Waterfront restaurant opening at Starved Rock Marina – Shaw Local


The Boatyard Bar & Bistro will open this spring at the Starved Rock Marina. (Scott Anderson)
The Boatyard Bar & Bistro will open this spring at the Starved Rock Marina.
In a social media post, the marina said the bistro cuisine restaurant, 1134 N. 27th Road, Ottawa, will feature a “carefully crafted menu featuring the freshest ingredients.”
“Our location offers stunning views that will make every meal feel like a mini getaway,” the post said.
Guests will be able to dock their boat at the harbor.
The Times / NewsTribune / Bureau County Republican is committed to keeping readers up to date with business happenings in the area. Much of our reporting relies on what we see and hear, but we’re also reaching out to readers for tips on business items. If you have a tip to share for Eyes on Enterprise, email newsroom@mywebtimes.com.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Ottawa garage fire controlled in 5 minutes by firefighters – Shaw Local


Ottawa firefighters respond Monday, April 14, 2025, to a garage fire on St. James Street between Ottawa Avenue and Douglas Street. (Derek Barichello)
A garage fire on St. James Street between Douglas Street and Ottawa Avenue in Ottawa was extinguished without any injuries on Monday night.
Ottawa firefighters responded to a garage fire with two vehicles at 5:34 p.m., Fire Chief Brian Bressner said in a news release. The first engine arrived at 5:40 p.m., crews found flames on the outside in the rear corner of the garage.
“The first arriving engine company performed an offensive attack on the fire through the side entrance door,” Bressner said.
Crews got the fire under control by 5:45 p.m., he said. Firefighters remained on scene to continue with salvage, overhaul and investigative operations.
Bressner said no one was injured and the fire started on the outside of the garage on the east side.
The cause of the fire is accidental, he said.
The Ottawa Fire Department received support from several agencies, including the Ottawa Police Department, Ottawa Central Dispatch and Servpro.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Streator shooting victim taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be fatal – Shaw Local


A shooting was reported Wednesday, April 30, 2025, on Arthur Street in Streator. (Tom Sistak)
A 16-year-old boy was injured by a single gunshot Wednesday at a residence in the 1100 block of Arthur Street, just north of 12th Street, in Streator.
A 17-year-old boy was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, a class X felony. The boy was taken to La Salle County Detention Home.
The La Salle County State’s Attorney’s Office and Streator Police Department confirmed Wednesday the individual was taken to OSF Center for Health-Streator with a gunshot injury to the abdomen. He was transferred to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, but his injuries are not expected to be fatal.
Officers responded at about 5:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Officers conducted interviews with other individuals on the scene and another person of interest located a short distance from the scene.
Streator police are being assisted by the La Salle County State’s Attorney’s Office, the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigation Unit.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Easter egg hunts in La Salle, Bureau, Putnam counties for 2025 – Shaw Local


