Bright Lights in Time for Christmas Downtown Bloomington, December 1958

On Dec. 19, 1958, Bloomington Mayor Robert McGraw threw a ceremonial switch to light about half of the 65 new mercury vapor streetlamps along a stretch of Main Street from Walnut Street south to MacArthur Avenue.Seen here is the 500 block of North Main Street looking south. This block was once “furniture row” with Leath & Co. visible on the right. The Stern Furniture Co. sign can be glimpsed in the background, and if you look carefully you can spot the J.A. Keck Furniture Co. on the other side of Main Street. What other businesses from this photo do you remember?