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Post by HistoryMajor on Jan 23, 2005 23:22:36 GMT -6
It is interesting to note that some of the largest fires in Streator's history occurred within a radius of a block or so of downtown. The Granada Theater and Williams Hardware were located on the same alley with the Williams Building being one block to the East. One block to the South at the corner of Bridge and Monroe was the First M.E. Church fire in the early 20's. These fires were benchmarks in the fire dept's and the city's history. It's also kind of ironic to see the fire hydrant right in front of the building. The history of Vermillion St. is very interesting, Butch do you have any aerial photos of Vermillion St? If you have any photos, I have some stories for you.
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Post by BlueStar7 on Jan 23, 2005 23:58:05 GMT -6
Yes, the second picture is S. Monroe St., the site of the old Granada Theater that burned in 1963, as shown in the first picture. Williams Hardware was on S. Vermillion St. Heenan's Dept. Store was on the NW corner of Main & Park St. Sorry Butch, as there was no heading, I thought it was a continuation of the Heenan Hardware pics.
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Post by John on Jan 24, 2005 7:23:41 GMT -6
HistoryMajor I do not have any aerial pictures of Vermillion St. itself. I do have some pictures of the general area though. Anyhow, I enjoy your bits of history, keep up the good work.
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Post by HistoryMajor on Jan 24, 2005 9:09:03 GMT -6
The Kroesen Livery Stables were located at 119 S. Nermillion St. On Nov. 8,1907 they burned killing 13 horses. The night watchman, who stayed at the stables was awakened by the smoke and barely escaped the fire by crawling out of a window. The horses died from the dense smoke. Streator fireman John Stringer suffered slight burns fighting the blaze. A house just feet from the barn to the North was saved with only smoke and water damage. The damage estimates were later set at $5,500 to the barn and horses and equipment.
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Post by John on Jan 26, 2005 7:22:25 GMT -6
19582005
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Post by John on Jan 26, 2005 7:29:47 GMT -6
19582005
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Post by DumDave on Jan 27, 2005 14:22:11 GMT -6
That's my old barber's shop & Smitty's bar (& grill ?- great food) Don Rose was the barber's name, I think. Other than breaking out the front windows, no other major damage was done to the Barber shop. I was back in the chair the following week or so.
My Dad worked across the street in the Murray Bldg. My mother got real worried & we drove down town & saw that the Murray bldg. was okay. We squids were in the back seat of the car & I saw the flames coming out ofthe top & sides of the Williams Hardware Bldg. No one felt safe until we contacted my father. It's a day that I think anyone living in Streator then remembers. We lived over near the Cokey Cola Plant & I walked out the front door & saw smoke. I ran back inside & told my Mother that there was a fire some place. Great pics. -Dave
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Post by HistoryMajor on Jan 28, 2005 9:29:43 GMT -6
Butch, What was the purpose of the structure between Williams Hardware and the building to the south? It was over the south alley, was that where the gas pumps were located? You can just barely see it through the smoke in the picture. It looks sort of like a gas station canopy. The gas they sold was advertised as 'jet fuel for your car' Thanks for the interesting photos.
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Post by John on Jan 28, 2005 18:22:51 GMT -6
I'm not sure. I wasn't aware of any such structure. I will check out some other photos to see if there is a better view.
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Post by John on Feb 2, 2005 19:23:10 GMT -6
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Post by Guest on Feb 2, 2005 21:39:26 GMT -6
The dealer used to have a full size cardboard silhouette of a Desoto with Groucho Marx behind the wheel.
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MnM
Full Member
Posts: 156
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Post by MnM on Feb 4, 2005 18:31:36 GMT -6
Oh wow... what a bleak reminder of how things really were when our town was booming. Its so sad to think of how many vacant or torn down buildings that there really are. But then again... in looking at that aeral shot, its no wonder with all those flat roofs.... geeze!!! I remember the night that the Granada Theatre burned down....... Alfred Hitchcocks "The Birds" was playing on the screen at the time. My dad got a call from the city to photograph the whole thing at the time...... I was so scared!!!! M
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Post by John on Feb 9, 2005 21:17:14 GMT -6
19212004
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Post by LondonAtDark on Feb 12, 2005 16:47:10 GMT -6
I really do enjoy seeing those pictures!!!!! I have to say not much has changed to the building on the old Streator National Bank...looks pretty much the same. I do see now where the old Plumb theather was.....was it a big place? Any pictures of the interior?
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Post by John on Feb 12, 2005 19:01:17 GMT -6
I do see now where the old Plumb theather was.....was it a big place? Any pictures of the interior? The only "interior" picture that I have is this one taken on June 18 th, 1980.
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