Easter is Sunday, April 20. In the weeks prior to the holiday, there are several Easter egg hunts and opportunities to meet the Easter bunny throughout La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties. (Scott Anderson)
Easter is Sunday, April 20. In the weeks prior to the holiday, there are several Easter egg hunts and opportunities to meet the Easter bunny throughout La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties.
If there is a free, community egg hunt not listed. Email to newsroom@mywebtimes.com for us to add to the list.
An egg hunt is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at Stewart Park presented by the Buda Community Club. Fifth graders and younger may participate. Additionally, the Easter bunny will be present for photos.
The egg hunt will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at the DePue School Gym. There will be a bake sale and pictures with the Easter bunny at 10 a.m.
Earlville United Presbyterian Church will present an egg hunt 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 13, at Dodge Park, downtown. The event will feature games, raffles, face painting and a visit from the Easter bunny. Bring non-expired can/dry goods for a chance to win a raffle basket.
Grand Ridge Community Fest will present an egg hunt 10 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at Grand Ridge Park. Prizes will be awarded by age group. Bring a basket to collect eggs. There will be photo opportunities with the Easter bunny. A rain date is set for the next weekend.
An egg hunt is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at Hopkins Park. It is hosted by Putnam County Community Church.
An egg hunt is scheduled for 10 a.m. for children kindergarten and younger on the South Lawn, and 10:30 a.m. for children first through fifth grades on the North Lawn at 326 S. Milan St. The Easter Bunny will be present for photos. The egg hunt is free and sponsored by the Hennepin Park District.
A glow-in-the-dark egg hunt is scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, April 18, at Walter Durley Boyle Park. Meet at the library at 7:30 p.m. to take photos with the Easter Bunny. Third graders and younger may participate. A rain date is set for Saturday, April 19.
La Salle Parks and Recreation will host an Easter Egg hunt at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at the big shelter at Hegeler Park. Ages 1 to 10 may participate. Bring a basket or bag to collect eggs. A rain date is set Sunday, April 13.
The Easter egg hunt begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at War Memorial Park. Participants will start at War Memorial Park. Each child will receive a number and will search the Main Street business windows to find their treat.
Leland will host a Spring Craft Fair and Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12, at the Leland school. The craft fair featuring crafts, homemade gifts and goodies runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Easter Egg Hunt will kick off at 2 p.m. Three food trucks will be serving meals. The event is presented by the Leland Town and Country Association with all proceeds to benefit the Fourth of July fireworks.
An egg hunt will be at the Bureau Valley High School front lawn at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 13.
Marseilles Recreation will host its Easter egg hunt beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at Illini State Park, featuring prize eggs, raffle baskets, food and a visit from the Easter bunny. Age groups are 0-2, 3-4, 5-7, 8-10 and special needs. Register for special needs children at 815-795-0132. A rain date is set April 19.
The Mendota YMCA will host two Easter Egg hunts this year.
The first of the egg hunts is the Sensory Friendly Egg Hunt in partnership with the Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce. This hunt is for those that are sensitive to over stimulation. It will be held on Saturday, April 12t. There will be 500 eggs with candy and three golden eggs to be found for bigger prizes. The Sensory Friend Easter Egg Hunt begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Mendota YMCA after the Chamber of Commerce Egg Hop.
The YMCA will be hosting the second egg hunt of the season with its fourth annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 19, at Veteran’s Park. The egg hunt is split up into three age groups that have their own designated times. The schedule is as follows: 10 to 10:30 a.m. for ages 18 months to 4 years; 10:30 to 11 a.m. for ages 5 to 7 years; 11 to 11:30 a.m. for ages 8 to 10 years. There will be 1,500 eggs with candy in them that will be split up between the three age groups. There also will be three golden eggs per age group to be found for bigger prizes. The event is free and open to the public.
An Easter egg hunt is scheduled 10:30 a.m. rain or shine Saturday, April 12, at the Oglesby Elks Club, 800 E. Walnut St. Age groups are broken into 0 to 3, preschool-kindergarten, first and second graders, and third, fourth and fifth graders. Every child will receive a prize. There will be one grand prize per age group. The Easter bunny will arrive at 9:30 a.m.
Join the Ohio Public Library staff for the Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at the Ohio Park shelter. Call the library at 815-376-5422 to make a reservation. In case if inclement weather, the hunt will at the library.
The egg hunt andd photos with the Easter bunny is scheduled 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at Allen Park. The event is organized by the Special Events Committee.
An Easter egg hunt is scheduled for noon Saturday, April 12, at Centennial Park for children 1 and older. There is a reserved sensory hour for children with special needs from 11 a.m. to noon. Reserve time for sensory hour by contacting Adam Thorsen, athorson@peru.il.us or 815-200-5058. The event is sponsored by City of Peru Parks and Recreation, Peru HyVee, Steak n’ Shake, Culver’s and Jessica Strauch State Farm.
The egg hunt presented by the Princeton Rotary Club is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at Soldiers and Sailors Park. Photos with the Easter bunny will be between 10 and 11 a.m. compliments of the Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce. Ages 10 and younger are invited to participate. Ages 6 to 8 will hunt north of the courthouse and ages 9 to 10 on the south side of the courthouse.
The Bureau County Fair Queens will host an egg hunt at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Bureau County Fairgrounds for ages 0 to 3, 4 to 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to 12. A Second Chance Liquidation Place and Faith’s Fabulous Treats is teaming up with the queens to put on the hunt.
Spring Fling is scheduled 11 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at Crotty Park, with an egg hunt starting promptly at 11 a.m. There will be prize baskets, bubbles and chalk, a snack mix station, photos with the Easter bunny, wiffle ball (bring your own glove), cookie decorating and Nine Square providedd by Village Christian Church, popcorn and lemonade provided by Freedom Baptist Church. The BBQ and Baker food truck will have food for sale.
The egg hunt is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at West Park. The Easter bunny will be in attendance. Categories are 3 and younger, 4 and 5 year olds, first and second grade, and third through fifth grades. A golden egg in each category wins a special prize.
An Easter egg hunt presented by Upscale Resale and Grow Spring Valley is scheduled 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at Hall High School (recommended for fifth graders and younger).
The Hardscrabble Lions of Streator will host its third annual Easter Egg hunt beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 19, rain or shine, in City Park. Ages 0-3 begin at 10, ages 4-5 at 10:10 a.m., ages 6-7 at 10:20 a.m. and ages 8-10 at 10:30 a.m. Meet the Easter bunny and bring your own basket to collect eggs. Prizes will be awarded. Streator Onized Credit Union served as a sponsor.
An egg hunt for ages pre-kindergarten through third grade is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at Tiskilwa East Park.
An egg hunt will take place on Saturday, April 19. Crafts and activities start at 10:30 a.m. with the hunt beginning at 11 a.m. at the Toluca ballpark on the west side of town.
The egg hunt is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at Tonica Park on North Shawandasee Street. There will be a bounce house and prizes.
The Utica Fire Protection District will host an egg hunt 11 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at Carey Memorial Park. Age groups will be toddler, preschool, kindergarten, first grade, second and third grades, and fourth through sixth grades.
Walnut’s traditional Easter Egg Hunt will be held on the lawn of Allure (formerly Heritage Health) on Saturday, April 12. The event is sponsored by Walnut Community Bible Church in conjunction with Allure of Walnut. Bring a basket. Be at the nursing home by 10:30 a.m. Children participating will be split into four groups: 1 to 3, 4 to 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to 12. Each group will be egg-hunting in a separate section of the lawns and starting times will be staggered, starting with the youngest at 10:35 a.m. Seekers will find eggs filled with candy, or even a ticket for a larger prize. Immediately following the egg hunt, families are invited to Walnut Community Bible Church for its fifth annual Easter Eggstravaganza from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. This also is where to pick up the larger prizes if you find a ticket in an Easter egg.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Princeton DAR presents American flag to new citizen – Shaw Local


