Mid-Century Decatur

Mid-Century Decatur Celebrating Mid-Century Architecture and Images from Decatur, Illinois, 1949-1969

The Pershing Road underpass beneath the Illinois Central Charter Line leading to Clinton and Freeport nears completion i...
06/20/2026

The Pershing Road underpass beneath the Illinois Central Charter Line leading to Clinton and Freeport nears completion in June 1959, sixty-seven years ago. The project was handled by G.S. Chastain Construction.

Photo: H&R, Collection of Decatur Public Library

An Illinois Terminal freight powered by a mishmash of two GP-7s, a former Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac F-7B, and a...
06/19/2026

An Illinois Terminal freight powered by a mishmash of two GP-7s, a former Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac F-7B, and an SW-1200, rolls southbound out of Peoria toward Bloomington and Decatur in 1968.

Photo: Collection of Richard Howard

Dave Carey, Buddy Stubbs and Jim Riggs on their Harleys in Decatur during the summer of 1965.Photo: Buddy Stubbs Collect...
06/18/2026

Dave Carey, Buddy Stubbs and Jim Riggs on their Harleys in Decatur during the summer of 1965.

Photo: Buddy Stubbs Collection

Taking out the Chris-Craft on Lake Decatur circa 1965.Photo: Collection of Shelly Ray Camfield
06/17/2026

Taking out the Chris-Craft on Lake Decatur circa 1965.

Photo: Collection of Shelly Ray Camfield

An eastbound Wabash freight led by three new F-7 diesels crosses over Van D**e Street while an Illinois Terminal electri...
06/16/2026

An eastbound Wabash freight led by three new F-7 diesels crosses over Van D**e Street while an Illinois Terminal electric approaches from the north circa 1953.

Photo: H&R, Collection of Decatur Public Library

It's a beautiful summer day circa 1962 and we are looking east down William Street. The corner with North Main is in th...
06/15/2026

It's a beautiful summer day circa 1962 and we are looking east down William Street. The corner with North Main is in the background.

Carson Pirie Scott & Company has recently merged with Block & Kuhl, and the latter department store has been rebranded. Macon Music is on the right, and their rising sidewalk is carefully landscaped.

Downtown Decatur is booming and parking is at a premium.

Photo: H&R, Collection of Decatur Public Library

Kids enjoy the Joyland cage Ferris wheel at Nelson Park circa 1967, from a Super8 Again film.Check out the Super8 Again ...
06/14/2026

Kids enjoy the Joyland cage Ferris wheel at Nelson Park circa 1967, from a Super8 Again film.

Check out the Super8 Again page to see vintage Decatur 8mm video.

Image: Super8 Again

B&O 6515, a GP-9 locomotive, leads a local at Pana with a single grain hopper in June 1969. This branch of the B&O ran N...
06/13/2026

B&O 6515, a GP-9 locomotive, leads a local at Pana with a single grain hopper in June 1969. This branch of the B&O ran NW-SE across Illinois, connecting Shawneetown on the Ohio River to Springfield. From Springfield it continued NW to Beardstown on the Illinois River.

The Domeliner "Banner Blue," now a Norfolk & Western train, departs Dearborn Station in Chicago at 10:40 AM on June 12, ...
06/12/2026

The Domeliner "Banner Blue," now a Norfolk & Western train, departs Dearborn Station in Chicago at 10:40 AM on June 12, 1965, sixty-one years ago today.

The train will arrive in Decatur at 1:40 PM and at St. Louis Union Station at 4:40.

Meanwhile, the Santa Fe "Grand Canyon" is lined up for imminent departure toward Los Angeles in 20 minutes.

Photo: Collection of Andy Zukowski

Illinois Terminal electric interurban car 284 stops at Bondville on the route from Decatur to Champaign in 1954. The las...
06/11/2026

Illinois Terminal electric interurban car 284 stops at Bondville on the route from Decatur to Champaign in 1954. The last day of service on the route was June 11, 1955, exactly 71 years ago today.

Photo: Jim Barrick, Collection of Mark Barnett

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