Historic Photos

Lost Bloomington South End of Downtown

April 21st, 2016

This undated aerial photo shows the six blocks bounded by Front, East, Olive, and Madison streets (outlined in red) that were razed beginning in the late 1950s to make way for an urban renewal “superblock” featuring the Law & Justice Center, what would become the Abraham Lincoln parking deck, and a nondescript office building.“A” indicates the old My Store building, a discount retailer that went under in the Great Depression; “B” Major’s Hall, the site of Abraham Lincoln’s so-called “Lost Speech” of 1856; “C” Rogers Hotel; and “D” First Methodist Church.

Bill Kemp

Librarian

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