The Princeton-Illinois chapter Daughters of the American Revolution presented an American flag to new citizen Cynthia DelGado Lara at its April 5 meeting. Pictured are (from left) Elizabeth Hauger, Cynthia Delgado Lara, Juanita Tarrence and Nancy Gartner. (Photo provided by Nancy Gartner)
The Princeton-Illinois chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented an American flag to new citizen Cynthia DelGado Lara at its April 5 meeting.
DelGado Lara came to La Salle Elementary School District 122 in third grade from Mexico speaking limited English. DelGado Lara’s hard work over the years paid off, and she took freshman high school algebra as an eighth-grade student.
Her conscientious and considerate caring for others, exhibiting an excellent work ethic and good citizenship resulted in her being awarded the DAR Good Citizen Award her senior year at La Salle-Peru High School from the Illini DAR chapter based in Ottawa, according to the Princeton DAR.
DelGado Lara became a valued bilingual paraprofessional at Lincoln Junior High in La Salle. During that time, she started her own family, continued working in her family’s business, completed her bachelor’s degree in education and taught at Waltham Elementary.
DelGado Lara made one more of her dreams come true: She became an American citizen.
“She exemplifies what an American citizen should be,” the DAR said in a news release. “Our founding fathers would be proud.”
Princeton chapter American flag Chair Juanita Tarrence and Vice Regent Elizabeth Hauger presented DelGado Lara with an American flag that has flown over the National Daughters of the American Revolution home in Washington, D.C., Memorial Continental Hall. Memorial Continental Hall is the only monument in Washington dedicated to the patriots of the American Revolution.
Daughters of the American Revolution is a service organization concerned with historic preservation, education and patriotism.
Any woman older than 18 can join the DAR by documenting her lineage to a man or woman who aided the cause of American independence through military, civil or patriotic service. To find a local chapter, visit dar.org/membership.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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BCMC Summer Day Camp Kicks Off May 29! – Shaw Local – Shaw Local


