Rabbittown Residential Neighborhood
Rabbittown History
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Rabbittown History
"Looking back at the past, but with an eye toward the future"

1827: Town of Danville, Illinois Founded
          Named for Daniel Beckwith
1832:  Judge John Pearson arrives in Danville. Purchases land from
          Federal government what would now be considered Main St.
          to the north, the Vermilion River to the south, Buchanan St.
          to the east and S. Jackson to the west. 
          Judge Pearson builds his home at the south end of what is
          now Buchanan St. and on the west side.  The land was very
          abundant in wild rabbits and he nicknamed the area
          Rabbittown.
1853:  Oscar F. Harmon, local attorney (1854), buys home/
          property on E. Main St.  Mr. Harmon was a friend of
          Abraham Lincoln.
1858:  Judge John Pearson, a Presbyterian, donates land for the
          construction of the first St. Patricks Catholic Church in
          the 600 block of Chestnut (now Bryan Ave.) St.
1858:  Oscar Harmon, Rabbittown resident and local attorney,
          elected Representative from 37th Senatorial district in
          the 21st General Assembly.  Term 1858-60.
1862:  September 4, Oscar F. Harmon joins the Union Army with the
          125th Volunteer Infantry.  He is given the rank of Colonel.
1862:  John Kilborn and family move into their new home, which
          will eventually become known as the "Hooton Place" on
          current Buchanan St.  Kilborn came to Danville in 1854
          from Ohio and was a land speculator.  At this time, the
          farm, as it was then, was outside the city limits.
1864:  Rabbittown's Col. Oscar F. Harmon, 125th Volunteer
          Infantry, perishes June 27 at Kennesaw Mountain, GA.
          battle.  Col. Harmon was a local attorney and friend of
          Abraham Lincoln.  Mrs. Harmon remained at this home
          until 1881 when she removed to Chicago.  Corrine Street
          adjacent to the east of the homestead is named after
          their daughter.  Elizabeth Street to the west is named
          for Mrs. Harmon. The Harmon Mansion still stands at
          522 Main Street.
1867:  Danville is granted its first city charter.
1867:  Rabbittown's Leonard 'Len' Myers, a butcher and
          buyer/seller of goods and stock, becomes the first
          "town marshal", a position he will hold until 1891. 
          Mr. Myers home stood at 433 South St.
1868:  St. Joseph German Catholic Church is built at 403 Green
          St. (now Sager Ave.)
1874:  Danville Illinois recieves its new incorporation papers.
1876:  First Public School of the neighborhood built in the 400
          block of Chestnut (now Bryan Ave.) on the north side. It
          consisted of three wooden structures and was commonly
          called the "East End" school.
1879:  Gustavus Pearson (Judge Pearsons son) moves back to
          Danville permanently and constructs his home at 408
          Elizabeth St.   Later, his daughter Frances and her husband
          James Meeks resided at the property, which was by then
          called Glen Spring Farm.  Mr. Meeks was once Congressman
          from the district in the 1930's. 
          Mrs. Meeks was a teacher at Danville High School.
 1880:  Danville Public Schools constructs a new 8 room, two story,
          brick grade school on the west side of the 200 block of Park
          Street.  It was named Douglas, after former U.S. Senator
          Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois.  Sen. Douglas had spoken at
          a former orchard area southeast of this building in 1858
          during the famed Lincoln-Douglas Debates period.  The
          orchard would eventually become Douglas Park.
1880:  St. Patricks Catholic Church begins construction of its new
          building at 444 Main St.  This building will replace the one
          located on Chestnut (Bryan Ave.).   However, not long after
          completion, fire breaks out and destroys the structure. In
          quick time, a new and larger church is under way on the
          site.
1882:  St. Elizabeth Hospital begins with four Franciscan nuns
          who came to Danville and opened the hospital in a
          converted hotel on Wayne Street.
