Brick Street Strategic Plan

As many of you already know, the Bloomington Historic Preservation Committee will hold a public hearing on the City of Bloomington Brick Street Strategic Plan. This plan seems to honor the beauty and durability of our beloved brick streets, but this session will also address specific policies and procedures that will affect those residents directly. The meeting may be just informative and harmless, but it would be in our best interest to have as many residents of White Place at this meeting as we can.

In the past, our presence at these types of meetings has had considerable impact on the hearings. It sends a strong message when our residents fill City Hall Chambers to address issues of our neighborhood. So please try to set aside about an hour or so on Thursday.

Information about the hearing can be found on the city of bloomington website.

City Council Chambers, City Hall
109 E Olive Street
Thursday August 20 @ 5:00 pm

If anyone needs a ride to the hearing please let me know.

Dave Hogenson
828-2237

White Place Annual Block Party

The White Place Block Party will be held this Saturday, August, 15, starting at 5:00 pm.

This year it will be held in the north end of the street. Bring your lawn chairs, meat to grill for your family, and a dish to share with everyone.

Please feel free to invite your family and friends!

See you there!

Open House for Shirley Koos

Shirley Koos (#20) is moving to Texas! Help send her off with warm hearts as she drives her little Prius into the heart of BIG Texas. After two decades of living on White's Place, she's moving herself and Tolstoy (her big white fluffy Samoyed) down to San Antonio.

The Gronemeier's (#22) are hosting an open house for Shirley on Wednesday, August 12th starting at 6:30 pm. Feel free to BYO, or beverages and light snacks will be provided.

Extra sod

There are 35 extra rolls of sod on my driveway. Help yourself, but leave the pallet.

Laura
#59

White's Place Plat

I came across this PDF the other day and thought the neighborhood might be interested in seeing it. It appears to be the original Plat drawing for the "White Place Addition."

Check it out . . .complete with signatures of then-current city officials:

• J.S. Neville, Mayor
• A.H. Bell, Civil Engineer & Surveyor
• H.L. Denison, Clerk

Very cool!

If you're interested, here's some more info on who these people were:

A quick search on James S. Neville shows that he lived from 1856 to August of 1906. The White Place Addition was approved in March, 1906. There's also a photo and short biography of him on page 283 of the book titled Republicans of Illinois; A Portrait and Chronological Record of Members of the Republican Party (1905) (beware, this book is a 16 MB download!). The biography reads as follows:

J. S. NEVILLE, BLOOMINGTON
Born Mackinaw, Tazewell Co., Illinois., March 11, 1856. Adm'td to Illinois Bar, 1880 and since been in active practice. Politically active since 1878; postmaster Bloomington. 1889-93; member Bloomington City Council, 1893-99; appointed Railroad and Warehouse commissioner by Gov. Yates, 1901; Chairman McLean County Delegation to State Convention 1900 and 1904; member State Central Committee 4 years; elected mayor of Bloomington.

Arthur H. Bell shows up online as well, this time on page 52 in the book titled Transactions of the McLean County Historical Society (1899) (4.5 MB). The book only mentions that he served as the surveyor beginning in 1892. Another book mentions that he worked for the Illinois State Geological Survey Division specializing oil and gas.

Dues are DUE!

Just an FYI that it's that time of year and neighborhood association dues are due. [edit] They can be paid to White's Place Association at 28 Whites Place (the Hogensen's).

Dues are $20 per year and are supposed to cover the following:

• June Neighborhood Sale classified ad
• August Block Party (food/refreshments)
• October Fall Festival (food/refreshments)
• Boulevard maintenance

We haven't seen enough participation in recent years and some expenses have quietly started falling on the shoulders of a few people. Let's show our thanks by promptly paying this year!

If you missed previous years, it's OK to pay more than $20. Your friends on Clinton and Fell Avenue will thank you next time they have a beer and brat on the neighborhood!

Mark your calendar for April 1st for 2010 dues and beyond. (Dues are due in April.)

Thank You!

2009 White's Place Neighborhood Sale: June 6th

Here are the results from our quick survey:

There were quite a few second place votes for the 13th, but it looks like the 6th won out!