Bureau County Metro Center – BCMC Summer Day Camp Kicks Off May 29!
With summer just around the corner, the Bureau County Metro Center is excited to announce the return of its Summer Day Camp, starting Thursday, May 29. Running weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., this engaging and active program is open to children ages 5 to 12 and is designed to make every summer day full of fun, creativity, and friendship.
The Day Camp is a fantastic way for kids to stay active and social during the summer months. Each day, experienced and energetic counselors guide children through a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, gym games, park outings, swimming, snacks, movies, and themed events. These daily activities promote teamwork, creativity, and a chance to make new friends in a safe, structured environment.
Parents are encouraged to stop by the Metro Center to register their child, fill out necessary paperwork, and pick up the parent handbook, which outlines the daily schedule and other important information.Pre-registration is required before attending any camp day, ensuring that every child is properly accounted for and that staff can prepare accordingly.
The Camp offers flexible attendance options with affordable daily pricing: $26 per day for BCMC members, $28 for Princeton residents, and $30 for non-residents. This allows families to plan around their schedules while providing a consistent, high-quality experience for their children.
BCMC’s Summer Day Camp is more than child care—it’s a summer adventure that encourages kids to try new things, stay active, and enjoy the season to the fullest. Whether attending for a few days or all summer long, your children are sure to create lasting memories. For more information or to get signed up, visit the Metro Center today!
For more information, please contact:
Bureau County Metro Center
837 Park Ave W
Princeton, IL 61356
Ph: 815-872-0840
www.princetonparkdistrict.org
Bureau County Metro Center
[Sponsored] Bureau County Metro Center – Princeton Park District
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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LHTBM comes to Princeton – Shaw Local


PRINCETON — Love Holy Trinity Blessed Mission is the new owner of the former Orchard View Rehab and Healthcare — formerly the county-owned Prairie View Nursing Home.

The new buyer, officially listed at the Bureau County Courthouse as Chicago Title and Trust, purchased the property on Feb. 17 On Friday, Jan Imhof of Dubuque, Iowa, a spokesperson for Love Holy Trinity Blessed Mission, confirmed the religious organization is the new owner.

According to Bureau County Zoning Officer Kris Donarski, the property includes about 20 acres, the former Orchard View nursing home and the residence on the property.

Love Holy Trinity Blessed Mission originated in Chicago with ties to Madison, Wis., and Dubuque, Iowa. Imhof released the following as the organization’s mission statement:

“To help The Salvation of God’s people’s Souls in order to give praise and glory to God, in thanksgiving for our Salvation, by:

“1. Proclaiming and witnessing Jesus Christ, Who Is The Truth, The Way, The Life.

“2. Proclaiming and witnessing ‘The Holy Map to Heaven.

“3. Helping God’s people to follow Jesus Christ, ‘The Holy Journey to Heaven.

“Therefore we as a Mission bring Almighty God’s eternal Life-Giving Holy Word, The Truth, to all God’s people for the Purification and Sanctification of their Souls by keeping God’s Commandment to Love God with all your Heart, with all your Soul, with all your Mind, and with all your strength, and Love your neighbor as yourself, Based on The Holy Roman Catholic Church’s Faith which is Founded on The Seven Holy Sacraments.”

To date, the organization has not acknowledged how they intend to use the property.

