Back to the subject of Peoria’s illustrious history of making alcohol. It would make a fantastic, hands-on exhibit at the new museum. The people I’ve talked to love that part of Peoria’s history. It would be a shame if this multi-million dollar project didn’t include, Bill Dennis says, “the seedier part of Peoria’s history.” My in-laws house was one of three, with connecting tunnels built by a gangster. One for him, one for his bodyguard and one for his accountant. Peoria was a stomping ground not only for Chicagoland gangsters but Southern Illinois gangsters, as well.
We recently went on the Historic Peoria Trolley Tour. If you ever get a chance to do this-you won’t be disappointed. Except sometimes the tour director reads descriptions and your in front of a house two blocks further down. Here’s the most interesting story we heard on the tour. We were traveling down main street from Bradley. We passed the automotive place on the left. “A couple years ago, there was a robbery at this store. The fleeing thief, jumped into what he thought was a getaway car. It was actually a police car. The authorities held him for a little while. They later wished they held him longer. It was Charles Manson. He had an apartment on High Street. Of course, that freaked everyone out. But, if you ask everyone what they remember from the tour-that’s the main thing. John Wayne Gacy was President of the Springfield Jaycees and Charles Manson lived on High Street.
They wish the had held Tonya Tilton a little longer too!