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

1949 – Richard H. “Dick” Zinser is elected the new Mayor of Chillicothe. Zinser becomes the 22nd Mayor in the city’s history by defeating incumbent E.L. “Ed” Pennington. The election produced voters coming out in record form. Zinser received 712 votes to Pennington’s 630. Pennington had been Mayor since 1935. Other elections saw Ilion Wait Crabel defeat Thomas Anderson, 762 to 448. This was Crabel’s tenth re-election. Walter Dew, local businessperson, was named Village President of North Chillicothe when he received 133 write-in votes, Dew defeated challenger Fred Allington and Gayhart Gunderson. Allington received 108 votes and Gunderson, 90.

1949 – The Paul E. Pickle Subdivisions 1 and 2 were dedicated by the city in July and August. The ninth and tenth subdivisions to have been laid out in the past three years. Paul Pickle and Ted Harvel are the promoters of the 18-lot subdivision (No. 1) situated north of Irion’s subdivision. The subdivision sits between McGinnis (now Sixth Street) and Fifth Street. The land was sold by Bert Davidson and has been used for years as a show lot of Rodeos and other events. It is located partly in both Chillicothe and North Chillicothe. The second six-lot subdivision (No. 2) is an extension of the first tract to the north.

1949 – Frank N. Coon, longtime resident along with his wife, Louisa, sell their 100-acre farm known as Cloverdale Farm located on Middle Road just west of Chillicothe to Kenneth C. Koch and his wife Elmyra M. Koch. Koch is the owner of Chillicothe Cartage and Koch Motor Sales. Cloverdale Farm, which is registered in the Peoria County Recorder’s office was given its name due to the large crops of clover and its cousin legume, alfalfa.

1949 – Anna Nelson, developer of a new subdivision in North Chillicothe, plats out what is to be known as the Anna Nelson Subdivision. Through land bought from Thomas and Hazel Hayden, and Edward and Mary Sweetnam, the new tract sits just north of Truitt Avenue and west of Hoyt Street. The subdivision has eight lots sitting on the north side of the newly formed street called Sunnyside.

1949 – The new Town Theater has its grand opening on December 2. The theater formerly known as the Sunset reopens under the new name. Noted architect, Axel J. Claesson designer and creative mind behind the renovation. The Kerasotes group spent over $50,000 on the upgrade of the facility. Flossie Harvey wins a free admission ticket for a year after winning the naming contest.

1950 – Willard J. Wilson develops a new 57-lot subdivision called Wilson’s 2nd Addition. The new subdivision is located west of the newly formed Anna Nelson subdivision on land that was acquired from Edward and Mary Sweetnam. New streets that are dedicated along with the subdivision are Wilson Avenue and Birren Avenue. Wilson Avenue is named after Willard and Darlene Wilson, and Birren Avenue is named after Peoria County surveyor, Murrell “M.H.J” Birren.

1950 – The Alumni Association of Chillicothe High held a dedication ceremony on March 3rd at the High School to show off the new construction of the Gymnasium. Tickets were sold to the public and proceeds went to benefit the annual spring alumni banquet. Gene Behrens, President of the Alumni Association was the Master of Ceremonies for the event. The cost of the new gymnasium and locker room structure totaled $170,000, nearly $2.2 million dollars in today’s economy.

1950 – Voters took to the polls in North Chillicothe to help pass a $30,000 bond issue to help with the construction of a new fire station and village hall building, along with a new fire truck. The vote passed by a majority vote of 236 voting yes, to 44 voting no.

1950 – The Chamber of Commerce voted to go on record as approving the proposal that was recommended by the city council for the sale of City Park for commercial building sites and parking lot. The Chamber made its decision in a general meeting held at City Hall. The meeting was attended by twenty-five members of the organization. Despite the recommendation, the city council votes against the sale. 

1950 – The annual Father-Son banquet was held April 10 by the Methodist Church. J.C. Penney, world renowned businessperson, spoke to the nearly 200 people in attendance that evening. Earlier in the day, Mr. Penney greeted customers on Founders Day at the local J.C. Penney store. He later was a guest at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon. He spoke to the businesspeople in attendance and paid tribute to Mr. Thomas Callahan, a native of Chillicothe, who gave him his original start in business. 

1950 – On March 24, the largest fire in the downtown business district since 1922 wreaks havoc on the First National Bank building. Firefighters from Chillicothe, North Chillicothe, and Peoria battled the slow creeping fire that ultimately gutted the entire building. Damage was estimated at $100,000 and resulted in a total loss of all contents inside the building, except bank records kept inside a fireproof safe. Eight businesses have been displaced because of the fire.

1950 – The 1950 Census reports that the population of Chillicothe is 2,765 and North Chillicothe is 1,750, totaling 4,515. This is an increase of 944 since the 1940 Census. Chillicothe Township’s total population is 5,550 and 1,419 more than in 1940. 

1951 – Leone Ringenberg became the first female alderperson in Chillicothe. Leone won her seat on the city council by defeating challenger Charles Semtner by a vote of 83 to 81. 

1951 – The North Chillicothe board voted to deny the sale of Santa Fe Park for a new school site. A survey was conducted prior to the voting showed that residents were opposed to the proposed action.

1951 – The first traffic light in Chillicothe is operational at the corner of Fourth Street and Chestnut Street. A school crossing traffic signal was installed to supply safe crossing options for all school children going to and from school.

You can read parts 1-10 using the links below.