Basic HTML Version
11. Grand Army of the Republic Hall
416 Hamilton Boulevard
This building became the permanent home for
Civil War veterans in 1909 through the generous
donation of millionaire distiller Joseph Greenhut.
As the Civil War was fading from memory, they
planned a building that would always remind
Americans of the sacrifices endured during that
traumatic time. The hall is of the neo-classical
Beaux-Arts architectural style.
They hired Peoria sculptor Joseph Petarde to
decorate the façade with all the classic Grand
Army of the Republic symbols such as the
American eagles, funeral urns and floral garlands.
The original arched stained glass window was
damaged in a storm, but was recently restored to
its original design. A mortar and pyramid of shot
flank the entrance.
The hall is filled with many original historic
paintings and prints. At the top of the grand
staircase is a marble bust of General John Logan
from Illinois who was the founder of Memorial
Day. It was carved by Peoria sculptor Fritz Triebel.
Walk down Madison to Fayette Street where
you will encounter the...
Continued on page 8
10
11
In the last issue, we featured nine buildings that have made up Peoria’s past. Our walking tour
of Downtown Peoria continues this month at the corner of Main and Monroe with…
7
thePeorian.com
10. Peoria Post Office &
Federal Courthouse
110 N.E. Monroe Street
The corner of Main and Monroe
once was the site of an 1880s
massive Victorian post office.
During the Great Depression in
the 1930s, people were put back
to work with the construction of
new post offices across the nation.
Finished in 1937, Peoria’s new
post office and federal courthouse
displayed the clean lines of
the international architectural
style. The interior is exquisitely
decorated with large panels of
rose marble and gold-leaf art deco
decorations.
A Chicago sculptor named
Freeman Schoolcraft was hired
by the WPA to carve four
limestone sculptures to enhance
the new post office. He created
in a pure art deco style, from left
to right, the man of industry,
the woman of agriculture, the
Native American, and the postal
worker. He asked a man from
the Pottawatomie tribe whose
ancestors lived in the Peoria area
to pose for the Native American
panel. And he did take artistic
license with the half nude woman
postal worker.
Proceed down Monroe to Hamilton
Boulevard where you will find the...
10