The Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation is pleased to announce a series of public events and activities to be held at the G.A.R. Greenhut Memorial Hall in observance of the 100th anniversary of the building’s dedication on December 30, 1909. The G.A.R. Hall was built as a memorial to and meeting place for Civil War Union veterans.
The public is invited to attend a 100th year Anniversary Open House at the Hall on Saturday, May 30th from 1:00-4:30 p.m. The Hall is located at 416 Hamilton Blvd , Peoria, Illinois. There will be a cake cutting at 2:00 p.m. Period displays of women in war, medical supplies, flags and other exhibits will be on display. At 3:00 p.m. the play “an Evening with President and Mrs. Lincoln” will be presented by renowned Lincoln re-enactors Max and Donna Daniels. A Period Dress Ball fundraiser will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. by the Central Illinois Civil War Dance Society and the 33rd Illinois Regimental Band. Cost of that event is $20 per person.For ticket information contact Chelle Triplett at 309-231-5840 or chellebelle5@comcast.net.
Other events are being planned throughout the year and will be announced as the event draws closer. “We are pleased at the opportunity afforded by observance of the Hall’s 100th anniversary to make the public more aware of this historical and beautiful architectural gem” stated Les Kenyon, President of CILF. “It is an example of how bricks and mortar from one century can be preserved as a living memorial to that era, while still being functionally useful in the present.”
A Capital Campaign to pay for recent renovation costs to renovate the lower level of the G.A.R. Hall is in progress during this 100th anniversary year. CILF is appealing to the civic spirit of individuals, businesses and foundations to “enlist” in the restoration and protection of this priceless memorial landmark by making a financial contribution. Donations are tax deductible as CILF is a nonprofit 501 C (3) organization. Capital Campaign co-chairs are Marjorie Klise and Glenn Zipp.