotillion Party" 
 held on the first of October, 1858, at the Moore 
 Hotel, which was on Marion Street, north of the 
 Rock Island tracks. On the night that the Hoffman 
 House burped plans were under way for a party 
 commemorating the Victory of New Orleans. Any 
 number of cakes had been brought in, and when 
 the fire broke out, these were carried to the neigh- 
 bors. The story does not tell whether or not any of 
 the hotel furniture was saved. 
 
 The Chambers House was built with a large 
 
 basement which provided for the barroom, kitchen, 
 baggage department, and the like. On the first floor 
 there was a small office, a large parlor, and a spacious 
 dining hall that could be used as a ballroom, or for 
 banquets. Upstairs were the guest rooms, not so 
 many in number, but roomy and with high ceilings. 
 
 The building was torn down in 1895, but had 
 been condemned and unoccupied for some little time 
 before. 
 
 In January of 1855 the new City Hall and Mar- 
 ket House was completed. On February nineteenth 
 $2600 worth of 8% bonds were issued to pay the 
 balance due the contractors. The total cost of the 
 building was $12,00^^. 
 
 The City Hall, which still stands at the foot 
 of West Street, between First and Second, contained 
 a Council Chamber, a public hall for meetings, lec- 
 tures, concerts and like entertainments; a room for 
 market stalls, and a calaboose or jail. In the years 
 that followed its erection, many well-known per- 
 formers appeared there. Some of our older citizens 
 tell us that one of them was Adelina Patti, who sang 
 there when she was a young girl, before she returned 
 to Europe to study. Among others were Jenny Lind, 
 Fanny Janauschek, (a very well known actress, who 
 gave excerpts from her best-known plays,) Tom 
 Thumb and Blind Tom, (a blind negro who was a 
 remarkable pianist.) 
 
 On May 19, 1855, the Matteson Guards were or- 
 ganized, with James H. Coates, Captain, and fifty- 
 nine men. Not a great deal of information can be 
 obtained about this organization and its purpose. 
 However, two years before there had been serious 
 trouble with the men working on the Illinois Cen- 
 tral Railroad, and outbreaks of labor trouble and 
 strikes were frequent. Joel A. Matteson was gover- 
 nor of Illinois from 1853 to 1857, so the organization 
 may have been named for him. However, the gover- 
 nor was a well-hated man in this part of the state, 
 having interfered to grant clemency to men con- 
 cerned in the murder of a La Salle citizen, and having 
 been burned in effigy when he later visited La Salle. 
 Possibly the title was ironic, suggesting him as the 
 person who made this organization necessary. 
 
 What is definitely known is that George W. 
 Gilson, a member, built an armory for the Matteson 
 Guards just west of his dwelling, which stood at 
 the northwest corner of Rock and Van Buren (since 
 re-named Sixth) Streets. Here the Guards drilled and 
 kept their arms and uniforms. Eugene G. Ransom, 
 nephew of Gilson, who attained the rank of bri- 
 gadier-general during the Civil War, drilled them. 
 
 The bank of Peru was established in the sum- 
 mer of 1855, in order to facilitate exchange business. 
 In 1864 it was merged into the National Bank. 
 The only previous bank of which we have a record 
 was the Illinois River Bank, which was in operation 
 as early as 1852. It was run by Taylor & Coffing. 
 One of its purposes was to facilitate payment of the 
 "Salisbury Plank Road" bills. This is a concern we 
 haven't heard of before, but it may have been another 
 name for the Peru and Grandetour Plank Road Co. 
 
 In common with many so-called "free-banks" of 
 
 Vaie Fifteen
 
 the period, (probably this meant privately owned 
 and free from inspection,) the Illinois River Bank 
 issued "shin-plaster" money. This was in the form 
 of bearer notes against the Salisbury Plank Road 
 Company, whose charter allowed it to issue such 
 notes. 
 
 While many of the banks issuing money of this 
 sort later repudiated it, all issued by the Illinois 
 River Bank was honored in full by payment of other 
 bank bills, or paid in gold and silver with a discount 
 of one percent. 
 
 Fires In The Early Days 
 
 In August of 1855 the Peru Sentinel was started 
 and in the same month its office was destroyed by 
 fire. It survived however, and in 1858 was fighting 
 valiantly for Douglas. It was, of course, a Democra- 
 tic organ. 
 
 1856 was a good year for fires. Mr. Louis Lauber 
 tells us that the city had no fire-fighting equipment, 
 and the only means of combating a blaze was to 
 form a bucket brigade, passing buckets of water 
 from hand to hand until they reached the fire, by 
 which time the firemen were drenched, and the fire 
 scarcely sprinkled. 
 
 On January seventh the Hoffman House, "sub- 
 stantially built of wood," burned. It stood at the 
 northeast corner of Second and Putnam Streets. 
 In May the round house of the Chicago and Rock 
 Island Railroad was destroyed by fire. 
 
 On September twenty-sixth the chair and furn- 
 iture factory owned by George B. Willis, a blind 
 man, burned, with a loss of about $20,000. It was 
 located across the street east from the present Rock 
 Island Station, and north of the tracks. For many 
 years the chimney remained standing. 
 
 On October 11, 1857, the Foundry & Machine 
 Shop of Fitzsimmons and Beebe was destroyed by 
 fire; loss, $16,500. 
 
 On the night of the twentieth of August, 1858, 
 the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas was a guest in the 
 home of Capt. J. L. McCormick in Peru, being a 
 friend of the family. The memorable Lincoln-Douglas 
 Debate at Ottawa was held the following day. Capt. 
 McCormick drove Douglas to Ottawa in the Mc- 
 Cormick coach, Mrs. McCormick accompanying 
 them. Mr. Douglas presented Mrs. McCormick with 
 a large steel engraving of himself upon which he 
 wrote: 
 
 "Presented to Mrs. McCormick 
 by S. A. Douglas, 
 Aug. 20th, 1858." 
 
 This still hangs in the living room of the McCormick 
 home at Second and Peoria Streets in Peru. 
 
 Contrasted to this is the fact that in the fall 
 of 1858, during the Lincoln-Douglas debates, Abra- 
 ham Lincoln was an over-night guest at the home 
 of John P. Tilden, on the north side of what is now 
 known as the Cemetery Road, a short distance west 
 of the City Cemetery. Mr. Tilden had a small house 
 and a large family. We are told that Mr. Lincoln 
 slept on the floor. 
 
 In 1858 three newspapers started in Peru. One 
 of them was the Commercial, published every Thurs- 
 day in the Post Office Block, by C. W. Kirkland. 
 Another was a German paper, the Volks Freund, 
 also published every Thursday, on Water Street, 
 near West. P. A. Cramer was its editor. No copies 
 of these papers have been discovered. 
 
 The third was the Herald, started by H. S. 
 Beebe. In 1860 Mr. F. M. Sapp purchased it; the 
 following year he bought what was left of the de- 
 funct German paper, and two years later the presses, 
 type, etc., of the Chronicle. From 1863 until his death 
 in 1870 the Herald was edited by Mr. Noah Sapp. 
 Gallagher and Williams succeeded Sapp, and con- 
 tinued the publication until 1876, when Mr. W. B. 
 Taplev purchased the Herald. In 1884 he sold it 
 to Mr. H. S. Corwin. 
 
 The News, a five column, four page semi-weekly, 
 was established byH. S. Corwin in 1879. When he 
 bought the Herald in 1884 the two papers were com- 
 bined under the name of the Twin City News-Herald, 
 with H. S. Corwin editor. This paper was issued 
 weekly until about ten years ago. In 1885 Mr. Cor- 
 win began publication of the Daily News Herald, 
 which he edited until his death, and which his 
 sons continued to publish. About two years ago 
 the paper was sold to Ira J. Williams and James H. 
 Skewes. 
 
 A census taken in August, 1858, showed Peru's 
 population as 3652, an increase of 616 since the pre- 
 vious local census had been completed on June 1, 
 1854. In 1858 the town had seven public schools, 
 six churches and three fraternal orders. 
 
 The town's first coal mine had been sunk near 
 the western end of town, on the river bank about 
 one hundred yards southwest of the Star Union 
 Brewery. This shaft was owned by the Peru Coal 
 Mining Co., Wm. Chumasero, Secretary; T. D. Brew- 
 ster, President; A. J. Whitney, Manager. The coal 
 from this mine was analyzed and tested at many gas 
 works, and found to be unequaled by any coal yet 
 found west of Ohio and north of the Ohio River 
 for steam generating power, and for freedom from 
 sulphur, and tendency to clinker. 
 
 This mine employed two or three hundred min- 
 ers, but was never very prosperous. It was taken 
 over and run for a time bv a Mr. Merrick, but it 
 was just a little ahead of the times. Wood was still 
 plentiful and was burned even by the railroad. Two 
 or three of Peru's citizens conducted wood cutting 
 businesses, employing quite a few men. 
 
 The mining rights of this early venture were 
 restricted, and it was finally abandoned. Other shafts 
 were soon sunk in the eastern end of town, employing 
 the men from this mine, and more. 
 
 In spite of this early failure, Peru probably 
 owes her continued existence to her coal deposits. 
 If it had not been for the excellent coal available, 
 probably none of the industries which were respor- 
 sible for Peru's development would have come here. 
 
 The debt of the city in 1858 was $63,600; $40,- 
 000 for Chicago & Rock Island Railroad bonds; 
 $12,600 for City Hall and Market House; the re- 
 
 Fa^e Sixteen
 
 I 
 
 1. First Bridge at the Fill 
 2. Early Water Street 
 
 3. Barton's Polygon Mill 
 
 4. Land Office & Winslow Warehouse 
 7. Barton's Castle 
 
 5. Water Street After 1870 
 6. River Traffic
 
 mainder for current expenses, interest on bonds, and 
 outstanding scrip. The city was not in bad financial 
 condition, however, since there was enough monev, 
 either in the hands of the city treasurer or outstand- 
 ing in taxes, to pay the debt. 
 
 Old Settlers' Society and Concordia 
 
 The Old Settlers' Society was organized in 1859. 
 Membership required actual residence of twenty 
 years in the county. After preliminary organization 
 proceedings, the Society held their first banquet on 
 February twenty-second. They lingered at the table 
 until far into the "wee sma' hours," drinking toasts 
 and making speeches. The Hon. Stephen A. Douglas 
 was invited to attend but sent a letter of regret, 
 which was read. In practically every year following, 
 meetings were held in various parts of the county. 
 They were well attended. The last record of such a 
 meeting is in 1884. 
 
 One of the early, widely known landmarks of 
 Peru was Concordia Hall and Garden, established on 
 the corner of Sixth and Peoria Streets in the late 
 fifties, by Mr. Paul Boehme. His wish to develop 
 harmony and goodfellowship in Peru is shown in 
 the name, "Concordia." 
 
 Concordia provided Peru with music and a place 
 to dance, but it did more than that. During the 
 winter seasons panoramas, troupes of magicians, 
 vocalists and plays appeared on its stage. After a 
 few seasons Mr. Boehme secured a regular stock 
 company with a repertoire of German comedies and 
 more serious offerings. 
 
 On nights when there was no stage production 
 there often were dances, and the early Peruvians 
 danced the quadrille and polka, and waltzed to the 
 music of Johann Strauss the elder, which was sweep- 
 ing the country. During the summers band concerts 
 were held in a garden adjoining the hall. Civil War 
 melodies and inspiring marches prevailed during the 
 early years. 
 
 One of the most popular early features of Con- 
 cordia was a large scale erected by Mr. Boehme for 
 the convenience of the farmers. 
 
 In 1897, under the direction of the Boehme Bro- 
 thers, the first vaudeville exhibitions in this vicinity 
 replaced the original entertainment at Concordia, but 
 a few years later the place passed into the hands of 
 a succession of promoters, and before long the name 
 "Concordia," which had meant so much to Mr. 
 Boehme, was changed to "Ninewa." Ninewa suffered 
 a gradual loss of popularity, and finally, eleven vears 
 ago, was destroyed by fire. The place that was the scene 
 of so much entertainment, that drew patronage from 
 far and near, is now occupied by a modern building, 
 and a gasoline service station. 
 
 During the "gay nineties" the socially inclined 
 young men of Peru organized themselves into a group 
 which was called the "Forty Club." The sole aim of 
 this club was to supply "nice" dancing parties, 
 which they gave about twice a year. These were dress 
 affairs, and at them were displayed all the grace of 
 Professor Willis' pupils in the Bon Ton, Waltz Ox- 
 ford and other stately dances, together with the 
 Redowa, Two Step, and always the Lancers. 
 
 Later the gayer spirits formed what was called 
 the "Anti-Stag" group, and gave dances every month 
 during the winter season. The name of the group 
 was an index to its demands — no man was admitted 
 without a woman as his companion. These dances, 
 most informal affairs, were called "shirt waist 
 dances" because the women were invited to wear 
 what was the fashion in those days, a shirt waist 
 suit such as was shown by Charles Dana Gibson in 
 his drawings of the famous "Gibson Girl." 
 
 Another source of pleasure in the early days — 
 much earlier than the Forty Club — was Capt. John 
 Graham's excursion steamer, the Katie G., named 
 for his daughter. This was often chartered by picnic 
 parties for runs to Starved Rock or Hennepin. 
 
 Pontoon Bridges and Ferries 
 
 One of Peru's biggest needs was a bridge across 
 the river and a good road over the bottoms. Some 
 time between 1855 and 1860, as nearly as it can be 
 placed. Captain McCormick undertook to do some- 
 thing about this. He built a pontoon bridge on two 
 flatboats, spanning the river about two blocks below 
 the present bridge. The piers to which it was fast- 
 ened are still there, though they are beginning to 
 break up. This bridge, on which, of course, toll was 
 collected, was very accommodating. When river traffic 
 needed to pass, the south end of the bridge would be 
 cast loose, the current would swing the southern 
 flatboat around to the north bank, and allow the 
 boat to pass, after which a cable wound on a wind- 
 lass would pull the bridge back into position. 
 
 This still left the question of crossing the bot- 
 toms. For several months in the year the water was 
 likely to be so high that the bottoms would be, as 
 they are this spring, virtual lakes, and quite impass- 
 able. In the months of low water the bridge served 
 a long-felt want, and was regarded as a great asset 
 bv the citizens. 
 
 From the time of our first settler, crossing the 
 river had been a problem. After the Hays Ferry, 
 three others appear to have existed at different times. 
 One was operated by a man named Blackman, op- 
 posite the present Maze Lumber Yard. Another was 
 run by William Barlow, just east of the City Scales. 
 The merchants and grain dealers operated a free 
 ferry in much the same location, probably about 
 opposite Weberling's Bakery. 
 
 Some time after Mr. McCormick constructed his 
 bridge, Mr. Samuel Maze built a second bridge, on 
 eight or ten pontoons, with railings along the sides, 
 near the foot of Plain Street. 
 
 In the early sixties Peru had a glass factory. 
 This was on the hillside, north of the Peru Coal 
 Mining Company's shaft. Probably the reason for 
 its location was that good coal was easily available. 
 The silica used was brought from the sandbanks 
 at Utica. This plant was known as a "bottle works," 
 the product being limited to bottles of various kinds 
 and sizes. 
 
 There was one large building, containing a 
 large furnace, around which the blowers, twenty- 
 five or so, were grouped. With their blowpipes they 
 would reach into the furnace and gather at the end 
 
 Page Eiihteen
 
 ;i quantity of the molten material, blow it, swing it 
 in the air, and at the proper time insert it into a mold, 
 where pressure would bring about the desired shape. 
 The men employed came from the glass-blowing 
 centers, and were highly paid, the occupation being 
 considered unhealthful. For some reason, the enter- 
 prise lasted only a few years. 
 
 Among Peru's early industries was a cornsheller 
 factory, run by Mr. George Leavett, on Plain and 
 Jackson Streets. Jackson Street is now Fifth. Mr. 
 Eli Leavett ran a "fanning mill factory" at the 
 same location. A fanning mill was a device for sep- 
 arating chaff from grain. 
 
 Mr. Samuel Maze operated a limekiln in the 
 southwest quarter of the city, near the place where 
 for many years Robert Unzicker had a tile factory. 
 
 The Civil War 
 
 Of course from 1861 to 1865 the war overshadow- 
 ed all else. The news that Fort Sumter had been fired 
 on, on April 12, aroused the patriotism of the people. 
 Companies were formed throughout the county, 
 the one at Peru under Capt. Palmer. When President 
 Lincoln called for 600,000 men in August of 1862, 
 Governor Yates promised Illinois would furnish 
 its quota without a draft. La Salle County was called 
 on to furnish a thousand men, and raised twelve 
 companies, one of them being Capt. Palmer's which 
 consisted of 89 men. They were sent off with much 
 ceremony, and just before they left Miss Minnie 
 Paul, who afterwards became the wife of Wm. B. 
 Powell, and the mother of Maud Powell, presented 
 Capt. Palmer with a flag, the presentation being made 
 from the balcony of the Chambers House. After- 
 wards Peru organized a home guard and drilled to 
 be in readiness should the government ask for more 
 men. 
 
 In order to avoid a draft, bounties were offered 
 to men who would enlist. T. D. Brewster gave a 
 city lot to each of the first ten men who enlisted 
 in Peru. Some of the townships also offered bounties, 
 among them Peru. No draft became necessary until 
 October, 1864. The only way to escape was to hire 
 a substitute or go to Canada. Another draft was 
 to be made in the spring of 1865, but before it be- 
 gan, news of Lee's surrender came. 
 
 Now, seventy years after the war, we are ac- 
 customed to think of Peru as a northern city, and it 
 is a little hard to realize that not all of Peru's citizens 
 were unswerving in their loyalty to the Union. The 
 fact is that amongst Peru's inhabitants there were 
 a few Southern sympathizers. 
 
 Although there was much rejoicing over the 
 ending of the war, enthusiasm was by no means so 
 unrestrained as at the end of the World War. There 
 was a very good reason for this. Many wounded 
 soldiers had returned, and there were many homes 
 in which there was a badlv wounded man to care 
 for. The war had been much nearer and much more 
 real than the World War ever could have been to 
 people in this country. 
 
 When the soldiers returned home, the town 
 gave them a banquet at the Chambers House for 
 which the townspeople furnished the food. 
 
 When word came of President Lincoln's assass- 
 ination on April 14, 1865, many Peru residents 
 draped their homes in mourning. A clipping from 
 The Peru Herald, dated April 20, 1865, says: 
 
 "The dav appointed for the funeral services 
 of our lamented President to take place at Wash- 
 ington, was observed in Peru in an appropriate and 
 becoming manner. All the business houses were 
 closed. Labor was entirely suspended. The resid- 
 ences were almost universally marked with the 
 mournful evidences that within the inmates were 
 sorrowing for the martyred dead. At 12 o'clock the 
 people assembled at the Congregational Church 
 for divine services. That large and commodious 
 building was filled to its utmost capacity. The aud- 
 ience was addressed by the Rev. Dr. IngersoU upon 
 the sorrowful event which had so lately befallen 
 the nation. The speaker adduced many evidences to 
 prove the hand of God in this great affiction, and 
 argued that He would bring good out of the event, 
 and that we should bow down in humble submission 
 to His dispensations, although seemingly grievous. 
 In the evening services were again held in the Church, 
 and remarks made by a number of speakers." 
 Sharpshooters Club 
 
 On September 12, 1865, the Peru Sharpshooters 
 Club was organized. The original officers were 
 August Heinze, Frederick Hundt, and Nepomuch 
 Andesner. The records do not show what offices they 
 held. 
 
 The club, when organized, was known as "The 
 Peru Rifle Company." The name was changed in 
 May, 1867. The first complete list of oflicers in the 
 club's records is for 1868, and is: Joseph Nadler, 
 President; Gerhardt Seepe, Vice-President; P. Boehme, 
 Secretary; August Heinze, Treasurer. 
 
 When it organized, the club bought ten acres 
 north of the city to be used as a range and site for 
 the club buildings. Later half of this was disposed 
 of. The club was affiliated with the Central Shooting 
 Society, which in turn was a member, or division, 
 of the National Sharpshooter Association. 
 
 One of the outstanding events in which local 
 members were registered was the Columbian Inter- 
 national Shooting Festival, held in Chicago in con- 
 nection with the Columbian Exposition. Otto Lauer, 
 shooting against marksmen from all parts of the 
 world, held top score until next to the last day, 
 when he was topped, though he held second place. 
 Robert LInzicker won a gold medal for being one of 
 the runners-up. 
 
 The highlight of the shooting season was the 
 "king" shoot, when the best shot of the club was 
 determined by competition on the range. The "king" 
 was crowned with much hilarious celebration. 
 
 Besides being a leading sporting organization, 
 the Sharpshooters Club was of considerable import- 
 ance socially. Its annual dances were the events 
 of the season, looked forward to with eager anti- 
 cipation, and remembered with much pleasure. It 
 also gave annual game dinners, for which the guns 
 of the members provided the game. 
 
 In the early days travel eastward from Peru 
 
 Page Nimteen
 
 was along Water Street. This road presented diffi- 
 culties because during several months of the year 
 there was the possibility of its being flooded. On 
 the upper road there were deep ravines to be crossed, 
 one of these, since filled, cut through Fourth Street, 
 then known as North, between Rock and Plain 
 Streets, and for many years was crossed by a bridge. 
 
 The place we know as "The Fill" was a ravine 
 crossed by a tollbridge operated by a man named 
 Merritt. This place was known as the "First Bridge," 
 a name which clung for many years. Foot passengers 
 crossed Mr. Merritt's bridge free, but vehicles paid 
 a toll. In about 1865 he was bitten by a Great Dane 
 and died of hydrophobia, and after his death the toll 
 was abolished. 
 
 In June of 1880 the bridge was declared unsafe 
 and ordered closed, and contract let for a new bridge, 
 which was opened in October. In 1889 the council 
 passed an ordinance providing for the erection of 
 a stone bridge, and apparently this work was done, 
 but not much about it can be learned. 
 
 In May, 1895, a contract was 1st for a stone 
 arch bridge to replace the "First Bridge." This 
 was completed in November, the masonry work 
 having been done by Henry Schweickert. In 1920 
 the fill was widened, and a sidewalk constructed on 
 the south side. 
 
 Perhaps this would be a good place to mention 
 that not only was travel along Water Street, but 
 virtually all of the town's business was on or very 
 near that street. This was logical, since the rivers 
 were the natural highways through the country and 
 Peru, being at the head of navigation on the Illinois, 
 was an important shipping point. 
 
 In 1840, and probably for ten years thereafter, 
 it was not unusual for three boats to reach Peru 
 from St. Louis in a single day. These boats brought 
 sugar, molasses, cotton, various kinds of manu- 
 factured goods, a large part of the cargoes being 
 stoves, tinware and drygoods, judging from the 
 numbers of stores along Water Street dealing in 
 these wares. They carried away grain and flour, 
 Peru had at least three flour mills during this time, 
 one of which belonged to Mr. James Barton, who 
 also ran a large stone warehouse on the river front. 
 
