The purpose of this organization is to promote the general improvement and welfare of Central Illinois.
To gather, compile and disseminate information concerning the history of buildings and landmarks in Central Illinois.
The Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation was formed in 1972 and incorporated in 1973 for the purpose of saving the Grand Army of the Republic Hall (G.A.R. Hall), in Peoria, Illinois. It evolved into an organization which has saved many other historic buildings in the Central Illinois area.
Executive Board
President Vice-President
Leslie H. Kenyon Thomas Biederbeck
Vice-President Programs Treasurer
Marjorie Klise Gordon Peters
Secretary
Joyce Johnson
Board of Directors
James Bateman Kim Brooks-Miller
Peter Couri DDS Sidney Eslinger
Jack Gove Creta Harper
Joseph Heine George Kotteman DDS
Gloria LaHood Frank Lewis
Roland Litterst Cindy McLean
Tom Menger Gene Moore
Sarah Muzzarelli Mildred Nunes
Alice Oakley Kai Obiozor
Daniel Philips Dan Schmidt
Marjorie Schwebel Jeannette Ulrich
Glenn Zipp
Advisory Board Members
Karen Deller Mrs. Walter Swardenski
Armond Ciota Helen Ritter
Keith Carrigan
1975 - Assisted the Roanoke Randolph district to obtain City of Peoria Historical District Status
1975 - Signed agreement with Family of the G.A. R. Hall to allow restoration of an use of the G.A.R. Hall by the public.
1976 - Applied for and received National Register listing for the G.A.R. Hall.
1977 - Developed a continually growing membership roster.
1978 - Established walking tours of the historic areas in the city.
1979 - Completed restoration of the main level of the G.A.R. Hall with public contributed funds.
1981 - With the City of Peoria andother groups a list of significant historic buildings was compiled for the Central Business area.
1981 - Set up markers program for significant historic structures in the Tri-County Area.
1982 - Hosted the State of Illinois Advisory Council on Historic Sites in G.A.R. Hall.
1982 - Compiled National Register application for the near North Side of Peoria, approved.
1982 - Published walking tour brochure for four areas of the city with historic sites.
1982 - Successful in preventing the razing of the Musicians Union Building (Peoria's oldest standing Church building, built in 1856) by arranging a meeting between the City Council and the Board of the Union.
1983 - G.A.R. Hall made available to the Peoria Civic Ballet School.
1984 - Hosted the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois 4th Annual Conference.
1984 - Assisted the Mayor's Task Force for the Madison Theater recycling.
1985 - Established Architectural Archives for Tri-County Area.
1985 - Co-sponsored with the City of Peoria conference for developers of historic buildings.
1985 - Peoria Creamery terra cotta medallion recycled to Lakeview Library.
1985 - Historic Preservation T-shirts put on sale for Preservation Week 85 & 86.
1986 - Formed a Buildings at Risk Committee to assist historic building owners.
1987 - Advocated the recycling of the Packard Building to the administration of both the City of Peoria and county of Peoria, decision pending.
1987 - Foundation members joined with members of other civic groups to explore ways to save and recycle the historic Judge Gale House circa 1830, now it serves as the headquarters for the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
1987 - Archive Committee held open house at the Public Library with an exhibit of some of the more outstanding architectural drawings from the archive.
1988 - Expansion of Historic 1989 Building and Sites Markers Committee program into Washington, Elmwood, and Chillicothe.
1989 - Packard Building - worked with Peoria County Management Services Committee and the Developer, Cullinan Properties Ltd, to preserve the Packard Building.
1989 - Foundation worked with the Peoria County Old Settlers' Association and the Peoria Historical Society in putting together a Joint Action Committee for Historic Tourism talk and presented this talk to over 50 organizations emphasizing the need to build up our tourism with historic buildings and Historic Districts.
1990 - Veteran's Memorial Park Committee was established and funds are being raised in cooperation with Peoria city Beautiful to purchase the land adjacent to the G.A. R. Hall and develop it into a Memorial Park.
1990 - Attended hearing in Springfield, Illinois revenue Building and asked for relief from real estate taxes on G.A.R. Hall on the basis we are a not-for-profit organization, this was denied.
1990 - 135th year of the surrender at Appomattox Court House done in Tableau Vivante by the Sons of Union Veterans, directed by Don Marine. Performed in the G.A.R. Hall.
1990 - Foundation worked with the Peoria County Old Settlers' Association and the Peoria Historical Society on the preparation of a Heritage Trail Map for the City of Peoria.
1991 - Seminar with City of Peoria on recycling of warehouses near the new Michel Bridge and tour of warehaouses with participants to promote reuse of the buildings.
1991 - City of Peoria cooperating with the Buildings at Risk Committee in giving us a list of buildings under threat of demolition, they are delivered to us each month.
1991 - Worked on survey and application to City of Peoria for an East Bluff Historic District. Adopted by Peoria City Council.
1991 - Supported the property owners in the 300 block of Main Street in forming a special service district to restore landscaping and brick sidewalks and lighting to the turn-of-th-century appearance.
