Amazing Arcola!
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History
The History of Arcola
Promoting the Growth of the Arcola Community
Promoting the Growth of the Arcola Community
On the Banks of the Okaw
In the mid-1800s, among the tall grasses of the Illinois prairie, a group of pioneers, looking for a place to settle, stopped along the banks of the Okaw River.
There, these pioneers established a settlement and named it Bagdad. They constructed the necessary buildings such as a brickyard, mill, blacksmith shop, and a general store. Little did these settlers know that they were laying the foundation for one of the most historically-rich towns in Central Illinois.
The Railroad Arrives
The 1850s brought the announcement of the construction of a railroad that would connect the cities of Chicago and Centralia and run just to the east of Bagdad.
In 1855, the Illinois Central Railroad surveyed and plotted a tract of land along both sides of the newly completed railroad in order to build a city. The new community was called Okaw, after the river located a few miles west.
After applying for a post office, railroad officials were surprised to hear that the state of Illinois already had a town named Okaw, so a new name had to be found.
Okaw Becomes Arcola
After asking for suggestions for the new name of the town, James Kearney, a local citizen, proposed that the new city be called Arcola, and so the railroad town of Okaw became the town today known as Arcola.
Business boomed in Arcola, and in the winter of 1856 the residents of Bagdad loaded the entire town, buildings and all, on wooden sleds and moved the whole settlement of Bagdad to Arcola.
Arcola’s “Carnegie Library”
The Arcola Public Library is a “Carnegie Library” established in 1904 and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a must see!
Between 1889 and 1923, Carnegie funds were used to build 1,679 public library buildings in 1,412 communities, and it is estimated that nationwide only 60% of those buildings are still being used as libraries today.
In Illinois, of the 105 “Carnegie” libraries built, only 83 still exist as libraries, and many of them have been so extensively remodeled and / or expanded that it is difficult to see the original Carnegie structure.
The Arcola Public Library is unique in that the original Carnegie building has been preserved down to its tiled foyer, domed atrium, fireplaces, and beautiful Cyprus wood interior.
The architecture of the building is Classical Revival and is similar to only 3 other “Carnegie” libraries in the state of Illinois.
Do not miss the opportunity to see Arcola’s beautifully preserved “Carnegie Library.”
Raggedy Ann and Andy Are Created in Arcola
Johnny Gruelle, born in Arcola in 1882, loved to write and draw cartoons almost as much as his young daughter Marcella loved to hear his stories. Her favorite character from her father’s tales was Raggedy Ann.
But when Marcella died as the result of a vaccination shot, Johnny had a hard time coping with the loss. He found that the best way to overcome Marcella’s death was to write the stories he created for her. From these humble beginnings came the stories of Raggedy Ann, whose popularity has made Johnny Gruelle, as well as Arcola, famous around the world.
But when Marcella died as the result of a vaccination shot, Johnny had a hard time coping with the loss. He found that the best way to overcome Marcella’s death was to write the stories he created for her. From these humble beginnings came the stories of Raggedy Ann, whose popularity has made Johnny Gruelle, as well as Arcola, famous around the world.
Broomcorn Helped Put Arcola on the Map
One of the key elements of Arcola’s past is heavily intertwined with its present.
In the 1880s, the harvesting of broomcorn, then a major crop, gave rise to several companies. One such company was the Thomas Monahan Company, which was founded in Arcola in 1922.
Since then, the Monahan Company has grown to become the world’s largest manufacturer of handles for brooms and mops. Through all of the growth, the Monahan Company has been able to remain a family-owned business for a remarkable 4 generations.
Even though it seems that Arcola has always been associated with broomcorn, it has not always been a smooth road. During the 1950s, cheaper brooms imported from other countries almost snuffed out broom production in America. Pat Monahan, vice president of the Monahan Company, says that the survival of the broom industry in the United States is directly linked to Arcola.
In the late 1950s, Arcola resident P.A. Lindenmeyer convinced U.S. Senator Dirksen of the need for tariffs on imported brooms. The Senate responded by placing a huge 32% tariff on foreign-made brooms, thus saving the American broom industry.
According to Monahan, Arcola residents are interested in the history of broomcorn and are proud of the title, “Broomcorn Capital of the World.”
In the 1880s, the harvesting of broomcorn, then a major crop, gave rise to several companies. One such company was the Thomas Monahan Company, which was founded in Arcola in 1922.
Since then, the Monahan Company has grown to become the world’s largest manufacturer of handles for brooms and mops. Through all of the growth, the Monahan Company has been able to remain a family-owned business for a remarkable 4 generations.
Even though it seems that Arcola has always been associated with broomcorn, it has not always been a smooth road. During the 1950s, cheaper brooms imported from other countries almost snuffed out broom production in America. Pat Monahan, vice president of the Monahan Company, says that the survival of the broom industry in the United States is directly linked to Arcola.