 Mr. Barton, whose home in the extreme north- 
 east portion of the community was known as "The 
 Castle," because of its appearance and structure, in- 
 vented and built a windmill for grinding flour, which 
 was known as the Polygon Mill. The picture will 
 show why. None of Mr. Barton's neighbors who saw 
 the plans for this mill believed that it would work, 
 but it did. It cost so much money to build that he 
 never insured it because he was afraid that if it 
 burned people would accuse him of firing it to get 
 the insurance. Consequently when it did burn, the 
 loss was heavy. 
 
 With the gradual spread of the city. Water Street 
 became less desirable as a business location. As early 
 as the late fifties a few business men had opened 
 businesses along Fourth Street. Four of these, grouped 
 around the intersection of Fourth and Peoria Streets, 
 gave the "Four Corners" its name. They were: 
 
 August Bulfer's grocery store on the corner now 
 occupied by his son's drug store; John Aaron's gro- 
 cery store directly south in the Anton Meyer build- 
 ing; Dr. Raith's drug store, in which his wife also 
 sold fancy goods, west of this; and on the fourth 
 corner, Conrad Eckenfelder's saloon. 
 
 The merchants who had establishments on Water 
 Street were slow in falling in line with this idea. 
 For instance, the firm of Seepe & Hoscheit, estab- 
 lished in 1872, with a store on Water Street, dis- 
 solved partnership in 1880, and Mr. Hoscheit, join- 
 ing with Mr. Kobbemann to start the firm of Hos- 
 cheit & Kobbemann, moved "up on the hill," but Mr. 
 Seepe continued on Water Street until 1896, in which 
 year Mr. Charles Brunner built the Masonic Temple, 
 and Mr. Seepe moved his dry goods store into the 
 ground floor of this building. 
 
 The Post Office was on Water Street as late as 
 1903, but by that time the exodus to Fourth Street 
 was well under way. 
 
 The Bridge Is Built 
 
 By 1869 the need for a permanent bridge across 
 the river, and a good road across the bottoms, had 
 become so evident that the Illinois River Bridge 
 Company was formed, and its charter approved on 
 February 25, 1869. The purpose of this company was 
 to bridge the bayou, (now known as the slough,) 
 bridge the river, and connect the two bridges by 
 a good road. 
 
 An iron bridge across the slough, consisting 
 of three fixed spans, each seventy-five feet in length, 
 was begun on July eighteenth, work having been 
 delayed by high water, and completed in November. 
 There was a northern approach 265 feet long, built 
 of timber. The road connecting it with the river bridge 
 was built on an embankment 300 rods long, eight 
 feet high, with a roadbed twenty-five feet wide. 
 It was thought that this embankment would raise 
 the road above high water level, but it was flooded 
 many times. 
 
 Work on the river bridge was begun on October 
 eighth. "This bridge consists of a single span, or 
 draw, constructed of iron and timber, 310 feet long," 
 (at that time the longest single span bridge in the 
 State,) "resting upon a round pier constructed of stone 
 and solid masonry in the center of the river. The ex- 
 tremities of the draw rest on stone abutments oppo- 
 site the center, on the northern and southern banks 
 of the river. The approaches to the bridge from the 
 banks are of timber, about 200 feet in length. This 
 bridge was completed on March 5, 1870. The entire 
 cost of both bridges and embankment was $66,115-66. 
 The architects were Messrs. Boyington, Rust and 
 Bruce." This quotation is from the Peru Herald, 
 dated March 17, 1870. 
 
 The same paper says that the bridge was for- 
 mally opened on Friday, March 11, with 1500 to 
 2000 people present. In spite of bad weather, a pro- 
 cession formed at two o'clock, headed by the Young 
 America Cornet Band, followed by the members, 
 in uniform, of Odd Fellows, Masons, and Turnver- 
 ein, and by citizens and school children with 
 appropriate banners. They marched over the bridge 
 
 Page Twenty
 
 1. Dr, Raith's Drug Store 3. 
 
 2. William Sperbbr's Saloon and Grocery 
 Store, Fourth and Calhoun Sts. 
 
 John Aaron's Grocery Store 
 4. August Bulfer's Grocery Store 
 5- The River Bridge 
 
 Liberty Fire Company No. 1 
 7. The Fire Team 
 8. The Silsby Engine
 
 to the South side, halted, gave three cheers for the 
 bridge, and marched back again to where a stand 
 had been erected on the river bank opposite the store 
 of R. & A. D. Murray. 
 
 Mr. Geo. D. Ladd acted as chairman and intro- 
 duced the Hon. Churchill Coffing, who delivered 
 the congratulatory address commending those who 
 were responsible for this great achievement. After 
 Mr. Coffing's speech, the chairman introduced 
 Messrs. Boyington and Rust, two of the firm of arch- 
 itects, who addressed the people. 
 
 The chairman then read, by request, a poem 
 written for the occasion by one who had been active 
 in bringing about the construction of the bridge, 
 and whose name, cast in iron, was placed upon each 
 end of the structure. The names appearing on these 
 plates are: 
 
 S. N. Maze, President 
 
 Joel Hopkins, Vice President 
 
 John White, Secretary 
 
 B. V. Sutherland, Treasurer 
 
 Peter Bowers, Director 
 
 Wm. Grasmick, Director 
 
 James Barton, Director 
 
 W. L. HusE, Director 
 
 Joseph Rhinehart, Director 
 
 The ceremonies concluded with a grand ball at 
 the Chambers House. 
 
 Liberty Fire Company No. 1 
 
 In 1870 Illinois had a Constitutional Convention 
 which drew up the present Constitution of Illinois. 
 Judge George S. Eldridge, then a resident of Peru, 
 was a member of this convention. 
 
 On June 25, 1873, Liberty Fire Co. No. 1 was 
 organized. The fire company when formed had little 
 equipment for fire-fighting, and the methods in use 
 seem to us almost as crude as the early bucket- 
 brigades, but Liberty Fire Co. from its beginning 
 was composed of "fire eaters" to whom a fire was a 
 challenge to be met with every ounce of their energy. 
 This is the spirit which makes a handful of poorly 
 equipped volunteers the superiors of a fully outfitted 
 paid organization without the love of fire-fighting. 
 If this spirit had not been almost traditional in 
 Peru's fire department, Peru would probably have 
 gone on having disastrous fires. As it is. Liberty 
 Fire Co. has been consistently a source of service 
 to the community, not only the city of Peru, but 
 a number of other municpalities in the vicinity. 
 
 The first equipment purchased was a hand-pump- 
 er of the "back breaker" type. This was kept in the 
 Old City Hall, and was hand drawn. When a fire was 
 discovered, someone would run to the City Hall and 
 ring the bell. At the first clang the members of the 
 department would rush to the station and pull the 
 pumper to the scene of the fire as fast as they could. 
 
 In 1885 a "steam pumper," known as a "Silsby 
 engine," replaced the hand machine. A number of 
 large cisterns located at strategic points about the 
 town supplied the water for fire-fighting. The water 
 to fill these was pumped from the river. 
 
 In September, 1890, a contract for a new fire 
 
 station was let to Sperber & Koehler, and in the 
 following year the new building was ready, and the 
 engine was moved from the City Hall. A bond issue 
 for the construction of a "water works" was passed 
 on March 7, 1891, and by December fire hydrants 
 were installed and ready for use. The city bought a 
 hose wagon in January, 1892, and by the middle of 
 the following May a fire alarm system was installed. 
 
 For many years the city owned one team of 
 horses, which pulled the fire engine. When the fire 
 bell rang there would be a mad race amongst the 
 teamsters who were anywhere near, each driver try- 
 ing to get to the station first, in order to hitch his 
 team to the hose cart. 
 
 Two conventions of the Illinois State Firemen's 
 Association have been held in Peru, in January of 
 1896, and in January of 1911- Mr. J. W. Henshaw, 
 of Liberty Fire Co., was the first president of the 
 Association. 
 
 The charter members of the Liberty Fire Co. 
 No. 1 were: 
 
 Bart Denny, Marshall 
 
 E. Metzger 
 
 Jas. Dwyer 
 
 S. Rosenhaupt 
 
 Patrick O'Dowd 
 
 C. Ireland 
 
 G. B. Denny 
 
 John Balzer 
 
 C. P. Grasmick 
 
 Gottlieb Gmelich 
 
 Chas. Brunner 
 
 P. Prendergast 
 
 Herman Brunner 
 
 Jas. D. King 
 
 Wm. Birkenbeuel 
 
 C. W. Woodhead 
 Newton Thompson 
 R. Maze 
 Thos. Molloy 
 John G. Beyer 
 Wm. B. Day, Jr. 
 Henry Bellinghausen 
 A. Koehler 
 Thos. R. Prendergast 
 Geo. Murray 
 Cornelius Cahill 
 m. g. rosgen 
 R. C. Hattenhauer 
 Henry Mosbach 
 Charles Hobbs 
 
 Horse Cars, Elevator and Street Lighting 
 
 The La Salle and Peru Horse and Dummy Rail- 
 road was authorized by ordinance in August, 1874. 
 E. C. Hegeler, W. L. Huse, T. D. Brewster, and Frank 
 lin Corwin formed the corporation which operated 
 it. From La Salle it ran as rar west on Fourth Street 
 as Rock Street, down Rock to Bluff, along Bluff 
 to West, turned on West to Second, and over Second 
 to Peoria. 
 
 In the same month Horace Holmes asked the 
 city council for permission to build an elevator 
 from Water Street to First Street, on West Street. 
 The petition was granted in April, 1876. The ele- 
 vator was an inclined railway designed to furnish 
 a means of transportation up and down the steep 
 hill between the business section and the residential 
 district of the town. 
 
 The upper platform was directly south of the 
 City Hall, while the lower one was west of the 
 old' National Bank Building on Water Street. There 
 were two high, narrow, wooden cars which were 
 painted yellow. They could accommodate about a 
 dozen passengers apiece. Each car ran on a separate 
 track, and was connected to the motive power, 
 (a steam engine at the top of the incline,) by means 
 of a steel cable. As one car was drawn up, 
 
 Pagi Tu'ttity-tu'O
 
 the other was let down; thus the weight of the car 
 going down helped pull the other to the top. 
 
 Financially, the venture was not a success. It 
 cost five cents to ride, and most of the thrifty Peru 
 people saw no reason for paying to be carried so 
 short a distance, even up hill. After a few years the 
 owners gave up hope, and sold the elevator for junk. 
 For a long time the cars and other parts of the equip- 
 ment stood in the yard of the Brunner Foundry. 
 
 In 1874 a franchise was granted to Benjamin 
 W. Robinson to start a gas plant in Peru, but he 
 did not exercise his right, and the franchise lapsed. 
 
 An ordinance was passed in January, 1874, 
 for the erection of thirty or more lamp posts for 
 street lights throughout the city. Nothing seems 
 to have been done about this until the middle of 
 the following year, by which time the Peru & La- 
 Salle Gas Light Co. had been formed. Our first 
 street lights were gas lamps which had to be lighted 
 each night and turned off each morning. The first 
 lamplighter was Thos. Conlin, who received $15.00 
 a month. 
 
 Apparently by 1885 more lamps had been added, 
 for on July sixth an estimate of expense for street 
 lamps for the year gives: 
 
 Salary Lamplighter $300 
 
 Gas 400 
 
 New Lamps & Repairs 100 
 
 On October 4, 1887, W. E. Moore, W. K. Hoag- 
 land, and Theodore Weberling were granted premis- 
 sion to operate the Peru Electric Light Co. In Nov- 
 ember the council voted to install electric street 
 lights; thirty thirty-two candle power lamps at a 
 cost of $36 each per' year, and thirty sixteen candle- 
 power lamps at $18 each per year, were to be in- 
 stalled. This made a lamplighter unnecessary, and 
 that office was abolished. 
 
 In June of 1891 the council agreed to buy the 
 electric light plant at a price of $16,000, to be paid 
 by using revenue received from private consumers. 
 The first pavment was to be made when there was 
 $500 in the fund, and in amounts of $500 thereafter. 
 Interest was to be paid at the rate of 5%. On April 
 15, 1896, the balance due was $4,225.10. 
 
 The original force of the Light Plant consisted 
 of Theodore Weberling, Superintendent; Charles 
 Kendall, Engineer; and Nick Sausen, Fireman. The 
 first equipment was installed by the Edison Company 
 of Chicago, and consisted of one Buckeye slide 
 valve engine belted to two 110 volt Edison genera- 
 tors. One of these generators, after it was retired 
 from service in the Light Plant, was sold to the 
 Illinois Zinc Company, who used it until a few years 
 ago, when it was sent to the Field Museum in Chi- 
 cago. It is said that so far as is known only one other 
 generator of this make and model is still in existence 
 and it is in the Ford museum at Dearborn, Michigan. 
 
 In November of 1897 the council voted to sub- 
 stitute arc lights in its street lighting system, and 
 these lights were put in at Fourth and Putnam Streets, 
 at Fourth and Peoria Streets, and at Fourth and 
 Fulton Streets, but the plan was not continued. 
 
 When the plant started, power was used 
 only for street lights and business houses, and the 
 plant operated only from four o'clock in the after- 
 noon until midnight. Early in 1898 a new engine 
 and dynamos were installed, and in June it was sug- 
 gested that the plant be operated all day, which 
 would seem to show that already electricity was 
 becoming more popular. In 1912 the plant was again 
 enlarged, the council voting to buy anew alternating 
 current unit, generator and condenser. Up to that 
 time they had generated nothing but direct current. 
 In January of 1916 a severe flood of the Illinois 
 River extinguished the fires in the Water and Light 
 Plant, and for several days the city was without 
 light or water. The stores which had oil lamps or 
 lanterns in stock did a rushing business, and even 
 candles were in demand. This was perhaps the high- 
 est water Peru had known since the flood described 
 by Mr. Beebe. Water Street was overflowed to a 
 depth that permitted rowing a boat into the Water 
 and Light plant. It was in this year that the bridge 
 across the slough was carried away. 
 
 In 1926 a new boiler house was built at the Water 
 and Light Plant, and the boilers set well above high 
 water "mark. New generating units were added at 
 the same time. 
 
 Many changes have been made in our street 
 lighting system, but to show how far we have come 
 from thirty-two and sixteen candlepower lamps, 
 it is interesting to note that on February 26, 1926, 
 the council voted to change the street lighting sys- 
 tem, using lamps of about 200 candle power on in- 
 tersections. 
 
 Washington Park 
 In 1885 the City Council was urged, by a peti- 
 tion signed by 106 citizens, to buy the twenty acre 
 tract known as the "Race Track" or "Driving Park." 
 This had originally been owned by the Peru Driving 
 Park Association, one of whose principal members 
 was William L. Huse, senior member of the Huse 
 & Loomis Ice Company, and for many years prom- 
 inent in Peru's business. 
 
 After the Driving Park Association became in- 
 active, the property came into the hands of Freder- 
 ick Schulte, whose widow, Mrs. Ellen Schulte, 
 offered it to the city at a price of $3,000, if she might 
 retain the coal rights. 
 
 In the summer of 1885 a special election was held 
 at which 359 votes were cast in favor of buying the 
 tract, 312 against it. An early ordinance gave Wash- 
 ington Park its name, but it was not formally dedi- 
 cated until 1932. 
 
 For the next twenty-five or thirty years the park 
 was used as a ball park, a picnic ground, and for 
 various public gatherings, such as singing competi- 
 tions. In short, it began at once to be a recreation 
 center, though it was many years before it was im- 
 proved. 
 
 In 1911 the Peru Hospital Association asked for 
 part of the Park as a site for the Hospital. The public 
 did not like the idea of having its park used for a 
 hospital, and argued that a better place could be 
 found for that institution. Notable among the pro- 
 pyls Twenty-three
 
 tests were resolutions against the sale presented by 
 many of the Labor Unions. 
 
 In 1915 it was decided to spend $1,200 on the 
 park. Playground equipment was installed, and ten- 
 nis courts were laid out. The Peru Schools held 
 Field Days in the Park, the one in 1917 being a 
 World War benefit, the proceeds going to such in- 
 stitutions as the Red Cross and Community Chest. 
 
 In 1922 a restroom was built, and in the follow- 
 ing year the city's Tourist Camp was moved to the 
 north end of the Park, fireplaces were built, and other 
 necessary conveniences installed. 
 
 In April, 1927, the voters approved a bond issue 
 to provide a swimming pool at the Park, and con- 
 tracts were let for the construction of the pool, 
 for a filtration system and bathhouse, and a side- 
 walk around the pool. 
 
 On June 24, 1928, in connection with a district 
 American Legion Convention being held here, the 
 pool was formally dedicated to Peru's war veterans. 
 
 Since that time it has been necessary to enlarge 
 the bathhouse. In recent winters part of the park 
 has been flooded for skating, providing a safe and 
 easily accessible spot for this sport, and making 
 Washington Park a popular recreation ground, win- 
 ter as well as summer. 
 
 On July 10, 1932, as Peru's contribution to the 
 nationwide bi-centennial celebration of George Wash- 
 ington's birth, the park was formally dedicated to 
 his memory, the American Legion taking charge 
 of the ceremonies. A huge boulder on which was 
 mounted a bronze tablet dedicating the Park was set 
 in place. 
 
 On October 11, 1929, in celebration of the Ses- 
 quicentennial of General Pulaski, the former "Hay- 
 market Square" was dedicated to the memory of 
 General Pulaski, and the name changed to Pulaski 
 Square. 
 
 On June 25, 1902, the Soldiers Monument in 
 the Public Square was unveiled. The idea of erect- 
 ing a monument was started by the Sons of Veterans 
 and the Woman's Relief Corps, and was carried 
 through by the Monument Association. The money 
 for the statue and for benches, drinking fountains 
 and installation of cannon in the park, was raised 
 by a citizens' committee, which gave home talent 
 plays and dances for the purpose. 
 
 Capt. A. Means Camp, No. 166, Sons of \'eterans, 
 U. S. A., sent out formal invitations to the unveil- 
 ing. Reduced rates on all railroads had been secured 
 for the occasion. 
 
 The program began with the reception in the 
 morning of visiting G. A. R. Camps, and included a 
 parade in the afternoon, band music and singing, a 
 presentation of the monument by a Past Commander- 
 in-chief of the Sons of Veterans, U. S. A., and an 
 acceptance by the Department Commander of the 
 G. A. R., also addresses by Louis Schadensack, Mayor 
 and Rev. Paul Brauns. 
 
 Stone sidewalks were laid along Water Street 
 at an early date. There had been wooden sidewalks 
 through many of the residence districts, but these 
 
 were expensive to keep up, and dangerous when 
 they began to wear out, and most of them were 
 replaced by cinders. 
 
 During Mayor George D. Ladd's administration 
 in 1886, the first block of stone sidewalk in a resi- 
 dence district was laid, on the north side of Bluff 
 Street, between West and Plum Streets. The pro- 
 perty owners bore the cost of this. 
 
 Joliet flagstone was used, and people must 
 have liked the result, for during the two years Mr. 
 Ladd was mayor, several other streets were provided 
 with similar walks. 
 
 Little effort seems to have been made to im- 
 prove the streets until about 1897. In that year 
 several streets were macadamized, notably Fourth 
 Street from Church Street to the eastern city limits. 
 The result was not satisfactory, and in 1908 bricks 
 were laid over the macadam. Brick was laid on Water 
 Street in 1898, and since that time most of Peru's 
 streets have been paved, in recent vears concrete 
 having been used. 
 
 The Illinois Valley and Northern Railroad Co., 
 incorporated on May 25, 1887, under the laws of 
 Illinois, constructed the line of the Chicago, Burl- 
 ington cS: Quincy Railroad Co., running from Streator 
 to Walnut, through Peru. Mr. Ernst Roth came to 
 Peru as a civil engineer in charge of building this 
 road, and was later recalled by Mr. Matthiessen to 
 take charge of the Western Clock Co. in its early 
 days. 
 
 The first main line, 59-9 miles of track, was 
 completed on June 1, 1888, the first train running 
 through on or about that time. The Illinois Valley 
 and Northern Railroad Co. did not operate the road, 
 but leased it at once to the C. B. & Q. R. R. Co., 
 and sold it to them on June 1, 1899. 
 
 The first mail box "on the hill" was obtained 
 about 1888, through the efforts of August Bulfer, 
 who of his own accord took the matter up with 
 the Postal authorities at Washington. The town's 
 Post Office was then on Water Street. This mail 
 box was placed on the trunk of a tree at the north- 
 east corner of Fourth and Peoria Streets, just outside 
 the Bulfer store, where it remained for many years. 
 
 There was no free delivery of mail in those 
 days, and in order that citizens and merchants "on 
 the hill" might be spared a daily trip "down town" 
 to the Post Office, Rudolph Meyer made two deli- 
 veries a day to each business house or residence 
 that paid ten cents a week for the service. 
 
 In 1889 an ordinance was passed giving to Wm. 
 G. Reeve, W. E. Moore, Henry Bellinghausen, and 
 George D. Ladd the right to operate an electric 
 railway under the name of "Peru Electric Street 
 Railway Co. " 
 
 Dennis O'Brien of Oglesby was construction 
 foreman. The first superintendent of the company was 
 E. Enyart. Charles Bensel of Peru and Robert Ellis, 
 now of Utica, worked on the first car. These men 
 report that the Water Street line began to operate 
 in 1889. It ran from about the Illinois Central Sta- 
 tion in La Salle to the site of the present Burlington 
 Depot. About two years later the Fourth Street line 
 
 Page Twentj-four
 
 Horse Car on Horse & Dummy Railroad 4. High Water, 1916, Showing Entrance 
 
 2. Holmes Elevator To Light Plant 
 
 3. First Electric Light Plant Equipment, 5. Swimming Pool, Washington Park 
 
 Showing Edison Unit Now in Field Museum 
 
 View of Fourth Street, Unpaved, Looking East 
 7. Electric Street Car, on Water Street 
 
 8. Electric Street Car. on Fourth Street
 
 was opened, running from a point three hundred feet 
 west of Church Street into La Salle. 
 
 The line was originally called the La Salle and 
 Peru Railway. The first car barn was on Water 
 Street, about where the Peru Wheel Company ware- 
 house is now located. It was moved to about where 
 the Western Clock Co. engine room now stands. 
 This barn was burned, and for nine weeks the town 
 had no street cars. In that time a new car barn was 
 built at the present site. 
 
 In June, 1890, the Secretary of State granted 
 George D. Ladd, W. K. Hoagland, Theodore Web- 
 erling, John Cahill and Charles Brunner the right 
 to take stock subscriptions to the Peru Artesian 
 Water Supply Company. This company drilled a 
 well east of Grant Street above the Rock Island 
 tracks, which the city leased a year later for $25,000. 
 
 In the years that followed various wells were 
 sunk, the contract for the latest one having been 
 let on January 9, 1931, to the Sewell Well Company 
 of St. Louis. 
 
 A new elevated tank east of the hre station was 
 built in 1922, and in August, 1923, two new pumps 
 and engines were added to the equipment of the Wa- 
 ter and Light Plant. In 1931 two new elevated tanks 
 were builc, one at the north edge of town, and one 
 at the east. 
 