1991 - Lost historic 'Day' residence adjacent to St. Mary's Cathedral. Negotiations with the Owner, St. Mary's Catholic Parish, failed.
1992 - Hosted 1992 Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois Statewide Conference. This brought300 attendees for the three day Conference to Peoria.
1993 - Landmarked under the City's Historic Preservation ordinance many historic buildings, which will prevent hasty demolition of these buildings.
1994 - Worked with teachers in various schools to bring the history of Peoria's architecture to the classroom.
1994 - Discussed with Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) the highway revisions of Route 88 in front of historic residence outside Bradford, compromise was agreed upon.
1994 - Attended a hearing in Illinois office in Springfield Revenue to asked for relief from real estate taxes on Veteran's Memorial Park on the basis that we are a not-for-profit organization, this was denied.
1994 - CILF installs new windows, lower level of the G.A.R. Hall. New hot water heaters for both lavatories.
1994 - With support of CILF, landmark status achieved for 514 N. E. Madison, one of two remaining 'brownstones' in the Olde Towne North district.
1994 - Donation of $500 from the Peoria Section of the American Institute of Architects to the CILF Architectural Archive Fund.
1994 - CILF meets with representatives of Illinois Department of Transportation regarding preservation of boulevard strips on Hamilton Boulevard.
1994 - City Manager Peter Korn and Councilperson Camille Gibson tour the National Register Historic District in the near north side with CILF.
1994 - Veterans Memorial Park dedicated by General Shalikashvilli, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff. Joint effort with Peoria City Beautiful.
1994 - Markers Committee updates the list; total now 104. New Walking Tour Guide includes the updates lists and maps of marker locations in Elmwood, Washington and Chillicothe.
1994 - Kai Obiozor offers her lot on the corner of Sheridan and Columbia Terrace to CILF for an historic garden.
1994 - Olde Towne North with the assistance of CILF and the Human Service Center moves a house slated for demolition from Jefferson Avenue to 922 N. E. Monroe Street.
1994 - CILF recognizes the "Peoria Party" with Robert Day, former mayor. Plaque mounted on Commerce Bank Building.
1994 - CILF reactivates the Buildings at Risk Committee in the light of many historic structures vulnerable to demolition. Board member George Kottemann accepts chairmanship of the committee to become active in January 1995.
1994 - CILF participates in "Yule Like Peoria" program in 1994.
1995 - Working with Bradley University in Continuing Education program with a four lecture series on the history of Peoria architecture, starting with early 1800's up to the present.
1995 - Lost Wallace Station. Met with CILCO Executives and reviewed their feasibility studies. Our request to have a more thorough study made was denied.
1996 - Assisted the Olde Town North group, to develop and save the neglected Morton Park that is surrounded by historic houses, in raising funds through the "Fair in the Park" event, to landscape and improve the Morton Park.
1996 - The official unveiling of the plaque for the Veteran's Memorial Park located next to the G.A.R. Hall.
1996 - Assisted the "Save Our Springdale" group to bring public attention to the neglet of the very historic cemetery, by the Owner. Owner taken to court.
1996 - Hosted the National Trust Regional Conference in Peoria.
1997 - Joined the Peoria Historical Society in saving and moving the oldest riverfront commercial building, the Powell Press building.
1997 - In cooperation with Peoria Area Visitors and Convention Bureau we have established a Visitors Center in the oldest riverfront commercial building, the Powell Press building.
1997 - Lost Bergner building. Brought in experts on historic preservation of stone in an effort to save the five story department store building known as the Bergner building. Report was negative.
1997 - Developed support for the City of Peoria's Historic Preservation Commission. Liaison member from Board attends meetings and advises when needed.
1997 - Hosted High Tea on historic High Street to educate the new City Council and others regarding the value of our historic districts.
1997 - Developed and produced a new and expanded Walking Tour brochure to include new historic districts and nearby communities.
1997 - Accomplished ownership of the G.A.R. Hall. Former owners are all deceased and the courts have declared CILF as the owners.
1997 - Image Committee purchased tapes "Back from the Brink" and rotated them through the City Council and Staff.
1997 - Barn Again - Exhibited Peoria area barns in the Smithsonian " Barn Again" show in Lacon, Illinois' Marhsall County Historical Society building.
1997 - Ased the City of Peoria to maintain brick sidewalks in the historic districts and provide bricks from their stockpile when building owners ask for brick sidewalks.
1997 - Attended the city wide Neighborhood Conference held in the summer at the Civic Center. The historic preservation group compiled a list of 23 items that the Neighborhood Commission should do to improve historic districts and the city's tourism.
1997 - Brought in Royce Baier, a brick paving expert, as a speaker for the Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation Board Meeting.
1997 - Invited each candidate for Mayor of Peoria to speak to the Board of Directors to learn their views on historic preservation and tourism.
1997 - Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation produces a newsletter four times a year. It contains all of the current information on Foundation activites nad proposed activities. Special announcements are made and awards and honors are recognized in the newsletter.
This page maintained by: William Ordaz -
(ORDAZW@aol.com)