In the late 1950s, Arcola resident P.A. Lindenmeyer convinced U.S. Senator Dirksen of the need for tariffs on imported brooms. The Senate responded by placing a huge 32% tariff on foreign-made brooms, thus saving the American broom industry.
According to Monahan, Arcola residents are interested in the history of broomcorn and are proud of the title, “Broomcorn Capital of the World.”
The Tradition of Arcola Sports — Success on the Gridiron Is Well-Documented Over Years
One of the phrases consistently used to describe Arcola is that it has “a unique spirit.” A great contributor to this spirit is the winning tradition of Arcola sports.
According to local sports historian and recently-retired Arcola High School Principal Randy Rothrock, the first AHS football team was formed in 1894 and played games on a field located near the current location of Libman’s and Prairie Lake.
Football was the only sport in Arcola until 1919 when AHS fielded for the first time a boys’ basketball team. Even though the football team was started in 1894, the nickname “Purple Riders” did not come along until nearly 30 years later. In the mid 1930s, the football team was in the midst of a 33-game winning streak, at the time the longest in the nation, when a reporter for the News-Gazette in Champaign wrote an article with the headline, “The Purple and White Rides Again,” giving the team the nickname “Purple Riders.”
Since the first Arcola football team took the field in 1894, Arcola has become the third-winningest high school program in state history, as well as one of the most recognized programs in the state. The team has also reeled in four state championships (1978, 1985, 1988, and 2015) and finished runner-up 3 times (1977, 1991, and 1995).
Arcola’s excellence in sports is not limited just to the gridiron. In 1973, Nancy Stiff began one of the first girls’ basketball teams in the area. Shortly after, she guided 2 teams to the “Sweet Sixteen” and established one of the premier girls' basketball programs in the state.
In 2004 - 05, Stiff completed her 32nd season as the only coach the high school program has ever known. She is approaching 550 career victories, which is believed to be among the top 5 among girls’ hoops coaches in the history of the sport.
Aside from high school sports, some believe that the idea of recruiting for professional teams began in Arcola. According to Rothrock, in 1919, a team of employees from the Staley Manufacturing Company in Decatur came to Arcola to play against the local team, the Independents. The Staleys won that game 41 - 0.
A group of Arcola businessmen, humiliated by the loss, arranged for a rematch. These businessmen decided to recruit the best players available and pay them to play against the Staleys. A local railroad conductor was designated as the “recruiter” and enlisted the help of several college football players from Indiana, Purdue, Notre Dame, and Illinois. The Staleys heard about the team Arcola had assembled and never arrived for the game.
The following year, A.E. Staley employed George Halas to organize a team after the one Arcola had created for that game. Later, these Decatur Staleys became known as what is now the National Football League’s Chicago Bears.
According to Rothrock, the reason for Arcola’s athletic success goes well beyond the playing field. “Part of the success comes from tradition, and part of it is we’ve had a lot of good families in town that have supplied not only a lot of good athletes but a lot of good kids,” said Rothrock.
For Rothrock, an Arcola High School graduate, some of his most special memories come from his days as a coach on the football team. “The thing that stands out most to me was making the state championship in 1977 and winning it in 1978 because you look back and we’d only won 6 or 7 games in 5 years, and so it was such a turn-around. We’d never thought about winning the state championship, and all of a sudden, it happened,” said Rothrock.
With the consolidation of school districts becoming more and more of a financial option, Rothrock remains optimistic for the future of Arcola High School sports. “The future of Arcola sports is going to depend on consolidation. Maybe 50 years from now it will still be just Arcola, but everybody else may be a lot bigger,” said Rothrock.
According to local sports historian and recently-retired Arcola High School Principal Randy Rothrock, the first AHS football team was formed in 1894 and played games on a field located near the current location of Libman’s and Prairie Lake.
Football was the only sport in Arcola until 1919 when AHS fielded for the first time a boys’ basketball team. Even though the football team was started in 1894, the nickname “Purple Riders” did not come along until nearly 30 years later. In the mid 1930s, the football team was in the midst of a 33-game winning streak, at the time the longest in the nation, when a reporter for the News-Gazette in Champaign wrote an article with the headline, “The Purple and White Rides Again,” giving the team the nickname “Purple Riders.”
Since the first Arcola football team took the field in 1894, Arcola has become the third-winningest high school program in state history, as well as one of the most recognized programs in the state. The team has also reeled in four state championships (1978, 1985, 1988, and 2015) and finished runner-up 3 times (1977, 1991, and 1995).
Arcola’s excellence in sports is not limited just to the gridiron. In 1973, Nancy Stiff began one of the first girls’ basketball teams in the area. Shortly after, she guided 2 teams to the “Sweet Sixteen” and established one of the premier girls' basketball programs in the state.