 Progress on the new well was slow, and many 
 difficulties were encountered in the drilling. Event- 
 ually it was decided to go a few hundred feet deeper 
 than had originally been planned, in order to secure 
 a more abundant supply of water. A super-abdun- 
 dance of iron came with the water, or perhaps some 
 element in the water from the new well took the 
 iron from the mains. Late in 1932 a contract was let 
 for a water-treatment plant. Peru now has the deep- 
 est well in the state, and the purest water, by analysis. 
 
 In 1851 Peru was incorporated as a city by a 
 Special Act of the Legislature, but the Act of 1872 
 entitled, "An Act providing for the incorporation 
 of cities and villages," approved April 10, 1872, 
 in force July 1, 1872, broadened the powers of mun- 
 cipalities and on March 13, 1890, at a special elec- 
 tion, the incorporation of the City under the Act 
 of 1872 was approved by a vote of 334 to 53. 
 
 The Hospital 
 
 On July 5, 1907, Rev. Paul Brauns called the 
 first citizens' meeting for the purpose of organizing 
 a hospital association as the first step toward a new 
 and up-to-date hospital for Peru. The first officers 
 of the Association were Charles Nadler, President; 
 G. Lassig, Vice-President; F. E. Hoberg, Secretary; 
 and Henry Ream, Treasurer. 
 
 Many entertainments were given to raise funds 
 for the proposed hospital, the most important being 
 the concerts given by Peru's celebrated violinist, 
 Maud Powell. 
 
 Madame Powell gave two concerts for the hos- 
 pital fund, one on November 4, 1910, and one on 
 February 14, 1913. In the first case her services were 
 freely given, and the citizens of Peru showed their 
 
 appreciation of her friendly interest by attending 
 in great numbers. 
 
 The hospital charter was granted on August 3, 
 1911, and work began on the building in August 
 of 1913. By the time it was formally opened in May, 
 1914, People's Hospital represented a community 
 investment of $90,000. 
 
 The Woman's Auxiliary of the hospital was or- 
 ganized in October, 1913, under the leadership of 
 Mrs. Charles Nadler, the first president. In all the 
 years since, it has done much to aid in financing the 
 institution, and has given much time to repairing 
 linens, and rendering other needed services. 
 
 The hospital is one of the most modern in the 
 state, having practically all of the latest equipment. 
 There has also been added a comfortable nurses' 
 home. 
 
 In connection there is an Isolation Hospital for 
 contagious diseases, the gift of Mr. F. W. Matth- 
 iessen of La Salle. 
 
 The Public Library 
 
 Agitation for a Public Library in Peru began 
 in I9O8. A committee of citizens appointed the follow- 
 ing as a board of directors of the Peru Public Library: 
 A. H. Neureuther, President; Gustav Lassig, Vice- 
 President; James R. Hart, Secretary; Charles Nadler, 
 Treasurer; and Ernst Roth, Thomas F. Noon, 
 Walter H. Maze, Rudolph Struever and Charles Link. 
 
 Andrew Carnegie agreed to give $15,000 for the 
 building if the city would provide a site and ap- 
 propriate $1500 a year for the support and mainten- 
 ance of the library. In April, 1910, the council voted 
 the appropriation. Interested citizens made dona- 
 tions of money and books. Mr. James R. Hart, the 
 secretary, secured many books through solicitation 
 of various publishers. 
 
 The lot on which the library stands was pur- 
 chased in 1910, and plans drawn for the building, 
 which was completed in the fall of 1911, and for- 
 mally opened on December first, at which time there 
 were over two thousand books ready for distribution. 
 
 At a meeting held in the fall of 1911, the Board 
 of Directors of the Peru Public Library was unani- 
 mously elected Board of Trustees of Peru Public 
 Library, and Miss Fanny Snyder was appointed 
 Librarian. 
 
 As time went on the stock of reference books 
 was increased by the addition of dictionaries, en- 
 cyclopedias, atlases, biographies, histories, books 
 of travel, poetry, music, ana art. People who have 
 never patronized libraries in other towns the size 
 of Peru do not realize how superior our library is 
 in this respect. 
 
 The library also subscribes for many magazines, 
 adult and juvenile, and has a fine collection of books 
 for children, as well as fiction for the grown-ups. 
 
 Post Office 
 
 Peru's first postoffice was established on Feb- 
 ruary 19, 1836. During the ninety-nine years, Peru 
 has had seventeen postmasters, the first of whom, 
 Ulysses Spaulding, served until February, 1837. 
 
 Page Twenty-six
 
 During the next twenty-three years there were eight 
 postmasters. 
 
 Dr. Samuel G. Smith became postmaster in 
 March, 1861. In his unpublished article, "Water 
 Street in 1862," Mr. Henry Bellinghausen says; "The 
 Doctor kept a stock of drugs on one side of the store 
 and the post office on the other. He ran the office 
 much as he pleased, and rules and regulations had 
 no terror for him. He was so popular that no one 
 ever complained. As long as he lived, no one would 
 have thought of superseding him. 
 
 "He had a succession of clerks who helped both 
 in the drug store and the post office. One of the 
 ablest of these was young Thomas Noon, but the 
 place did not offer sufficient scope for his abilities, 
 and he left. Eventually he became president of the 
 Illinois Zinc Company, and in his later years did 
 a great deal for his town." 
 
 Dr. Smith held the office for twenty-two years, 
 until July, 1883, when Mr. Hibben S. Corwin was 
 appointed. Mr. Corwin was postmaster for twenty- 
 seven years, until his death in December, 1910, when 
 his son Charles was appointed, and held the office 
 for another five years. 
 
 At the present time Mr. C. F. Schmoeger is 
 acting postmaster. 
 
 In the early days people had to call at the post- 
 office for their mail, and pay the postage. Later 
 the postage was prepaid, but patrons still called 
 for the mail. On February 1, 1904, the Post Office 
 Department inaugurated city free delivery. The first 
 carriers were William Struever, who is now super- 
 intendent of parcel post in Jacksonville, Florida; 
 George W. Halm, who afterwards became post- 
 master; and Francis B. Rybarczyk, who is now a 
 clerk at the Peru Post Office. 
 
 The postoffice was on Water Street until July 1, 
 1903, when it was moved into the building at the 
 northwest corner of Fourth and Grant Streets. Five 
 years later the location was changed to the south 
 side of Fourth Street, between Peoria and Fulton 
 Streets, where it remained for twenty-five years. 
 
 After the postoffice achieved a first class rating 
 in 1926, intensive effort was made to secure a Federal 
 Building. In 1930 Congress passed the necessary leg- 
 islation, and the southwest corner of Fourth and 
 West Streets was selected as a site. The corner stone 
 was laid on July 10, 1932, and the building was ready 
 for occupancy in July, 1933- 
 
 Hotel and Theatre 
 
 In order to supply the need for a good hotel, 
 the Citizens Hotel Company of Peru was organized 
 and granted a charter in 1909. The southwest corner 
 of Fourth and Grant Streets was selected as a site, 
 and a three-story brick building erected. Hotel 
 Peru was open for business on August 9, 1910. 
 
 The first officers of the Company were Charles 
 Seepe, Sr., President; Fred A. Koehler, Vice Presi- 
 dent, Andrew Hebel, Secretary, and George Soedler, 
 Treasurer. 
 
 In 1911 the hotel manager asked for an additional 
 story and this was added, increasing the number of 
 
 rooms to seventy-five. Hotel Peru has been leased to 
 various managers, but at present is operated by the 
 Citizens Hotel Company. 
 
 Peru Theatre, operated by E. E. Alger, had its 
 formal opening on January 15, 1931- This is a new 
 building, built with the cooperation of Peru's bus- 
 iness men and citizens, and has a seating capacity of 
 800. The modern ventilating system keeps the theatre 
 cool and comfortable in the hottest summer weather. 
 The very best of screen entertainment is shown here. 
 
 The First National Bank in Peru was chartered 
 on December 26, 1933, and opened for business with 
 the purpose of providing banking facilities for our 
 city. The officers of the bank are: E. L. Meade, 
 President; Fred P. Erlenborn, Vice-President; J. L. 
 Mankowski, Cashier; and Edith Nothnagel, Assis- 
 tant Cashier. The Directors are E. L. Meade, Fred 
 P. Erlenborn, H. A. Link, Oscar W. Hoberg, and P. 
 J. Brauns, Jr. 
 
 In 1934 a new bridge at the eastern limit of the 
 city was opened. Previous to this there had been 
 two bridges across this ravine at different times, 
 the first of wood, and the second a steel bridge, which 
 was removed to make way for the present concrete 
 span. 
 
 In 1903 the ct)uncil voted to change its meeting 
 place from the old City Hall to the room above the 
 Fire Station. The council met there for a few years, 
 until It became necessary to have more room for city 
 offices, when it decided to use the rooms on the 
 second floor of the Eckenfelder building on Fourth 
 Street, between Peoria and Fulton Streets. These 
 rooms were used as a city office until December, 
 1933, when the city secured a five year lease on the 
 National Bank Building.. 
 
 During the years of America's participation in 
 the World War— April 6, 1916 to November 11, 1918- 
 the town whole-heartedly lent its energies to help- 
 ing its country. All of the Liberty Loans were over- 
 subscribed, the Red Cross and all similar organiza- 
 tions were generously supported, Peruvians learned 
 to eat bread made with corn meal and rye flour in- 
 stead of wheat flour, to drink their coffee without 
 sugar, and to limit their use of coal. 
 
 Peru sent many young men to the front, some 
 of whom never returned. Young women also volun- 
 teered, and served their country in various capacities. 
 
 In 1935 Peru is gradually lifting itself out 
 of the depression which started with the stock mar- 
 ket crash of October, 1929. The Bank Moratorium 
 of 1935 tied up not only the savings and working 
 capital of Peru citizens and business houses, but 
 the city funds as well. Now that the greater part 
 of this money has been released, and the bank is 
 on a sound basis, business is going forward. 
 
 The present population is 9,100. There are 
 concrete roads leading into the city from the north, 
 east and west. The Chamber of Commerce and sim- 
 ilar organizations are endeavoring to secure a new 
 bridge across the river, and a hard road to Cedar 
 Point. This will doubtless come before long. 
 
 In April of this year, surveys are being made 
 for a forty-foot concrete road from the new bridge 
 
 Pagi Twinty-sevcn
 
 1- Peru Public Library 
 2. People's Hospital 
 
 3. Post Office Building 
 
 Hotel Peru 
 
 5- Ne\v Bridge Between Peru and 
 La Salle, Looking West 
 
 6. Early Bridge Between Peru and 
 La Salle, Looking East 
 7. Fire Station
 
 at the east limit of the city through Fourth Street 
 to the west limit. When this is laid, the street car 
 tracks will be removed. The cars themselves were 
 abandoned about a year ago, having been replaced 
 by busses operated by the same company. 
 
 The city has one attractive theatre in which 
 talking pictures are shown. It has one bank, a hospital, 
 a Federal post office building, three public schools 
 for pupils from the first to the fourth grade, and one 
 Central School for those from the fifth to the eighth 
 grade; three parochial schools, a High School and 
 
 JuniorCollege, a library, one hotel and seven churches. 
 The city's financial condition is excellent, as 
 it has been from the first. Peru's public funds have 
 always been carefully administered, and the city has 
 long had an enviable reputation in this matter. 
 
 The Deep Waterway, finished a year or two ago, 
 is steadily increasing river traffic. Perhaps in the 
 next hundred years Peru will reverse the process, 
 and move down along Water Street again, in order to 
 take advantage of her facilities for handling river 
 traffic. 
 
 BIBLIOGRAPHY 
 
 The History of Peru 
 
 By Henry S. Beehe Q858') 
 
 The Past and Present of La Salle County, III. 
 
 Published by H. F. Rett & Co. {,1877^ 
 
 History of La Salle County, Illinois 
 
 By Elmer Baldivtn Q1877} 
 
 History of La Salle County, Illinois, 
 
 Vols. 1 and 11 
 Published by Inter-State Publishing Co. Q1886') 
 History of La Salle County, Illinois 
 By U. J. Hoffman, County Superintendent of Schools 
 
 Om') 
 
 History of La Salle County, Illinois, 
 
 Vols. I, II and III. 
 
 By Michael Cyprian 0' Byrne (1924') 
 
 Historic Illinios 
 
 By Randall Parrish 
 
 The Illinois River Valley, Vol. I 
 By J. L. Conger and W. E. Hull Q1932) 
 
 History of Bureau County, Illinois 
 By. H. C. Bradsby (1885) 
 
 Reminiscences of Bureau County 
 
 By N. Matson (1871) 
 
 Story of the La Salle Mission 
 By Reverend T. A. Shaw 
 
 Chronology of Father Marquette's Journeys 
 To the Illinois Country 
 
 Appearing m Illinois Catholic Historical Revieiv, 
 Vol. VI. 
 
 Marquette's Journal 
 Appearing in Thwarte's "Jesuit Relations," Vol. 59. 
 
 A City Directory of La Salle and Peru 
 Compiled by A. L. Hennessey and H. F. Tyler (1876) 
 
 St. Bede Records 
 
 Issue of April, Dil 
 
 Water Street in 1862 (unpublished) 
 
 By Henry Bellinghausen 
 
 Early Newspapers Published in Peru 
 
 City and Town Records 
 
 Family Records, and Reminiscences of 
 
 Old Citizens 
 
 PRESIDENTS OF VILLAGE BOARD 
 
 1838 
 
 ZiMRi Lewis 
 
 
 1846 
 
 1839 
 
 Simon Kinney 
 
 
 1847 
 
 1840 
 
 Isaac Abraham 
 
 
 1848 
 
 1841-43 
 
 Churchill Coffing 
 
 
 1849 
 
 1844-45 
 
 Herman Whitehead 
 
 
 1850 
 
 
 
 MAYORS 
 
 1851-52 
 
 T. D. Brewster 
 
 
 1888-89 
 
 1853 
 
 H. S. Beebe, elected 
 
 in April, resigned in 
 
 1890-92 
 
 
 May. P. M. Kilduff 
 
 elected for remainder 
 
 1893-94 
 
 
 of term. 
 
 
 
 1854 
 
 T. D. Brewster 
 
 
 1895-97 
 
 1855 
 
 George W. Gilson 
 
 
 1898-1900 
 
 1856-62 
 
 J. L. McCormick 
 
 
 1901-03 
 
 1863 
 
 Benjamin Ream 
 
 
 
 1864 
 
 Philip K. Behrend 
 
 
 1903-07 
 
 1865-67 
 
 E. S. Winslow 
 
 
 1907-09 
 
 1868 
 
 C. C. Charles 
 
 
 1909-11 
 
 1869-70 
 
 Wm. L. Huse 
 
 
 1911-13 
 
 1871 
 
 J. L. McCormick 
 
 
 1913-21 
 
 1872-75 
 
 H. M. Gallagher 
 
 
 1921-27 
 
 1876-82 
 
 R. C. Hattenhauer 
 
 
 1927-33 
 
 1883-85 
 
 H. Bellinghausen 
 
 
 1933-35 
 
 1886-87 
 
 Geo. D. Ladd 
 
 
 1935- 
 
 Churchill Coffing 
 William Chumasero 
 Erasmus Winslow 
 P. M. Kilduff 
 Wm. Paul 
 
 Henry Hoerner 
 
 G. Gmelich 
 
 H. E. Rausch, resigned August, 1894. 
 
 A. Hebel, remainder of term. 
 
 A. Hebel 
 
 Henry Hoerner 
 
 Louis Shadensack, resigned Nov. 1902. 
 
 M. J. Denny to April 30, 1903- 
 
 Henry Hoerner 
 
 Louis Shadensack 
 
 Henry Hoerner 
 
 Louis Shadensack 
 
 John J. Massieon 
 
 Louis L. Deisbeck 
 
 Albert Hasse 
 
 Chas. Toellen 
 
 Albert Hasse 
 
 Page Twenty-nint
 
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 Clippings from the Ninawah Gazette, May 23, 1840, Showing Some of Peru's Early Businesses, and the Importance of Peru as a River Port. 
 The Original op this Paper is on File in the Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
 
 
 LiNiNGER House, Which Stood at Corner 
 OF First and Grant Streets 
 2. Abrams House, 1616 First Street, 
 Later Occupied by Henry Linnig 
 3- House at 1323 Center St., Built by 
 
 House at 1509 Third Street, Built by a Mr. 
 Parks, Later Occupied By W. L. Huse 
 5. House at 1109 Bluff Street. Built by 
 Dr. John Milling 
 
 Churchill Coffing, Later Occupied by Archibald Means 
 
 House at 1427 Center St., Built by 
 
 William Paul 
 
 7. House at 1516 Second Street, Built by 
 
 Ernest Gunther 
 
 8. House at 1924 Main St., Built by 
 Joseph N.adler
 
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 Map of Peru Probably Drawn About 1868, Showing Warehouses Along the River Front, the MlCormick Pontoon Bridge, the Bayou, 
 Ravines Through THE City, Street Names, the Driving Park, and Early Buildings.
 
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 1. CoNCiREGATlONAL ChuRlH 
 
 2. St. Paul's Church 
 
 3- ZioN Evangelical Church 
 
 4. St. Mary's Church 
 
 5. St. Joseph's Church 
 
 6. German Methodist Church 
 
 <R# 
 
 7. Western Glass Works 
 8. City Hall 
 
 9. Public School
 
 SCHOOLS 
 
 IN 1787 Congress passed an Ordinance for the 
 government of the territory of the United States 
 northwest of the Ohio River. The third article 
 refers to education in this manner: "Religion, moral- 
 ity and knowledge being necessary to good govern- 
 ment and the happiness of mankind, schools and 
 the means of education shall be forever encouraged." 
 
 In the early days of Peru, all schools were pri- 
 vate enterprises. A dozen or more children would be 
 gathered together, usually in the home of the in- 
 structor, and taught "Reading, 'Riting, and 'Rith- 
 metic." 
 
 The earliest record of a Peru school which has so 
 far been discovered, is in the form of an advertisement 
 which appeared in the Ninawah Gazette under date 
 of May 23, 1840. 
 
 Dr. J. H. Elmore, Wm. Richardson, and C. H. 
 Charles, signing themselves as Trustees of the Peru 
 Select School, advertised that this school would 
 open, and gave a list of the subjects to be taught, 
 and the tuition fees. Latin and Greek; Surveying, 
 with Geometry, Trigonometry, and Navigation; 
 Algebra; Chemistry, Natural, Moral and Mental 
 Philosophy, would all be available at a price of 
 $5.00 per subject per term. 
 
 Bookkeeping, Double and Single Entry, cost 
 $4.00, Arithmetic, English Grammar and Geogra- 
 phy cost only $3.00, while Reading, Writing, Spell- 
 ing, Composition and Punctuation could be studied 
 at a cost of $2.00 a term. A term was to consist of 
 twelve weeks, of five and a half days each. The pupils 
 would be required to board the teacher. 
 
 In the Peru Democrat of April 6, 1852, Mr. 
 D. T. Wright signified his intention of opening a 
 "select" school in the house recently occupied by 
 the Rev. Mr. Dickinson. 
 
 Some of Peru's older citizens recall a scht)ol 
 which stood on the northeast corner of Second and 
 Peoria Streets, probably in the late fifties. This 
 was called the "McCormick Little House," because 
 it was built on McCormick property. 
 
 Miss Sarah Alcott, a cousin of Louisa May Al- 
 cott, who wrote "Little Women," conducted a 
 school on the north side of Main Street, between 
 Peoria and Fulton Streets. 
 
 Mr. Splitzstoesser was in charge of a school 
 upstairs in the old Bulfer Building, on the corner 
 of Fourth and Peoria Streets. 
 
 Miss Irene Willis conducted a school on the 
 north side of Second Street, just two doors east of 
 Putnam Street. 
 
 Miss Emily Hutchins taught a class of boys and 
 girls in a home on the northwest corner of Fourth 
 and Plain Streets. 
 
 In the 1850's there was a "Harrington School" at 
 the southeast corner of Bluff and West Streets. Mr. 
 Harrington later taught in the "Little Brick." 
 
 For a number of years Professor Joseph Anton 
 Reinhart conducted a German school in his home on 
 Fifth Street, between Putnam and Grant. He also 
 gave instruction in music. 
 
 On July 26, 1860, the Association of the German 
 & English Citizens' School of Peru, a voluntary 
 association consisting of Paul Boehme, William 
 Uthoff, Conrad Eckenfelder, Benjamin Ream, Edward 
 Loekle, and Joseph Nadler, purchased a lot on the 
 north side of Seventh Street, between Peoria and 
 Fulton Streets, and erected a building in which a 
 school was conducted for many years. This is now 
 the Waldorf home. Among the earliest teachers were 
 Dr. Ewald Poppe and Miss Mary Minthorne. The 
 latter married Mr. Charles Struever, and became the 
 mother of Rudolph Struever. This school was later 
 acquired by the Board of Education. 
 
 One of the most prominent of the early schools 
 was "The Academy," a frame structure north of the 
 present Congregational Church. It was afterwards 
 moved to the southeast corner of West and Center 
 Streets, and occupied by F. Burkart and E. Loekle, 
 as a meat market. 
 
 During the late 1850's a nun conducted a school, 
 attended by approximately twenty pupils, near the 
 present intersection of First and Cross Streets. Later 
 she conducted a boarding school in the large stone 
 house on the south side of First Street, between 
 Schuyler and Pike Streets. About ten girls were 
 boarding pupils. Both boys and girls attended as 
 day pupils. 
 
 One other undertaking deserves mention in this 
 connection, though it was not a school. It was the 
 Boys' Working Club, for which Mrs. Holmes and 
 Mrs. T. D. Brewster, St., were largely responsible. 
 The boys of this club met in the old City Hall and 
 were given instruction in what would be called Manu- 
 al Training todav. Some of Peru's old residents still 
 have small articles of furniture made to order by 
 these boys. 
 
 Unfortunately, a fire in the oflice of the Secre- 
 tary of the Board of Education, Dr. H. Ziesing, on 
 the night of August 11, 1858, destroyed all previous 
 records of the Public School System in Peru. These 
 records would have covered such matters as the 
 
 Page Thirty-four
 
 erection of the first school at or near the site of the 
 Jefferson School. 
 
 The first record available, under date of September 
 1, 1858, shows that the following teachers were 
 elected to serve for one school year: A. Springstead, 
 S. F. Harrington, F. Flota, Miss Margaret E. Wood, 
 Miss Electa Brown, and Mrs. Mary Minthorne 
 Struever. 
 
 In September, 1859, the Principal, Mr. A. 
 Springstead, retired and W. C. Knapp, late of The 
 North Western University, was selected to fill the 
 post. During this time the school year was si.x months. 
 Payment of teachers was made quarterly. It was 
 not until 1865 that the school year was extended to 
 ten months. 
 
 In December, 1859, Mr. Knapp was allowed 
 $1.00 per month for the purpose of^ visiting and ex- 
 amining several schools, with a view of introducing 
 a system of graduation. 
 
 In 1862 Mr. W. B. Powell came to Peru from 
 Hennepin to take charge of the Principal School. 
 Miss S. C. Bassford was his assistant. Mr. S. F. Har- 
 rington, Miss S. J. Bidderonce were teachers of the 
 Intermediate School; Mrs. Struever, Miss Alcott, 
 and Miss Wood, of the Primary School. 
 
