Samuel White and Paul Moratz, performed by John Bowen and John Fischer

Samuel White (1847-1917) traveled from Indiana to Bloomington in 1870 with little intention of remaining here. However, after discovering that the contracting business he began in Indiana could thrive in Illinois, he quickly began erecting schools and homes throughout the county. Soon after, he established a lumberyard and a business manufacturing home furnishings. But White’s crowning glory would not come until 1898, when he transformed a cow pasture into one of the most desirable areas of the city. It stands today, bearing his name across its famous arched entrance: White Place.

Paul Moratz (1866-1939) was a student of architecture at the University of Illinois. Moratz quickly rose to prominence. Combining his education with the practical experience he gained with his father’s construction business, he became known at a young age as one of the leading architects in the area. His designs for Bloomington’s 5,000-seat Coliseum and Edwards School stand out as, perhaps, two of his greatest. He is featured with Samuel White, developer of Bloomington’s White Place—a neighborhood for which Moratz designed a number of residences that are still in existence. Script written by Rhys Lovell. Script written by Rhys Lovell, performed at the Evergreen Cemetery Walk in 2016. Directed by Rhys Lovell.