Peoria Illinois in 1870
This picture was drawn from a birds sight of view around
the 1870's,but the map however was not drawn to scale.
the 1870's,but the map however was not drawn to scale.
The picture below is the Peoria Mcclugage bridge today. Both pictures should be located in about the same spot.
Peoria Illinois: Early 1900's
During this time, Peoria was widely known has a town of liquor, entertainment, and risky matters. Because of the river, transportation was a main use in Peoria. Corn was transported for grain-alcohol, therefor Peoria Illinois was one of the main liquor imports. The mansions remaining today on High Street and Moss Avenue are a direct result of the Peoria Whiskey Baron Era. An example of these mansions is the one below. This one is located in Peoria, Illinois on High Street.
Other Information
Containing over 24 breweries and 73 distilleries, Peoria Illinois was chosen by so many industries because of its source of transportation (the river), clean spring water, coal and and wood, and a plentiful supply of grains. The "Whiskey Capital of the World" was the nickname for this city during the 1837's-1919's. Around the 1860's and 1870's Peoria was known as the "Boom" years for the liquor industry. During this time, the breweries and distilleries nearly doubled. Many of the alcohol disttileris were located along the Illinois river starting from State Street stretching all the way to the I-474 bridge. In the early 1880's, Joseph B. Greenhut began to help build the Great Western Distillery in Peoria, which would later on become known as the largest distillery in the world. Wealthy distillers such as Joseph, used their vast fortunes to make a number of projects. Some projects included the building of the Orpheum (Edward and Albert Leisy) and Palace (William Hull) theaters, the expansion of Peoria Park District land, the construction of the Jefferson Hotel (Wiliam Hull), and the creation of statuary and other artwork (Joseph B. Greenhut).