 In 1863 the need of more school room was 
 pressing. The Methodist Church building at Third 
 and Putnam Streets, with the parsonage, could be 
 bought for $3250, and at a special election in May 
 the voters approved its purchase. Since there was 
 no money in the treasury for remodeling, the money 
 was borrowed, and the work done by the day, instead 
 of by contract. In October the Trustees authorized 
 the sale of the Academy, and the use of the money 
 for further repairing the new building. The Academy 
 was sold for $685 and the Methodist Church Par- 
 sonage for $125. 
 
 In September, 1866, the School Board contracted 
 with August Heinze for the erection of an additional 
 room and hall in the Fourth Ward School — to be 
 completely finished and the key delivered for $1000. 
 Because of the loss of earlier records, this is the 
 first information available about this school . 
 
 In August, 1867, the old Third Ward School, a 
 two-room frame structure on the site of the present 
 Lincoln School, was contracted for. 
 
 On January 1, 1870, Mr. Powell handed in his 
 resignation as Superintendent of Schools and left 
 Peru to accept a similar position in Aurora. From 
 there Mr. Powell went to Washington, D. C, where 
 he was head of the school system for a number of years. 
 
 Older citizens will remember Powell's "How to 
 Talk" and "How to Write," a series of language 
 books used as text books in the Peru Schools for a 
 number of years. Mr. John S. Gibson was elected 
 to fill his place, and served for one school term. 
 
 The former church building was converted into 
 the Peru High School, and the first graduation 
 exercises were held in 1870. For several years these 
 exercises were held in the City Hall, but the re- 
 cords show that after 1879 they took place in the 
 Peru Turn Hall. 
 
 Teachers' Institutes were held in Peru once a 
 year. Such men as Professor Thomas Metcalf of the 
 Illinois State Normal University, President Hewitt, 
 of the same school, and State Superintendent Raab 
 conducted these institutes on one Friday and Satur- 
 day during the school year, usually in April. 
 
 Mr. G. B. Stockdale, of Philadelphia, was ap- 
 pointed superintendent of schools September 1, 1871, 
 remaining for seven years. In 1878 Mr. Stockdale 
 was elected County Superintendent of Schools, and 
 was twice re-elected, serving twelve years in this 
 capacity. 
 
 In November of 1871 a vote was taken to build a 
 new school house in the Fourth Ward. It was in 
 this building, known as the Jefferson School, that 
 Miss Dora KildufF taught for so many years. 
 
 In May, 1878, Mr. Stockdale was succeeded by 
 Mr. Joseph Carter, of Normal. 
 
 Washington School, a four-room building, was 
 erected in 1881 upon the site occupied for many 
 years by the "Little Brick," so called to distinguish 
 it from the "Big Brick" across the street west. 
 Upon the completion of the Washington School, the 
 school on Seventh Street was closed. 
 
 In the basement of the new "Little Brick" Mr. 
 Carter organized the first Manual Training Class 
 in any public school in the State of Illinois. He 
 purchased tools and fitted up a shop, and though 
 classes were optional, instruction was eagerly re- 
 ceived. When Mr. Carter resigned in June, 1885, 
 the Board of Education bought the tools from him 
 and continued the classes. 
 
 When the La Salle-Peru Township High School 
 opened in 1898, the old Peru High School was con- 
 verted into a Grammar School, with a ninth grade 
 added. However, this extra grade lasted for only 
 a few years. 
 
 Mr. R. L. Barton followed Mr. Carter as prin- 
 cipal, Mr. F. W. Smedley was the next to hold the 
 office, and Mr. W. W. Wirt followed Mr. Smedley. 
 Mr. Ira M. Ong was principal in 1903, when an 
 open meeting was called to decide what to do about 
 providing more school room. The citizens left the 
 decision to the School Board, whose members at 
 that time were: Thomas F. Noon, President; Adolph 
 Hoss, Secretary; Charles Castendyke, Henry Phillips, 
 George Soedler, George Burke, John Schaulin, and 
 Emil Schaid. Later, at a special election, Peru voted 
 to erect a new school building on the site of the old 
 High School. 
 
 The present Central School was completed in 
 February, 1904. Much of the credit for its arrange- 
 ment is due Mr. Ong. It is known as a Departmental 
 School — the first of its kind in the State. Each floor 
 accommodates two grades, and is arranged with an 
 assembly room with four classrooms adjoining. 
 Manual Training is taught in basement classrooms, 
 and the third floor contains cooking and sewing 
 equipment, as well as an Auditorium with stage and 
 dressing rooms. 
 
 In the first years of its existence the Central 
 School was visited by many superintendents and 
 teachers, since it was unique in being the first De- 
 
 Pagf Thirty-fivt
 
 1. Nun's Boarding School, on First Street 
 2. Lincoln School 
 
 3. Jefferson School 
 
 4. Washington School 6. Central School 
 
 5. Manual Training Class, Conducted in the 7. McKinley School 
 
 Eighties, Basement of the Washington School 8. Roosevelt School
 
 partmental Grade School in the State. This system 
 has many advantages — each teacher is a specialist 
 in her subject, having her own class room for her 
 teaching, so that the Assembly is left a silent study 
 room. 
 
 In 1907 Mr. Ong was succeeded as principal 
 by Mr. Jas. R. Hart, who held the office until his 
 death in 1915, when Mr. A. H. Karn was appointed. 
 He is still at the head of the Peru Schools. 
 
 The McKinley School, a modern, four-room 
 building in the eastern section of town, was erected 
 in the fall of 1922. The Lincoln School is now closed. 
 The Roosevelt School, modern in every respect, was 
 erected in the western part of the city in the fall of 
 1922. The Jefferson School was abandoned in Sept- 
 ember, 1927. 
 
 Parochial schools are supported by the people 
 of St. Mary's, St. Joseph's and St. Valentine's 
 Churches. The enrollment almost equals that of the 
 Public Schools, and the scholarship standard is 
 quite as high. 
 
 Peru may well be proud of her schools. Public 
 and Parochial. Her students have made enviable 
 scholarship records at the Township High School 
 and Junior College, and in higher schools through- 
 out the country. The growth of the schools has 
 been as important as any other single factor in the 
 development of the community. 
 
 Township High School And Junior College 
 
 Construction was started on the first building 
 of the La Salle-Peru Township High School in 1897, 
 and the first session was held in September, 1898. 
 There have been four superintendents: Mr. Stratton 
 D. Brooks, later President of the LIniversity of Miss- 
 ouri; Mr. C. A. Farnum; Dr. Thomas J. McCormack; 
 and Dr. Fred G. Stevenson. Mr. Thomas C. Kohin 
 has been assistant principal since the foundation of 
 the school. 
 
 For the first few years, as is the case with all 
 new high schools, the attendance remained small, 
 but between 1917 and 1923 enrollment increased 72 
 per cent. In the last six years the increase has been 
 rapid, the enrollment in October, 1934, being 1425- 
 
 Dr. Thomas J. McCormack held the position of 
 principal for twenty-nine years, from 1903 until 
 his death in 1932. He was an educational lecturer 
 and author of numerous scientific and pedagogical 
 articles in educational reviews, and the editor of a 
 series of Philosopical Classics. Before entering the 
 profession of teaching, he was one of the editors of 
 the "Open Court" and the "Monist" of Chicago. 
 
 Dr. McCormack was a scholar and educational 
 leader with no superior in this part of the country. 
 
 Dr. Fred G. Stevenson, who is the present 
 Superintendent of the Township High School 
 
 and President of the La Salle-Peru-Oglesby Junior 
 College, came here in the fall of 1932. 
 
 In addition to the original building, the La- 
 Salle-Peru Township High School property now con- 
 sists of the recreation building, erected in 1913-1914, 
 and added to in 1918 and 1923; the building which 
 houses the Hygienic Institute; and the new High 
 School and Junior College building, erected in 1927- 
 1928. 
 
 The school owes much to Mr. F. W. Matthiessen 
 and his family, who generously gave time and money 
 to make it one of the finest and best-equipped schools 
 in the state. 
 
 The La Salle-Peru-Oglesby Junior College was 
 started in response to public demand, in 1924. It is 
 designed to give local young people the advantages 
 of the first two years of college training. There are 
 training classes for teachers and preparatory classes 
 for nearly all the vocations and professions taught 
 in the universities. The entering class numbered 
 thirty-two; the present enrollment is over two hun- 
 dred. The Junior College is housed in the top floor 
 of the new building. 
 
 St. Bede College 
 
 One of the outstanding Catholic Schools for 
 boys in the Mid-Western States, St. Bede College, is 
 situated one mile west of Peru. It comprises academy, 
 college, and seminary. It was founded by the Bene- 
 dictine Fathers of St. Vincent Abbey, Latrobe, 
 Pennsylvania, in the year 1889, when a portion of 
 the famous Daniel Webster farm was purchased and 
 the erection of a boarding school was started. Nine- 
 teen years later St. Bede was elevated to an Abbey 
 by His Holiness Pope Pius X, and Father Vincent 
 Huber, O. S. B., of St. Vincent Archabbey was 
 elected the first abbot of St. Bede. 
 
 On February 12, 1890, the institution was in- 
 corporated, and by an act of the Legislature of 
 Illinois was empowered to confer all academic de- 
 grees. The first scholastic year began on Monday, 
 September 7, 1891. The St. Bede Academy is affiliated 
 with the LTniversity of Illinois, and accredited by 
 the State Department of Education. 
 
 Additions were made to the main building in 
 1906 and 1914, and in 1925 one of the largest gym- 
 nasiums in the state was built. St. Bede's athletic 
 program is a recognized asset of the school. 
 
 The school itself is built on a slope overlooking 
 the Illinois River, nearly a mile away. Its spacious 
 campus is beautifully landscaped and surrounded by 
 woods and glens. 
 
 The activities of the college, such as lectures; 
 and dramatic, musical and literary entertainments, 
 are open to the public, thus increasing its service 
 to the citizens of Peru. 
 
 P^ge Thirty-seven
 
 1. St. Joseph's School 
 2. St. Mary's School 
 
 3. St. Valentine's School 
 
 4. The Old La Salle-Peru Township 
 High School 
 
 5. The New La Salle-Peru Township 
 
 High School and Junior College 
 6. St. Bede College
 
 CHURCHES 
 
 First Congregational Church 
 
 IN 1841, largely through the generosity of Mr. 
 Theron D. Brewster, a church was built for the 
 use of the Congregational Society, organized some 
 time before. This was "the little stone church" on 
 the north side of Second Street, between Peoria and 
 Putnam Streets. Mr. John C. Coffing of Salisbury, 
 Connecticut, the father of Churchill Coffing, one 
 of Peru's first settlers, donated a bell which was 
 installed in the tower of this church. The Rev. 
 Nahum Gould was pastor at this time. 
 
 Previous to this and on November 27, 1837, a 
 Presbyterian Church had been organized in this com- 
 munity and held services at Rockwell until 1839, 
 when the members moved to Peru and within a 
 short time joined with the Congregationalists. 
 
 The Rev. Owen Lovejoy, of Princeton, supplied 
 the pulpit from 1841 to 1842, when the Rev. Charles 
 Dickinson was appointed. He was succeeded in 1847 by 
 the Rev. Samuel Dickinson, who remained until 1851- 
 
 During the pastorate of the Rev. William Bald- 
 win (1852-1853) the present church building was 
 begun. The yard-thick foundation — which contains 
 a boatload of sea shells brought from New Orleans 
 by Mr. S. N. Maze to add strength to the mortar — 
 was completed in 1853 and the basement finished, 
 and here the Rev. Albert Smith conducted services 
 while he was pastor (1854-1855). The building was 
 completed in 1856 and dedication services were held 
 -October fifth under the Rev. A. L. Harrington (1855- 
 1859). At this time the hell donated by Mr. John C. 
 Coffing and used in the little stone church on Second 
 Street was removed to the new belfry, where it 
 is still in use. It has twice rung to celebrate the com- 
 ing of peace — at the end of the Civil war and at the 
 end of the World War. 
 
 From 1859 to 1911 the church had twelve 
 pastors, including the Rev. Julius Marks, the Rev. 
 John Childress, and the Rev. Charles Ebersol. 
 
 In 1911 the Rev. Walter Spence assumed the 
 pastorate. Under his leadership the Brotherhood of 
 the Golden Rule, a non-sectarian society, was or- 
 ganized. The first Boy Scout troop was formed in 
 1912, with the Rev. Spence as Scout Master. Mrs. 
 Spence was the first Guardian of a group of Camp 
 Fire Girls in 1913, an organization which disbanded 
 after a number of years of activity. 
 
 In 1917 an Estey pipe organ was installed, the 
 interior of the church remodeled, and an extension 
 added on the north. 
 
 The Rev. Spence went to France as a Y. M. C. A. 
 
 Chaplain in 1918. During his absence the Rev. Will- 
 iam Moore filled his place. Mr. Moore died in June, 
 1919. In the fall of 1919 Mr. Spence resumed his 
 duties, remaining until 1924, when the Rev. Wilford 
 H. Evans was called. 
 
 The brick parsonage north of the church was 
 completed in 1925. In 1929 Mr. and Mrs. H. E. 
 Hackman presented to the church, for use as a parish 
 house, the Henry Ream home directly west of the 
 church. The various church societies, and on Sundays 
 the primary department of the Sunday School, meet 
 here. 
 
 Mr. Evans remained as pastor until 1930 and was 
 succeeded by the Rev. Edward Koster. The pastorate 
 is now filled by the Rev. Edward R. Howard, who 
 came here in May, 1934. 
 
 ZioN Evangelical Church 
 
 On September 5, 1852 the Zion Evangelical 
 Church was founded under the name of Zion German 
 Evangelical Church. The first pastor was the Rev. 
 William Uhl who was succeeded during a period of 
 ten years by the Rev. Rosenberger, the Rev. Mueller, 
 the Rev. Tovote and the Rev. J. Zimmerman. 
 
 In 1862, under the pastorate of the Rev. H. 
 Siekmann (1862-1866), the property at the north- 
 east corner of Sixth and Grant Streets on which the 
 present church stands, as well as the property at 
 the southeast corner of the same street intersection, 
 which became the parsonage, was purchased. In 
 1866, under the leadership of the Rev. L. Austermann 
 (1866-1874), the church was built; a tower was added 
 in 1871, and the next year a chime of two bells, 
 imported from Germany, was installed. Rev. Auster- 
 mann was succeeded by the Rev. William Luer 
 (1874-1877). A pipe organ, installed in 1877 while 
 the Rev. D. Niethammer was pastor (1877-1882), 
 was in use until 1922. The Rev. Ankele served the 
 church from 1882 until 1886. 
 
 In 1889, under the Rev. S. Hoffmeister (1886- 
 1900), the old parsonage was sold and the present 
 residence, located just east of the church, was built. 
 In 1891 a new tower was built to replace the old 
 one, which had been damaged by lightning. 
 
 The Rev. Paul Brauns took charge on April 29, 
 1900 and remains as a much loved leader. 
 
 In 1902 when the congregation celebrated its 
 Golden Jubilee, a third bell was added to the chime 
 and extensive repairs were made. The corner stone of 
 an addition was laid in 1905 and in January, 1906, 
 the church was properly dedicated. 
 
 Page Thirty-nine
 
 A new pipe organ was purchased in 1922 and in 
 1927, to celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary, the 
 church received splendid gifts from its societies, in- 
 cluding a magnificent Communion Service of Silver. 
 A venerable institution of this church is the 
 "Frauenverein" (Ladies Aid Society), organized in 
 1866. Today it has a membership of 112. 
 The first officers of this society were: 
 
 Mrs. Marie Breuning President 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Dingler Vice Presideiit 
 
 Mrs. Marie Meyer Secretary 
 
 Mrs. Julia Sperber Treasurer 
 
 The present officers are: 
 
 Mrs. Alma Utz President 
 
 Mrs. Lena Bradtke Vice President 
 
 Mrs. Minnie Wellner Secretary 
 
 Mrs. Elsie Brauns Treasurer 
 
 Mrs. Hermina Schuessler Treasurer of 
 
 Death Benefit Fund 
 
 St. Joseph's Church 
 
 The history of St. Joseph's Church, the oldest 
 Roman Catholic church of Peru, forms a most in- 
 teresting chapter in the development of the city. 
 
 Early records of the church reveal that in 1854 
 St. Joseph's Church was organized as a mission of 
 St. Patrick's Church, La Salle, a move designed to 
 give Catholics of Peru a more conveniently located 
 place of worship as the long walk to the La Salle 
 church proved a hardship, especially in inclement 
 weather. 
 
 In 1854 plans were made to erect a church and in 
 1856 the first church was completed, a small build- 
 ing of rough stone on the site of the present church. 
 The building measured only 80 by 40 feet but proved 
 adequate for the needs of that day. It was badly 
 damaged in 1859 when a severe windstorm tore off 
 the roof. Repairs were completed in several weeks, 
 however, and services resumed. 
 
 After ten years as a mission, during which time 
 a priest of St. Patrick's Church, La Salle, was in 
 charge of services, St. Joseph's was made a regular 
 parish and on May 15, 1864 the Rev. Peter Fassbender 
 was named as the first resident pastor. It was under 
 his direction that the first parochial school was 
 built in 1866. 
 
 The Rev. H. Boers was the next pastor and he in 
 turn was succeeded by the Rev. Leander Schaffer, who 
 directed the erection of the first parochial residence, 
 a frame structure. Four other priests served the 
 parish during the next few years. 
 
 In 1877 the Rev. James Cossman, was appointed 
 to the pastorate of St. Joseph's Church. Shortly after 
 his arrival he began plans for the construction of the 
 present beautiful stone church and during his in- 
 cumbency he saw the edifice completed. The 165- 
 foot tower is equipped with an electrically operated 
 clock and three large bells. 
 
 The Rev. P. J. Gerhardy became pastor in 1881 
 and during his pastorate the present spacious paro- 
 chial school and Sisters' Home was erected. At the 
 present time the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred 
 
 Pa^i Forty 
 
 Heart are in charge of the parochial school, 
 giving instruction in the eight grades and also in 
 commercial work. 
 
 In 1894 the Benedictine Order of Priests took 
 charge of St. Joseph's Parish and the Rev. Norbert 
 Gersd, O. S. B. became pastor. He was succeeded in 
 1900 by the Rev. P. Adolph Runprecht, O. S. B. 
 During the ten-year pastorate of Father Adolph 
 the beautiful brick parochial residence was erected 
 just south of the church. This was completed in 1905- 
 
 On September 9, 1910 the Rev. P. Justus Wirth, 
 O. S. B., now Abbot of St. Bede Abbey, became 
 pastor of St. Joseph's Church. He directed the erection 
 of the parish hall which was completed in 1914. 
 This building contains a spacious auditorium, bowl- 
 ing alleys, club rooms, a kitchen and dining room. 
 
 In 1915 the Rev. Florian Heiss, O. S. B., the 
 present pastor, was appointed to St. Joseph's Church. 
 During the twenty years of his pastorate he has 
 directed extensive improvements to the church pro- 
 perty, including a new organ in the church, a new 
 roof on the church and parish hall, and new heating 
 equipment in all the buildings. Father Florian is 
 a charter member of St. Bede Abbey. 
 
 St. Mary's Church 
 
 In response to a petition of the non-German- 
 speaking members of St. Joseph's Parish for a divis- 
 ion of" that parish and for an English-speaking 
 priest. Bishop Duggan of Chicago sent the Rev, A. 
 J. Pettit to Peru in August, 1867, to become the foun- 
 der and first pastor of St. Mary's Parish. He prompt- 
 ly purchased the lots on which the present church, 
 rectory, and convent stand, and at once began the 
 erection of a frame church which was ready for ser- 
 vices on Christmas Day of the same year. That St. 
 Mary's Parish was a successful undertaking from the 
 very beginning is indicated by the fact that the 
 parish records of the period report an average of 
 over sixty baptisms per year for a long period of 
 years. Father Pettit remained as pastor from 1867 
 to 1874, although during 1870, owing to the illness 
 of the pastor, the Rev. f. M. Ryan was in charge for 
 a time. 
 
 In 1874 the Rev. E. Gray was appointed to suc- 
 ceed Father Pettit, and at the beginning of his admin- 
 istration the parish acquired the residence and lots 
 east of their previous holdings by purchase from the 
 elder Judge Eldredge, and shortly after the Sisters 
 of St. Joseph opened an academy in the building. 
 
 The Rev. John F. Power succeeded Father Gray 
 in January, 1882, and soon afterward made possible 
 the opening of a regular parochial school by renting 
 the hall o^ the Father Matthew Temperance Society 
 and using some space in the convent for classrooms 
 as well. He also purchased the central part of the 
 present parish grounds, upon which there had been 
 an armory and drill grounds in Civil War days. In 
 1888 Father Power removed to Spring Valley where 
 he had opened a mission four years earlier, and was 
 succeeded^ in Peru by the Rev. Michael Heafy who, 
 during a pastorate of ten years, cleared the parish 
 of debt, built a tower on the church, and erected the 
 present St. Mary's School.
 
 For a year after Father Heafy's retirement the 
 parish was attended by Benedictine Fathers from 
 St. Bede College until the Rev. Edward Hearn as- 
 sumed charge in February, 1899. Father Hearn's in- 
 cumbency was brief, for in June, 1900, he was suc- 
 ceeded by the Rev. Dr. Patrick Dillon, who looked 
 after the spiritual and temporal needs of the parish 
 until his death in February, 1909. 
 
 The youthful and energetic Rev. Patrick O'C. 
 Culleton succeeded Dr. Dillon and, with the whole- 
 hearted support of the parish, first erected the pre- 
 sent rectory and then the beautiful Romanesque 
 Church, dedicated in 1917, which is a monument to 
 the architectural taste of the pastor and the generos- 
 ity of the members of the parish. 
 
 After his successful pastorate of fourteen years. 
 Father Culleton was transferred to St. Patrick's 
 Parish, Peoria, Illinois, in January, 1923, and the 
 present pastor, the Rev. Michael S. Gildea, came to 
 St. Mary's. Father Gildea has continued the good 
 work of his predecessors in improving the parish 
 buildings and property. In 1931 he procured the fine 
 new convent, and at present is engaged in remodeling 
 the old convent into a recreation hall and social 
 center for the parish. 
 
 The parish school, which has been in charge of 
 the Franciscan Sisters for the past twenty-five years, 
 has an enrollment of 175 pupils. 
 
 St. Valentine's Church 
 
 St. Valentine's Parish owes its beginning to 
 St. Valentine's Society. This society was organized 
 June 17, 1889 and was incorporated under the laws 
 of the State of Illinois on June 22, 1889. In its be- 
 ginning the society numbered but twenty-four mem- 
 bers. 
 
 On July 29, 1890, St. Valentine's Society pur- 
 chased four lots and a small home, between Syracuse 
 and St. James Streets, on Pulaski, for parochial pur- 
 poses. 
 
