railroad between Walnut and Sycamore Streets was leveled and covered with crushed rock, and a low guard rail erected along the tracks for safety. A similar parking strip was built in the summer of 1953 by the Federated Church along the north side of Franklin Park to provide better parking facilities there.
In preparation for city mail delivery which had been discussed for some time, El Paso Post No. 59 of the American Legion installed metal street signs at all intersections in El Paso early in 1948. In August the project was completed by numbering all residences, the numbers being on a decimal fraction system as to location rather than in regular numerical sequence. The business houses along the three main Front Street blocks were numbered in sequence.
The first hard road was constructed on state route 8, the old Corn Belt trail, and was built in 1923-1924. In 1951 the strip between El Paso and Gridley was completely rebuilt, as that section of Route 24 had deteriorated badly. State route 2, now U. S. 51 along Fayette Street, originally called the Meridian Highway, was built in 1924 and is still in use.
A number of serious accidents occurred at the intersection of these two national highways as traffic increased. On March 7, 1927 the city council suggested the usual stop-and-go electrical signals, which state highway officials approved. The signals were completed August 1929 at a cost of $1,133, but were not as successful as hoped for. They were removed in 1941 and the regular state four-way stop signs replaced them. While accidents still occasionally occur, none has been fatal since all traffic has been required to stop at the dangerous corner.
WATER. When the surveyors platted the town of El Paso in the spring of 1854, it bore little resemblance to the present physical appearance of the community. At the southeast side some twenty acres lay under water. Another pond was nearby on the present George McKinley farm. At the north side of town a similar area east of the railroad was covered with water. West of Route 51 on the present Louis Knecht property two other ponds remained most of the year. Where the center business block is now located another pond stretched so near the Illinois Central tracks that boys paddled rafts about in search of frogs.
After the village was established wells were dug and cisterns built by most residents for a dependable water supply. Thomas McClellan, who built the first house in El Paso at Front and Chestnut Streets, also dug the first well which soon provided the neighborhood with water. Public wells were located at the southwest corner of Franklin Park and the southeast corner of Jefferson Park, and another was on Elm Street close to Front. The two park wells were ten inch bored wells, lined with octagonal wooden curbs made by L. S. Calkins. A large trough was near each well where cattle and horses were watered.
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