back to August 9, 1867, when the English addition from the railroad east to Pine Street was added to the town. A similar section from Pine Street east to Adams was added December 2nd of that year. An area three blocks deep north and south was marked off in lots in both sections, but none of the lots were sold and it has been farmed. This part of Seventh Street was graded and graveled in the fall of 1972. In March, 1974, a house and an apartment house are nearing completion in the new addition.
PARKS – Through the cooperation of the City Council and the Chamber of Commerce a tennis court was constructed in the southeast corner of Corn Belt Park in September, 1959 at a cost of $2,500. It can be flooded in the winter to provide a skating rink. In later years, brick fireplaces were built by Home Extension Units. In July, 1965, members of the El Paso Junior Chamber of Commerce erected a shelter on the east side of the park. Material was paid for from the Park Fund with the JC's doing the work. Plans are under way to build public restrooms in the park in 1974. They will be built by the township and maintained by the city.
An additional three blocks of the Illinois Central right-of-way, between Third and Sixth Streets, was added to our park area in April 1956 through an agreement with the railroad and the cooperation of the Kiwanis Club. This provided a parkway from Front Street to the high school parking lot.
WAR MEMORIAL – The War Memorial near Front Street on Central, which was erected in 1947 by the Kiwanis Club, was enlarged in 1972 through the cooperation of the two veterans organizations and their auxiliaries. Names of the veterans who had served in the Korean and Viet Nam conflicts were added. It was dedicated September 12, 1972. Cost of the addition was paid by personal and club contributions, and donations from the V. F. W. and American Legion Posts. George Owcarz, Jr. deserves a lot of credit for much of the work that was done. A recent picture of the memorial is shown on page 136 of this book.
A large grey marble cross was erected at the veterans plot in Evergreen Cemetery May 30, 1965, through donations given through the V. F. W. and Legion Posts and Auxiliaries. On Memorial Day, an Avenue of Flags, consisting of over 100 flags, is displayed there as a background for the Memorial Day services. Many of the flags are loaned by families of deceased veterans. Flags are also flown at the Front Street Memorial upon the death of a veteran.
MEMORIAL HOME – W. E. Froelich, Jr., of Gridley, purchased the Vincent Memorial Home October 1, 1967. The business was continued under the Vincent name until February, 1972. In the summer of 1972, an off-street parking lot was added to the east and north of the home and was blacktopped. In the fall of 1973, a family room and redesigned entry was added to the building, improving the facility. Stephen Mooney and Richard Berlin are the resident staff members, and they also operate the Froelich ambulance service.
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