 With the permission of the Most Rev. J. L. 
 Spalding, Bishop of Peoria, St. Valentine's Society 
 undertook the gigantic task of building a school 
 which was completed in 1891. This building was also 
 used as a church until September 3, 1899- On January 
 20, 1892 Bishop Spalding appointed the Rev. A. M. 
 Sikorski as the first resident pastor of the young and 
 growing parish of St. Valentine. He immediately 
 undertook the work of building a rectory. 
 
 In January, 1896, the Rev. Sikorski was appointed 
 pastor of St. Hyacinth's Church at La Salle and for 
 the next six months a Polish priest from Spring Valley 
 took charge of St. Valentine's. In July, 1896, the 
 Rev. Casimir Truszynski of Chicago was appointed 
 pastor of St. Valentine's. He at once set about pay- 
 ing all financial indebtedness. 
 
 On July 3, 1890, a meeting of the parishioners 
 was called at which a special assessment was agreed 
 upon, making it possible to build a church in the 
 near future. For nine years they worked, raising a 
 fund for this purpose, and on September 3, 1899, 
 the new church was completed and dedicated in 
 
 honor of St. Valentine by His Excellency, the Most 
 Rev. J. L. Spalding, D. D., Bishop of Peoria. 
 
 St. Valentine's Church completed, and almost 
 entirely paid for. Father Truszynski and his parish- 
 ioners decided to build a new school and directed 
 their efforts to this cause. On May 14, 1905, the 
 corner stone was laid and shortly after the school 
 was completed and placed in charge of the Felician 
 Sisters of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 
 
 The Rev. Truszynski worked hard in harmony 
 with the parishioners until the present beautiful 
 church, school and rectory were without debt. They 
 stand as monuments to the untiring efforts, labors 
 and sacrifices of the congregation. Father Truszynski 
 was a zealous and intrepid worker but in 1911, 
 because of failing health, he was obliged to resign. 
 
 In 1912 the Rev. S. Przybysz was appointed 
 pastor and served thirteen years, and in December, 
 1925, the present pastor, the Rev. A. A. Jagodzinski, 
 assumed the pastorate, by appointment from His 
 Excellency, the Most Rev. E. M. Dunne, D. D., 
 Bishop of Peoria. 
 
 St. Valentine's Parish today numbers 2220. 
 There are 330 children in school under the able 
 tutelage of the Felician Sisters. 
 
 St. John's English Lutheran Church 
 
 St. John's English Lutheran Church was or- 
 ganized on August 3, 1919 in the Peru Public Library, 
 with a membership of eighteen. 
 
 As early as 1880 the Rev. Mr. Johnson, Pastor 
 of the County Line Lutheran Church, had preached 
 occasionally to a few Lutherans in Peru. In 1884 
 the Rev. Mr. Bauman organized this group under 
 the name, "St. John's Gernian Lutheran Church." 
 A church was built nine years later on North Cal- 
 houn Street and was dedicated on December 8, 1895- 
 The pastor of the County Line Church served this 
 congregation also until 1908, when the Mission Board 
 attempted to establish an independent mission in 
 Peru. The first pastor, the Rev. Mr. Hertel, remained 
 only nine months, and from 1909 to 1919 the church 
 was served by the pastors at Hollowayville and 
 Princeton. 
 
 Early in 1919 the Mission Board sent the Rev. 
 Mr. Groth to build an English congregation. Meet- 
 ings were held in the Peru Public Library. Mr. 
 Groth remained two months. The Rev. M. L. Bis- 
 choff came as a resident pastor on June 29, 1919, and 
 when the congregation was organized on August 
 third of that year it was found that part of the 
 old German Lutheran congregation formed part of 
 the new group and that the old church would be 
 at the disposal of the new congregation. 
 
 In 1920 plans were made to move the old church 
 to a better location, and the property at the south- 
 east corner of Seventh and Fulton Streets was pur- 
 chased. The house on this lot was moved to the south 
 end and made into a parsonage, and in April the old 
 frame church was moved from Calhoun Street to the 
 new location. Remodeling began at once and on 
 August 1, 1920 the corner stone was laid. Dedication 
 services were held on November 4, 1920. 
 
 Fu^c Forty-one
 
 First Congregational Church 
 
 2. ZiON EvANGBUCAL ChURCH 
 
 St. Joseph's Church 5. St. John's English Lutheran Church 
 
 4. St. Mary's Church 6. St. Valentine's Church 
 
 7. First Church of Christ Scientist, or Peru, Illinois
 
 The Rev. Mr. Bischoff remained almost four 
 years and then accepted a call to Wartburg College 
 at Clinton, Iowa. He was succeeded by the Rev. 
 A. C. Huth who held the pastorage until January, 
 1926. 
 
 On April 4, 1926, Easter Sunday, the present 
 pastor. Rev. Henry C. Hafermann, conducted his first 
 service in the church. , 
 
 In 1927 and 1928 extensive improvements were 
 made to the church property, including the installa- 
 tion of a metal ceiling in the church auditorium, an 
 addition of two rooms to the parsonage, and re- 
 decorations of both the church and parsonage. In 
 1929 the grounds were landscaped. 
 
 Miss Emma Herlein, in memory of her deceased 
 brother, Frederick Herlein, presented the congrega- 
 tion with a pipe organ, which was dedicated on May 
 11, 1930. 
 
 In 1932 the first vacation Bible School was con- 
 ducted, and on July 1, 1933 the congregation became 
 self-supporting. 
 
 First Church of Christ, Scientist, 
 OF Peru, Illinois 
 
 First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Peru, Illi- 
 nois had its beginning in the summer of 1909 when 
 
 a small group of earnest students of Christian Science 
 arranged for Sunday services to be held at a private 
 residence. The attendance at these services increased 
 steadily, and on June 23, 1913, Christian Science So- 
 ciety of Peru, Illinois, a branch of The Mother 
 Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, of 
 Boston, Massachusettes, was organized. A room in 
 the Masonic Temple was secured and furnished; reg- 
 ular services were held, a Sunday School was in- 
 stituted, and a Reading Room maintained. In July 
 1915 the church quarters were enlarged by the addi- 
 tion of an adjoining room. 
 
 In June, 1924, the old stone residence at the 
 north east corner of Third and Grant Streets was 
 purchased and remodeled for a church edifice. At this 
 time also the Society was incorporated under the 
 laws of the State of Illinois under the name of 
 Christian Science Society of Peru, Illinois. On March 
 8, 1925, the first services wete held in the new church 
 home. 
 
 A Christian Science church building cannot be 
 dedicated until it is free from debt. In April 1931, 
 all indebtedness having been paid, the necessary steps 
 were taken to change the name of the Society to 
 First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Peru, Illinois, 
 and on Sunday, June 14, 1931, dedication services 
 were held. 
 
 CLUBS AND LODGES 
 
 Chamber of Commerce 
 
 The Peru Chamber of Commerce, one of the City's 
 most active organizations, had its inception with 
 the organization October 20, 1887, of the Peru Board 
 of Trade. The object of that group, as outlined on 
 its membership certificates, was "the advancement 
 of the material interests of the City in every way 
 possible." 
 
 W. G. Reeve was president of the Board of Trade 
 and William E. Moore, Secretary. 
 
 This organization was followed in later years 
 by other business men's clubs, and in 1900 the Peru 
 Business Men's and Social Association was formed, 
 with W. K. Hoagland as President, Henry Ream as 
 Treasurer, and Chris. Gunther as Secretary. In 1908 
 this Association was reorganized and a short time 
 later the name was changed to the Peru Business 
 Men's Association. 
 
 The Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1919, 
 with W. H. Bacon instrumental in its organization. 
 It has always been active in civic affairs and several 
 projects which proved of benefit to the city were 
 fostered by the membership. 
 
 A. C. Schmoeger was elected President of the 
 Chamber of Commerce for 1935 and H. J. Haas, 
 Secretary. 
 
 The Retail Merchants' division of the Chamber 
 
 of Commerce is a recent outgrowth of the parent 
 organization and includes a large and active member- 
 ship. Meetings are held once a month at which 
 subjects of interest to retailers are discussed. The 
 members also are active in civic affairs. Charles 
 Gisler is President of the group and H.J.Haas serves 
 as Secretary. 
 
 Young Men's Athletic Club 
 
 The Young Men's Athletic Club was organized 
 in Peru on September 15, 1901, with nine members, 
 and on June 13, 1917, was incorporated. In 1922 the 
 membership had grown to about two hundred. At 
 this time the Brewster property at Second and Peoria 
 Streets was purchased and the residence remodeled 
 into a clubhouse. 
 
 First Officers 
 William Bulfer, President 
 William Struever, Financial Secretary 
 Fred Shadensack, Recording Secretary 
 William Struever, Treasurer 
 
 Present Officers 
 William C. Walter, President 
 Fred E. Hundt, Vice-President 
 Ben Hebel, Financial Secretary 
 Herbert Frizol, Recording Secretary 
 Christ Hageman, Treasurer 
 
 Page Forty-three
 
 Boy Scouts of America 
 
 The Bov Scout movement was started in Peru hy 
 the Rev. Walter Spence, former Pastor of the Peru 
 Congregational Church, who took an active part 
 in all Boy Scout activities during his pastorate here. 
 The first troop to be registered was Troop No. 1 
 on June 12th, 1912, with an enroUemnt of 25 boys. 
 This troop is one of the oldest in northern Illinois. 
 In October, 1924, another troop was started and 
 sponsored hy the Congregational Church. At the 
 present time there are 135 scouts and 19 sea scouts 
 in Peru. Following is a list of the scout troops in 
 Peru and their sponsoring institutions: 
 Troop No. 1 Peru Congregational Church 
 Troop No. 4 Peru Congregational Church 
 Troop No. 6 The American Legion 
 Troop No. 8 St. \'alentine's Church 
 Troop No. 9 St. Valentine's Church 
 Troop No. 12 St. Joseph's Church 
 Troop No. 14 St. John's Lutheran Church 
 Troop No. 24 St. Mary's Church 
 Troop No. 20 Sea Scout Ship Premier, 
 The American Legion 
 
 These troops all belong to Starved Rock Council 
 Area, which includes all of La Salle, part of Bureau 
 and part of Putnam Counties. The present Scout 
 Executive is Mr. Lloyd Schaefer, who came to Peru 
 in April of this year. 
 
 Camp Fire Girls 
 
 The first organization of Camp Fire Girls in 
 Peru was under the guardianship of Mrs. Walter 
 Spence. The girls of this group grew up, and the 
 press of other activities superseded the Camp Fire. 
 In 1920 another group began to hold meetings and 
 work along the lines prescribed in the Camp Fire 
 Manual, but it was not until 1922 that they secured 
 a gaardiin and become affiliated with the National 
 Associaticn cf Camp Fire Girls. At first they met in 
 the homes of the members, but later the Congrega- 
 tional Church granted them the use of the church 
 parlors. 
 
 When the first guardian of the new organization. 
 Miss Caroline Turnis, took charge, there were twenty- 
 two girls in the Camp Fire. Miss Turnis resigned her 
 guardianship in 1925, and Mrs. Katherine Heintz 
 took her place. Soon after the membership reached 
 forty-eight, too many for one Camp Fire. Miss Ethel 
 Hundt, who had qualified for the rank of Torchbearer, 
 took charge of eighteen of the younger girls, forming 
 the Wantan Camp Fire. The older group was called 
 Kokohanna Camp Fire. 
 
 The Camp Fire Girls at present are under the 
 guardianship of Miss Luella Kuehn. 
 
 The Maids and Matrons Club 
 
 In 1917 the Business Girls Club was organized 
 under the direction of the Rev. Walter Spence, Pastor 
 of the Congregational Church. This group met at 
 stated times in the basement of the Congregational 
 Church and practiced calisthenics and gymnastic 
 dancing, and also enjoyed a social hour. Later the 
 physical exercises were abandoned and the club be- 
 
 came a social organization, devoting much attention 
 to philanthropic work. After a number of vears the 
 name of the club was changed to The Maids and Ma- 
 trons Club and married women were admitted to 
 membership. The meeting place was changed to the 
 Chamber of Commerce rooms. 
 
 In 1929 the Maids and Matrons were instrumen- 
 tal in orgaryzing the Women's Club of Peru which 
 has been a strong influence toward education and 
 culture in the community. 
 
 The Maids and Matrons now meet at the homes 
 of members and enjoy their social contacts, and 
 continue to carry on their various philanthropies. 
 
 The present officers are: Mrs. W. H. Noon, Pre- 
 sident; Miss Florence Loekle, Secretary; Miss Pris- 
 cilla Burke, Treasurer. 
 
 The American Legion 
 
 Peru Post No. 375, The American Legion, was 
 organized September 26, 1919- Its first officers were: 
 
 Harold R. Corwin, Post Commander 
 
 K. A. KiLDUFF, Senior Vice Commander 
 
 Donald Brown, Junior Vice Conmander 
 
 Edw. C. Keegan, Post Adjutant 
 
 Vincent J. Ream, Post Finance Officer 
 
 Peru Post soon became active throughout The 
 American Legion and likewise participated in commu- 
 nity affairs. In 1921 it assumed the arrangement of the 
 Memorial Day program, which formerly had been 
 handled by the local Post of the G. A. R. and the 
 Sons of Veterans. 
 
 The municipal swimming pool project received 
 the full support of Peru Post, all of the members 
 being active in bringing about the approval of the 
 bond issue which made possible the construction of 
 the fine pool at Washington Park. Before the pool 
 was completed the city officials decided to make 
 it a War Veterans' Memorial and it was so dedicated 
 on June 24, 1928. 
 
 In 1929 Peru Post assumed the sponsorship of 
 a Boy Scout Troop and during 1931 that of a Sea 
 Scout Ship, the latter being the first unit of its kind 
 organized in this section. 
 
 The Post again has proved its interest in the 
 youth of our community by sponsoring the Junior 
 Baseball program and by furnishing speakers in the 
 schools on such national holidays as Memorial Day 
 and Armistice Day. 
 
 The present officers of Peru Post No. 375 are: 
 
 Paul Zimmerman, Post Commander 
 
 Fred P. Gress, Senior Vice Commander 
 
 Stephen Romanowski, Junior Vice Commander 
 
 Herman H. Frederick, Post Adjutant 
 
 Fred E. Hundt, Finance Officer 
 
 American Legion Auxiliary, Peru Unit No. 375, 
 was organized in May, 1921. The first officers were: 
 
 Margaret Kilduff, President 
 
 Mary Arnold, Vice President 
 
 Myrtle Berghefer, Treasurer 
 
 Janet Massieon, Secretary 
 
 The Auxiliary has always worked in close har- 
 mony with Peru Post of The American Legion and 
 
 Pagi Forty-faiir
 
 has supported all of its activities. The sale of poppies 
 on "Poppy Day" is conducted each year by this 
 organization. 
 
 The present officers are: 
 Margaret Welch, President 
 Florence Dingler, First Vice President 
 Kate Zilinski, Second Vice President 
 Dorothy Schmitt, Secretary 
 Hermina Zimmerman, Treasurer 
 
 Rotary Club 
 
 The Rotary Club of Peru received its charter on 
 September 29, 1921, with a membership of seventeen. 
 
 The first officers were: 
 
 John J. Massieon, President 
 
 E. C. Roth, Vice President 
 
 S. J. Marshall, Secretary-Treasurer 
 The Club meets weekly at a luncheon and while it 
 has objects as planned by the International organi- 
 zation, it also is active in Peru's civic affairs. The 
 present membership numbers twenty-four and the 
 officers are : 
 
 J. D. Walsh, President 
 
 Edward Peters, Vice President 
 
 Henry J. Amsler, Treasurer 
 
 Otto Hoffman, Secretary 
 
 Women's Club Of Peru 
 
 In the spring of 1929, the women of Peru felt 
 the need of an organization which would be broader 
 in scope than the Maids and Matrons Club. 
 
 Accordingly, the Maids and Matrons took upon 
 themselves the task of calling public meetings of 
 all women who might have an interest in an organi- 
 zation which offered educational and cultural op- 
 portunities, as well as an opportunity to do phil- 
 anthropic work in a regulated and orderly manner. 
 On April 17, 1929 the Women's Club was organized 
 with over a hundred enthusiastic members. Later 
 the younger girls were brought into the Club through 
 the Junior Department, and there are now three 
 thriving auxiliary clubs, namely: the Junior Women's 
 Club, the Intermediate Women's Club, and the Sig- 
 ma Kappa, all of which, together with the parent 
 club, are members of the County, District and State 
 Federations. 
 
 The Women's Club has more than realized the 
 expectations of its organizers. The membership is 
 constantly increasing, department meetings are eager- 
 ly attended, and much philanthropic work has been 
 done, which otherwise might have been neglected 
 because of lack of leadership. 
 
 First Officers 
 Mrs. W. H. Noon, President 
 Mrs. Oscar Hoberg, First Vice-President 
 Miss Sidonia Brunner, Second Vice-President 
 Miss Nellie E. Churchill, Recording Secretary 
 Miss Margaret Poppe, Corresponding Secretary 
 Mrs. Ernest Luedtke, Treasurer 
 
 Present Officers 
 Mrs. Henry Willmeroth, President 
 Mrs. Reuben Walther, First Vice-President 
 
 Mrs. Chester Fruland, Second Vice-President 
 Mrs. George D. Waltman, Recording Secretary 
 Mrs. R. F. Struever, Corresponding Secretary 
 Mrs. Eugene Miller, Treasurer 
 
 Masonic Fraternities 
 
 On June 20, 1841, the Most Worshipful Grand 
 Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the 
 State .of Illinois, upon petition of several Master 
 Masons, issued a Dispensation for a Lodge to be 
 constituted at Vermillionville, Illinois. In 1842 the 
 Grand Lodge authorized the location to be changed 
 from Vermillionville to Peru, and a charter was 
 issued on June 9, 1843, to St. John's Lodge No. 13, 
 A. F. & A. M. 
 
 The first officers were: 
 
 Warren Brown, Worshipful Master 
 
 Samuel Norton, Senior Warden 
 
 Asa Holdridge, Junior Warden 
 
 Herman Whitehead, Treasurer 
 
 Ambrose O'Connor, Secretary 
 
 The present officers are: 
 
 Harry B. Roth well. Worshipful Master 
 
 Arthur W. Janz, Senior Warden 
 
 Bert M. Brown, Junior Warden 
 
 Robert C. Hattenhauer, P. M., Treasurer 
 
 Roy L. Hughes, P. M., Secretary 
 Other Masonic organizations in Peru are: 
 
 Peru Chapter No. 60, Royal Arch Masons. 
 
 Peru Council No. 12, R. and S. M. 
 
 St. John Commandery, Knights Templar 
 
 Independent Order Of Odd Fellows 
 
 Mokena Lodge No. 34, Independent Order of 
 Odd Fellows, was instituted in Peru on January 20, 
 1848. 
 
 First Officers 
 
 Frederick Day, Noble Grand 
 
 Isaac D. Harmon, Vice Grand 
 
 Churchill Coffing, Secretary 
 
 Alexander Hawthorne, Treasurer 
 
 Present Officers 
 John Widman, Noble Grand 
 Adolph C. Wascher, Vice Grand 
 Wm. Hundt, Jr., Recording Secretary 
 Eugene Morrow, Financial Secretary 
 Charles Sperber, Treasurer 
 
 St. Joseph Benevolent Society 
 
 A charter was granted to St. Joseph Benevolent 
 Society on October 16, 1875- 
 The present officers are: 
 
 Rev. Florian Heiss, O. S. B., Spiritual Director 
 Emil Frizol, President 
 Joseph Wolf, Vice President 
 John Mueller, Corresponding Secretary 
 John Eberhart, Financial Secretary 
 Gustav Hoss, Treasurer 
 
 Lily Rebekah Lodge No. 89 
 
 Lily Rebekah Lodge No. 89 was instituted in 
 Peru on November 12, 1875. 
 
 Page Forty-five
 
 1. Louis Graf's Blacksmith Shop, at 
 Fourth Street and Fulton 
 2. Conrad Eckenfelder's Saloon, at 
 Fourth and Peoria Streets 
 
 3. The KoHR Home, on the Site OF THE 5- Toll Bridge at the Fill 
 
 Masonic Temple 6. Round House of the Rock Island 
 
 4. Early View of Fourth Street Looking West Railroad
 
 The first officers were: 
 
 Fred Seepe, Sr., Noble Grand 
 
 Mary Thompson, Vice Grand 
 
 Mary Hahn, Secretary 
 
 WiLHELMiNA Lauber, Treasurer 
 
 The present officers are: 
 
 Charlene Splittstoesser, Noble Grand 
 
 Olga Zabukavic, Vice Grand 
 
 Lottie Geiger, Recording Secretary 
 
 Emma Derwin, Financial Secretary 
 
 John Schweiger, Treasurer 
 
 Ancient Order Of United Workmen 
 
 Peru Lodge No. 188, Ancient Order of United 
 Workmen, was instituted June 14, 1881 with nine- 
 teen charter members. This is a fraternal insurance 
 organization. 
 
 First Officers 
 
 Henry Schultz, Master Workman 
 
 Herman Brunner, Foreman 
 
 Fred Gross, Overseer 
 
 Y. S. Troyer, Recorder 
 
 Jacob Harter, Financier 
 
 Gust Herrmann, Receiver 
 
 Present Officers 
 
 Henry Helmig, Master Workman 
 
 Harry Kehlenbach, Foreman 
 
 Charles W. Helmig, Secretary-Treasurer 
 
 Catholic Knights Of America 
 
 St. Henry's Branch No. 279, Catholic Knights 
 of America, was organized on January 22, 1883- 
 The present officers are: 
 Charles Schweickert, Jr., President 
 Mrs. August Just, Vice President 
 Andrew A. Hebel, Recording Secretary 
 John A. McCrindle, Financial Secretary 
 Andrew Hebel, Treasurer 
 
 Modern Woodmen Of America 
 
 Peru Camp No. 95, Modern Woodmen of Ameri- 
 ca, was organized on May 4, 1885, with twenty- 
 two charter members. This is a fraternal insurance 
 society. 
 
 First Officers 
 
 Charles Brunner, Consul 
 
 Charles Seepe, Advisor 
 
 Gust A V Lassig, Clerk 
 
 Dr. a. T. Olmsted, Banker 
 Present Officers 
 
 William Herrmann, Jr., Consul 
 
 William Grosskreutz, Advisor 
 
 Frank R. Daft, Clerk 
 
 Otto J. Loekle, Banker 
 
 Order Of The Eastern Star 
 Amaranth Chapter No. 290, Order of the East- 
 ern Star, was instituted in Peru on March 1st, 1895 
 with fifty charter members. 
 
 First Officers 
 Ida M. Smedley, Worthy Matron 
 Emil Wagenknecht, Worthy Patron 
 
 Helen M. Koons, Associate Matron 
 
 Augusta Hoberg Sherrard, Secretary 
 
 Elizabeth Brunner, Treasurer 
 
 Emma Struever, Conductress 
 
 Kate M. Gallagher, Associate Conductress 
 
 Present Officers 
 Janet Massieon, Worthy Matron 
 Fred Henkel, Worthy Patron 
 TiLLiE ToELLEN, Associate Matron 
 Henry C. Toellen, Associate Patron 
 Mable B. Meng, Secretary 
 Stephanie Hasse, Treasurer 
 Gladys Henkel, Conductress 
 Gayle Myers, Associate Conductress 
 
 Knights Of Pythias 
 
 Golden Spur Lodge No. 546, Knights of Pythias, 
 was organized on May 27, 1896 with twenty-eight 
 charter members. 
 
