It was a glorious day here in Peoria, Illinois when news that the ‘War To End All Wars’ was finally over.   Our local boys marched off to war after the United States declared war on Germany

For thirty-four years I have researched the bawdy, somewhat seedy side of Peoria, Illinois, and wrote books to perpetuate those stories. I began reading about us from the records of 1830 all the way through 1951, and believe me there is...

by Norman V. Kelly

As a local historian, most of my writings and speaking engagements concern the bawdy, seedy side of Peoria, Illinois, circa 1845-1950. Seems folks are more interested in our sordid, gangster and gambling past than they are about the truly remarkable history surrounding this great city. So it is with pleasure that I tell you about one of the most beautiful...

 by Norman V. Kelly

Let’s go back to 1900 in Peoria, Illinois.  By then Peoria was sophisticated lady, I can tell you that.  The population was 56,100 and we lived in a 9.1 square miles of City Limits.  We had a magnificent GRAND OPERA HOUSE, a fistful of breweries and distilleries and a highly rated park system and school system.  We were the center for all...

by Norman V. Kelly

There is a lady who resides with her many friends at Buehler Home who is a living historian with a great memory.  She told me about her childhood trips to the Upper Free Bridge. After a bus ride and a streetcar ride, they found themselves at...

by Norman V. Kelly

It’s just a guess on my part, but I would bet that the average Peoria family rarely thinks of our park system or even visits ours parks except to take their kids to a soccer game. I can tell you that parks were a big part of...

by Norman V Kelly

When 1860 began there were editorials and comments from everyone that ever picked up a newspaper here **in Peoria, Illinois** that it looked like the **United States was going to have a Civil War.**  The local newspapers who were always at each other’s throats seemed to think there was no way out of it.  If you think we have political battles now you should sit down and read our old newspapers. I did for thirty-three years.  I wrote twelve books and hundreds of articles from the information I gleaned from all those articles and historical records and I followed our very early history for well over three decades.

by Brian "Fox" Ellis

**Spring Jubilee** has deep roots in Bishop Hill. After that first, long, cold winter in 1846, the pioneers were eager to celebrate the jubilee that is spring. The folks who live and work in Bishop Hill today are celebrating **Spring Jubilee Saturday, April 2nd from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm** with crafts, exhibits, and programs that invite families to enjoy the season. Visitors can receive a nose gay flower arrangement, craft a flower pot or bug catcher, plant a prairie, paint a gourd, view a toy tractor display, enjoy lunch at one of three restaurants, learn about bees, and decorate a set of pottery.

by Janet Glavin and Caeli Vanderstuyf

Getting to the Heart of A Wish

“They felt so special during their trips and could momentarily forget their illnesses and replace it with the experiences of sheer joy!” – Charity Muhs, Hannah and Elijah’s mother

by Robert L. Killion

When a heavy winter is approaching. All the signs point to it and the squirrels are busy gathering their harvest of acorns for the upcoming winter along the bluffs of the river.  Rushing quickly to his hoard a squirrel does not notice when one of his acorns falls free and rolls under some dead fall.  Quickly buried by the falling leaves and the winter snows the acorn slumbers for the winter.  The next spring a small Burr Oak seedling pushes up towards the light while its roots reach down towards water.  This particular tree was possibly a season tall as Columbus landed in the new world in 1492.