1885:  Rabbittown's John Beard elected Mayor of Danville, term
          serving until 1887.
1888:  The Harmon Farm is sold and divided into lots, but the
          house remains on the original site and is used for
          several years as a hospital by Wabash Railroad employees.
1889:  St. Elizabeth Hospital moves to a new three story, 48
          room-80 bed building on Green (now Sager Ave.) Street.
1891:  John Beard elected Mayor for second time.  Term from
          1891-1893.
1891:  Douglas Park is constructed on 16 acres that was once an
          orchard.  Illinois U.S. Senator Stephen A. Douglas had held
          a ralley on this land in 1858 during the Lincoln-Douglas
          debate period.  On the same day, across town, Abraham
          Lincoln held a similar ralley.
1895:  John Beard constructs the 'Stone Arch' bridge on Main St.
          linking the center with the east part of town.  The bridge
          underwent restoration work in the early 1990's and serves
          thousands of vehicles daily.
1903:  John Beard elected Mayor for third time.  Term from 1903
          to 1905.
1904:  Danville's first Coca-Cola botteling plant opens on South
          Street by the Dudenhofers.  It also bottled the Hires brand.
1904:  The Second Cumberland Church is built at 519 Commercial.
           Later, it would become the Douglas Park Church of the
           Nazarene and last, the Tabernacle of Praise.
1910:  St. Elizabeth Hospital adds a new wing to the east of the
          present building on Green St.
1914:  Danville Public Schools begin construction of a state of the
          art building in the 500 block of Illinois St. (now Florida Ave.)
          The 16 classroom brick structure came complete with a gym,
          indoor restrooms, electricity, a cafeteria and an additional
          6 basement rooms.  The building was completed in 1915 and
          was named Douglas Elementary, replacing the current school
          on Park St.   Douglas Park being across the street to the
          south.
1916:  Beard Ice Company opens its new plant in the unit block
          of College St.   This new facility was advertised as
          "electric germless ice".  Beard Ice Co. closed in the early
          1980's.
1916:  Atticus Brown opens Danville's first African-American
          funeral home on College St.  It remained here until 1929
          when he moved it to 314 N. Washington.  It is today
          known as Gibson Funeral Home.
1921:  Rabbittown's John Beard passes away.  Three times mayor,
          he also owned a grocery, stone quarry, ice company as
          well as owner/publisher of the Danville Press. 
1923:  Herb Wolters opens his hatchery on Main Street.  By 1940
          more than 200,000 chicks began life here.  The business
          also sold feed and supplies for the chicken business, and
          a facility was opened in Hoopeston as well.  Mr. Wolters
          also served seven years on the Board of Education for
          the Danville School District.
1925:  Rabbittown's James A. Meeks, local attorney, becomes
          Corporate cousel for the city of Danville.  He holds this
          position until 1931.  Mr. Meeks was son-law-of Rabbittown
          pioneer Gustavus Pearson.
1927:  St. Joseph Catholic School begins contruction of its new
          building at 402 Green St. (now Sager Ave.)  This is a
          larger structure than its predecessor.
1932: James Andrew Meeks, local attorney and Rabbittown
         resident, elected to the United States Congress.
         Elected to the position three times, he held the office
         from March 4, 1933 to January 3, 1939.
1932: Faulstich Printing Co. opens at 110 Park St. where it
         remained until 1965 when it moved to its new location.
1939: The D & D Food Market opens at 309 S. Buchanan St.
           It takes the place of the Ahrens Grocery of the same
           building.
1942: Rabbittown resident Carl Lindley posted the first sign in
          what is now known as Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake,
          Alaska/Yukon Territory.  At the end of 2002, there were
          49,777 signs.  www.signpostforest.com
1948:  Lester Shick opens Shick School & Office Supply.  The
          is located at 801 Perrysville Avenue.
          http://www.shicksupply.com/
1957: Towne Machine and Tool opens at 407 S. College Street, 
          later expands to include a building at 403 and is still going
          strong today.