In 2004 - 05, Stiff completed her 32nd season as the only coach the high school program has ever known. She is approaching 550 career victories, which is believed to be among the top 5 among girls’ hoops coaches in the history of the sport.
Aside from high school sports, some believe that the idea of recruiting for professional teams began in Arcola. According to Rothrock, in 1919, a team of employees from the Staley Manufacturing Company in Decatur came to Arcola to play against the local team, the Independents. The Staleys won that game 41 - 0.
A group of Arcola businessmen, humiliated by the loss, arranged for a rematch. These businessmen decided to recruit the best players available and pay them to play against the Staleys. A local railroad conductor was designated as the “recruiter” and enlisted the help of several college football players from Indiana, Purdue, Notre Dame, and Illinois. The Staleys heard about the team Arcola had assembled and never arrived for the game.
The following year, A.E. Staley employed George Halas to organize a team after the one Arcola had created for that game. Later, these Decatur Staleys became known as what is now the National Football League’s Chicago Bears.
According to Rothrock, the reason for Arcola’s athletic success goes well beyond the playing field. “Part of the success comes from tradition, and part of it is we’ve had a lot of good families in town that have supplied not only a lot of good athletes but a lot of good kids,” said Rothrock.
For Rothrock, an Arcola High School graduate, some of his most special memories come from his days as a coach on the football team. “The thing that stands out most to me was making the state championship in 1977 and winning it in 1978 because you look back and we’d only won 6 or 7 games in 5 years, and so it was such a turn-around. We’d never thought about winning the state championship, and all of a sudden, it happened,” said Rothrock.
With the consolidation of school districts becoming more and more of a financial option, Rothrock remains optimistic for the future of Arcola High School sports. “The future of Arcola sports is going to depend on consolidation. Maybe 50 years from now it will still be just Arcola, but everybody else may be a lot bigger,” said Rothrock.
Arcola Famous for Its Coffee Breaks
Another Arcola resident, Bob Arrol, former pharmacist and creator of the “Coffee Club,” recalls the town’s centennial celebration in 1955. “It was very elaborate with a pageant that ran for several nights during the week, and all of the merchants had booths set up out on the grounds where the old school building was. It was a get-together, something new for Arcola,” said Arrol.
Arrol’s “Coffee Club,” which met in his pharmacy, was one of Arcola’s most popular traditions that at one time attracted national media attention. To gain membership in the Coffee Club, one had to drink 100 cups of coffee to be eligible, then wait for a spot to open up. Once becoming a member, then a mug was reserved with the member’s name on it and stored in its own spot on a shelf on the wall of the pharmacy.
According to Arrol, the idea originated from when barbers would keep shaving mugs with each customer’s name on it for when they came to get a shave. Arrol said the Coffee Club began with 9 members and expanded to as many as 162. All the mugs from the Coffee Club are now on display in the Arcola Depot on North Oak Street, which houses the office of the Arcola Chamber of Commerce.
Arrol has also been impressed with the way Arcola’s downtown has progressed since he opened his pharmacy in 1948. “Now it’s (downtown) considerably more dressed up and nicer than it was before and more active and organized than it was before,” said Arrol.
Arrol also said one thing Arcola residents can be proud of as the town celebrates its sesquicentennial is the progress the town has made and all the wonderful people who live here. “For me, the thing I am most proud of is the background of Arcola and what has been accomplished and what we still look forward to,” said Arrol.
Arrol’s “Coffee Club,” which met in his pharmacy, was one of Arcola’s most popular traditions that at one time attracted national media attention. To gain membership in the Coffee Club, one had to drink 100 cups of coffee to be eligible, then wait for a spot to open up. Once becoming a member, then a mug was reserved with the member’s name on it and stored in its own spot on a shelf on the wall of the pharmacy.
According to Arrol, the idea originated from when barbers would keep shaving mugs with each customer’s name on it for when they came to get a shave. Arrol said the Coffee Club began with 9 members and expanded to as many as 162. All the mugs from the Coffee Club are now on display in the Arcola Depot on North Oak Street, which houses the office of the Arcola Chamber of Commerce.
Arrol has also been impressed with the way Arcola’s downtown has progressed since he opened his pharmacy in 1948. “Now it’s (downtown) considerably more dressed up and nicer than it was before and more active and organized than it was before,” said Arrol.
Arrol also said one thing Arcola residents can be proud of as the town celebrates its sesquicentennial is the progress the town has made and all the wonderful people who live here. “For me, the thing I am most proud of is the background of Arcola and what has been accomplished and what we still look forward to,” said Arrol.
ARCOLA LION'S CLUB
Find out more information on the Lion's Club 75 year history.
Learn more about Arcola's Lion Club
https://arcolalionsclub.org/
Join the Arcola Chamber of Commerce Today
Call 217-268-4530 or Visit 135 N Oak St