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thePeorian.com
WHERE WE ASK PEORIANS WHAT THIS COMMUNITY MEANS TO THEM.
Charity Neal
Works at Pettet Jewelry Deigns Ltd.;
Lives in Peoria Heights
Charity has been living life in a series of full
circles. Born and raised in the Peoria area, her
whole family still resides here. “The family
business started in what was a chicken coup
on Farmington Road. Neal’s Auto Parts was
founded by my grandfather and uncle, per-
fected by my father, and then the boys took off
and ran with it. Neal’s was the first company
to utilize a computerized inventory system in
Peoria; one of the first few in the country, in fact.
I am so proud of them.”
“
My grandfather was a Peoria Heights police
officer and board trustee. I spent a lot of time
with my grandparents playing and being a part
of the Peoria Heights community.” Charity was
one of the first to climb the Peoria Height Obser-
vation Tower, in 1970. “The tower had no rails
at that point, and when I was walking around
I looked at my grandmother and said I have to
go down now. It was at that very moment that I
realized my fear of heights.” Her love of Peoria
Heights brought her back to live there… “full
circle,” she says.
Charity Neal is a jewelry designer for Pettet
Jewelry. This locally owned jewelry store
recently moved to the Pabst building in the
Heights. Proud to be behind the counter at The
“33”
Room, Charity was quick to point out the
original can of Pabst Blue Beer sitting on the
shelf was designed by Brad Pettet. “Can you
believe that Brad designed this can for Pabst and
now we have this beautiful jewelry store in the
Pabst Building?”… Full circle.
Dawn Silverthorn
Works at RLI Corp.; lives in Morton
When Dawn was 19 she had an important
choice to make. Living in Henry, Ill., she wanted
to move to the city. The choice was Peru or Peo-
ria. She chose “the big city of Peoria.”
Peoria was big and intimidating for a girl
from such a small town. Sharing an apartment
with a friend she was able to venture out and
learn more about it. “There was so much traffic
and noise.” When her girlfriend moved out
Dawn felt alone and afraid, but she forced her-
self to grow and to love this city for what it had
to offer — restaurants, attractions, and shop-
ping. “It was fun to shop in the city so many
more choices, many more than I was use to.”
Dawn worked for the Peoria Chiefs, Vonach-
an’s Restaurant, and now at RLI. She met her
husband in Peoria. Once married Dawn moved
to Morton, back to small town living but with a
big city right down the road.
With son Bryce and daughter Peyton she
became very involved in the community. Dawn
started the JFL Cheerleading program in Morton
while husband Vince was and still is the presi-
dent of the Morton JFL. A part-time position at
Cheer Time USA, a competitive cheerleading
group that travels to compete across the coun-
try, was a way to spend time with her daughter
and flash back to her own high school cheer-
leading days.
Dawn is comfortable with Peoria now. “It
feels like home. I drive into Peoria to work every
day, and therefore I still get to enjoy the variety
of restaurants, people, and well, yes the shop-
ping; I can find just about anything I want here.
I still love shopping in Peoria.”
“
I still experience the big city feel of Peoria
without a long drive, traffic, or being afraid.”
