The following is part Twenty-Four 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. 

1990 – Marvin “Buzz” Dunlap and his wife Gloria closed the doors of Dunlap Jewelry for the final time on Monday April 30th. The store had been at the corner of Second Street and Pine Street since 1967. Buzz Dunlap had opened in its first location in 1955 in the original Truitt-Matthews bank building where The River Corridor walkway is now located.

1990 – The City Council has approved the second extension in a multi–phase subdivision in Chillicothe near to the north of the original extension. Contractor Harry Miller of Millbrooke Homes, Inc. will construct phase two of the project consisting of 25 lots.  Lots 13 through 37 will start just west of the northwest corner of Bradley Avenue and Sycamore Street.  

1990 – Traders Realty announces they are working on a 22-lot joint development with local realtors Denny and Cheryl Cutler to develop Westchester Subdivision on the west side of Chillicothe.  Westchester was renamed from its original subdivision name of Area Growth Extension 4 when it was formerly being developed by Area Growth Corporation that was affiliated with Chillicothe Federal Savings and Loan.  

1990 – Dr. Fred Z. White retires from patient care after 38 years of practicing medicine. White received his medical degree from Northwestern University and interned at Cook County Hospital in Chicago.  He was recruited to come to Chillicothe by Dr. Frank Green in 1952.  White started in Chillicothe in July of 1952 and delivered 25 babies in the first month, with Jane Kemp Huggins being the first baby he delivered.  

1990 – Pearce Community Center (PCC) wins Governor’s Hometown Award. PCC top honors in their category for communities between 5,600 and 9,599.  Chillicothe beat out eight other finalists to capture the general category for converting Pearce Grade School into a working community center. PCC Board of Directors President Jerry Fennell accepted the award on behalf of the organization.  PCC Director Ben Alvarez said that over 5,000 volunteer hours had been donated in 1989 and in the first six months of 1990 over 10,000 hours had been accumulated.

1990 – South Side Bank buys Chillicothe Federal Savings and Loan.  Founded in 1888 and originally named the Chillicothe Loan and Homestead Association, it was issued its federal charter in 1935, prompting a name change to Chillicothe Federal Savings and Loan Association.

1990 – IVC High School Marching Band wins its first state title at the Illinois State University (ISU) State of Illinois Marching Invitational. The first of twelve under director Dan Dietrich. IVC would go on to win six straight Class titles between 1990-95. 

1990 – The SLG Foundation announces plans for a living history museum that will be known as Three Sisters Park. The property is a 400-acre tract of farmland located between Vet’s Row in Rome and the south edge of Chillicothe.  The property is part of the estate of the late Sadie, Lillian, and Goldie (SLG) Cohen, estimated to be more than $3 million ($7.1 million in today’s economy). The three sisters envisioned the park and recreational facility as appealing to families and children.

1991 – Ilion Wait Crabel passed away on September 7, at the age of 93. 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. Ilion served under 15 mayors and 11 different presidential administrations during her tenure.

1991 – The Barb Truitt Memorial Pool opened at the Pearce Community Center at a cost of $1.2 million ($2.7 million in today’s economy) — all of which was donated by Truitt through the Chillicothe Foundation.  The 108,000-gallon pool features six swimming lanes that measure 25 meters in length.  A sauna is set up next to the pool to accommodate up to 10 people.

1991 – IVC Marching Band sees one of the best seasons in program history winning its 2nd state title at ISU and finishing 3rd in Class A at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana, coming 1.25 points away from being a national finalist. 

1991 – Santa Fe Railway eliminates the city of Chillicothe as a crew-change point forcing several local families to relocate.

1992 – Nearly 10,000 people showed up for the first event and grand opening of Three Sisters Park on August 28th.  Three Sisters’ first special event was the 9th Annual Old Fashioned Threshing Show & Antique Association.  Present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony was Congressman Bob Michel’s administrative assistant Ray LaHood, Senator Carl Hawkinson, Representative David Leitch, Chillicothe Mayor Irvin Latta, Peoria Mayor Jim Maloof, and Tim Cassidy, representative of the SLG Foundation.  

1992 – Vice President Dan Quayle makes a campaign stop in Chillicothe.  An estimated 350 people started gathering along Fourth Street and Walnut Street waiting for the Vice President’s bus and motorcade to roll in. Quayle’s bus makes a stop in the parking lot of Century 21 / Bud’s Yogurt and Dogs (now Dollar General) and made his way around shaking hands before heading on his way to Peoria.

1993 – Mayor Irvin Latta and Fire Chief Gail F. “Mike” Myers formally handle the ceremonial ribbon-cutting to officially open the newly relocated Fire Station Three.  The station located on the north end of Bradley Avenue near Truitt Avenue gives the fire department more space and better amenities inside the building.  All firefighters assigned to the station were present for the ceremony.  Also present were Alderpersons Dick Eckstein, Jeff Anderson, and Paul Gollnitz.

1993 – Riverside Chevrolet-Olds-Geo celebrated moving into their new location in Plaza Park by kicking off a two-day open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony.  Mayor Irvin Latta cut the ribbon to officially open the new Riverside dealership at its new location.  Others in attendance were John and Joann Blank, owners of the dealership.

(1993 to be continued next month)