The Gazette Building, Champaign, Illinois, (1876-1927).

The Champaign County Gazette was built between 1875-76 on the land procured by the estate of J.W. Scroggs ($3,500) and B.F. Harris ($4,500). 

The cornerstone was laid on July 18, 1875, and the building was completed in time for the Centennial year celebrations on January 15, 1876. Before this time, the Gazette has been operating on the upper floors of 28 Main Street. 

The building was designed by architect Seeley Brown and constructed by Mr. E.F. Gehlman. Due to several weeks of rain, the project was delayed a bit, with the staff hoping to move during Christmas or what they describe as the week of "jollification." 

However, only the presses were moved during this time, and the building was completed in January. The building shared occupancy with three additional businesses, Terbush's Barber Shop in the eastern portion of the basement, Dr. Brown's Drug Store on the south end of the first floor, and a U.S. Post Office on the eastern half of the first floor.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Bloomington, Illinois' Great Fire of 1900.

Just after midnight on June 19, 1900, a great fire began sweeping through much of the city's downtown. By 8 am the following day, stunned residents struggled with the enormity of the devastation. Forty-five buildings and 4½ blocks were reduced to little more than smoking rubble.

It all began at 12:20 am when Bloomington patrolman John Brennan spotted flames in a second-story window of Model Laundry in the 100 block of East Monroe Street between Main and East streets.

Flames quickly spread to Benoni S. Green's harness and saddlery business immediately to the east. From the beginning, antiquated equipment combined with low water pressure hampered Bloomington firefighters.

"The city water pressure was very poor, and the only source was from six-inch water mains," Green's son, Ralph, recalled in 1948. "I well remember the four or five hose lines from which was flowing very scant and weak streams of water."

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.