1958:  Gutteridge Harley Davidson opens their Danville dealer-
          ship in the 300 block of College St.  They purchased the
          business from Ed Ryan.  They remained at this site
          until 1962 when they moved to Georgetown Road.
1958:  St. Elizabeth Hospital begins construction of a new six 
          story addition at 600 Sager Ave. The top two floors
          interiors would not be completed until 1965.
1967:  St. Joseph Catholic School closes at 402 Sager Avenue.
1970:  The Reason Hooton home at 207 Buchanan is raised to
           make way for the International Nursing Home.  The
           home was built in 1861.  Mr. Hooton was a local
           businessman and friend of Abraham Lincoln.  The "farm"
           from the rear of the property, east, was once where Mr.
           Hooton grew the fruits for his homemade wines.  Later,
           known as Hooton's Hill, kids used it for sledding in the
           winter.  The "hill" still remains today undeveloped.                   1970:  Wilson's Automotive and Transmission Shop opens at
          210 South St.  Harry Wilson owned and operated the
          facility until 1986 and his son Jim Wilson has ran it since.
1975:  Community Development/Urban Renewal of the city of
          Danville begins work in the neighborhood including;
          asphalt overlays of streets, brick to concrete sidewalks,
          curb replacements, home renovations, demolition of
          homes and business buildings and many other projects.
          Continues until 1981.
1975:  John Beards once grand mansion on South Street is
          demolished to make room for an expansion of the
          Prairie Farms Dairy facility.
1979:  St. Joseph Catholic Church at 403 Sager Avenue closes.
1979:  The miniature amusement rides that have been home in
           Douglas Park for years are taken down.
1979:  Keith Wilson Body Shop opens in the 700 block of Cleveland
          Street.  Later it was moved to the former Goetz Pet Shop
          building at 809 South Street.
1979:  Two, two story apartment buildings with 8 units each are
          built by Morgan Realty at 401 Park Street.
1980:  Construction begins on the new Holy Family Catholic Church
          at the corner of Park and Main St.  This new building will
          replace the former St. Patrick building on the same lot. 
          This follows the merger of St. Patrick and St. Joseph
          Catholic Churches.  Dedication takes place in 1981.
          http://www.hfsdanv.org/
1980:  Construction begins on the new Danville Polyclinic building
          at 200 S. College St.  When the Polyclinic later moves to its
          new, larger facility on Logan Ave., this building becomes
          the Vermilion County Health and Education building.
1980:  Construction of the clubhouse for the Untouchables Motor-
          cycle Club begins on the former Davies Packing property
          at 106 Commercial Street.
1981:  Construction begins on the final addition to St. Elizabeth
          Hospital.  Once completed, the facility covers over 8 acres
          at the heart of Rabbittown.  St. Elizabeth later becomes
          known as United Samaritans Medical Center/Sager Campus
          after it takes over LakeView Medical Center and the two
          hospitals merge. 
1982:  Several Rabbittown ladies put together the first Rabbittown
          Reunion held at Douglas Park with 84 former and current
          neighborhood residents in attendance.  The gathering
          continues annually until 2000.
1988:  March 2, 1988 begins the neighborhood group, Rabbittown
          Enhancement Association.  Founded by Dennis Dunavan
          and 21 years later, although down-sized in the area it covers
          to better serve, it is still going strong.
          rabbittownenhancement@yahoo.com
1988:  Constuction begins on the Schultz House at 340 Bryan Ave.
          Schultz House is a residential facility for handicapped
          persons.
1989:  Rabbittown's Dennis Dunavan elected Trustee for Danville
          Township. Term 1989-1993.
1990:  Construction begins on a Habitat for Humanity home at
          304 Commercial Street.
1991:  Donna Applegate purchases the Harmon Mansion on Main St.
         and opens her Bridal Veil & Tux business in the east wing. She
         extensively remodels the original mansion which was on the
         verge of being demolished. Bridal Veil & Tux remains until its
         closing in 2007.
