The following is the ninth 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.

** 1938 – Marion L. Geiger opens his new hardware store downtown. The store will be known as Geiger’s Cash Hardware. The store is located in the Bacon Building in the location formerly housed by the Schwager Hardware store. The official opening of the store took place on Tuesday, June 28, 1938. 

1940 – Chillicothe Grade School is renamed Pearce Grade School to honor L.L. “Doc” Pearce, past superintendent of schools for 17 years. 

1940 – The 1940 Census reports that the population of Chillicothe is 2,306 and North Chillicothe is 1,215, totaling 3,521. This represents an increase of 539 since the 1930 Census. Chillicothe Township’s total population is 4,081 and 651 more than in 1930. 

1940 – New U.S. Post Office dedicated. The Businessmen’s Association of Chillicothe sponsored a festive event to celebrate the opening of the new Post Office building. Walter T. McKenna, Postmaster opened the new building for a public visitation for hundreds of visitors between the hours of One O’clock and Five O’clock. Congressman Everett M. Dirksen of Pekin headlined the dedication. The program featured the American Legion with the flag-raising ceremony. The High School band played “God Bless America.”  Following the dedication ceremonies, Webb’s Inn served a delicious chicken dinner for the many gatherers from opening.

1940 – Thomas Callahan, formerly of Chillicothe died in Reno, Nevada. Mr. Callahan was a prominent businessperson in Colorado. His mother, Celia Callahan, and sister, Miss Celia Callahan owned and operated the Golden Rule Store in Chillicothe. Mr. Callahan left Chillicothe in the late 1800s and settled in Longmont, Colorado. He operated a Golden Rule Store taking the name from his mother’s store. He would later hire a young J.C. Penney that would eventually buy out all the Golden Rule Franchises including the one in Chillicothe.

1941 – E.L. Pennington wins his second re-election bid by defeating challenger George A. Mattice 540 votes to 454 in a close race. Pennington wins his second four-year term. Ilion B. Wait defeats Earl J. Woodruff for City Clerk 533 votes to 439. This marks her eighth re-election. Newcomer Daniel “D.W.” Wanders wins the election as Village President of North Chillicothe over challenger James Melvin 177 votes to 116.

1941 – The Pearce Grade School Lightweight track team were State Champs again winning their second title in four years. Led by Coach Ralph Cusac, the team won by collecting thirty team points to runner-up Normal with seventeen. Roger Jones was the star athlete winning the Shot Put, Pole Vault, and 220-yard dash. Glen Bornsheuer took first place in the 100-yard dash. The 440-yard relay team of Fix, Bornsheuer, James, and Jones won the race by fifteen yards.

1941 – Celia Callahan, owner of the last of the remaining Golden Rule Stores to sell to J.C. Penney, dies at age 75. 

1942 – Michael “M.C”. Kelly, former Mayor, and businessperson was killed when he stepped in front of the oncoming Rock Island Rocket train. Kelly, the 11th Mayor of Chillicothe, served three different two-year terms between 1899 and 1911. 

1942 – William “Bill” Roger became the first Boy Scout in Chillicothe to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

1942 – Chicago Artist Arthur Lidov completes the mural on the south wall of the new Post Office. The mural entitled Rail Roading was completed in just under a month. The mural was completed at a cost of $1,000 and was part of the $70,000 appropriation for the new government building.

1943 – The Pearce Grade School Lightweight track team were State Champs again winning their third title in six years. The team won by collecting forty team points to runner-up Amboy with thirty-eight- and one-half points. Jim Weaver led the team by winning the High Jump and the Shot Put and taking fifth in 100-yard dash. Jim Callahan took first in the Discus; Bob Brown took second in the Triple Jump and third in the 220-yard dash. The 440-yard relay team of Brown, Arnold, Roebuck, and Callahan took second place.

1944 – The Pearce Grade School Lightweight track team repeated as State Champs again by winning their fourth title in seven years. The team compiled forty-nine and one-half team points destroying the rest of the field. Runner-up Lincoln took second with thirty and one-half points. The Chillicothe athletes dominated the competition by winning seven of the ten individual events. John Allen won the 100 and 220-yard dash. Dave Israelson took first in the High Jump and Pole Vault. Bob Allington came in first in the Discus. George Calvin won the Discus and Pat Mooney won the Triple Jump. The winning 440-yard relay team was comprised of Jerome Augustine, Pat Mooney, Dave Israelson, and John Allen.

1944 – E. L. Smith sold the Ben Franklin store to John and Berniece Lee of Waukegan, IL. Mr. and Mrs. Lee will take over on July 1. Mr. Lee has been the manager of the Kresge store in Waukegan for the past fourteen years.

1944 – Webb’s Inn, famous for its fried chicken dinners, closes its doors after 22 years in business. Gilbert and Ollie Webb came to Chillicothe in 1922 and purchased the J.P. Matthews home at the southwest corner of Walnut Street and Second Street. The Inn gained national publicity when Duncan Hines, a noted traveler and connoisseur of eating houses stopped off for a chicken dinner. Upon his departure, Hines adds the establishment in his book, “Adventures in Good Eating.”

1945 – E.L. Pennington wins his third re-election bid by defeating challenger Eugene M. Uhden 669 votes to 279. Pennington wins his third four-year term. Ilion B. Wait ran unopposed for City Clerk and received 900 votes. This marks her ninth re-election. North Chillicothe re-elects incumbent Village President Daniel “D.W.” Wanders for his second term. He ran unopposed and received 216 votes.

** Should have been included in the Timeline 1935-1939

You can read parts 1-8 through the links below.