 First Officers 
 F. C. Neureuther, Chancellor Commander 
 A. W. Seepe, Vice Chancellor 
 Wm. Locey, Prelate 
 Fred Tesche, Master of Work 
 Wm. Dobson, Keeper of Records and Seal 
 Charles Nadler, Master of Finance 
 R. F. Struever, Master of Exchequer 
 
 Present Officers 
 
 Al. Meuser, Chancellor Commander 
 
 George Arbuckle, Vice Chancellor 
 
 George Gleixner, Prelate 
 
 Charles Bensel, Master of Work 
 
 Ray Yoxall, Keeper of Records and Seal 
 
 Henry Strunk, Master of Finance 
 
 Otto Witte, Master of Exchequer 
 
 Affiliated with the Knights of Pythias is Mek- 
 Kah Temple, D. O. K. K. which is recognized as 
 one of the strongest in the state. 
 
 Royal Neighbors Of America 
 
 A charter was issued to Starved Rock Camp, 
 Royal Neighbors of America, on October 10, 1896. 
 There were twenty charter members. 
 
 First Officers 
 Minnie Huron, Oracle 
 Anna K. Wagner, V. Oracle 
 Eva Unzicker, Chancellor 
 Emma Schaulin, Receiver 
 Anna Breuning, Recorder 
 
 Present Officers 
 Mary Arnold, Oracle 
 Lola Starkey, V . Oracle 
 Mabel Ousec, Chancellor 
 Marie Kemper, Receiver 
 Anna Morawicz, Recorder 
 
 Mystic Workers Of The World 
 
 Peru Lodge No. 70, Mystic Workers of the 
 World, was chartered in Peru on January 19, 1897, 
 with twenty-two members. In September, 1930, the 
 name was changed to Fidelity Life Association. 
 
 Page Forty-stven
 
 The first officers were: 
 
 Dr. C. S. Morsman, Master 
 
 Gilbert Zacher, Vice Master 
 
 Julius Mosbach, Secretary 
 
 Charles A. Braun, Treasurer 
 
 The present officers are: 
 
 Pauline Ludwig, Prefect 
 
 Clare Schwartz, Monitor 
 
 Walter Hundt, Secretary 
 
 Otto J. Loekle, Treasurer 
 
 Catholic Order Or Foresters 
 
 St. Benedict Court No. 782, Catholic Order of 
 Foresters, was instituted in Peru on January 6, 1898. 
 First Officers 
 
 Rev. p. Norbert, Spiritual Director 
 
 Andrew Hebel, Chief Kanger 
 
 Peter Trost, Vice Chief Ranger 
 
 William Wagner, Recording Secretary 
 
 Edward G. Eickhoff, Financial Secretary 
 
 Peter Kettwig, Treasurer 
 
 Present Officers 
 
 Rev. Florian Heiss O. S. B., Spiritual Director 
 
 Emil Frizol, Chief Ranger 
 
 John Hohlman, Sr., Vice Chief Ranger 
 
 Joseph A. Wolf, Recording Secretary 
 
 Anthony F. Hebel, Financial Secretary 
 
 Andrew A. Hebel, Treasurer 
 
 Ladies Of The Maccabees 
 
 Peru Hive No. 888, Ladies of the Maccabees, was 
 instituted on January 6, 1904 with eighteen charter 
 members. 
 
 First Officers 
 
 Stephanie Neureuther (Hasse), Commander 
 Bertha Croisant, Lieutenant Commander 
 Susie Auler, Chaplain 
 Mary Metzinger, Record Keeper 
 
 Present Officers 
 
 Ella Zeaske, Commander 
 Dorothy Clark Lieutenant Commander 
 Mayme Hoelle, Chaplain 
 Carrie Beutler, Record Keeper 
 
 Women's Catholic Order Of Foresters 
 St. Magdalena Court No. 641, Women's Catho- 
 lic Order of Foresters, was organized May 17, 1905 
 with thirty-one members. 
 
 First Officers 
 Margaret Mertel, Chief Ranger 
 Catherine Hebel, Vice Chief Ranger 
 Margaret Schultz, Recording Secretary 
 Elizabeth Schaefer, Treasurer 
 Present Officers 
 Catherine Hebel, Chief Ranger 
 Frances Pfab, Vice Chief Ranger 
 Margaret Schultz, Recording Secretary 
 Josephine Ewing, Financial Secretary 
 Eva Hebel, Treasurer 
 
 Pythian Sisters 
 On June 20, 1905, a temple of "The Rathbone 
 Sisters" was organized in Peru and called Peru Tem- 
 ple No. 159- Thirty-one members were taken in. 
 
 In 1910 the name was changed to "Pythian Sisters." 
 First Officers 
 Bertha Hoerner, Most Excellent Chief 
 Martha Sausen, Excellent Senior 
 Lillian Helmig, Excellent Junior 
 Edith Seepe, Manager 
 Emma Churchill, M. of R. & C. 
 Carrie Birkenbeuel, M. of F . 
 Present Officers 
 Elizabeth Duffy, Most Excellent Chief 
 Anna Greening, Excellent Senior 
 Agnes Gunther, Excellent Junior 
 Catherine Widman, Manager 
 Vila Witte, M. of R. & C. 
 Catherine Fieser, M. of F. 
 
 Loyal Order Of Moose 
 
 Peru Lodge No. 1102, Loyal Order of Moose, 
 was instituted October 25, 1916 with fifty charter 
 members. 
 
 The present officers are: 
 
 F. S. Klug, Dictator 
 
 Ed. Leittl, Vice Dictator 
 
 Harry Quimby, Prelate 
 
 Otto C. Meuser, Secretary 
 
 A. O. Berghefer, Treasurer 
 
 The Ladies of the Mooseheart Legion were or- 
 ganized in Peru in June, 1923. 
 
 First Officers 
 
 Catherine Constantine, Senior Regent 
 
 May Weberling, Junior Regent 
 
 Louise Zimmerman, Chaplain 
 
 Elsie Sweitzer, Recorder 
 
 Lena Leisse, Treasurer 
 
 Present Officers 
 
 Johanna Tregonning, Senior Regent 
 
 Pauline Ludwig, Junior Regent 
 
 Henrietta V. Meisenbach, Chaplain 
 
 Frances Mason, Recorder 
 
 Emma Schmidt, Treasurer 
 
 White Shrine Of Jerusalem 
 
 mini Shrine No. 37, White Shrine of Jerusalem, 
 was instituted in Peru on April 21, 1919 with one 
 hundred and eight charter members. 
 First Officers 
 
 Myra B. Massieon, Worthy High Priestess 
 
 Henry F. Linnig, Watchman of Shepherds 
 
 Emma M. Zimmerman, Noble Prophetess 
 
 Charlotte Nelson, Worthy Scribe 
 
 Mae B. Wachter, Worthy Treasurer 
 
 Amanda Zubrod, Worthy Chaplain 
 
 Agnes Keenan, Worthy Shepherdess 
 
 Louise Linnig, Worthy Guide 
 Present Officers 
 
 Edith Lundberg, Worthy High Priestess 
 
 Fred Kolm, Watchman of Shepherds 
 
 Millie Thompson, Noble Prophetess 
 
 Charlotte Nelson, Worthy Scribe 
 
 Elizabeth Hundt, Worthy Treasurer 
 
 Lena Kolm, Worthy Chaplain 
 
 Janet Massieon, Worthy Shepherdess 
 
 Carrie Mitchell, Worthy Guide 
 
 PagI Fiirty-tii^ht
 
 1 The Water and Light Plant 
 
 2. &. 3. Interior Views of the Water 
 AND Light Plant 
 
 4. Illinois River Bridge IN Course OF 6. An Early River Boat 
 
 Construction 7. High Water in 1916, Showing the 
 
 5. View of Water Street from the River, South Road Flooded 
 
 Showing the City Hall, Hose Tower and Chambers House in the Background
 
 NDUSTRIES 
 
 Weberling Brothers 
 
 The Weberling Brothers' plant which produces 
 Bakery Goods, Ice Cream and Home made Candies, 
 was started on a partnership basis Februan,' 22, 1909, 
 by August E. Weberling, Edward F. Weberling and 
 Max J. Weberling, and at that time the equipment 
 consisted of one oven. The employees numbered five, 
 and two routes were operated. At present there are 
 four ovens, employees numbers 42 and there are 
 ten routes. The Bakery Plant is located at 1605 Water 
 Street. 
 
 The firm was incorporated March 1, 1916. 
 
 When the firm started, all delivery equipment 
 was horse drawn. Now the deliveries, except on 
 one route, are made by motor truck. 
 
 All operations were at first carried on by hand, 
 but the plant is now equipped with the latest mach- 
 inery, including dough mixers, dividers, rounders, 
 5 roofers, molders, proof boxes, and ovens. The cake 
 epartment includes the latest development in mix- 
 ers, cookie droppers and doughnut machines. 
 
 The Weberling Plant produces a full line of 
 bakery goods, such as pan breads, Italian breads, 
 sesame bread, sweet rolls, coffee cakes, cakes, pies, 
 doughnuts, and Danish pastry, as well as Velvet 
 ice cream, which is manufactured by sanitary machi- 
 nery without ice, and is kept in cold hardening rooms 
 at zero temperature. 
 
 Weberling Brothers also conduct a retail store 
 known as the Weberling Confectionery, 1829 Fourth 
 Street. The store was opened in 1906 by Mr. and 
 Mrs. August E. Weberling, and was operated by 
 them until 1928, when it was bought by the firm 
 of Weberling Brothers. 
 
 The confectionery was the first in the Twin 
 Cities to have a mechanically operated and cooled 
 soda fountain. 
 
 Officers of the firm at present are August E. 
 Weberling, President; Edward F. Weberling, Vice 
 President, and MaxJ. Weberling, -Secretary-Treasurer. 
 
 Peru Wheel Company 
 
 The Peru Wheel Company traces its origin back 
 to 1851 when Tuller, Dodge and Pitts formed 
 the Peru City Plow Company, the factory being 
 located at that time on Second Street. 
 
 In 1882 the company was incorporated under the 
 same name, by Brewster, Dodge & Huse and in 1886 
 the name of the company was changed to Peru Plow 
 and Wheel Company. 
 
 The present factory was erected and located on 
 East Brunner Street in 1895. 
 
 In 1930 the name was again changed to the Peru 
 Wheel Company, the manufacture of plows having 
 been discontinued. 
 
 The company at present, in normal times, em- 
 ploys about 350 men and manufactures wood and 
 steel farm wagons and trucks, wood and steel wheels, 
 and tractor attachments. 
 
 The present officers of the company are D. W. 
 Voorhees, President and General Manager; W. F. 
 Eisfeld, \'ice President; Ferd Luthv, Secretary- 
 Treasurer. Other members of the board of directors 
 are George Luthy and Margaret A. Voorhees. 
 
 W. H. Maze Company 
 Construction Materials — Coal and Coke 
 
 The W. H. Maze Company was founded in 1854 
 by Samuel Nesbit Maze who settled in Peru in 1838. 
 Upon the death of Samuel Maze in 1885, the active 
 management of the company was assumed by his 
 youngest son, W. H. Maze, whose name the com- 
 pany now bears and who was in charge until his 
 death in 1912 
 
 The W. H. Maze Company has now occupied 
 its present location at the corner of Plain and Water 
 Streets for 81 years and during the entire period has 
 devoted itself to the retailing and manufacturing 
 of lumber, building materials and coal. 
 
 Ed. Weiland, Inc. 
 
 The firm of Ed. Weiland, Inc., was founded in 
 the year 1877 by the late Ed. Weiland, at 1803 Fourth 
 Street, as manufacturers of cigars, succeeding Fred 
 Seepe, and later moved to Water Street, returning 
 to Fourth Street in 1904 and locating at 1807 Fourth 
 Street, the present location. 
 
 In succeeding years the manufacture of tobacco 
 products, and tobacco jobbing were entered into, 
 later developing into the general jobbing business. 
 
 Mr. Weiland remained sole owner of the firm 
 until his death in the year 1925. 
 
 The business is now operated by the Ed. Weiland 
 Company, Incorporated, of which Mrs. M. Weil- 
 and is President, Dora Kutter, Vice President, and 
 Edward J. Kutter, Secretary-Treasurer. 
 
 American Nickeloid Co. 
 
 The American Nickeloid Company was estab- 
 lished in Peru in 1898 — more than 37 years ago. 
 
 This company was the first to manufacture 
 nickel zinc sheets in the United States. During all 
 the years the American Nickeloid Company has 
 held faithfully to the manufacture of pre-finished 
 
 Va^c Fifry
 
 metals. Among their customers are included some 
 of the largest and most prominent concerns in many 
 different mdustries. Hundreds of different articles 
 and parts are being made from their metals, ranging 
 all the way from buttons to kitchen table tops. 
 Developing steadily year after year, today this 
 company is considered the outstanding manufacturer 
 in this field. Their line of bonded metals is sold to 
 manufacturers and jobbers in all parts of the United 
 States Canada, Cuba and Mexico. 
 
 Th ■ company maintains factories in Peru, a 
 well-equipped research laboratory and also a factory 
 in Walnutpjrt, Pennsylvania, and its own sales 
 offices in the larger cities Employees number ap- 
 proximately 250. 
 
 The officers of the company are R. F. Struever, 
 Chairman of the Board of Directors; F. M. Maze, 
 President; Carl C. Struever, Vice-President and 
 General Manager; Hamilton M. Maze, Treasurer, 
 and James S. Maze, Secretary. 
 
 Peru Products Co. 
 
 William Rausch, in 1847, started a brewery at 
 the location now known as Putnam Street and the 
 C. R. I. and P. Railroad tracks, one block north of 
 the Illinois River bridge. In 1851 Mr. Rausch moved 
 to the site now occupied by the Peru Products Com- 
 pany, and took in as a partner P. K. Behrend. In 
 1857 Behrend and Kitzinger bought out Rausch's 
 interest, and a few years later sole ownership passed 
 into the hands of Behrend. 
 
 In 1868 Behrend failed, and a short time there- 
 after some of the residents of Peru organized a stock 
 company, calling it the Peru Beer Company, and 
 took over the brewery. This company remained 
 in control until 1872, when Andreas Hebel and 
 Herman Brunner, who had acted as foreman and 
 bookkeeper, respectively, purchased the business. 
 
 The new lirm of Hebel and Brunner was re- 
 markably successful. In 1886 Mr. Hebel died and his 
 son, Andrew, succeeded him. The latter took an 
 active part in the management of the business, and 
 with Mr. Brunner ran it until 1888. In that year 
 Charles Herbold, who had acted as foreman since 
 Andreas Hebel's death, purchased an interest. In 
 1889 the partnership incorporated, and the stock 
 company was again named the Peru Beer Campany. 
 
 In 1920 the name was changed to Peru Products 
 Company. The present officers are Andrew Hebel, 
 President and General Manager, and Andrew A. 
 Hebel, Secretary and Treasurer. 
 
 Illinois Valley Manufacturing Co. 
 
 The Illinois Valley Manufacturing Company, 
 producers of art furniture and architectural wood 
 work, is located at 1315 Water Street. The business 
 was started in the late sixties by a contractor named 
 August Heinze, who, with a few machines, manu- 
 factured flooring, siding, and mouldings, made mostly 
 from rough white pine lumber brought to Peru 
 from Michigan and Wisconsin by way of Chicago 
 and the Illinois and Michigan Canal. This lumber 
 was machined for the local lumber yards and 
 other dealers. 
 
 The property was purchased about 1893 by Wal- 
 ter Maze. The plant consisted at that time' of a two 
 story brick building, measuring 80 feet by 60 feet. 
 To the building was attached a small boiler and 
 engine room. Mr. Maze installed a few machines, 
 intending to manufacture building material for his 
 own lumber yard and for contractors. 
 
 Ground and buildings were added from time to 
 time, and during the late 1920's a large new modern 
 building was added. This was equipped with modern 
 electrically driven machinery. 
 
 The company now enjoys the distinction of 
 having one of the largest and best equipped wood 
 working plants manufacturing custom made arch- 
 itectural wood work and occasional furniture, much 
 of which IS used in this section and some shipped to 
 nearby states. 
 
 Trompeter Construction Co. 
 
 Beginning a general teaming business about 
 half a century ago, the late Peter J. Trompeter 
 laid the foundation for the present Trompeter Con- 
 struction Company, General Contractors and Road 
 Builders, with offices located at 2428 Fourth St., 
 Peru, Illinois, which company is now managed by 
 the three sons, Frank J., Nicholas, and Peter J. 
 Trompeter. 
 
 Today the Construction Company, engaged in 
 highway paving, heavy grading, and concrete bridge 
 construction, is considered one of the leading pav- 
 ing companies in Illinois. City pavements and high- 
 way projects have been carried on by this firm in 
 approximately 75 different communities in Illinois. 
 At present the company has under contract with 
 the Department of Public Works and Buildings, 
 State of Illinois, numerous projects scattered over 
 a wide area. In addition to the work in Illinois, 
 the firm has done some work in Iowa and Wisconsin. 
 
 Forty-live years ago this July, in 1890, Peter 
 J. Trompeter began a general teaming business 
 at 2210 Fourth Street, Peru, Illinois. A few years 
 later he added two street sprinklers to his equip- 
 ment, which were used on both Fourth Street and 
 Water Street. Several years later, with the awarding 
 of contracts for street improvements in the city of 
 Peru and vicinity, Mr. Trompeter added street pav- 
 ing work to his general teaming business. 
 
 From 1890 until 1911 Mr. Trompeter conducted 
 his growing business alone, but with the admission 
 of his three sons Frank J., Nicholas, and Peter J. 
 as partners, in 1911, he retired from active manage- 
 ment of the firm. The company was then known as 
 Trompeter and Sons, Paving Contractors. 
 
 In 1915, with the letting of a number of small 
 contracts and the prospects of an extensive highway 
 program to be undertaken by the State of Illinois, 
 this company was among the first construction 
 firms to submit proposals for this type of work, 
 and accordingly spread their operations over the 
 entire state. 
 
 After the death of the founder of the company, 
 in August, 1922, Trompeter and Sons continued for 
 nine years as a co-partnership among the three sons. 
 
 Vage Fifty-mc
 
 who built and established the present offices of the 
 firm at 2428 Fourth Street. In August, 1931, Trom- 
 peter and Sons was incorporated under the state 
 laws of Illinois, and the name changed to Trom- 
 peter Construction Company, General Contractors. 
 The present officers of the Construction Company 
 are Frank J. Trompeter, President; Nicholas Trom- 
 peter, Vice-President; and Peter J. Trompeter, Sec- 
 retary-treasurer. 
 
 Chamberlin Metal Weather Strip Co. 
 
 The Chamberlin Metal Weather Strip Company 
 was organized and incorporated in 1897 for the 
 purpose of engaging in the manufacture and install- 
 ation of metal weather strip. 
 
 Beginning in a small way in a shop on Detroit's 
 East Side, the business grew until nine years later 
 a modern factory was purchased and the business 
 conducted from there until 1912 when a fire which 
 totally destroyed the plant caused the Directors of 
 the Company to consider rebuilding in Peru, where 
 production could be more economically and exped- 
 itiously carried on through the immediate proximity 
 of the Peru zinc mills, sheet zinc being the principal 
 raw material used. 
 
 The first unit of the company's plant in Peru 
 was erected in the latter part of 1912 under the 
 supervision of Mr. F. J. Rauscher, who has remained 
 in charge of the plant since then. He also had charge 
 of the erection of the addition to the original struc- 
 ture, built in 1926. 
 
 The company also operates a plant in Detroit 
 where it manufactures a complete line of metal 
 insect screens, both roll and flat, as well as winter 
 windows, window ventilators, guards, and fire- 
 place screens. 
 
 All products are sold through the company's 
 factory-controlled branches located in all the prin- 
 cipal cities of the country. General offices are located 
 at 1254 LaBrosse St., Detroit, Michigan. 
 
 Star Union Products Company 
 
 Star Union Products Company, Peru, was ori- 
 ginated in the year 1845 by a man named Fred Kaiser, 
 at the same location as now occupied by the present 
 Star Union Products Company. 
 
 In 1860, Mr. Kaiser sold the property to Ben- 
 jamin Ream. Anton Halm controlled the plant with 
 Messrs. Grasmick, Eck, and Winheim for a number 
 of years during the Civil War. 
 
 The plant was then purchased by Phil Link, 
 Chas. Bereiter, Wm. Meyer, Fred Schulte and Fred 
 Seepe and was incorporated under the name of Union 
 Beer Company. 
 
 In the year 1880 Henry Hoerner purchased the 
 stock of Messrs. Meyer, Schulte and Seepe and the 
 corporate name was changed to the Union Brewing 
 Co. Under this title the business was conducted until 
 July, 1893, when the capital stock was made $150,000 
 with Mr. Hoerner owner of two-thirds of the stock 
 and Phil Link owner of one third. 
 
 In 1920 the company installed an artificial ice 
 plant and a new department to manufacture a line 
 
 of sodas and gingerale. In 1927 the name of the 
 company was changed to the Star Union ^Products 
 Company. 
 
 In 1931 Mr. Hoerner retired from the brewing 
 business in favor of his son and daughter. 
 
 Martin H. Hoerner is President and General 
 Manager; Kathryn Hoerner Ellis is Vice-President 
 and Treasurer and Lester M. Link is Secretary. For 
 the past two years vast improvements have been 
 made in the plant by installing new machinery, 
 300 H. P. boilers, a new 100 ton ice machine and 
 complete new bottling equipment. A fleet of sixteen 
 trucks is required to handle the growing business 
 of the company. 
 
 The brewery today is one of the largest breweries 
 of the State and has a record of ninety years of 
 continuous operation. 
 
 Western Clock Company 
 
 Like a mighty oak starting from a tiny acorn 
 the Western Clock Company grew from humble 
 beginnings. The tree, planted 50 years ago, today 
 has vastly broadened and branched, with its roots 
 reaching into the far corners of the earth, and its 
 products known in every land. 
 
 On this, Peru's One Hundredth Birthday, the 
 Western Clock Company is celebrating its Fiftieth 
 Anniversary. It was on December 23, 1885 that a 
 group of local citizens incorporated the United Clock 
 Company, the company that was later to take the 
 name of the Western Clock Company. During that 
 vear a tiny plant was built. 
 
 On May 14, 1887 the Western Clock Company 
 was incorporated, taking over the United Clock 
 Company. 
 
 Cooperative readers could save us the task of 
 retailing much of Westclox development during the 
 following years if they would take the trouble, 
 some day, to stroll observantly in the vicinity of 
 the plant. There, written in buildings and mach- 
 inery, is History, and he who walks may read. 
 The original plant, built in 1885, still stands, with 
 a modern factory covering many acres spreading 
 out from it in all directions. 
 
 Half a century ago the little Westclox plant 
 made several hundred clocks a day with a force of 81 
 workers. For several years its growth was slow 
 and at times erratic; but always it struggled ahead. 
 
