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Local History Resources

Celebrate Peoria County's 200th Anniversary! 1825-2025 

Visit the County website for event information sponsored by the county.  

https://www.peoriacounty.gov/1314/Bicentennial-Celebration

Online Resources:

Local History Links

Bartonville History: 
Village of Bartonville Website Info 

Glasford History: 
1968 Glasford History Book 

Peoria Genealogy Trails Info for Timber Township / Glasford 

Local Mining 

Mine-Out area map & directory for the Peoria West Quadrang 

Peoria Historical Society 

Website 

Facebook Page 

Peoria State Hospital

APL Collection  

Stories from the Bowen Building: A Podcast on the Peoria State Hospital

Peoria State Hospital Museum located in Bartonville

Local History Collection at APL:

  • Bartonville News – Microfilm 1957-1974
  • Limestone Independent News – Microfilm 1973-2013
  • Glasford Gazette – Microfilm 1899-2013
  • Limestone High School Yearbooks – 1954-2022. 
  • Illini Bluffs High School Yearbooks – 1990-1991, 1993-2008, 2010-2014.
  • Bartonville Grade School Yearbooks – 1966-1968.
  • Oak Grove School Yearbooks – 1967-1968.
  • Township Cemetery Directories
  • Illinois State Library Microfilm - Sent to APL for viewing
  • Glasford/Gazette: A History 1968; 1988  (Reference 977.35 GLA) 
Bartonville Historical Photos 
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A vintage photo of a family posed in front of a Victorian-style house with a picket fence.
A vintage photo of a two-story building with people outside and a horse-drawn grocery cart.
A vintage photo of students and a teacher posing with a U.S. flag outside a building, holding a sign that reads “Batesville School Room 3.”
Old photo of "The Gup Hotel" with several people, horses, and carriages in front. Sign for Gipps Beer visible.
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Two people in vintage attire sit in an early automobile in front of a building with a sign reading "Office for Transfer Bus Baggage Line."
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Historic street scene with brick buildings, awnings, and utility poles on a dirt road; signs for businesses are visible.
A vintage photo of a harbor with steamships and a sailing vessel docked in calm waters.
1. Mobil gas station with cars. 2. Empty parking lot and building. 3. Pizza Palace restaurant with vending machines.
A black-and-white photo of a McDonald's with flags. Below, a colorful sunburst design with text: "THE BEST PHOTO FINISHING UNDER THE SUN!"
Historic street view of Adams St., looking south, with brick buildings, horse-drawn carriage, and utility poles.
A black and white image of a street in Bartonville, showing old shops, a dirt road, and people.
Old industrial building with a water tower and smokestack, labeled "American Milling Co. Bartonville."
Group of firefighters in front of Bartonville Fire Dept, 1926, wearing raincoats and hats, standing around a fire truck.
Two people stand near a coal company plant with wooden structures and a field in the foreground.
A vintage street scene with old buildings, shops, and people. Signage includes "GEO." and "TRADE WITH." Text: "ROOSEVELT, MO., BARTONVILLE."
Image gallery image
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A vintage photo of a family posed in front of a Victorian-style house with a picket fence.
A vintage photo of a two-story building with people outside and a horse-drawn grocery cart.
A vintage photo of students and a teacher posing with a U.S. flag outside a building, holding a sign that reads “Batesville School Room 3.”
Old photo of "The Gup Hotel" with several people, horses, and carriages in front. Sign for Gipps Beer visible.
Image gallery image
Two people in vintage attire sit in an early automobile in front of a building with a sign reading "Office for Transfer Bus Baggage Line."
Image gallery image
Historic street scene with brick buildings, awnings, and utility poles on a dirt road; signs for businesses are visible.
A vintage photo of a harbor with steamships and a sailing vessel docked in calm waters.
1. Mobil gas station with cars. 2. Empty parking lot and building. 3. Pizza Palace restaurant with vending machines.
A black-and-white photo of a McDonald's with flags. Below, a colorful sunburst design with text: "THE BEST PHOTO FINISHING UNDER THE SUN!"
Historic street view of Adams St., looking south, with brick buildings, horse-drawn carriage, and utility poles.
A black and white image of a street in Bartonville, showing old shops, a dirt road, and people.
Old industrial building with a water tower and smokestack, labeled "American Milling Co. Bartonville."
Group of firefighters in front of Bartonville Fire Dept, 1926, wearing raincoats and hats, standing around a fire truck.
Two people stand near a coal company plant with wooden structures and a field in the foreground.
A vintage street scene with old buildings, shops, and people. Signage includes "GEO." and "TRADE WITH." Text: "ROOSEVELT, MO., BARTONVILLE."
Bellevue Historical Photos 
Richard's "66" Service ad: gas, greasing, oils, tire repair, accessories. Located on Highway 116, Bellevue. Features an image of a car.
A vintage food stand menu features items like root beer, sundaes, hot dogs, and hamburgers with prices listed.
Person standing in front of a brick wall with a sign that reads "Baker's Tavern."
A person stands by a ladder in front of a sign for John Manufacturing Co., Rohnco, Inc., with "Gene Heuermann" captioned below.
Bellevue School, 1943. Pile of scrap metal from a wartime scrap metal drive.
Drive-in theater sign: "The Life of Elvis Presley", shows nightly, rain or clear, playground for children.
Richard's "66" Service ad: gas, greasing, oils, tire repair, accessories. Located on Highway 116, Bellevue. Features an image of a car.
A vintage food stand menu features items like root beer, sundaes, hot dogs, and hamburgers with prices listed.
Person standing in front of a brick wall with a sign that reads "Baker's Tavern."
A person stands by a ladder in front of a sign for John Manufacturing Co., Rohnco, Inc., with "Gene Heuermann" captioned below.
Bellevue School, 1943. Pile of scrap metal from a wartime scrap metal drive.
Drive-in theater sign: "The Life of Elvis Presley", shows nightly, rain or clear, playground for children.
Glasford Historical Photos 
A vintage photo of Timber Township High School building with a sign above.
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Top: Group with horses and cart on a muddy street. Bottom: Farmers with a threshing machine in a field.
Masonic tools, Maria Reynolds portrait, and a livery barn with men and horses.
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Top: Glasford House with people in front. Bottom: W.V. Watson lumber yard with workers and horses.
Two historic photos: A.L. Fahnestock’s General Store (circa 1900) and T.P. & W. depot in Glasford (1909).
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A vintage photo of Timber Township High School building with a sign above.
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Top: Group with horses and cart on a muddy street. Bottom: Farmers with a threshing machine in a field.
Masonic tools, Maria Reynolds portrait, and a livery barn with men and horses.
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Top: Glasford House with people in front. Bottom: W.V. Watson lumber yard with workers and horses.
Two historic photos: A.L. Fahnestock’s General Store (circa 1900) and T.P. & W. depot in Glasford (1909).
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Timeline of notable events in Alpha Park Library District in last 200 years: Bartonville, Bellevue, Glasford, Kingston Mines, Lake Camelot, Mapleton