The following is part Twenty-Six 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. 

1995 – Chillicothe State Bank (CSB) becomes Commerce Bank. CSB was purchased on May 1, and the conversion that became visible to the public was May 23. Chillicothe State Bank opened their new bank on February 15, 1971, at the southwest corner of Second Street and Chestnut Street.

1995 – Shore Acres Clubhouse was named to the National Registry of Historic Places. Shore Acres Clubhouse is the only building in Chillicothe to be named to the registry, and this honor will ensure the protection and integrity of the building. Originally constructed in 1915 as the Peoria Automobile Club, the clubhouse was designed by the Peoria architectural firm of Hotchkiss & Harris in the Classical Revival style.

1995 – Pearce Community Center celebrates its 5-year anniversary. Pearce Foundation, an Illinois non-profit corporation is incorporated on April 10, 1995. The mission of the Pearce Foundation is to attract financial resources for the purpose of providing long-term financial security to Pearce Community Center.

1995 – Ben Franklin store closes its doors after 58 years in business. Owners Alice and Jerry Metcalf announced that the historic downtown business located at 941 North Second Street will be going out of business. The Ben Franklin five and dime variety store opened in 1937 by Ed Smith in the P.T. Matthews department store building (now Little Shop of Hoarders). On July 1, 1944, John and Bernice Lee, Alice Metcalf’s parents, bought the business from Smith and made the business into what most Chillicothe residents and visitors have come to love. 

1996 - On August 1st, Chillicothe was changed forever. Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, # 3 and # 4, make its final stops In Chillicothe, Illinois. After 120+ years, no passenger train will stop, or even pass through town moving forward. 

1996 – The Chillicothe City Council approved a new thirteen-lot extension of Brandon Park known as Section Three. Contractor Harry Miller of Millbrooke Homes, Inc. led the construction of this phase, adding four new lots numbered 47-48, 50, 52, located west of Bradley Avenue. Another nine lots numbered 57, 60-62, 66-71, located south of Walnut Street and east of Stanley Drive.

1996 – Shore Acres Park in Chillicothe, Illinois, introduced a disc golf course. The course features nine baskets with dual tees, allowing for an 18-hole layout. 

1997 – Troy A. Childers Sr. was elected as the 31st mayor of Chillicothe, defeating challenger Carl Spencer Jr. with 872 votes to Spencer’s 553. Childers had previously served as an alderman before his mayoral tenure. He was known for his dedication to the community, serving the city for over 30 years. 

1997 – The Chillicothe City Council approved a new twenty-lot extension of Brandon Park known as Section Four. Contractor Harry Miller of Millbrooke Homes, Inc. led the construction of this phase located west of Bradley Avenue. Street names located in this section include Taylor Drive and Marcus Court. Taylor Drive represents the middle name of Miller’s son Brant Taylor Miller, and Marcus Court represents the middle name of Miller’s son Brady Marcus Miller.

1998 – The Sycamore Group led by developers Jeff Kolbus, Terry Ruhland, and Rick Hinck entered into an agreement with the City of Chillicothe to develop Sycamore Trail Subdivision, Section One. The fifty-lot subdivision is located west of IVC High School and south of Sycamore Street. Streets located within the subdivision include Sycamore Trail, Fieldstone Street and Court, Greystone Court, Sandstone Court, Prairie Springs Drive, and Holland Court.

1999 – Chillicothe Post Office mural is renovated. The mural titled “Rail Roading,” created by artist Arthur in 1942. This artwork was part of the New Deal-era initiative to incorporate public art into federal buildings. Many New Deal-era post office murals have undergone restoration efforts to preserve their historical and cultural significance. The Chillicothe mural remains accessible to the public, located in the post office lobby above the postmaster’s door.

2000 – Scott Schultz, a senior at IVC High School, made history as the school’s first individual state wrestling champion by winning the IHSA Class A State Wrestling Championship in the 215-pound weight class. Schultz concluded his senior season with an impressive 32-2 record. In the final match, he claimed the title with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Scott Byram of Sandwich High School, a win that secured both the championship and his place in IVC’s sports history.

2000 – Adam Miller of Chillicothe IVC High School wins the triple jump at the 2000 IHSA Class A State Finals Track Meet. His leap of 45’ 3 1/4” makes Adam the second individual state champion in schools’ history. Randy Crady of Chillicothe Township High School won the High Jump in 1968.

2001 – Donald Z. White, a lifelong resident of Chillicothe, was elected as the city’s 32nd mayor in 2001, defeating Paul W. Crull with a substantial margin of 952 votes to 454. Prior to his mayoral tenure, White served as the First Ward alderman from 1999 to 2001.

2001 – The inaugural Summer Camp Music Festival took place at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, Illinois. This two-day event featured over 15 bands performing on two stages and attracted approximately 1,000 attendees. The festival was developed by concert producer Ian Goldberg of Jay Goldberg Events & Entertainment. Notable performers included the band Moe.

2001 – The City of Chillicothe approves a five-lot subdivision in a northwest section of the city. BriHet Subdivision developed by realtor Steve Nalley is located south of Wilmot Street and east of Wilson Street. The BriHet Subdivision is a clever portmanteau, combining the names of Brian and Heather Nalley (son and daughter of Steve Nalley) to create a unique and personal identifier for the neighborhood. 

2002 – Voters approved $3.9 million in working cash bonds to construct a new library at Sycamore Street and Bradley Avenue. Of the 2,681 ballots cast, 62 percent of voters said yes. Adjusted for inflation, this amount is equivalent to approximately $6.1 million in 2024. 

2002 to be continued next month.