 By 1900 the number on the payroll had increased 
 to 245, and in 1910, the year Big Ben, probably the 
 world's most farfious alarm clock, was introduced, 
 the plant was employing 896 workers. 
 
 Meanwhile the Company was gaining recog- 
 nition in other fields. In the field of employee bene- 
 fits it became a leader, pioneering in many outstanding 
 innovations. It was a pioneer in the Safety First 
 movement, and today the plant holds the safety 
 championship of the United .States. It has gained a 
 wide reputation for favorable working conditions. 
 
 Todav it is known as the world's largest alarm 
 clock factory where 2300 workers are employed 
 manufacturing a complete line of Westclox time- 
 pieces: alarm clocks; time clocks, spring and electric; 
 
 Pagi Fifty-two
 
 pocket watches; automobile clocks, and many other 
 timekeeping instruments. 
 
 On this anniversary of Peru's settlement it is a 
 source of pride to know that just as Pittsburgh means 
 steel to many people and Akron means rubber, so 
 Peru stands synonymous with clocks. 
 
 Union Coal Company 
 
 Peru boasts one of the largest mines in the 
 northern Illinois coal field. 
 
 It is the colliery operated by the Union Coal 
 company, whose offices and plant are located at the 
 extreme east end of Fifth Street. 
 
 Here, during the last year approximately 136,148 
 tons of coal were mined by a force of 270 men who 
 had almost steady employment the year round. 
 
 The Union mine is one of the most modernly 
 equipped in the state and is operated by a corpora- 
 tion of which James D. Walsh is President; Adam 
 Currie, Vice-President and Superintendent of Opera- 
 tions; and William J. Wimbiscus, the latter of Spring 
 Valley, Secretary; these officers, along with Wayne 
 Hummer and George Herbolsheimer, making up 
 the Board of Directors. 
 
 The company was the first in the northern 
 field to put "dustless" coal on the market by pro- 
 cessing its production with an application of cal- 
 cium chloride solution. Storage facilities are avail- 
 able for approximately 1,200 tons of coal. 
 
 The Union Coal Company came into existence 
 on February 15, 1930 when the corporation purchased 
 the Peru, La Salle and Jonesville mines of the La- 
 Salle County Carbon Coal Company. The La Salle 
 and Jonesville mines were later abandoned because 
 economic conditions allowed no market for their 
 output, but the Peru colliery, formerly known as 
 the "Kilgovern Shaft," was maintained in operation 
 and has met with most unusual success. 
 
 MuNDiE Manufacturing Company 
 One of Peru's long-established industries is 
 that operated by the Mundie Manufacturing Com- 
 pany, formerly owned by the Brunner Foundry and 
 Machine Company, located at 501-631 Water Street. 
 This plant was purchased from the Brunner in- 
 terests in March of 1923 by the late George W. Mundie 
 and was continued in operation as a foundry and 
 machine shop. The manufacture of "Cowboy" brand 
 tank heaters and other farm specialties was added. 
 Employment is here afforded thirty-one workers 
 during normal times. The management, since the 
 death of the late George W. Mundie, has been in 
 the hands of G. W. Mundie, Jr. 
 
 Illinois Zinc Company 
 
 One of the most important Peru industries is 
 the Illinois Zinc company, which was incorporated 
 February 3, 1870 and which today employs a force 
 of several hundred men. 
 
 The original stockholders were Calvin Wells, 
 Aaron French, William MuUins, James D. Layng 
 and Archibald Means — all of them Pittsburgh men 
 with the exception of Mr. Means, who was a native 
 of Steubenville, O. 
 
 The first president was Mr. Wells, while Mr. 
 Means was first manager. Following his death he 
 was succeeded by Thomas F. Noon, who later became 
 president of the corporation. 
 
 Starting from a comparatively modest begin- 
 ning, the manufacturing facilities of the Illinois Zinc 
 Company were increased from year to year on account 
 of the rapidly developing demand for the high grade 
 spelter and rolled zinc produced here. 
 
 The company also has its own coal mine where 
 employment is afforded about 200 men and while 
 a good portion of the mine output is used as fuel 
 for ore furnaces, much of it is also disposed of in 
 retail channels. The mine was formerly operated by 
 the Cahill Coal Company and was sunk in 1879 by 
 James Cahill, whose associates were Lawrence 
 Christopher and James O'Malley. 
 
 Charles R. MacBrayneis plant manager, and also 
 superintendent of operations at the local coal mine. 
 Head of the corporation is L. E. Wemple, of Chicago. 
 
 National Sheet Metal Company 
 
 The National Sheet Metal Company, whose 
 plant is located at the northeast corner of Water 
 and Putnam streets, came into existence in 1904 as 
 successor to the Peru Sheet Metal Plating and Novel- 
 ty Company, organized in 1901. 
 
 Charles F. Neureuther was President of the ori- 
 ginal company, the other officers having been George 
 Soedler, Vice-President; Henry Ream, Treasurer, and 
 Rev. Paul Brauns, Secretary. 
 
 The original plant consisted of three brick 
 buildings, 70 by 80 feet in dimensions and of two- 
 story design, to which were later added five buildings 
 which gave the plant approximately 35,000 square 
 feet of floor area. 
 
 The company is engaged in the plating of sheet 
 zinc and tinplate in nickle, brass, copper and chrome 
 under the trade names of Nicolene, Nickeltin, Brass- 
 ene, Brasstin, Copperene, Coppertin, Chromene and 
 Chrometin and also plates coil zinc in nickel, brass 
 and copper under the trade names of Ribbon Nicol- 
 ene, Ribbon Brassene, and Ribbon Copperene. Also, 
 the plant finishes cold rolled steel in sheets and coils 
 in the nickel, brass, copper and chrome; also finishes 
 sheet and coil brass and copper in nickel silver in 
 the plated or polished finishes. In addition to fac- 
 ilities for doing the aforementioned plating, the 
 plant is also equipped to fabricate the sheets and 
 coils in various articles through operation of their 
 press departments. 
 
 Other products of the National Sheet Metal 
 Company include household articles, such as serving 
 trays, comb cases, crumb-tray sets, metal novelties, 
 etc., also glazier points, as well as any special 
 line of stamped work that is required by the trade. 
 
 Present officers of the corporation are Andrew 
 H. Neureuther, President, Charles Neureuther, Vice- 
 President and Treasurer; George L. Herbolsheimer, 
 Secretary and General Manager. They serve on the 
 Board of Directors, with Otto J. Loekle and Oscar 
 W. Hoberg. 
 
 Fa^e Fifty-three
 
 PERU BUYERS GUIDE 
 
 AWNINGS 
 
 PERU MOTOR CO. 
 
 Chevrolet 
 
 Sales and Service 
 
 912 Peoria St. Tel 870 
 
 Peru, 111. 
 
 AUTO TOP SHOP 
 
 A. R. Tyler 
 
 Tops — Closed Car Work 
 
 Canvas and Leather Work 
 
 2109 Seventh St. Tel. 416 
 
 THE INCAS MFG. CO. 
 
 4th St. Peru, III. 
 
 SKOK'S GARAGE 
 
 AMUSEMENT PARKS 
 
 General Repairing 
 Gas, Oils and Greasing 
 
 
 
 Meet Old And New Friends At 
 
 ASSOCIATIONS 
 
 1020 Pike St. Tel. 138 
 
 FAVORITE PARK 
 
 1835 Peru 1935 
 
 PERU RETAIL MERCHANTS 
 ASSOCIATION 
 
 Buy in Peru — Make Peru a Bigger 
 
 And Better City During The 
 
 Next 100 Years 
 
 BARBERS 
 
 Dancing May to October 
 
 Tavern Always Open 
 
 Same Management Since 1910 
 
 PAPPERNICK & PINN 
 
 Barbers 
 
 1812 Fourth St. Next To Bank 
 
 
 
 AnORNEYS 
 
 HANK & HANK 
 Barber Shop 
 
 
 Shine Parlor 
 
 Wm. M. Scanian John J. Massieon 
 
 AUTO REPAIRS 
 
 722 Peoria St. Tel. 710R 
 
 SCANLAN AND MASSIEON 
 Lawyers 
 
 1611 4th St. Tel. 173 
 
 C. G. HASSLER GARAGE 
 
 We Repair AH Makes Cars 
 
 720 Peoria St. Tel. 710\V 
 
 HOTEL PERU BARBER SHOP 
 
 "Dick" King, Prop. 
 
 Tel. 95 Peru, 111. 
 
 
 
 KARL'S GARAGE 
 Gen. Auto Repairing 
 
 Evinrude & Elto Outboard Motors 
 Sales and Service 
 
 1713 Water St. Tel. 548 
 
 HENRY WALTHER 
 
 OSCAR W. HOBERG 
 Attornet At Law 
 
 Barber Shop 
 Under Walther Drug Store 
 
 Masonic Temple Bldg. 
 
 BOB'S BARBER SHOP 
 Operarorr 
 
 CHAS. W. HELMIG 
 
 R. Hochguertel — R. Schmitz 
 2007 4th St. 
 
 Lawyer 
 
 FRED KUHN 
 
 Operafars 
 
 F. Kuhn— Joe Felton 
 
 1917 4th St. 
 
 Hoerner Bldg. 
 Peru, 111. 
 
 tri-city auto renewel shop 
 
 M. Konzelman, Mgr. 
 
 Body and Fender Work 
 
 Tops Recovered — Welding 
 
 1729 Water St. Tel. 19 
 
 
 
 AUTO SALES 
 
 BEAUTY SHOPS 
 
 
 MIDWAY REPAIR SHOP 
 
 Cylinder Renewing 
 Brake Service 
 
 Mrs. J. H. McAndrews, Owner 
 E. R. Herbolsheimer, Mgr. 
 
 Phone 416 Night Phone— County 942-J 
 
 
 D. Q. JENNINGS 
 Dodge and Plymouth Cars 
 Dodge Trucks 
 D. Q. Jennings, Mgr. 
 1826-28 Fourth St. 
 
 MODERN BEAUTY SHOP 
 Mr. & Mrs. Avery, Prop'j and Operators 
 
 Professional Workmanship 
 
 KIEFEL MOTOR SALES 
 
 Dealer In 
 
 DbSoto and Plymouth Cars 
 
 2026 Fourth St. Tel. 818W 
 
 At The Lowest Possible Cost 
 Phone 1977 2122 Fourth St. 
 
 Page Fifty-jour
 
 
 BANKS 
 
 CLUBS 
 
 FLO-RAE BEAUTY SHOP 
 
 Individual and Personal 
 Beauty Service 
 
 724' 2 Peoria St. Tel 714 
 
 FIRST NATIONAL BANK 
 
 In Peru 
 
 E. L. Meade, Pris. F. P. Erlenborn, V-Pres. 
 
 J. L. Mankowski, Caihier 
 
 Edith Nothnagel, Asst. Cashier 
 
 Capital $100,000.00 
 Surplus 20,000.00 
 Individual Profits 20,000.00 
 
 SPORTSMEN'S CLUB 
 1815)^ 4th St. Peru 
 
 Peru, 111. 
 
 BROTHERHOOD OF THE 
 GOLDEN RULE 
 
 
 Founded in 1912 
 Men's Club of the First Congregational 
 
 PRIMROSE BEAUTY SHOP 
 
 BREWERIES 
 
 1901 4th St. Tel. 108 
 
 PERU 
 
 FAVORITE STOCK 
 
 BEER 
 Peru Products Co. 
 Phone 134 
 
 Church, Peru, Meets Second Wednesday 
 Of Each Month 
 
 Arthur Janz, Pres. Frank McLean, V.-Pres. 
 
 PERU BEAUTY SHOPPE 
 
 Dudley Diggs, Treas. Leslie Link, Sec. 
 
 Facials — Marcelling — Finger Waving 
 
 At Reasonable Prices 
 
 Permanents a Specialty 
 
 1915 First St. Tel. 503 
 
 STAR MODEL BEER 
 
 Star Union Products Co. 
 
 Phone 116 
 
 THE KANDOO KLUB 
 
 First Congregational Church 
 
 Meets Second Thursday 
 
 
 Of Month at 7:30 P. M. 
 
 DOROTHYS BEAUTY SHOP 
 
 CARBONATED BEVERAGES 
 
 
 
 PERU ARCHERY CLUB 
 
 One of the Best in the State 
 
 Founded by the late Henry Ream 
 
 1504 Brewster St. Peru 
 
 Star Model 
 
 Sodas and Ginger Ale 
 
 STAR UNION PRODUCTS CO. 
 
 Peru 
 
 EMILY'S BEAUTY SHOP 
 
 
 
 Frederic s Permanent Waves 
 
 Viena Croquignole Oil Waves 
 
 413 East 5th St. Peru 
 
 COCA-COLA 
 
 Delicious and Refreshing 
 
 COCA-COLA BOTTLING WORKS 
 
 Phone 321 Peru, 111. 
 
 COAL 
 
 PERU LUMBER AND COAL CO. 
 
 BAKERY 
 
 Coal and Building Materials 
 
 CLOCKS 
 
 1828 Water St. Tel. 82 
 
 FEURER'S BAKERITE 
 
 
 Bakery 
 The Bread With The Home Made Flavor 
 
 Fresh Dail\' 
 1714 Fourth St. Tel. 495 
 
 WESTERN CLOCK CO. 
 
 Peru, Illinois 
 
 Big Ben Westclox 
 
 W. H. MAZE COMPANY 
 
 Coal and Coke 
 
 1207 Water St. Tel. 1742 
 
 
 WEBERLING BROS. 
 
 Bakery and Ice Cream 
 
 UNION COAL COMPANY 
 
 Phone 74 
 
 Miners and Retailers 
 
 Success to your Centennial and for a 
 Bigger and Better Bi-Centennial 
 
 CONTRACTORS 
 
 100 Years From Now 
 Water St. Peru, III. 
 
 F. J. Trompeter, Pres. 
 P. J. Trompeter, Sec'y-Treas. 
 
 TROMPETER CONSTRUCTION CO. 
 
 General Contractors 
 2428 4th St. Tel. 732 
 
 112 East Fifth St. 
 Peru, 111. 
 
 
 
 MELO-CREAM DO-NUTS 
 
 Delivered Fresh to Your Grocer 
 
 Every Day 
 
 Tel. 2193-W Peru, 111. 
 
 FRANK BARTELS 
 
 Coal — Sand — Gravel 
 
 1001 Water St. Tel. 404 
 
 Page Fifty-Jive
 
 CIGAR STORES 
 
 UNITED CIGAR STORE 
 
 Pool and Billiards 
 
 R. H. Stegen 
 
 1803 4th St. Peru, 111. 
 
 ED. WEILAND, INC. 
 
 Cigars Tobacco 
 
 AND Cigarettes 
 
 Peru, 111. 
 
 JAMES F. FELKER 
 Cigar Store 
 
 1905 4th St. 
 
 Tel. 2233 
 
 CENTENNIAL BOOK 
 
 THIS CENTENNIAL BOOK 
 
 Product of . 
 
 The J. Al Meisenbach Press 
 
 Commercial Printing Since 1910 
 
 CLOTHIERS 
 
 HUNDTS HABERDASHERY 
 
 Suits Made To Order 
 
 1918 Fourth St. Peru. III. 
 
 FRANK VLASNIK 
 
 Men's Clothing 
 
 1809 4th St. Peru, 111. 
 
 PENNING BROTHERS 
 Men's Furnishings 
 
 1884—1935 
 715 4th St. Peru, III. 
 
 CONFECTIONERY 
 
 WEBERLINGS 
 
 Bakery — Lunches — Confections 
 
 1827 4th St. Peru, 111. 
 
 J. BRUCKER & SON 
 Bakery Goods — Ice Cream — Candies 
 
 1819 4th St. 
 
 Peru, 111. 
 
 THEATRE GRILL 
 
 Confectionery and Lunch 
 
 Theatre Building 
 
 ARNOLTS CONFECTIONERY 
 
 Candies — Ice Cream — Sodas 
 1304 West St. Tel. 634R 
 
 CLASS' 
 
 Confection Stand 
 
 On The Corner For 33 Years 
 
 4th & Fulton Sts. Peru 
 
 U. & .]. CANDY CO. 
 
 Wholesale Confectioners 
 
 J. J. Urbanowski — A. S. Jendrasek 
 
 1309 Pulaski St. Peru 
 
 CLEANERS 
 
 BENZOLE 
 
 Cleaning and Laundry Co. 
 
 2000 Fourth St. Peru, 111. 
 
 Tel. 103 
 
 S. & A. CLEANERS 
 
 Garments — Rugs — Drapes 
 
 A Service For Every Need 
 
 713 Peoria St. Tel. 511 
 
 CHIROPRACTORS 
 
 P. J. ELSTON, D. C. 
 
 Graduate Palmer School Of 
 Chiropractic 
 
 7244 Peoria St. Tel. 1359 
 
 CONTRAaORS AND BUILDERS 
 
 Have Us Modernize 
 Your Home Or Building 
 
 CHAS. M. BOECKLING 
 
 General Building Service 
 Est. 1900 
 
 B. SCHWEICKERT & CO. 
 
 Contractors of Masonry 
 
 Plastering & Concrete Work 
 Estimates on Application 
 
 B. Schweickert C. Schweickert 
 
 Tel. 974 Tel. 705W 
 
 Peru, 111. 
 
 PERU CONSTRUCTION COMPANY 
 
 Joseph F. Nuefeld, Gin. Mgr. 
 
 GENERAL CONCTRACTING 
 
 2017 4th St. 
 
 Tel. 1817 
 
 OTTO BIRKENBEUEL, SR. 
 
 Contractor 
 
 Brick Work— Concrete Work 
 
 Pebbledash and Plastering 
 
 1714 8th St. Tel. 1183 
 
 G. H. STANGEL 
 
 General Contractor 
 AND Builder 
 
 1602 8th St. 
 
 Tel. 1458 
 
 CLARENCE M. LIEBHART 
 
 General Contractor 
 AND Builder 
 
 2215 7th St. 
 
 Tel. 949 
 
 Page Fifty-six
 
 SCHWEICKERT BROS. 
 Mason Contracting 
 
 DR. CARL TESCHE 
 Dentist 
 Halm and Amsler Bldg. 
 X-Ray Service Peru 
 
 111. 
 
 HELMIG DRUG STORE 
 The Rexall Store 
 1800 4th St. Tel 
 
 18 
 
 
 DRESSMAKING 
 
 
 Brick — Concrete — Plastering 
 
 DOaORS M. D. 
 
 
 
 Est. 1913 
 
 BERTHA SEEPE 
 
 Hemstitching — Pleating 
 
 Altering and Buttons Covered 
 
 2016 4th St. Tel. 1 
 
 
 2103 9th St. Tel. 1003-W 
 
 1711 
 
 B. J. NAUMAN, M. D. 
 Physician and Surgeon 
 - 4th St. Tel 
 
 325 
 
 
 CHURCHES 
 
 845 
 
 
 DAIRIES 
 
 
 ST. JOHNS ENGLISH LUTHERAN 
 
 1701 
 
 W. J. REAM, M. D. 
 
 Physician and Surgeon 
 
 4th St. Tel. 
 
 1635 
 
 
 CHURCH 
 Corner Seventh and Fulton Sts. 
 H. C. Haferman, Pastor 
 
 CENTRAL ILLINOIS DAIRY 
 
 PRODUCTS CO. 
 
 Good Milk Brings Good Health 
 
 A Fifteen Year Old Church Preaching An 
 Age Old Gospel To A Century Old City 
 
 DR. F. C. E. SCHNEIDER 
 
 Diagnosing Chronic Diseases 
 
 Specialties 
 
 Examinations and Treatments 
 
 Appointment 
 
 Peru, 111. 
 
 By 
 
 PERU DAIRY CO. 
 
 Pasteurized Guernsey 
 
 Milk and Cream 
 
 Tel. 2222 Peru, 
 
 
 ZION EVANGELICAL CHURCH 
 
 III. 
 
 SUPREME DAIRY 
 
 "The Baby's Choice" 
 
 Open On Sunday and Holidavs 
 
 From 8:00 to 11:00 
 
 707 Peoria St. Peru, 
 
 
 6th and Grant Sts. 
 Founded Sept. Wl 
 
 1806 
 
 F. C. TAYLOR, M. D. 
 4th St. Tel 
 
 129 
 
 111. 
 
 P. Brauns, St., Pastor 
 
 DEPARTMENT STORES 
 
 
 
 1611 
 
 ORIE C. YODER, M. D. 
 
 Physician and Surgeon 
 4th St. Tel 
 
 502 
 
 
 
 URBANOWSKI DEPT. STORE 
 427 E. 5th St. Peru, 
 
 
 FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST 
 
 SCIENTIST 
 
 Third and Grant Sts., Peru 
 
 Ill, 
 
 Sunday Services— 10 ;45 a. m. 
 Sunday School — 9:30 a. m. 
 
 DRY GOODS 
 
 
 DR. NORWICH 
 
 Naturopathic Physician 
 Licensed 
 
 1728 Second St. Phone 2492-R 
 
 
 Wednesday — 7:45 p. m 
 
 Best For Less 
 
 LINK'S 
 
 Where Every Body Shops 
 
 Quality Dry Goods and Accessori< 
 
 Visit Our Infants Wear Dept. 
 
 
 DENTISTS 
 
 
 
 
 dr. i. e. boyer 
 Dentist 
 
 DRUG STORES 
 
 ■s 
 
 Peru National Bank Bldg. 
 
 729 
 
 BULFER DRUG CO. 
 
 Charles Bulfer, Mgr. 
 
 4th St. Peru 
 
 III. 
 
 
 DR. JOHN B. OBRIEN 
 
 ELEQRIC EQUIPMENT 
 
 Dentist 
 1701 A. Fourth St. Tel. 1879 
 
 1701 
 
 WALTHER DRUG CO. 
 R. W. Walther, R. Ph. 
 
 4th St. Tel. 
 
 115 
 
 BULFER ELECTRIC SHOP 
 
 Westinghouse Refrigerators and 
 
 Wash Machines 
 
 Vacuum Cleaners 
 
 Radios — Wiring & Fixtures 
 
 1617 4th St. Tel 11 
 
 
 J. R. POSTMA, D. D. S. 
 1711 H Fourth St. Tel. 313 
 
 )-W 
 
 Page Fifty-seven
 
 SIGMOND ELECTRIC CO. 
 
 Electrical Contractor 
 
 Motor Service and Rewinding, Radios 
 
 Electric Appliances, General Electric 
 
 Refrigerators, Refrigerator Service 
 
 and Rebuilding 
 
 610— E. 4th St. 
 
 Tel. 644 
 
 ENGRAVING 
 
 Establishtd 1910 
 
 THE J. AL. MIESENBACH PRESS 
 
 Commercial Printing — Engraving 
 
 Tel. 265 816 Peoria St. 
 
