Just one block beyond the southern border of the Warehouse District and precisely one mile from the Peoria County Courthouse is a building that epitomizes many of the characteristics of Peoria’s emerging arts neighborhood.

Part of the synergy behind art studios and galleries in Peoria’s Warehouse District is the energy and creative vision behind renovating old, often abandoned space and repurposing it.

That happened more than two decades ago at 1216 SW Adams St.

The two-story brick structure built in 1906 at that address started life as a photography studio, transitioned to a business making window covering called Rapp the Blind Man and then fell to disuse.

It was originally build as the studio of Max Erler, one of Peoria’s preeminent portrait photographers. The building has large store-front windows facing Adams Street and a landscaped alleyway between it and a neighboring building, the former Wilton Mortuary.

One of Erler’s specialties was taking the last photograph of a person’s corpse, a common cultural practice at the time. Bodies would be transported from the mortuary next door, across the alleyway and into Erler’s studio with a large 20-foot by 20-foot skylight that fills the space with natural light.

Today, attorney Hugh Toner works in that studio. Toner purchased the building for a minimal amount in 1994 and then exceeded the purchase price with the amount of money he put into renovations.

“My wife’s parents cried when I bought the building. It was in terrible shape,” Toner said. “It was the low purchase price that attracted me. I’m glad I bought the building now, but if I had know the amount of money for renovations, I probably would not have gone ahead with it.”

The walls of Toner’s office are covered with original posters from the Paris subways from the 1920s and 1930s. One reads “We French workers warn you . . . defeat means slavery, starvation, death.” Toner bought the posters from his brother who used to be a dealer in Washington, D.C.

Initially after purchasing the building, Toner had difficulties with Peoria zoning. However, he started working with architect Gary Sandburg, a former Peoria City Council member, and issues were resolved.

“Gary helped me work things out. I believe in the city and so did Gary,” Toner said. “Every city has a core that needs to be nourished and taken care of. Everything revolves around a strong center.”

During the renovation process, Sandburg admired the building and ended up purchasing a similar building across the street. It was in that building that Sandburg died in 2013.

Toner grew up in Chicago and practiced law briefly in Chicago before moving to Peoria in 1983 to work as assistant states attorney. He prefers commuting in Peoria, often walking from his office to the courthouse and driving the brief commute from his office to his historic, 1908 Arts & Crafts Style house in the Uplands neighborhood.

PHOTO BY CLARE HOWARD
Hugh Toner stands outside his office in the alleyway separating his building from the former Wilton Mortuary. A common cultural practice was taking a last photograph of a person’s corpse. Bodies would be transported from the mortuary across the alleyway to the photo studio with its large 20-foot by 20-foot skylight.

Since renovating the building, Toner has used it to host fund raisers and large family gatherings. Toner, 57, is the oldest of 11 siblings now living in a number of states.

“I like old buildings,” he said. “It’s not losing its value and I’m not paying rent.

“Life and activity in Peoria can be really good, but we have to keep a thriving downtown to make everything work better. I’d like to see more professionals move into this area and do what I did.”