Mid-Century Decatur

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

In 1970, A&P operated four Decatur locations at North Main Street, North Broadway, South Shores, and Brettwood.(H&R ad)
05/31/2026

In 1970, A&P operated four Decatur locations at North Main Street, North Broadway, South Shores, and Brettwood.

(H&R ad)

A wooden trestle in the Illinois Central yard just north of the Macon Arms plant burned on May 30, 1961, sixty-five year...
05/30/2026

A wooden trestle in the Illinois Central yard just north of the Macon Arms plant burned on May 30, 1961, sixty-five years ago today. The trestle allowed Illinois Terminal tracks to pass beneath.

The fire was so intense that the rails above were twisted by the heat. The Illinois Central mainline tracks were not affected.

Two boxcars that were parked above the trestle were destroyed, but they were successfully moved out of the way while the fire raged.

Photo: L. Roger Turner, H&R

Soy Ford, 455 E. Pershing, 1966 ad
05/29/2026

Soy Ford, 455 E. Pershing, 1966 ad

Workers trim back the steps at the Carnegie Library which had originally extended the full length of the lot, up from th...
05/28/2026

Workers trim back the steps at the Carnegie Library which had originally extended the full length of the lot, up from the street level. The new plane of the sidewalk made the steps unnecessary.

The beautiful Carnegie Library was located at the southwest corner of N. Main and Eldorado.

Photo: H&R, Collection of Decatur Public Library

Turn Style at Northgate Mall opened on May 27, 1971, exactly 55 years ago today. Photo: H&R
05/27/2026

Turn Style at Northgate Mall opened on May 27, 1971, exactly 55 years ago today.

Photo: H&R

During the summer of 1961, West Decatur Street was significantly altered between Union Street and Franklin Street. Two ...
05/26/2026

During the summer of 1961, West Decatur Street was significantly altered between Union Street and Franklin Street. Two right angle turns were removed and a 9 degree grade was reduced to 6 degrees. The result was a gentle curve and an easier incline. Warren & Van Praag did the engineering work on the project. Construction was done by Goodwin-McElroy Construction.

The aerial photo and ground level shot show the same project. The house in the ground level photo is visible near the top of the aerial.

Photos: H&R, Collection of Decatur Public Library

Warren School, built in 1880 at 1419 N. Warren Street, was closed in 1968, and demolished on May 25, 1970, to make way f...
05/25/2026

Warren School, built in 1880 at 1419 N. Warren Street, was closed in 1968, and demolished on May 25, 1970, to make way for a 120-unit apartment complex funded by HUD.

Photo: Bob Strongman, H&R

Illinois Terminal electric cars at North Junction in Decatur on May 24, 1955, 71 years ago today. The tracks there spli...
05/24/2026

Illinois Terminal electric cars at North Junction in Decatur on May 24, 1955, 71 years ago today. The tracks there split toward Bloomington and Champaign, but the Bloomington rails had already been abandoned beyond Forsyth. The last regularly scheduled Decatur to Bloomington run had occurred more than two years prior, on February 21, 1953. The last run from Decatur to Champaign would come on June 11, 1955, only a few weeks after this photo. The electrical infrastructure would be removed soon after as the line prepared to transition to a diesel-powered freight service.

Photo: Bill Janssen

Freeman's TV, 1275 S. Jasper, 1964 ad
05/23/2026

Freeman's TV, 1275 S. Jasper, 1964 ad

After World War II, the enormous inventory of troop train cars built for the government to transport soldiers during the...
05/22/2026

After World War II, the enormous inventory of troop train cars built for the government to transport soldiers during the war was parked at the closed munitions plant at Illiopolis, Illinois, midway between Decatur and Springfield. Altogether there were 1,290 troop sleeper cars along with some kitchen cars configured for food preparation. All of these cars were offered up by auction to American railroads in 1947. Many railroads purchased the cars, each with different intended uses.

The CB&Q "Burlington Route" purchased hundreds of the cars and converted them into grain-carrying box cars in their Burlington, Iowa, shops.

The Baltimore & Ohio acquired 100 of the troop sleepers and converted them into express boxcars at their Washington, Indiana, shops.

The Monon acquired some kitchen cars for conversion to diners.

The Wabash acquired 64 troop sleepers and one kitchen car and converted them all to maintenance-of-way cars for their track workers at the Decatur shops.

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