1992:  Rabbittown Enhancement Assn. assisted in obtaining the
         Community Development grant for the neighborhood thru
         the city of Danville.  The city operated the program which
         assisted homeowners with remodeling projects to the houses.
1993:  Rabbittown's Scott Eisenhauer elected Alderman for
          Ward 3, Danville City Council.  Term 1993-1997.
1997:  Rabbittown's Scott Eisenhauer re-elected to second term.
          Ward 3 Alderman, Danville City Council.  Resigned in 1998
          to become Assistant Director for the Vermilion County
          Emergency Management Agency.
2000:  The new Vermilion County Juvenile Detention center is
          contstructed at 150 Sager Avenue.
2002:  Douglas Elementary School closes at the end of the school
          year.  After 122 years, two buildings and thousands of
          students, there is not to be a replacement.
2003:  Rabbittown's Scott Eisenhauer is elected mayor of the
          City of Danville.
2003:  The Cornerstore Antique Shop opens at 735 Wayne Street in    
          the former Nutty Nut Shop building in November. 
2004:  The Douglas Alumni Association is formed by alumni Dennis
          Dunavan. 
          E-Mail: douglasalumniassn@yahoo.com
2005:  The Rabbittown I Neighborhood Group is formed. The area
          consists of Elizabeth St. to Bowman Avenue and Bryan Ave.
          to the Vermilion River and part of Perrysville Avenue.
2006:  Douglas Elementary School, after sitting closed and boarded
          for four years, is demolished from June 12 to 26.  However,
          from April to June, the building is salvaged of all materials
          as possible.  Materials are saved or reused in many ways.
          Hardwood floors, Trim, Windows, and other materials can 
          be seen at Kennekuk County Park in the replica Print Shop.
2006:  The Douglas Alumni Assn. holds the first school reunion at
          Douglas Park.  Over 100 persons were in attendance, both
          former students, faculty and staff.  The school time capsule
          was opened at the event and inside were 1914 newspapers,
          Danville postcards, teachers list, contractor lists, etc.
2006:  Demolition begins in late June on the former St. Elizabeth/
          Provena-United Samaritans Medical Center/Sager Campus
          buildings at 600 Sager Avenue. 
2006:  The "Threads of Time", fabric store, opens in the old
          International Nursing Home on Buchanan St.  Plans call
          for additional space in the building to be for rent for
          office/retail space. www.threadsoftimefab.com
2007:  Rabbittown's Scott Eisenhauer elected to second term as
          Mayor of the City of Danville.
2007:  The Rabbittown II Neighborhood Group is formed.  Nora
          Ross, President.  The area consists of Sager St. north to
          Main St. and division line of College/Quincy east to South
          Buchanan Street.
2008:  The brick Arch at the west entrance to Douglas Park is
          demolished due to deterioration and its inability to be
          restored/rebuilt. 
2008:  Rabbittown Enhancement begins planting flowers and
          shrubs at corners around the neighborhood to beautify
          the area.  The group also painted and repaired the
          exterior of one house in the 400 block of Commercial.
          The group was awarded a grant from the Keep Vermilion
          County Beautiful to assist with the flower projects.                    2008:  The Vermilion County Conservation District builds a new
          replica print shop at the Bunker Hill Historic Area.  The
          building has Douglas School materials incorporated into
          its interior.      www.vccd.org/historic.html 
2008: Plans are unveiled for a senior citizens complex to be
          built on the former St. Elizabeth Hospital property.  16
          townhouse homes are proposed in eight units of 2. 
          Also, three buildings in phases are proposed to, upon
          completion, have 250 one and two bedroom apartment
          units.  Mercy Lakefront Housing from Chicago is the
          developer/owners.     

2009 R.E.A.