Emily's Musings

More on the Greenhuts

In one of those great I-love-the-Internet moments, Tim Hartneck, a historian in Peoria, Illinois, came across my blog and sent me the following information about my family:

As you know, Joseph Greenhut was a soldier during the Civil War. Following the war, the organization, the Grand Army of the Republic, was created asa a veterans association. The GAR was very active here in Peoria. About 1908, The veterans decided that they wanted to build their own meeting place. A building was planed and construction was started on 1909. Joseph Greenhut covered probably teo thirds of the cost of the building. It was known as the Grand Army of the Republic Hall - Greenhut Memorial. About 1972, this building was in danger of being demolished. A preservation organization, the Central Illinios Landmarks Foundation, was formed to save the building. I was a member to that group and did some research on the building and the Greenhut connection. There are very nice portraits of Joseph and Clara Greenhut that still hang in the building. We were successful in saving the building and restoring it. If my memory serves me correctly, Clara Greenhut Rabinowitz (your great-grandmother??) made a contribution to the restoration fund.

Fast forward a few years. The Landmarks foundation started giving
walking tours in several neighborhoods here in town, one being the High
Street Moss-Bradley area. I did a lot of the research for the tours.
The Greenhuts and Wolfners and other related families lived in this
neighborhood. In 1884, Joseph Greenhut built what was one of the most
imposing homes built in Peoria in the nineteenth century. The Greenhuts
entertained President William McKinley at their home when he was here in
1899 for the dedication of the Soldier's and Sailor's monument. The
home was later acquired by his brother-in-law, William Wolfner, and was
totally remodeled. It still stands today. Ben and Minnie Greenhut also
lived in the neighborhood a few blocks down the street.

I live in this same neighborhood and through the years have continued to
research its architectutral history and the famillies that lived here.
There are several family groups that I have continued to research over
the years, the Griswolds, Clarkes, Bush/Browns, and the
Greenhut/Wolfners. All these families were a significant presence in
the neighborhood and made a substantial impact on the city.

I guess what I'm hunting for would be photos of the Joseph Greenhut
residence and the Ben Greenhut residence, exteriors or interiors, or
any written material such as journals or diaries or letters that might
document life in the neighborhood.