The following is part Twenty-Three 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. 

1988 – The First National Bank facility at the corner of Second and Pine closes its doors for the last time and combines its offices into the Fourth Street facility. The closure marked the end of banking operations in that location since 1920.

1988 – The Chillicothe City Council approves to put a referendum on the March 15 ballot asking for an added 10 cents tax per $100 assessed evaluation to fund a community center in the former Pearce school building. Voters turned out and decisively rejected the referendum. Final votes tallied were 679 against and 498 in favor of the increase.

1988 – The City Council voted to change its Class “E” liquor license to include the sale of hard liquor in area grocery stores. The motion allowed Short Loin, Econo-24, and Kroger the right to sell hard liquor.

1988 – Chillicothe Federal Savings and Loan celebrates its 100th anniversary. The financial institution was originally known as the Chillicothe Loan and Homestead Association.

1988 – The Chillicothe Bulletin celebrated 105 years of continuous publications of the news and events of Chillicothe. The Bulletin was founded in 1883 by Frank W. Bailey.

1988 – The IVC Grey Ghost Football team finishes the season with a record of 5 wins and 4 losses, marking the first time since 1972 that the team had posted a winning season.

1988 – Vice President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara were welcomed to downtown Chillicothe by a crowd of nearly 3,000 spectators. Bush came to Chillicothe during the final days of his presidential campaign. He was accompanied by Governor James Thompson and State Representative Bob Michel. Three days later George H.W. Bush would go on to win the presidency and become the 41st President of the United States.

1989 – The first D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) class graduated 93 sixth graders at Chillicothe Elementary Center. Chillicothe Police Officer Rich Mark instructed the students for 17 weeks.

1989 – Ilion Wait Crabel retires from public office after 66 years. She served as the Chillicothe city clerk for 66 years, Chillicothe township clerk for 65 years, and registrar of vital records in Chillicothe, until retiring in May 1989. First elected to office in 1923, just three years after women gained the right to vote, she was the first female clerk in Illinois and is believed to have served longer than any other clerk in the world. She is thought to hold the world’s title for the longest consecutive years in office by Guinness Book of World Records officials.

1989 – Irvin Latta, incumbent Mayor of Chillicothe is re-elected. Latta wins easily running unopposed for his second term. Latta received 965 votes.

1989 – Sharon Crabel wins election for the city clerk position in Chillicothe. Crabel received 771 votes (59.4 percent) to challenger Eleanor Smith’s 528 votes (40.6 percent). The election will mark the 67th consecutive year that a “Crabel” will fill the office. Crabel will succeed her mother-in-law Ilion Wait Crabel when she leaves office in May of 1989 after 66 years in office.

1989 – The Chillicothe Foundation, Inc (CFI), a non-profit organization acquired the Pearce Grade School building. The IVC School board transferred the property over to the City of Chillicothe who was acting as an intermediary for the transaction. The City then in turn adopted an ordinance authorizing the transfer and sold the property for one dollar to the CFI. The transfer was completed on August 15th. The building, formerly used as a school, was closed in 1983 when the district felt it was no longer feasible to keep the facility open with enrollment dropping. CFI plans to turn the building into a community recreational facility.

1989 – Chillicothe Fire Department Chief Gail “Mike” Myers marks his 50th year with the Department. Myers started as a volunteer in 1939 when his friend Harry Camp suggested he join. In 1953, following the death of Chief Charles Hoyt, Myers was appointed to the position.

1989 – The first Board of Directors is formed for the new Pearce Community Center. The Board will report directly to the Chillicothe Foundation, Inc. Officers are Jerry Fennell, President; Darlene Kumpf, Secretary; Creta Harper, Secretary. Other Board Members include Dennis Parkins, Scott Meints, James Thornton, Roger Atkins, Karen Moewe, and Neil Montgomery.

1989 – The City Council has approved a multi–phase subdivision in Chillicothe near the High School. The new subdivision will be known as Brandon Park. Contractor Harry Miller of Millbrooke Homes, Inc. will construct phase one of the project consisting of 12 lots. Lots 1 through 12 will start at the northwest corner of Bradley Avenue and Sycamore Street. They will run approximately a quarter mile along the north side of Sycamore Street. Brandon Park is named after Contractor Miller’s son Brandon Miller who died in a car accident in 1988. Streets included in the subdivision will be Sycamore Street and Taylor Drive. Taylor is the middle name of Harry and Deneen Miller’s son Brant Taylor Miller, and their daughter Brooke is the namesake of their business, Millbrooke Homes, Inc.

1990 – Three days of activities kicked off the grand opening weekend for Peoria Community Center (PCC). A dance was held on Saturday, April 21st in the new multi-purpose room with the band Krosflo providing the entertainment. An open house along with the grand-opening ribbon cutting ceremony was held on April 22nd to allow the public to see the facilities. Continuous tours were given to the public to view the multi-purpose room, fitness center, and newly resurfaced gymnasium floor. Amongst those present for the ceremony were Floyd Mischke of the Chillicothe Building Corporation, Mayor Irvin Latta, Bob Truiit with the Chillicothe Foundation, Inc., Jerry Fennell, PCC Board President, and PCC Board members James Thornton, Darlene Kumpf, Scott Meints, Creta Harper, and Roger Atkins. On Monday April 23rd, the Pearce Community Center was officially open for business.

(1990 will be continued next month)