The following is the thirteenth 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.

1954 – The New fire station in City Park opens on September 19th. The grand opening of the station featured a ribbon cutting ceremony by Mayor Ben Greer and Chief Gail “Mike” Myers, followed by an open house for the public. The newly constructed three-stall building gives the firemen much more operating space than their old location in City Hall. The building is equipped with concrete floors, electric doors, and the front of the building is split rock, and the rest of the building is painted white.

1954 – Landowners Walter and Marjorie Hedrick, and Thomas and Maud Jackson, along with Real Estate developers Robert Hicks and Barbara Truitt plat out a seventeen-lot subdivision that will be known as the South Bay Subdivision along the Illinois River. The land, which was known as Cradle Beach, was part of what was formerly known as Columbia Park in the late 1800s. When the North Shore Country Club opened its golf course in 1927, holes four and five were situated on the land the subdivision currently occupies. 

1954 – In an effort to provide more downtown parking for the business section, the City Council led by Alderperson Gene Behrens, approved a parking area on the west side of City Park. Approximately twenty percent of the park will be dedicated to a parking area with entrances and exits on both Chestnut and Cedar Streets. No trees were removed from the area to execute the plan.

1954 – The Chillicothe Grey Ghosts football team completes their first undefeated season with a record of eight wins and zero losses. This is the tenth season under Coach George Taylor. The team outscored their opponents 116 to 38. The team had 13 seniors and was led by their most valuable player Henry LeGault, who had thirteen touchdowns for the Grey Ghosts. Other key contributors were Player “Bud” Cook, Bill Boyer, John Grogan, Harley Gray, Ed Cooper, Ron Gould, Frank Jurkovich, Gerry Swanson, Leroy Griswold, Ed Henderson, Dave Bodie, and Gene Staab.

1955 – The modernization of the Chillicothe business district is completed. A dedication ceremony was held by Mayor Ben Greer and the city council along with the Chamber of Commerce to officially light up the downtown business district. The transformation included new mercury vapor lighting and a new blacktop surface in a four-block area from Elm to Cedar Street. The addition of the lights and the covering of the old brick paver streets cost an approximate total of $300,000 dollars in today’s economy. The lighting committee was led by business owner Roger Mannering. Eighty-three businesses contributed nearly $20,000 dollars to make the new lights possible.

1955 –George C. Thomas and his wife Susan Thomas plat out a twenty-two-lot subdivision a quarter mile west of the city cemetery north of Spruce Street (Now Cloverdale Road). The seven and one-quarter acre piece of land will be known as the Thomas Addition. The streets within the subdivision will be named in memory of the Thomas family’s two sons Donald (b.1924-d.1936) and William (b.1923-d.1933). 

1955 – Kenneth C. Koch and the Chillicothe Developers Co. plat out the second phase of the Cloverdale Subdivision No. 2. The forty-five-lot subdivision is located just west of the first Cloverdale subdivision. Street names within the subdivision include Leonard Drive, Stanley Drive, and David Avenue. Leonard Drive and Stanley Drive are named after Kenneth and Elmyra Koch’s son Leonard Stanley Koch. David Avenue is named after their other son Herbert David Koch.

1955 – The Chillicothe Grey Ghosts football team completes their second consecutive undefeated season with a record of nine wins and zero losses, running its win streak up to twenty-one games. The team outscored their opponents 216 to 30. The team was led on the offense side of the ball by sophomore quarterback Ron Taylor, who had eight touchdowns for the Grey Ghosts. Other key contributors were Warren Dew, Carl Reifsteck, Jim Peters, Jim Arnold, Jim Turpin, Jim Dolph, Phil Augustine, Chad Fox, Troy Childers, Walt Schaufelberger, Kem Mills, and Jim Tucker.

1955 – The oldest business in Chillicothe changes ownership as Weber Funeral Home was sold by Gene Weber to Buford Smith of Fairview. The Weber family had operated the business for more than 103 years. Gene Weber will remain active in the business indefinitely as manager and the firm name will remain as the Weber Funeral Home.

1956 – The Santa Fe railroad announces that consolidation of two state division offices will result in the division headquarters moving to Fort Madison, Iowa. Approximately fifty office employees and dispatchers will be affected by the change. Village President James M. Ladd feels that the economy of North Chillicothe will be affected, estimating that twenty-five percent of the community will feel the strain of the merger. The Santa Fe payroll of North Chillicothe payroll is estimated at one million dollars ($11,000,000 dollars in today’s economy). 

1956 – John B. Brusseau and his wife Laura E. Brusseau plat a new seven-lot subdivision on 3.2 acres of land in North Chillicothe. The subdivision is located on the southeast corner of Maginnis Street (now Sixth Street) and Wilmot Street. The Village of North Chillicothe agrees to add the through street of Fifth Street in between Moffit Street and Wilmot Street.

1956 – Chillicothe and North Chillicothe voters agree to enlarge one grade school and add another. The school bond value of $250, 000 is valued at $2.7 million dollars in today’s economy. With 947 ballots cast, the vote was 733 in favor, to 201 against. The election result means the community will soon have a new South primary school accommodating up to 12 classrooms. An addition will be made to North School with additions made to include two classrooms and include a multi-purpose room. 

1956 – The city installs its new 300,000-gallon water tank on the west end of town (400 feet northwest of the intersection of Cutright and Walnut) near the south end of the Chillicothe Township High School (now Chillicothe Junior High and Elementary Center).