Donarski said the property is zoned agriculture. The nursing home and residence on the property were established before the county had its zoning ordinances and is therefore considered grandfathered in. The same use (nursing home) for the property can continue with a different owner as long as no more than 12 months has elapsed since it was last used for that purpose. The last resident moved from Orchard View on June 9, 2011.

Since the farm residence is already zoned agriculture, the use of the house as a residence would be a permitted use.

If Love Holy Trinity Blessed Mission would have other proposed uses for the nursing home building, including establishing a multi-family dwelling or apartments, the new owner would need to file a petition with the Bureau County Zoning Office and go through the hearing process before final approval would be considered by the Bureau County Board.

Donarski said no conditional use or rezoning requests have been filed in her office regarding the property.

Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.
See: Love Holy Trinity Blessed Mission in the media
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Princeton bike shop closes showroom for season – Shaw Local


The Bike Place, 701 N. Main St., Princeton, has closed its showroom for the off season. (Cody Cutter)
The Bike Place, 701 N. Main St., Princeton, has closed its showroom for the off season.
Mechanics will remain available for repairs by calling 815-797-2399. Bikes can be browsed on the business’ website, thebikeplace.org.
Bikes for donation can be left on the rack in the back of the building.
The Times / NewsTribune / Bureau County Republican is committed to keeping readers up to date with business happenings in the area. Much of our reporting relies on what we see and hear, but we’re also reaching out to readers for tips on business items. If you have a tip to share for Eyes on Enterprise, email newsroom@mywebtimes.com.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Mendota Northbrook reminds parents seriousness of inappropriate comments after incident – Shaw Local


Mendota Northbrook School administrators issued a reminder to students and parents of the consequences of threatening messages, following an inappropriate message Tuesday that was found not to be a credible threat. (Shaw Local News Network)
Mendota Northbrook School administrators issued a reminder to students and parents of the consequences of threatening messages, following an inappropriate message Tuesday that was found not to be a credible threat.
A staff member Tuesday at Mendota’s Northbrook School identified an inappropriate message written on the wall that was threatening in nature.
The Mendota Police Department was contacted and began an investigation. After speaking with several students and reviewing camera footage, the police identified a timeframe and an individual they believed was responsible.
“The police and our school’s leadership team take this situation very seriously,” said Superintendent Brad Cox and Principal Paula Daley in a joint message. “While there is no credible threat to the safety of our students or staff, students must understand the impact of their behavior.”
The administrators asked parents to remind their students to always report anything they hear or see that is inappropriate, threatening or could cause harm to others; and to remember that there are potentially severe consequences for making threats to the safety of others, regardless of the intent to cause harm.
The administrators’ message was shared on social media by Mendota Police Department.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Princeton’s Interurban wreck of 1911 – Shaw Local


