As I was reading PeoriaIllinoisan’s transcription from a 1908 book about Peoria, it reminded me of some of the descriptions I’ve read in a book I inherited from my grandfather: “Standard Atlas of Peoria City and County Illinois” by M. Huebinger, C. E., Peoria, Ill., published by Geo. A. Ogle & Co. Publishers & Engravers, 1896. So, today’s post will be just a little slice of Peoria history.

The city was quite a bit smaller then. I don’t have a good way of scanning the map, so I’ll just describe the city limits. At the northeast, the city goes no further north than Nebraska Ave. — that means that Glen Oak Park and Springdale Cemetery are not in the city. Moving west, the city line goes south at Knoxville, then west on Illinois to Elizabeth (now Sheridan). Then the city line goes south again along Elizabeth to Chambers Ave. (now Columbia Terrace). The line then extends west along Chambers to Bradley St. (now University), where it goes south to Main, then west on Main to Western Ave. Are you with me so far? You may have noticed that Bradley Park is also not in the city limits, nor is the Bradley Farm which would become the Uplands neighborhood six short years after this atlas was published.

The city line then goes south along Western to Lincoln Ave., west on Lincoln to a point in line with Livingston St., then south through the middle of several blocks and along Livingston to Grinnell. It dances back to Western (too hard to explain), then heads south to “Lower Main” (now Krause Ave.), then straight east to the river. And that’s it. That’s all there was to the city.

There was a part of Richwoods township called “North Peoria,” which was roughly a rectangle from modern-day Sheridan and Wilcox at the northwest to Nebraska and Perry to the southeast. There was also a part of Peoria township called “South Peoria” that was roughly anything south of Seventh St. (now Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.) and west of Western (except those areas I said earlier were within Peoria). Everything else was unincorporated.

As you read this glowing description of Peoria from the 1896 Peoria Atlas, you’ll have to suffer the flowery, verbose way of writing that was popular then. But pay close attention to the description of the schools, parks, and streets, and the new library they were building — this would be the “model of architecture” that was torn down in 1968 to make way for the non-descript box we have now.

Now, without any further ado, here’s the “Descriptive Sketch of Peoria from 1896:

Looking back along the lines of progress of our fair city, we are amazed to behold her wonderful and prosperous growth. Nature, in the first place, has been lavish on her own part in making a site for a large and beautiful city on the ground where Peoria now stands, and to which she is rapidly reaching out. It is safe to say there cannot be found in Illinois another piece of ground of equal extent bearing any comparison to it in natural advantages, variety and beauty.

Looking at the present Peoria, what do you see? Fine business houses, modern huge, adapted to all man’s commercial wants. You will see elegant residen[c]es, which are not only residences, but homes–homes in the deepest, truest and noblest sense. The honest moralist will point out to you the horrors of city life, and there is much reason to back up his position, but by its magnificent possibilities and its more magnificent realizations, Peoria stands to-day, in point of morality, among the foremost cities of the land.

The form of evil may be in her midst, but the pulpit and her power are stronger; the veins of the body politic are throbbing with robust health.

Peoria may be called a City of Churches. The fact that Peoria has more churches and a greater church population than any other city of its size in the United States shows that she is thoroughly equipped for the work of making man better.

There are, besides churches, many other excellent religious organizations in the city, and all are conducted on a sound and philanthropic basis. Among them all denominations are represented.

Your eye may be the keenest and your perceptions the most acute, and yet you cannot judge Peoria in a day, a night, or a month, nor in a year. So many are the city’s interests, so varied are her attractions, it takes you long to learn her ways. Look at Peoria along one line and you shall see only cultivation, only the finer elements of life. Look along the utilitarian and you shall hear the whirr of machinery and the hum of toilers, and the bustle of business, [a]nd see only the scenes of commerce. Look between these lines and you see the city of Peoria partaking of both the useful and beautiful–a city of symmetry.

The known population of 1892 indicates that 50,823 is about the present population of this city within its official limits. This, with Averyville, and North Peoria and South Peoria, will swell the figures to over 60,000.

The greatly increased school attendance is another evidence of healthful growth.

In matters of education Peoria may again be found at the front. The character of the work done in the public schools, both in magnitude and thoroughness, has made the Peoria public schools among the best in the country. The work done is of a very high order, and will continue to grow better and better in the years to come as the general hormonious action now existing between the Superintendent and his subordinates is kept alive. There are thirteen grammar school and a High School engaged in the grand work of education. The Peoria High School, with her diploma, is familiar to the public. The fact that the graduates from the High School are able to enter the first-class colleges without condition is a witness more eloquent than words of the thoroughness as well as the liberality of the instruction offered by our public schools. In addition to the public, there are numerous private and denominational educational institutions, all engaged in the grandest work of mankind, “The education of the young.”

