June 20th, 2017

Three hospitals; three styles of caps June 1958

The distinctive caps worn by graduate nurses at the three Bloomington-Normal hospitals were compared and contrasted during the local Student Nurses Association meeting in June 1958. Phyllis Fehr (left) of Danvers wears a Mennonite Hospital cap; Lois Welch (center) of Gridley has one from Brokaw H...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

June 19th, 2017

I beg to differ … Waterloo v. Bloomers, July 6, 1938

From 1901 to 1939, Bloomington was home to the Bloomers of the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League. Here’s Len Backer, Waterloo Red Hawks skipper, protesting a call at long-gone Fans Field, the Bloomers home park. That’s Waterloo backstop Clyde Chell on the right. The Red Hawks beat the Bloomers this ni...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

June 18th, 2017

Courteous Bicyclist June 1951

In late June 1951, the Junior Chamber of Commerce sponsored a “Traffic Courtesy Week” in Bloomington-Normal. The event included giving away $5 to those who exhibited courteous behavior to fellow motorists and pedestrians. Here’s Gene Paxton of Paxton Typewriter Co. talking to 13-year-old Ronnie R...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

June 16th, 2017

On Parade Elementary Rhythm Band, July 1951

On Tuesday we posted another photograph featuring this neighborhood music class. These children, who were between the ages of thee and six, were led by music teacher Kay Baylor. Presumably, that’s Ms. Baylor with the accordion. We don’t know where this photograph was taken, but we do know Baylor ...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

June 15th, 2017

ISNU Tour of Europe June 1951

A group from Illinois State Normal University readies for their two-month tour of the British Isles and the European continent. They were led by Dr. Arthur W. Watterson (far right), who was just named acting head of the Department of Geology and Geography. Watterson Towers is the namesake of Dr. ...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

June 14th, 2017

Paving, 400 block North Main Street June 1938

Workmen with local contractor Berenz & Son lay asphalt down the 400 block of North Main Street in Bloomington. Today, the Jaeger’s Candy Shop storefront is occupied by Gigi Bottega. The Miller Music storefront is now Bobzbay....
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

June 13th, 2017

“A-One, and a-Two, and a-Three …” Elementary Rhythm Band, July 1951

Tammi Orendorff conducts Kay Baylor’s elementary rhythm band during the summer of 1951. Baylor, who taught piano and music theory from her home, 407 S. Linden St., Normal, organized this “rhythm band” for local children between the ages of three and six. Instruments included castanets, cymbals, b...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

June 12th, 2017

4-H Lamb Show June 27, 1951

In late June 1951, the McLean County 4-H market lamb show was held at the Producers Stock Yards, located at East LaFayette Street and the Illinois Central Railroad on the south end of Bloomington. Here’s Roger Risser of Danvers (left) showing off his “best pen of three.” That’s Wayne Mohr on the ...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

June 11th, 2017

Barbershoppers’ summer party June 26, 1951

In late June 1951, local barbershoppers held a get-together at Phil Hooton’s residence, 3 Country Club Place. Seen here are winners of the impromptu quartet contest. Clockwise from left: Dick Dennie, tenor; Fred Gehrt, baritone; J.H. Bellamy, bass; and Mac Convis, lead....
1 mins read by Bill Kemp
0 mins read by Torii Moré

June 10th, 2017

Mackinaw River swimmin’ hole July 1941

A few hundred yards west of the old Mackinaw River bridge, about one mile west of Lexington, was one of the lovelier swimming holes in all McLean County. Seen here during the summer of 1941 are Christine Kinslow (left) and Christine Underwood, both of Lexington. The boy in the background with his...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

June 9th, 2017

Miller Park Beach July 1941

For decades Miller Park beach was the most popular spots in the Twin Cities to cool off during the summer months. If you can identify any or all of these three swimmers, let us know! Miller Park beach closed for good in 2002.Who remembers spending time at this beach?...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

June 8th, 2017

The Iceman Cometh … but for how long? June 1957

Once a common sight in windows throughout the Twin Cities and beyond, ice carts were becoming an increasingly rare sight by 1957. What were they? Well, before the widespread use of mechanical refrigeration, customers had ice delivered to their homes. These cards were placed in windows so delivery...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

June 7th, 2017

Davis Lodge, Under Construction Lake Bloomington, April 1932

Since its formal opening on June 29, 1932, the Davis Lodge has hosted innumerable wedding receptions, family reunions, public meetings, and the like. It was rebuilt in 2001-2002. For more on this story, check out the most recent installment of the Museum’s “Page from Our Past” column in the Sunda...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

June 2nd, 2017

Miller Park Zoo’s newest arrival June 1964

Miller Park’s Ed Denniston welcomes the zoo’s new arrival in early June 1964. This little mule’s parents were a Shetland pony mare and a Sicilian donkey, which were boarded at Davis U. Merwin’s rural home near Downs. Merwin, second-in-command at The Pantagraph, was also president of the Miller Pa...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

