The following is the fourth of a multi-part article about the timeline of Chillicothe, IL. This article will illustrate the key dates along with the key individuals that helped to shape our city’s great history.

1892 – Waterhouse Addition – James A. Waterhouse along with his brother Frederick A. Waterhouse buy land in North Chillicothe near the Chillicothe Paper Mill with plans of platting out a subdivision. The subdivision planned to be just south of the paper mill included the streets named Mill Street, Adams Street, Washington Street, Center Street, and Wetherwax Way, named after Mill secretary Charles Wetherwax.

1893 – Pettett’s Addition – Howel Jones plats out a one-block parcel of land in Moffitt and Holman’s subdivision when he buys lot thirty-nine from local attorney, H.C. (Howard Charles) Pettett. Pettett, formerly was the president of the School Board for many years. Pettett worked as an agent for the Santa Fe Railway company for many years. Pettitt had bought a notable balance of the land from the company.

1895 – Joseph Bradley is elected the new Mayor and would serve one two-year term.

1897 – Sidney Wood, son of L.A. Wood, is elected Mayor and W.M. (William Maurice) Mead is elected president of the Board of Education. Wood would eventually become the first four-term Mayor. Note: Wood and Mead are brother in-laws. They are both married to sisters, Lucy Matthews Wood and Minnie Matthews Mead, daughter of P.T. Matthews.

1898 – The First United Methodist Church present structure was constructed at the corner of Fifth and Chestnut Streets.

1899 – M.C. (Michael) Kelley, local business owner, is elected the new Mayor. Kelley will serve two terms. H.C. (Howard Charles) Pettett is elected President of the board of education.

1900 - The First National Bank was organized December 10, 1900, by Benjamin Franklin (B. F.) Zinser, President, Ira D. Buck, Vice-President, and Eugene Moffitt, Treasurer.

1901 – St. Edward’s Catholic Church purchases land at the northeast corner of Sixth Street and Cedar Street. Bishop John L. Spalding, Peoria’s first Bishop, bought the land on behalf of the church. The church would open in 1901 in its new location after being a mission church since 1885 when it conducted mass under as St. Mary’s at the corner of Third and Walnut. Bishop Spalding would sell the property at Third and Walnut to E.V. Mattice in 1902.

1901 – The Santa Fe Depot was destroyed by fire on August 2, 1901.  The following year, the new depot was constructed.  This would feature a Reading Room, which would serve as a place for employees to relax, read, and rest. 

1903 – Sidney Wood is elected Mayor and would serve three two-year terms. Mayor Wood served from 1895-1897 and 1903-1909.

1904 – Waterhouse Addition is vacated. When the Paper Mill turns into a financial failure for James Waterhouse, the subdivision and plat is vacated.

1904 – Lathan Alexander (L.A.) Wood of Chillicothe agrees to sell the fifty-four and one-half acre site that Columbia Park sits on to Jacob Gauwitz. The agreed upon sale price is $6600 or $121 per acre. Mr. Gauwitz intends to expand the scale of the summer resort, found on the beautiful grove on the riverbank south of town.

1905 – Wilmot’s Subdivision – Charles B. Wilmot plats out a Nine and one-half acre parcel of land on the northwest corner of Truitt Avenue and Fourth Street. Charles is the son of former prominent local doctor Asahel Wilmot. The Wilmot name was very prevalent in Chillicothe in the mid 1800’s and a good part of land was owned by the family in Chillicothe. A street name currently bears their name in the northern portion of the city.

1906 – The Santa Fe (AT&SF) buys the Midland Hotel in North Chillicothe. The Reading Room is relocated, and the hotel is converted into a full scale Club House for the employees.

1907 – The first of a long series of Fall Festivals known as the Harvest Festival was held in October of 1907. The concept behind the festival was organized by Michael (M.C) Kelley. The festival would run each fall from 1907-1916 would attract crowds from many neighboring cities.

1909 – Michael (M.C) Kelley, local business owner, is elected the new Mayor for another two-year term. Mayor Kelley would serve as the City’s Mayor from 1899-1903 and 1909-1911.

1911 – The Peoria Automobile Club is formed as a social and recreational organization for the automobile owners of Peoria and the surrounding cities.

1911 – E. A. Mitchell, local business owner, is elected Mayor and would serve three terms from 1911-1917

1912 – Administrator’s Subdivision of the Darst Addition – Patrick H. Kelly buys the west half of block 29 on Fifth Street between Chestnut and Cedar Street. The plat will be subdivided into six lots.

1913 - In June of 1913, with funds secured to build a clubhouse, The Peoria Automobile Club concludes that the grounds of Columbia Park would be a suitable home for the club’s new show piece. Jacob and Sophie Gauwitz, owners of the property, agree to a 30-year, long-term lease plan with the directors of the club.

1915 – Columbia Park is officially changed to the Peoria Automobile Club, and after several months of work, was opened to the membership and guests on Labor Day, September 6, 1915. The building, designed by Hotchkiss & Harris, Architects, of Peoria, was one of the finest in the country, accessible by automobile, steam car, steamboats, and motorboats.

You can read parts 1-3 through the links below.