One thing I learned about Peoria growing up is that we care very little for our own history, other than looking at pictures of it. Once something is thirty, forty, or (God forbid) fifty years old, it’s time to knock it down and build something new. Newer is always, always, always better. Anyone in favor of preservation is seen as hopelessly sentimental, impractical, and an opponent of “progress.” And if there’s one thing we want to be in Peoria, it’s to be perceived as progressive.
So you can imagine what it must have been like to be Les Kenyon, an architect who had a vision and a passion for preserving Peoria’s historically-significant landmarks. Kenyon died Friday morning, just a couple months after pleading with the City Council not to delist the Roanoke Apartments on Hamilton Blvd. (They delisted it anyway.)
My condolences to Mr. Kenyon’s family, friends, and colleagues. It’s up to others now to pick up his torch. May his example live on, teaching more Peorians to appreciate, cherish, and preserve our history.
Thanks for your kind comments about my friend Les Kenyon. He will be very hard to replace, since he was a unique combination of expertise, civility and passion. He joins other “lions” who struggled to make Peoria a better place, Bill Rutherford and Tom Edwards who also are now gone.
Compare them with those who try to turn Peoria into a city of parking lots and garish signs, suffocated with pollution, instead of parks, trees, clean air and beautiful historic structures carefully preserved.
What’s gonna happen to the GAR Hall?
Don’t forget about Frank Lewis. Another example of expertise, civility and passion. And, I never met a harder worker than Frank.
Those apartments were literally caving in. Does anyone know the cost to even bring those things to a not condemnable state? Historic preservation has to be balanced with financial realism.
CJ, thank you for recognizing Architecht Les Kenyon. The Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation, CILF, will continue Les’ work to encourage, educate and foster preservation and renovation of historic buildings and landmarks.
Were Les alive and a few years younger….
he would have wrapped up this museum mess by now.
You had to appreciate his candor.
I’m holding my piece.
I worked for Les Kenyon for several years back in the late 90s. He was a very opionated man but he knew his business. He put all his heart and soul into preserving our history and heritage. He went out of his way and took a lot of his time and money to protect Peoria’s history. We will miss him. There will never be another like him. I just hope those that are left with the same heartfelt feelings for Peoria will pull together and keep the faith and keep fight to preserve our heritage. Without these people we would have nothing here but block buildings and no architectual beauty whatsoever. RIP Les, we will miss you.