June 1st, 2017

Julia LeBeau and the Melodicans June 1964

Bloomington music teacher Julia LeBeau (left), Faye Scheets (center), and Helen Tepe formed a melodica trio back in 1964. LeBeau was best known for her tin can xylophone, which is now in the Museum’s object collection. In 1988, an 85-year-old LeBeau played this one-of-a-kind xylophone on “The Ton...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

June 1st, 2017

Young Men's Club Funds Scholarships for Eight Campers

(Pictured L-R: John William Yoder, Hannah Johnson, McLean County Museum of History, Frank Hoffman, President YMC. Photo Credit: Robert E. Handley YMC)Shout out to the Young Men’s Club! On Tuesday, May 30 the YMC, through its Youth Opportunities Foundation, presented the Museum’s Education Program...
3 mins read by Hannah Johnson

May 30th, 2017

LeRoy High’s Ron Crosby Teacher of Year, May 1964

At the end of the 1964 school year, Leroy High School students selected biology teacher and basketball coach Ron Crosby (left) as “Teacher of the Year.” Crosby is seen here looking over diplomas with William Lewis, LeRoy’s principal....
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

May 29th, 2017

Memorial Day 1964 Park Hill Cemetery, Bloomington

The Twin Cities and surrounding communities have honored their war dead since the first local Decoration Day was organized after the Civil War. This Memorial Day 1964 scene shows Army Lt. Bernard Borson, chaplain at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, speaking at the soldiers’ monument at Park Hill Cemet...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

May 28th, 2017

Memorial Day 1964 Evergreen Memorial Cemetery

The Bloomington High School marching band passes through the gates of Evergreen Memorial Cemetery on Bloomington’s south side for a Memorial Day program. “Our nation, our young men of necessity, play a role in the tragic drama now a part of current world events on this Memorial Day,” Edward B. Ak...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

May 26th, 2017

Memorial Day 1936 Downtown Bloomington

The McLean County Legion Drum Corps, debuting their new uniforms, march south down Main Street on Saturday, May 30, 1936, during Bloomington’s annual Memorial Day parade....
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

May 25th, 2017

Excuse me, comin’ through May 1968

On May 22, 1968, workers removed a roof off a gas station being dismantled at the corner of Lee and Washington streets on the west end of downtown Bloomington. The roof was being moved to Locust Street where it would be placed atop another gas station. If we’re not mistaken, this roof can be seen...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

May 24th, 2017

Defense Work at Firestone May 1968

Janet Froemming, receptionist at the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. (now Bridgestone Tires) plant in Normal, gets a close look at a tire produced for the U.S. Army’s latest generation amphibious vehicle known as the LARC (Lighter, Amphibious Resupply, Cargo). These LARC tires were first shipped ...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

May 23rd, 2017

Book Lover in Seventh Heaven May 1968

Retired schoolteacher Elsa Schilling found a quiet corner of Withers Public Library hoping to find a few keepers during the 10-cent book sale, held May 25, 1968.With the opening of the present-day Bloomington Public Library on East Olive Street, this old library was torn down in 1978. Who has spe...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

May 22nd, 2017

Waiting for the wrecking ball, 1971 200 block South Main Street

These buildings, located on the west side of the 200 South Main Street, were demolished in the early 1970s to make way for the McLean County Law and Justice Center complex. Who remembers stopping at this National Liquors storefront or having a bite to eat at Baker’s Hamburger Stand?...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

May 20th, 2017

Memorial Day tradition Poppy Sales, May 1938

The local Veterans of Foreign Wars John H. Kraus post prepares for its 17th annual poppy sale in this late May 1938 photograph. Left to right: Fred E. Crone, post commander; Marie Cooper, Anderson-Fike auxiliary president; Emmet Koos and Catherine Lawrence, poppy committee members; Ruth McReynold...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

May 18th, 2017

Redd-Williams Legion Post McBarnes Building, January 1942

Seen here are Redd-Williams American Legion Post #163 members at the McBarnes Memorial Building on East Grove Street in Bloomington. For much of the 20th century the Twin Cities had segregated Legion posts. If you can identify any of these unidentified gentlemen, please let us know....
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

May 18th, 2017

St. Joseph’s Hospital, Bloomington Under Construction, circa 1967

This circa 1967 aerial looks northwest. That’s under-construction St. Joseph’s Hospital in the center, with the Route 66 “beltline” (now Veterans Parkway) in the foreground. To the right (or north) is Eastland Mall, which formally opened in February 1967. This east side St. Joe’s, which would ope...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

May 18th, 2017

4-H Gathering Undated

These patient 4-H members are waiting for something to wrap up before they can enjoy their meal. Note the needlework in front of them and the quilts behind. This mystery photograph comes from the Museum’s extensive collection of McLean County Home Bureau photographs. The Home Bureau is now known ...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp

May 16th, 2017

Local Guardsmen Head to Chicago June 1938

On June 20, 1938, about 40 members of Bloomington’s 2nd Battalion, 108th Quartermaster Regiment, headed to Chicago for the annual Illinois National Guard military show at Soldier Field. They’re seen here boarding a truck near the old armory (which was lost in a building collapse in 2011) in the w...
1 mins read by Bill Kemp