Princeton resident Bill Nelson holds a piece of the Interurban rail whicch was found when Car Quest was being built next to the Pizza Hut. (Photo contributed)
PRINCETON — San Francisco might be famous for its street cars, but in Princeton’s past, street cars were a major mode of transportation.
The Interurban, as it was called, was part of Princeton’s transportation system from 1907 until 1929, when service to Princeton was discontinued. First owned by the Chicago, Ottawa and Peoria Railway and later by the Illinois Traction System, the first car to Princeton was run on Feb. 15, 1907.
The main line ended at the railroad tracks on the north side of town. The Interurban rails traveled south with a siding onto Franklin Street. The tracks then ran through town on Main Street, heading south until they reached Bryant’s Nursery. There, the tracks went southeast to Bureau, DePue, Marquette, Spring Valley, Peru and finally all the way to Joliet.
Fares at the time were included: Princeton to Spring Valley — 45 cents; Princeton to LaSalle — 55 cents; Bryant’s Nursery to the battery house — 5 cents; and Barbara Schaefer’s Farm to Bureau — 5 cents. There was also local service from the north side of Princeton to Bryant’s Nursery for 5 cents.
Local service was scheduled every 20 minutes with the main service running every hour. The cars would stop for anyone standing along the line and pick them up, even if those passengers were out in the woods.
The day was June 20, 1911, and Interurban 266 was scheduled to make its 9:30 p.m. run from Princeton to Bureau. A month earlier, an Interurban had struck a horse and buggy, driven by Grover Huffaker, near Crown Street. Huffaker and his occupant, Bertha Gallagher, were uninjured, but the horse was rushed to the veterinary hospital.
About the same time, the Spring Valley City Council had “Declared War” on the Interurban company due to poor service. Their desire was to place restrictions on the line running through Spring Valley. Their request was to have flagmen at each crossing and that the train should not exceed a 10 mile an hour speed limit while within city limits.
Walter C. Beane was on his way to Geneseo on June 20, 1911, for his firm’s International Harvester of Plano. Beane was to catch the 9:30 p.m. car after missing the 8:30 p.m. service by 5 minutes. The interurban finally left the north side of town at 10 p.m. The conductor on board was George Scott with motorman Harry Brown of Peru and apprentice motorman William Zerkie of LaSalle.
Record indicate Beane was watching Scott “turning the seats,” when suddenly he heard a crunching noise and found himself falling. The lights then went out leaving the car in darkness except for a street lamp. Car 266 had just crossed the “Y” section of track at Franklin Street when it tipped over onto its side and slid about 35 feet.
Beane stated immediately after the accident, “I saw the conductor pass me going towards the rear, and I followed him. He kicked out the glass from the vestibule door and crawled through it. I followed at his heels. When we reached the rear platform, I asked the conductor how we were going to get out, but he did not respond. Instead he climbed through the side door and crawling over the end of the car, let himself down to the ground. I did likewise.”
The first thing both men noticed was that Motorman Brown was underneath the car. He was dead. Motorman William Zerkie was also found dead at the wheel of the car. The coroner’s report said they both died instantly.
A coroner’s inquest was held beginning before midnight at the American House and lasted until 4 a.m. Testimony was given by Conductor George Scott, and he testified the car was traveling at a speed of 15 miles an hour when it wrecked. The rules at the time stated that a car was restricted to a 4 mile an hour limit over a “Y” section of track. Also giving testimony was Motorman John Merkley. He was a driver for the local Interurban and had witnessed the crash from his Interurban at Clark Street. He was to reveal that after the crash, he found the switch box cover to be cracked. He opened the box and found it to be full of gravel, and when he cleaned out the rocks, the tracks switched. This switch directed the cars to the siding when closed and on through to the main line when open.
The next day Car 266 was taken to Ottawa for repairs. Damage was minimal. But the car almost toppled into Skin Creek when it swayed while being loaded. Crowds gathered to watch. Just another day in Princeton’s past.
Sources: Wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Ottawa_and Peoria Railroad; Web.me.com/willvdv/chirailfan/interik.html; Bureau County Republican from Feb. 21, 1907, Feb. 23, 1907, March 7, 1907, June 22, 1911, and June 24, 1911.
The Electric Interurban Railways’ ” the “Illini Trail,” which extended westward down the Illinois Valley north of the river from Joliet to Princeton with branches to Ladd and Streator, was one of the longest interurban lines in the state. It was built in sections by several different companies.

After the Ottawa to Ladd segment was completed in 1904, the section eastward from Ottawa to Marseilles was completed in the same year. The line then extended to both the east and west, and reached Princeton in 1907, Morris in 1909, and Joliet in 1912. Service out of Joliet was hourly with alternating trains west of Spring Valley terminating at Princeton and Ladd.

Within a few weeks after the interurban street car began its trips through Princeton, a smaller in-town street car was installed to run down the middle of Main Street between the north and south ends of town, making round trips every 20 minutes. Poles were placed along the side of Main Street to hold in place the electric power lines that powered the street cars.

Around 1910, a new brick roadway was built on Main Street, surrounding the street car rails. In time, Main Street’s brick pavement and street car rails were covered with about three inches of asphalt.

The Great Depression finally killed the interurban in 1934.
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Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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