Covering the Land of Lincoln

Some Peoria, Illinois, street names are shrouded in mystery

Ask Dean is a Journal Star series focusing on all things Peoria: its history, mysteries, quirks, new developments and culture. Send your questions to [email protected].

Questions: Sterling Middle School is on Sterling Avenue. Who or what is the namesake of these Sterlings? — Chuck Wahlstrom

answer: Like many American cities, Peoria has streets named for presidents (Lincoln, Garfield), states (Wisconsin, Nebraska) and trees (Glen Oak, Willow Knolls).

Some of the street-name sources are self-evident (University, Bradley). But a few defy investigations.

Among the latter is Sterling Avenue.

The Sterling Avenue mystery

Two brief stories on July 3, 1962, in the Journal Star shed a little — very little — light.

The first is headlined, “Name New School ‘Sterling.'” The story reads, in part: “Peoria’s newest elementary school, now under construction at 2315 N. Sterling Ave., was officially given a name by the Board of Education Monday night . The school will be called the Sterling School.”

An adjacent story is headlined, “But No One Knows Origin Of The Name.” That story reads, in full:

“Anyone know where Sterling Avenue got its name?

“Before Peoria’s new school going up at 2315 N. Sterling Ave. was named for the avenue, the school board tried to determine the origin of the name.

“No information was turned up, however, and none was forthcoming today from either the city engineering department or the county highways office.

“The first time the word Sterling seems to have appeared in records here was on a road given that name in a West Peoria subdivision back between 1850 and 1855.”

Sixty years after those brief stories ran, Sterling Avenue’s origin remains a mystery.

As consolation to reader Chuck, here’s a look at the stories behind some other Peoria street names.

Presidents and a quest for revenge

Arrows point the way to Washington Street on a roundabout in downtown Peoria.

According to a Peoria Star article from 1913, the naming of the city’s downtown “presidential” streets began with a son’s mission to avenge his father’s death.

William S. Hamilton reportedly arrived in Peoria in 1826 while hunting down Aaron Burr, who had slain American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804.

The younger Hamilton, “an expert civil engineer,” drew up a plat of downtown Peoria that was approved by county commissioners. The roadway nearest the Illinois River was named Water Street. Above that, the commissioners named the streets, in order, after the first five presidents: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe.

Northeast Adams Street runs one-way through downtown Peoria but becomes two-way at the 2300 block in the Averyville neighborhood.

The sixth president was also named Adams, so the next street was named for “Commodore Perry, who won the naval victory on Lake Erie in the war of 1812 (and) was still a popular hero.” Presumably, this was Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, who was known as the “Hero of Lake Erie” and whose battle flag famously read, “Don’t Give Up the Ship.”

“Hamilton street was named for the man who laid out the town,” according to the story.

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‘Main’ or ‘Maine’ Street?

Main Street running northwest and southeast through downtown Peoria crosses Jefferson Avenue and several other streets named after past presidents.

Crossing the downtown presidential streets is a major east-west artery shrouded in mystery.

“Main street was named after the state of Maine, and the original plat shows it spelled with an ‘e’ on the end,” said city clerk WF Moran in a 1925 Peoria Star Centennial Edition story. But a 1976 Journal Star article adds, “Other sources dispute his claims.”

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From planks to a president

The 1925 article also traces the origins of one South Peoria thoroughfare to an old wagon trail: “Lincoln avenue … was once a plank road across open country, a direct line to the coal mines in Kickapoo. … It was called ‘ Plank’ because there were long planks in the road for the wagons to pass over.” West Plank Road still exists west of Peoria.

But a 1952 Journal Star story says Plank was a great road built for farmers, not miners. The headline reads, “Peorians Built Road Of Planks Out Lincoln Ave. 100 Years Ago.” The story reads, in part: “The Plank Road was a continuation of Lincoln ave. … built of planks to enable farmers to get into Peoria with their farm products. As a usual thing, this was difficult as the roads were impassable from deep mud.” An editor’s note adds, “Full dimensioned lumber was used, being much heavier than the common lumber sizes of this day.”

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Sheridan Road

Traffic travels northbound on Sheridan Road in Peoria.

As with Maine — er, Main — Street, Sheridan Road’s name source is uncertain. The 1976 article reports, “Sheridan Rd. once was Elizabeth, supposedly changed ‘to give the street a more dignified name.'” It is unclear what poor Elizabeth had done to be considered undignified, nor is it clear why “Sheridan” was chosen . If the name change was to honor Philip Sheridan, the rechristening brings his own baggage. Sheridan, a Union general during the Civil War, later headed the Department of the Missouri.

Sheridan supposedly once said, “The only good Indians I ever saw were dead.” Over time, that alleged quote was remembered as, “The only good Indian is a dead Indian.” Sheridan denied ever making the latter statement.

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Grand Reservoir Memorial Drive?

According to a 1953 Journal Star article, “The last thoroughfare to receive a name that meant anything was War Memorial Drive; formerly Grand drive, Reservoir boulevard, and Harvard avenue. It was renamed in 1952 for veterans of all wars.”

The intersection of North Prospect Road and East War Memorial Drive in Peoria.

Pacific to Prospect

Peoria once had two oceanic avenues on the East Bluff. Only Atlantic remains. According to a 1996 Journal Star story, “Pacific Avenue used to be the main drag along the west edge of Glen Oak Park, but about 65 years ago it was amended to Prospect Road for reasons not evident in historical accounts.” Curiously, the former Pacific Avenue was east of Atlantic.

Submit your own: If you have questions about Peoria, Ask Dean. He’s worked here for a quarter-century

Whether it’s a person, place or product, send your “Whatever happened to …?” and “Wasn’t there a …?” questions, comments and suggestions to [email protected]. Please put ASK DEAN in the subject line.

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