 FUNERAL DIREQORS 
 
 PETERS 
 FUNERAL CHAPEL 
 
 1720 Fourth St. 
 Phone 40 
 
 PTAK'S 
 FUNERAL HOME 
 
 Over Quarter Century In Business 
 
 FRUIT MARKET 
 
 Cleanliness Service 
 
 MALOOLEY'S FRUIT MART 
 
 Across From Sotdlers 
 
 Fresh Fruits & Vegetables 
 
 The Best For Less 
 
 OPEN AIR MARKET 
 
 Next To Westclox 
 
 Phone 198 
 
 QUALITY FRUIT MARKET 
 
 Full Line of Fruits and Vegetables 
 
 Right Quality — Right Prices 
 
 1702 4th St. Peru, 111. 
 
 FOUNDRIES 
 
 THE MUNDIE MFG. CO. 
 
 Foundry and Machine Shop 
 
 501-631 Brunner St. Peru, 111. 
 
 FLORISTS 
 
 PENNING 
 The Telegraph Florist 
 Phone 440 Peru, 111. 
 
 The Home of Flowers 
 
 Garden Seeds in Bulk or Packets, Flower 
 
 Seeds, Perennials, Vegetable Plants 
 
 Geraniums, Rose Bushes, Lawn 
 
 Seed, Vigro & Bone Meal 
 
 LINK'S -ANNEX" 
 1823 4th St. Tel. 506 
 
 GROCERIES AND MARKETS 
 
 AMSLER & GISLER 
 
 Groceries and Meats 
 
 A Super Service Store 
 
 Featuring Richelieu Foods 
 
 The Best Obtainable 
 
 1517 Peoria St. 
 
 Tel. 1720 
 
 BRADLEYS MARKET 
 
 Groceries and Meats 
 
 1927 4th St. Peru 
 
 F. L. BURCH 
 
 Groceries 
 
 Fresh and Smoked Meats 
 
 2125 Main St. Tel. 1412-R 
 
 CARL E. BEUTLER 
 
 Groceries 
 
 Groceries and Notions 
 
 2320 Main St. Peru 
 
 O. C. BLUM 
 
 Main Street Grocer 
 
 Fancv Groceries, Meats and Ice Cream 
 
 Tel. 207 Peru 
 
 HELMIG GROCERY 
 
 Free Delivery 
 
 1527-29 Water St. Tel. 113 
 
 GRESS GROCERY 
 
 Tel. 761— Peru 
 
 Third & Peoria St. Free Delivery 
 
 E. HAGEMAN 
 
 Groceries 
 
 1402 Center St. Tel. 2148-R 
 
 H. J. LINDENMEYER 
 Groceries — Ice Cream 
 
 302 Cross St. 
 
 Peru 
 
 M. M. LEVAN 
 
 Meats and Fancy Groceries 
 
 Home Made Sausage— Monarch Products 
 
 1320 Main St. 
 
 Tel. 137 
 
 MATT. LEMLER 
 
 Meats and Groceries 
 
 Poultry and Fish 
 
 1813 4th St. Tel. 1162 
 
 HALM & AMSLER BROS. 
 
 Markets 
 
 Meats and Home-Made Sausage 
 Poultry & Fish 
 
 2400 Second St. 1705 4th St. 
 
 Super Service Store — Est. 18H 
 
 Piige ftjty-eight
 
 
 KASZYNSKIS CASH MARKET 
 
 Meats — Groceries 
 Notions 
 
 2330 Main St. 
 
 GIFT SHOPS 
 
 J. W. BREUNING 
 Ferndell Grocer 
 
 THE PARTY BOX 
 Peru Theatre Building 
 Hosiery Lingerie Gifts 
 
 E Hundt L Franks 
 
 Good Things To Eat 
 1603 4th St. Tel. 371 
 
 HELEN URBAN 
 
 Groceries — Meats — Ice Cream 
 
 1611 Pulaski St. Tel. 1339-R 
 
 
 HOTELS 
 
 
 
 
 HOTEL PERU 
 
 A. & P. TEA CO. 
 
 Has The Values 
 S. Sutton, Mgr. 
 
 VICTOR ALICKI 
 
 Groceries — Me.\ts 
 
 1730 Pulaski St. Tel. 955-R 
 
 "Hjwe Of The Si:^z_ltng Steak" 
 
 Rooms For Permanent Guests 
 
 Cigars and Cigaretts 
 
 
 P. K. CASH GROCERY 
 
 Meats and Ice Cream 
 
 I. .). Pyka— Thomas Kujavva 
 
 517 E. 5th St. Tel 579-W 
 
 
 STORY'S FOOD SHOP 
 
 Open Evenings and Sundays 
 
 1309 4th St. Peru 
 
 SITTLER'S 
 
 Rooms and Meals 
 Home Cooking 
 
 1902 4th St Tel 1537 
 
 
 JOHN MARINI 
 
 Groceries and Provisions 
 304 Peru St. Tel. 1313-R 
 
 
 
 
 FRANK KREIS 
 Cash and Carry Grocer 
 
 HARDWARE 
 
 Staple Groceries 
 
 Fresh Fruits and Vegetables 
 
 2129 4th St. Tel. 211 
 
 SOEDLER HARDWARE CD. 
 
 MAPLE LAWN GROCERY 
 
 Meats — Groceries— Ice Cream 
 
 Clinton Siebert, Mgr. 
 
 IIQI 6th St. Tel 2285-R 
 
 Stoves, Electric Refrigerators Wash 
 
 SCHWEilZERS 
 Blue Ribbon Store 
 
 Machines, Philco Radios 
 
 Plumbing and Sheet Metal Work 
 Furnaces — Paint Material 
 
 Founded 1875 Tel 338 
 
 Choice Groceries and Meats 
 1525 Peoria St. Tel. 1395 
 
 PETE MILLERS CASH GROCERY 
 
 Meats Groceries — Candies 
 
 1928 9th St. Peru 
 
 
 INSURANCE 
 
 R. M. BRYLSKI 
 
 JOHN J. KASZYNSKI 
 Groceries and Meats 
 
 MAlllUCCE GROCERY 
 
 Groceries — ME,-iTS — Ice Cream 
 
 314 Peru St. Tel 370-R 
 
 General Insurance 
 1109 Bluff St. Tel. 876 
 
 You Tried The Rest — Now Try The Best 
 422 East 5th St. Tel. 1809 
 
 C. G. HASSLER 
 Economy Auto Insurance 
 
 
 GREETING CARDS 
 
 GEO. ZURINSKI 
 
 Just Call— 710-W 
 
 Greeting Cards for All Occasions. The 
 
 Most complete Line in the Tri-Cities 
 
 Postage Service and Postage Stamps 
 
 For Your Convenience 
 
 LINK'S VARIETY STORE 
 
 1713 4th St. Tel. 506 
 
 
 Bridge Grocery 
 
 Gas and Oil 
 
 708 4th St. Peru 
 
 REAM AGENCY 
 
 Insurance 
 
 We Insure Homes, Farms Automobiles 
 
 BUEHLER BROS. 
 
 Groceries and Meats 
 
 724 Peoria St. Peru Tel. 477 
 
 Buildings, Biolers, Plate Galss and 
 Many Other Forms 
 
 Insure With Us And Be Sure 
 
 811 Peoria St. Tel. 2443 
 
 Page Fifty-nine
 
 OTTO HOFFMAN 
 
 Life Insurance 
 
 Representing 
 
 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. 
 
 CHARLES F. MENG 
 
 Insurance Agency 
 
 Aetna Life — Health — Accident 
 Fire, Windstorm, Jewelry, Burglary, Per- 
 sonal Effects, Casualty, Automobile, 
 Public Liability, Compensation, 
 Steam Boiler, Elevator, Plate 
 Glass, Fidelity and Surety 
 Bonds 
 
 1125 Peoria St. Tel. 1207 
 
 C. W. HOSCHEIT 
 Represenliag 
 
 Union Central Life Ins. Co. 
 
 Tel- 1025-R Pe™. I"- 
 
 \V. H. HASSLER 
 
 General Insurance Agency 
 
 1703 9th St. Tel. 1671 
 
 HERBERT W KOHR 
 
 Life Insurance and Savings 
 
 1229 Bluff St. Tel. 2413-R 
 
 ICE 
 
 PERU PRODUCTS CO. 
 
 — ICE— 
 
 Wholesale and Retail 
 
 Tel. 134 
 
 Per 
 
 STAR UNION PRODUCTS CO. 
 — ICE— 
 
 Wholesale and Retail 
 Peru 
 
 JEWELERS 
 
 A. H. RADTKE 
 
 Jeweler 
 
 1701 4th St. 
 
 Peru 
 
 P. J. KLAESER 
 
 Jeweler 
 
 1613 4th St. 
 
 COHARD'S 
 
 Jeweler 
 
 Dimonds — Gruen Watches 
 
 507 E. 5th St. 
 
 LUMBER 
 
 PERU LUMBER AND COAL CO. 
 
 Coal and Building Materials 
 
 1829 Water St. Tel. 82 
 
 W. H. MAZE COMPANY 
 
 Construction Materials 
 
 1207 Water St. Tel. 1742 
 
 LODGES 
 
 ROYAL NEIGHBORS OF AMERICA 
 Starved Rock Camp No. 446 
 Meets 
 First and Third Monday of Month 
 
 MUSIC TEACHERS 
 
 ETHYL RADTKE 
 
 Teacher Of Singing 
 
 1015 Rock St. Tel. 2297-W 
 
 Peru 
 
 JESSIE R. DUNN 
 
 Teacher Of Piano 
 
 1715 Main St. Peru 
 
 MRS. CHRIS HASSLER 
 
 Organist — Pianist Teacher 
 
 Studio 720 Peoria St. Tel. 710-W 
 
 F. M. STOCKDALE 
 
 Teacher Of Piano 
 
 Studio 1701 4th St. Tel. 2299-R 
 
 MARY SIKORA 
 
 Organist and Teacher of Piano 
 
 Studio 1021 Bluff St. Peru 
 
 KATHERINE LINDSAY 
 
 Teacher Of Piano 
 
 2329 5th St. Tel. 1364-W 
 
 PELGIA N. URBANOWSKI 
 
 Teacher Of Piano 
 
 1428 Pulaski St. Peru 
 
 MILL WORK 
 
 CHAS M. BOECKLING 
 
 We Modernize and Install all types of 
 
 Store and Office Fixtures 
 
 Kitchen Cases and Screens 
 
 MOTORCYCLES 
 
 KEENAN'S MOTORCYCLE SHOP 
 
 Harley Davidson — Bicycles 
 
 Sales and Service 
 
 2427 6th St. Tel. 2351-W 
 
 NEWSPAPERS 
 
 DAILY NEWS-HERALD 
 
 Peru's News Paper 
 For More Than 50 Years 
 
 1830 4th St. 
 
 Tel. 65 
 
 HAAS NEWS & SPORT SHOP 
 1815 4th St. Peru 
 
 PERU NEWS AGENCY 
 
 Chicago Newspapers — Magazines 
 
 Clark Dowell, Mgr. 
 
 NICKELOIDS 
 
 AMERICAN NICKELOID CO. 
 
 Mfrj. Of 
 
 Bonded Metals 
 
 Sheets, Coil and Flat Wire 
 
 General Offices Peru, III. & Walnutport, Pa. 
 
 Page Sixty
 
 NOTARY PUBLIC 
 
 RESTUARANTS 
 
 WHITE ROSE STATION 
 
 HERMAN A. LINK 
 Notary Public 
 
 ROBINSON RESTAURANT 
 
 Lunches — Short Orders 
 Regular Dinners 
 
 1601 4th St. Home Cooking 
 
 Haas and Ellerbrock 
 912 Peoria St. 
 
 Deputy Hunting & Fishing License Clerk 
 
 TeL SOe—Res. TeL 1688-W 
 1713 4th St. Peru 
 
 CITIES SERVICE STATION 
 
 Once — Always 
 
 Fred Aaron, Mgr. 
 
 4th & Rock Sts. Tel. 1937 
 
 
 
 OPTOMETRIST 
 
 CRANE'S ONE-STOP SERVICE 
 
 STATION 
 
 Tydol Gas — Veedol Oil 
 
 5th & Peoria St. Tel 554 
 
 HAROLD F. FORBES 
 
 SERVICE STATIONS 
 
 O. D. AND D. O. S. 
 
 815 Peoria St. 
 
 WIS WILLMEROTH 
 
 Phillips 66 Service 
 
 Atwater Kent Radios 
 
 
 
 PLUMBERS 
 
 SPUR 
 
 Tank Car To Car Tank 
 
 M. H. Campbell, Ugr. 
 
 A. Wernsman & B. Boyd, Attendants 
 
 4th & Prospect Sts. Peru 
 
 
 WM. A. SCHMOEGER CO. 
 
 Plumbing — Heating 
 
 703 Peoria St Tel 302 
 
 KONCZAK SERVICE STATOIN 
 
 Standard Oil Products 
 Pennziol Dealer 
 Courteous Service 
 
 2830 W. Fourth St. Tel. 911 
 
 
 
 PHOTOGRAPHERS 
 
 SALES SERVICE STATION 
 Three S's Saves Dollars 
 
 WEYAND'S STUDIO 
 
 Sweeny Gas — Gold Penn Oil 
 6th & Peoria Sts. Peru 
 
 Portrait and Commercial 
 Photography 
 
 
 Kodak Developing and Printing 
 2028 4th St. Tel. 2362 
 
 BRONGELS SERVICE STATION 
 
 Phillips 66 — Gas and Oils 
 
 1602 Peoria St. Peru 
 
 STARVED ROCK GAS & OIL CO. 
 
 Skelly Products — Skelgo Ranges 
 
 Gas — Oil Lubrication 
 
 PAINTERS 
 
 Sales and Service 
 Firestone Tires 
 
 
 
 FRED W. HESS 
 Painting — Paper Hanging 
 
 WILLMER SERVICE STATION 
 
 General Tire Repairing 
 
 Gas, Oils and Accessories 
 
 Mr. Willmer 
 
 At Your Service With A Smile 
 
 2023 4th St. 
 
 4th & Putnam Sts. Tel. 428 
 
 Interior Decorating 
 1412 4th St. Tel. 1674-W 
 
 STORE FIXTURES 
 
 
 
 PRINTERS 
 
 CANTWELL SALES AGENCY 
 
 A Quarter Century of Progress 
 THE J. AL MEISENBACH PRESS 
 
 Grocery and Market Equipment 
 717 Peoria St. 
 
 1910—1935 
 
 
 Tel. 265 816 Peoria St. 
 
 MORRISON'S SERVICE STATION 
 
 Texaco Products — Kelly Tires 
 
 1031 4th St. Tel. 1854 
 
 SHOE REPAIRING 
 
 
 
 GEO. D. WALTMAN 
 
 Printing For Particular People 
 
 Peru, 111. 
 
 ANTON KOPACH 
 
 Shoe Repairing 
 
 2108 4th St. Peru 
 
 
 BOB'S SERVICE STATION 
 
 Shell Petrolium Products 
 
 1717 W. 5th St. Peru 
 
 
 Commercial Printing 
 
 THE J. AL MEISENBACH PRESS 
 
 Sme 1910 
 
 Phone 265 -"T^B'^ 816 Peoria St. 
 
 GOOD YEAR SHOE REPAIR SHOP 
 
 Ernest Guilian, Prop. 
 
 713 Peoria St. Peru 
 
 Page Sixty-one
 
 SHEET METAL SHOPS 
 
 FRANK KRULTZ 
 
 Good Things To Eat and Drink 
 
 2102 4th St. Peru 
 
 JOE WOODSHANK 
 
 PERU SHEET METAL SHOP 
 
 Everything In Sheet Metal Work 
 
 924 Peoria St. 
 
 Beer and Lunches 
 
 Pinochle Tournaments 
 
 1402 Peoria St. Peru 
 
 •THE STONE JUG" 
 
 Since 186! 
 
 John Gehrig, Prop. 1920 4th St. 
 
 
 
 
 SHOE STORES 
 
 GAMMY'S 
 
 A. REMENIH 
 New Shoes and Repairing 
 
 Beer & Lunch 
 
 2013 4th St. Peru 
 
 KARKOW TAVERN 
 
 Al. F. Posladek, Prop. 
 
 Beer — Wines Liquors 
 
 Fish Fry Friday Nights 
 
 524 E. 5th St. Tel. 626 
 
 Tables For Ladies 
 Leading Brands of Beer 
 
 2003 Fourth St. Peru 
 
 SPERBER SHOE STORE 
 
 Better Shoes 
 
 At Less Than Market Prices 
 
 1825 4th St. Peru 
 
 
 LINDENMEYER'S BOOTERY 
 
 For The Best In 
 
 Shoes and Hosiery 
 
 1815 4th St. Peru 
 
 ZINC WORKS TAVERN 
 Joe Gorishek, Prop. 
 
 Fish Every Friday 
 Chicken on Saturday 
 
 TURNIS TAVERN 
 
 Opposite Hotel Peru 
 
 SPECIALTY SHOPS 
 
 Old Style Lager and Peru Beer 
 
 GUILIO MORANDIS 
 
 Raviola Inn 
 
 Electric Beer Cooling System 
 
 1717 Water St. Peru 
 
 
 KATHERYN HOSCHEIT SHOP 
 Millinery — Dresses — Lingerie 
 
 Chicken Sat. Nights 
 
 Hosiery and Accessories 
 Kabo Foundation Garments — Brassieres 
 
 
 Graduate Corsetiere 
 1901 4th St. Peru 
 
 NICK BARBENDER 
 
 Wines — Liquors — Lunch 
 
 1525 Water St. Peru 
 
 STAR GARDENS 
 Tavern and Restaurant 
 
 STATIONERY 
 
 Wines and Liquors 
 Retail Store at Wholesale Prices 
 
 
 Commercial Stationery 
 
 THE J. AL MEISENBACH PRESS 
 
 Since 1910 
 
 When la Peru — Srop At 
 
 STEVE'S TAVERN 
 
 Tasty Drinks and Fine Foods 
 
 Steve Mueller, Prop. 
 
 2301 Main St. Tel. 1615 
 
 1801 4th St. 
 
 Tel. 265 816 Peoria St. 
 
 POLONIA TAVERN 
 
 
 Martin Mysliwiec, Prop. 
 Beer And Liquors 
 
 SOCIETIES 
 
 UNION FRONT 
 
 Ed Yanka, Prop. 
 
 Beer & Lunch 
 
 610 E. 5th St. Tel. 2453 
 
 LADIES AID SOCIETY 
 
 515 E. 5th St. Tel. 579-R 
 
 First Congregational Church 
 Meets First and Third Thurdsay 
 
 SAINAIS STAR MODEL BUFFET 
 
 ST. MAGDALENA COURT, NO. 641 
 
 W. C. O. F. 
 
 Meets Fourth Wednesday of Each Month 
 
 HAPPY CORNER 
 
 H. W. Finn, Prop. 
 
 Beer & Lunch 
 
 1929 4th St. Peru 
 
 Beer and Lunch 
 501 E. 5th St. Tel. 1189 
 
 At St. Joseph s Hall 
 
 TAXI SERVICE 
 
 
 
 TAVERNS 
 
 STIENZ TAVERN 
 
 Fish On Fridays 
 
 829 Pine St. Peru 
 
 DELUX CAB 
 
 Day Or Night Service 
 
 Erwin Baker 
 
 Tel. 95 Tel. 292 
 
 Hotel Peru Residence 
 
 THE ACME 
 
 L. H. Stubbe, Prop. 
 
 Fourth & Peoria St. Tel 474-W 
 
 Pas^e Sixty-tii'o
 
 THEATRES 
 
 The Theatre BciJUftjitl 
 
 Alger's 
 
 PERU THEATRE 
 
 Presenting 
 
 Perfect Pleasure For Particular People 
 
 The Most Comfortable Seating Arrange- 
 ment In The Illinois Valley 
 
 TRANSFER LINES 
 
 JOE W. LEMLER 
 
 Transfer Line 
 
 Ashes, Coal, Sand Gravel, Ice 
 
 1923 4th St. Tel. 2144 
 
 H. J. TOBLER TRANSFER INC. 
 
 Local & Long Distance Hauling 
 Of All Kinds 
 
 Experienced Furniture Movers 
 
 Crane Service 
 
 1012 Peoria St. Tel. 900 Peru 
 
 TIRES 
 
 WILCOX TIRE SHOP 
 718 Peoria St. Tel. 807 
 
 TEAMSTERS AND TRUCKERS 
 
 TEAMSTERS & TRUCKERS 
 
 LOCAL NO. 46 
 
 C. M. Keutzer, Pres. 
 
 A. J. Meyer, Sec, Treaj. 
 
 A. G. Meuser, Rec. Secy. 
 
 Henry Wolf, Business Agent 
 
 Meets First & Third Fridays at 
 
 Stubbe's Hall 
 
 Our Motto — "Boost Peru" 
 
 TRUCKING 
 
 H. J. LINDENMEYER 
 
 Contract Hauling — Building Material 
 
 1026 Pike St. Tel. 567 
 
 GUST HUFFMAN 
 
 General Trucking 
 
 325 Green St. Peru 
 
 WM. PHILLIPS 
 
 General Trucking 
 
 1815 14th St. Tel. 658 
 
 UPHOLSTERING 
 
 W. A. SCHLITT 
 
 Upholstering and Harness 
 
 817 Peoria St. Tel. 1032 
 
 VARIETY STORES 
 
 Peruvians Can Buy What They Need In 
 Peru, At The 
 
 BEN FRANKLIN STORE 
 
 Peru's Outstanding Store 
 
 What You Want— When You Want It 
 
 At 
 
 LINK'S VARIETY STORE 
 
 1713 4th St. Tel. 506 
 
 Now — Room and Everything 
 
 VETERINARIAN 
 
 W. L. FARLEY, D. V. M. 
 Veterinarian — Physician 
 
 AND Surgeon 
 
 Small Animal Hospital 
 
 1816 5th St. Tel. 480 
 
 WHOLESALERS 
 
 INTER-CITY GROCERY CO. 
 
 Wholesale Grocers 
 
 Home of Ivy Way Brand Canned 
 
 Food Products 
 
 1503-13 Water St. Tel. 580 
 
 ED. WEILAND, Inc. 
 
 Mfrs. of Cigars and Clippings 
 
 Havana Rose — Red Wing — Weiland 
 
 Perfectos — Cuban Queen 
 
 Dimond Star Clippings 
 Gloves and Paper 
 
 WEATHER STRIPPING 
 
 chamberlin metal 
 weather strip co. 
 
 Gen, Offices — Detroit Mich. 
 
 Weather Strips and Caulking 
 
 Roll and Flat Screens 
 
 Factory at Peru 
 
 WOOD WORK 
 
 ILLINOIS VALLEY MFG. CO. 
 
 Architectural Woodwork and 
 
 Occasional Furniture 
 
 Rock, Water & Plum Sts. Phone 24 
 
 WHEELS 
 
 PERU WHEEL CO. 
 
 Founded in 1851 
 Peru Illinois 
 
 WELDING 
 
 TRATTNER BROS. 
 
 Welding & General Repairing 
 
 1013 Peoria St. Peru 
 
 Photographs in This Book by 
 
 WEYAND'S STUDI 
 
 O 
 
 Piige Sixty-three
 
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 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOISURBANA 
 977327P435 COOl 
 
 "ERU ILLINOIS, CENTENNIAL, MAY 25, 26.