Elmwood Illinois

I will start your journey with me with some town’s that surround Peoria area from the west

including my hometown Elmwood Illinois.

Elmwood was named after this man…

William J. Phelps

William J. Phelps

blog elmwood post

William J. Phelps was born in Burlington Connecticut on March 2, 1808. William would travel during winter for business and land. In 1834 he owned over 2000 acres on the county and the land was rich in coal . He shipped this coal out through Peoria and Oquawka railroad. In 1866 Phelps founded a coal mining partnership with James Lee. They employed 100 to 200 men and then Mr. Phelps built a mansion near the mines and train station and named it Elmwood after the surrounding grove of elm trees. The post office was built and the township in 1854 and named Elmwood Township . William J. Phelps lived until 1883 and was buried in Elmwood Township Cemetary.

blog elmwood

I moved here with my family when I was going into 6th grade in 1993 and my sister 4th grade. At that time my parents purchased a 1850’s Victorian farm house that needed lot’s of work in town on West Mound. It was lacking so much TLC that my dads Father George came to initially see our home, he walked in the hallway and less than three minutes did an” about face ” and walked out of our home! This home had a fire in the 1900’ss … of course fixed up since then , the attic proved there was at a time, fire damage. My parents purchased this home for $34,000 and sold it for $78,000. They sold our home after their divorce in 2003-04 and the roof and siding was not quite complete along with other details. Here are some pictures of homes I found with same features our Victorian home had when we purchased it in 1993. Dad is gathering his old photo’s , I will post them as soon as he gets them together 🙂

Pinterest images of Victorian Homes Our Elmwood Home (pictures soon)

Historic Home in Summerville, SC, build in 1850's. Entryway, heart of pine wood floors.:

Entry of Historic Home:

My parent’s walked away with nothing in return due to loan’s and credit’s not paid off. My dad sold it to a family that moved from a local family that came from a small home in Elmwood, where their three children shared rooms. Their mother Dolly had always watched the progress of the exterior being remodeled and told us this was here “DREAM ” home since she recognized the work our parent’s had been putting in it. She mentioned, specifically the exterior overhang patio with French doors just off my sister’s bedroom and was dying to see the inside.

Dad told me that the owners before us, had painted over all casings and every piece of natural finished wood. I will never forget how my parent’s worked so hard on refinishing the hardwood floor after pulling up tons of old carpet . Then there were the hot summer day’s dad would be on the roof in his jeans and tool belt looking like this was his job , and not a Butternut Baker Bread Man. The siding and roofing was a long project .

Here are some more fun memories!

My sister’s room had old linoleum rugs under her carpet , that is now back in style ! Now I thought it was the formal dining area that had the rug mentioned. Dad thought it was Theresa’s room. I text mom on her Hawaii trip and she text the guest room! HA ! I don’t know for sure what room. I just called sis, and waiting for a response on what room she recalls ….. yup her room !

Paint a pattern onto a linoleum remnant to make a custom (and cheap!) area rug for the dining room! This os a MUST if you have little messy eaters!! {Reality Daydream}: painted floors. Wonder if u could do this on top of tile? Maybe just linoleum? Love it:

OH and I will always remember the old doors with skeletal key locks my sister and I had on our room door’s.

Then there was the cellar with three rooms and the biggest room housed our furnace that had to be manually turned on and off. If not it would literally peel the paint off of our

bathroom door that swung out over the vent,

of the kitchen. OOPS ! Our cellar was all solid break and the main beam under our floors , was a tree log 2 foot diameter notched out with a joist. Pretty amazing.

Elmwood has stepped up to the modern day’s the last 15 years. Many homes have been built . I have the best memories from that town . All the sweat and tear’s that we witnessed , made us all strong and really did have an affect on the way my sister and I are . I know you always appreciate more over the years as you see your parent’s age. But, we really knew during the day’s of non – stop remodeling what work was all about.

We had friends that had single parent’s and friends that had married parent’s. We visited these friends, and some had farm homes other’s newer home’s with piano’s. Our activities would range, from driving the gravel roads to go swinging into lakes with our true “country girlfriend’s”. These non manmade lakes and pond’s will be as warm as bath water during the summer day’s, and once your past the initial three to four feet submerge , your toes will reach the cold, damp algae that waits below. Not to forget the farm animals, ranging from pot belly pig’s that would come in as they please and go out as they pleased. The crazy tamed turkey’s that would chase us and beg for pets, horses, and outdoor cat’s to helping momma cow’s deliver their calves. During the week’s on school day’s we would walk to our friends that were cheerleaders and partake in practicing our back flips on their bran new acrobat mat’s.

Our parent’s never missed an activity , meeting, family night and vacations always were set in stone. A town like Elmwood really does house the culture of farming from way back to the 1800’s and brings the “modern country life” together in a humble loving way .

My dad made a good choice on selling it to this thankful family, for they have a gift of flipping homes too. We made a visit over three years ago , my husband , dad and I to do a walk through and to say hello . We are due for another visit this summer 2016! They have turned Dad’s closet “Frog” themed sized bathroom into a beautiful full sized bathroom. Additionally it is ironic the time they choose to move was the same time in our lives when we moved , their children were pushing mid elementary school as well , and now in high school. They have brought love and happiness into this home that helped our family grow as well. It feels good knowing a house full of memories that I reflect back on , is now being re lived , and a home always is ” where the heart is”

Here are some recent images of the wonderful home style’s and business’ you will see in Elmwood Illinios.