A few days ago I posted some images from the 1914 Maroon yearbook. I don't know about you, but I really like seeing the old photos and looking at what they were wearing and how formal everything was. When I see old newspapers and magazines, I always get sidelined by the advertisements. Well, this yearbook has many pages in the back sold to advertisers. I thought I would share these pages with you. It is fascinating not only to see so many different businesses, but also how they advertised. One common thing is that they didn't list a street address, just town name. While Princeville still has a variety of businesses, there aren't as many as there were back then. This first ad is for Bliss Drug Store which was located on east Main Street (formerly Canton Street).
This next ad was for Auten and Auten Bankers. They had a bank in Princeville and Monica, IL. Interesting that they were not only a bank, but also prepared wills and sold insurance.
German and Friedman sold hardware, stoves, tinware, furnaces, roofing and repairing, pumps, paints, oils, twine, wagons, buggies, carriages, farming implements, field and garden seeds. Sounds like the old time equivalent of one of the modern big box stores. I do like the intricate stove graphic on the advertisement.
A few Peoria businesses advertised in the yearbook. The B&M store on South Adams in Peoria was one of those businesses. B&M sold clothing and shoes.
Cheesman Brothers store was located on the northwest corner of Main and Walnut streets in Princeville which is the current location of Princeville State Bank. Cheesman Brothers was one of the general stores located in town at that time.
Northwestern University was one of a few colleges advertising in the yearbook. This advertisement encourages our students to write in and request informational booklets.
The local newspaper, The Princeville Telephone, was owned by Addison A. Dart and was published weekly. The Princeville Telephone was the company who printed this first yearbook. The newspaper office was located on Walnut Street.
With all the clothing retailers, Princeville also had a tailor. Earl Walkington, according to his ad, tailored clothing for modest prices.
The surround towns of Edelstein, Monica and even Wady Petra had retail businesses as well. J.H. Johnson was in Edelstein and a dealer in general merchandise.
Another Peoria business that advertised in the yearbook was Crawford and Co., jewelers and silversmiths. They sold wedding and presentation goods as well as diamonds and watches.
Valentin Weber's store in Princeville sold men's and boy's hats, caps, furnishings and made to measure clothing. From other advertisements I have seen, the majority of his business was selling shoes for the whole family. I bet it was a treat to make a trip into town for new shoes back then. Look at the shoe in the ad, can you imagine wearing those every day? No thanks, I like my flip flops.
This page of ads has smaller ads on it. Robert Taylor's business was blacksmithing and horseshoeing in Princeville in addition to wagon and buggy repair, rubber tire install, gas engines and power washers. That is a business caught between technological advancements; horse buggies vs. gas engines. The Bon Ton Restaurant was owned by R. Heberling in Princeville. In the early 1900s, oysters were a common item (oyster stew) served in the home for celebrations. Dieges and Clust of Chicago advertised their class pins, rings and medals. At the bottom of the page is an ad for E. E. Henson, MD of Princeville. Dr. Henson practiced in Princeville for many years.
A second hardware shop in Princeville advertised in the yearbook. Minkler and Harrison sold hardware, stoves, furnaces, slate roofing, farm implements and more.
S.J. McDermott was a contractor and builder in Princeville and B.W. Heatch was a veterinary surgeon. The local railroad always had ads in the local newspapers so it would make sense to advertise in the yearbook too.
Lombard College was hoping to get new students to their school through the ad.
Not only did Princeville have a doctor and veterinarian, there was also a dentist practicing in town. Dr. A.J. Hawkes was the local dentist advertising in 1914. If you needed baggage and trunks delivered to and from the depot, you were to call H.E. Calhoun at the Princeville Dray and Transfer Line. The Hotel Mayer in Peoria was hoping the locals stayed there when visiting. Billy Williams was a painter, paper hanger and practical decorator in Princeville.
Knox College in Galesburg was an advertiser. Another contractor and builder, Wm. Friedman was located in Princeville.
Who knows where Wady Petra is? It was once a thriving community on the railroad with a hotel, train depot and other merchants. When the trains stopped coming to town, Wady Petra shrank into almost nothing. R.N. Schindler was a merchant in town. In Princeville, W.S. Weaver was a wholesale poultry, produce and cream dealer.
Farmer's State Bank was located in the 100 block of east Main Street in Princeville. During the depression, Farmer's State Bank was one of the many banks across the nation that closed. I have seen many ads for F.E. Prouty's business and have always been intrigued by the variety of services he offered: furniture, undertaking, musical instruments and sewing machines, all under one roof.
Located at 113 S. Jefferson in Peoria, O'Brien and Jobst was a menswear store. Like the Bon Ton store, the B&W Model Restaurant also offered oysters in season and was an agent for Lorch's Laundry. The restaurant was owned by F.J. Brutcher and R.O. Weaver.
E.A. Erikson advertised suits and overcoats. There isn't an address for this merchant, but I assume it was located in Princeville. We all miss having a bakery in town, in 1914, G.F. Smith owned a bakery located at the Arlington Hotel which is advertised on the bottom. The Arlington Hotel was located on the northeast corner of Main and Walnut streets where the Princeville Pharmacy was located. Harry Hinman was the manager at the hotel where you could get a room for $5 a week.
Bradley Polytechnic Institute which is now Bradley University in Peoria was an advertiser. In Princeville, J.C. Bullock was a jeweler, optician and engraver. Another painter, decorator and paperhanger was G.M. Potts. The Princeville Garage was the first door north of Auten's Hall. I'm not sure where Auten's Hall was located, so if you remember, please comment below.
M.L. Sniff sold real estate, insurance and high grade pianos. Also in Princeville was the W.M.Hoag Grocery and Variety Store.
What is a tonsorial parlor? A tonsorial parlor is a fancy word for barber shop. W. F. Byrnes Tonsorial Parlor was located in the "new" Hofer Building. Another dry goods merchant in Princeville was Conklin and Sons.
Z.L. Rice also owned and operated a general merchandise store in Princeville.