And now a few words as to the actual practical Peoria. One of the surest tests of the financial value and commercial health of a city is the clearing-house reports. These reports determine the city’s standing. If the reports are small, meager and fluctuating, you may look for idleness in business, frequent failures and general business depression. If, on the other hand, the clearings are large, steady and increasing, you may look for a tip-top condition of business. The bank clearings have not only been large, but have been above the average. Peoria business is done on Peoria money to a greater extent than is common in the West, hence during these last years of depression Peoria has had but few failures; the latter fact also testifying the sound basis upon which her business houses are built.

One of the greatest bulwarks of financial safety of Peoria is the undeclinable properties of her real estate. Sales may be few and scattering at times and occasionally a distress sale may occur, but the generality of real estate never declines, rather the reverse–it advances–advances with a steadiness and surety that money invested in our city lots and blocks is certainly secure, and not only secure, but the investment brings certain safe returns.

Dealers in real estate are beginning to note that the property hunter is already abroad in the land, a safe sign that there is a decided improvement in the way of inquiries for building lots to be used in the spring. Various new additions are being added to the city, and, judging from the manner at which this property is selling, the coming spring will show a vast increase in the real estate business in Peoria.

Even from the earliest period the death rate in Peoria has been very low, as compared with other cities. Physicians and those accustomed to observations will report this as correct. If the death rate of Peoria was low even when supplied with river water, how bright her present prospects in matters of sanitary condition certainly are. With one of the finest systems of water works, which water supply is exceptionally pure, and shown by chemical analysis to be absolutely free from organic impurities, Peoria is, indeed, thrice blest, not only of the purest of city water may Peoria boast, but the city is now engaged in erecting a perfect sewer system, which, when completed, will give her a drainage natural and artificial unsurpassed by any in the West. Much attention is also given to private sanitary inspection by the city authorities, so that these important acquirements considered, Peoria will be a model sanitary city.

Next in form of recent improvements in which our city has been engaged, is the laying of many miles of excellent streets. Strangers visiting our city cannot be otherwise impressed with the vast differences of a year or two. Everywhere in sight are well-laid and well-kept streets, while on the bluff and other avenues the smooth asphalt pavements give to the city a becoming pride. During the coming year will see these line of improvements no only in the heart of the city, but reaching out toward its limits.

Conspicuous among the many public buildings stands the new Library building, which will soon be ready for use. The new building is situated opposite the Government building, and is a model of architecture. Peoria has long felt the requirements of a new library, the old one being entirely too small to accommodate a collection of books which now reaches about 55,000 volumes. It is safe to ad that within a few years will rank among the large libraries of the country.

Very few of the cities of the West have the natural advantages and possibilities for delightful parks. Not even Chicago, with all her magnificent resources in the way of parks, can claim the beauties of nature which has been Peoria’s good fortune to possess. The citizens of Peoria are alive to these possessions, and are under the excellent management of her park commissioners. Peoria is reaching the goal in matter of parks. Some of the most beautiful sites in the city have been selected, and are fast becoming spots of beauty, where thousands will gather daily to breathe pure air and rest the working frame, and watch the shifting scenes about them. These parks are so situated that the citizens can go either north or south, or west, without traveling any considerable distance to avail themselves of nature’s gifts.

In manufacturing, Peoria has taken a high rank, and among them will be found a diversified variety of manufactured products. The amount of business done in this line exceeds over twenty millions of dollars; in fact, manufacturing is the leading industry of Peoria–the one employing the most capital and for which she is widely known. This is without doubt owing to her favorable surroundings and natural resources. We have in our midst agricultural factories, architectural iron works, baking powder manufacturies, awning manufacturies, distilleries, breweries, furniture factories, planing mill, and, in addition, carriages, wagons, hats, stoves, soap, boots and shoes, clothing, optical goods, brick, marble, spring beds, wire goods, tools, ink, stained glass, engines, boilers, iron fences, cutlery, chemicals, packing boxes, barrels, harness, patent medicines, trunks, tinware, pottery, paints, show cases, electrical goods, bicycles, and numerous others, which space will not permit to mention, are manufactured here.

With reverence to transportation and travel, Peoria has manifold advantages. Situated in the center of the State, her trade reaches out on all sides, and embraces all things commercial for miles around. There is within the city over fifty miles of street railroad, all of which is equipped with electricity, whose efficient services the public have reason to be proud of, as a means of transportation. The river, also, is an important factor. During the navigable seasons cargoes of lumber, grain, and other freights pass up and down from port to port, while during the winter the ice crops are floated down to more southern districts.

Taken in all, Peoria is thoroughly equipped along her various lines. Her business houses have branched out from year to year, enlarging in every detail, until now Peori ahas some of the handsomest and best equipped business houses to be found anywhere.