MACKINAW AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

MACKINAW, IL

Onlookers Union Pacific's MBNAS train, led by the Alton &amp; Southern SD60 duo, was a hot topic when it came flying down the former Alton mainline late in the afternoon a few weeks back. The train had to stop in McLean, IL - home to a siding, and also a bunch of us who were in the area for the biannual Cornfield HO free-mo meet. It's always fun when you get a bonus like this, and we were sure to enjoy it all.

We were far from alone here, as numerous others rolled into the small town along Route 66. Us unlookers were greeted by a friendly crew and amused radio chatter as the pair slowed on the main to allow for a few UP northbound trains to come swing past our manifest. I think these guys got a kick out of us all fiendishly scrambling around for our different angles and shots.

The higher-speed rail upgrades on the former Alton add in many fences, seen on the left, that make viewing our train or others a bit difficult at times. But, there's ways, and one very graffitied SD70ACe makes for an interesting meet with an already interesting duo of power. Certainly not a daily occurrence, but a neat one all the same. — Onlookers Credit: Leo Blackwelder

The Mackinaw Area Historical Society was founded in 1978 with the mission of preserving and sharing the rich history of Mackinaw, Illinois and its surrounding area. Located in the heart of Illinois, the Mackinaw Area is rich in history and the society aims to preserve and share this history through its archives, museum, and educational programming.

The Mackinaw Area Historical Society is dedicated to providing accurate and thorough records of the past. Their archives contain a wide variety of documents, photographs, and artifacts related to the area. They also have a museum featuring a range of exhibits, including a Native American and pioneer camp, a replica of the Mackinaw Post Office, and an extensive collection of historical artifacts.

The Mackinaw Area Historical Society also sponsors educational programming and events throughout the year. These events include talks and discussions with local historians, guided tours of historical sites, and special events such as holiday celebrations, reenactments, and festivals.

The Mackinaw Area Historical Society is committed to preserving and sharing the unique history of Mackinaw, Illinois and its surrounding area. Through their archives, museum, and educational programming, the society provides a valuable service to the community and helps to ensure that the area’s history remains alive for future generations.

MACKINAW AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY is a Historical Societies, Historic Preservation in MACKINAW IL. US MID #8401700303

The museum is classed as HSC (Historical Societies, Historic Preservation). It comes under American Alliance of Museums (AAM) region: Midwest (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin).

Shirley You Can't Be Serious I had no plans to shoot trains this last weekend, but when attending the bi-annual Cornfield Free-mo meet in McLean, we got word of some Alton &amp; Southern SD60s running south out of Bloomington. Wasn't sure I really believed it till I saw them honestly. But naturally, we had to go snatch a shot or two. We wound up at Shirley, and so did a bunch of others. I didn't realize there was a crowd following this train, but I guess that meant we were on the right track.

Anyways, the ALS SD60 duo was a pretty neat catch. We snapped them real quick and jumped back in the car to follow them on Route 66 back to McLean, where they'd be waiting for some northbound traffic to clear before heading further south. Nice to see some real trains on our model train day, too!

Bloomington Illinois ~ Ensenberger Condominiums ~Aka ~ G.A. Ensenberger Furniture store This beautiful building has been fully restored to showcase it's grand stairways, marble floors, and it's gorgeous 1920's decor. Opened in 1926, the G.A. Ensenberger Furniture store brought new life to the downtown Bloomington Area. Bringing its elegant, stylish design to the Central Illinois region brought many new customers to the area. This seven-story building, designed by the ever-popular Arthur Pillsbury, has been a historical monument in the downtown Bloomington area ever since.
Brief History:
1926 - $250,000 plus-building completed following the death of the architect, Arthur L. Pillsbury in October 1925

1926 - Building housed business founded by Gustave A. Ensenberger, a local carpenter, selling locally produced and handmade furniture

1941 - Gothic spires that originally topped the building removed in an attempt to make the building look more modern

1995 - Ensenberger's Furniture store closed

2005 - Renovations for the new Ensenberger condominiums was underway for developer Merle Huff, Russel Francois &amp; Associates, architect

Contact MACKINAW AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

MACKINAW AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PO BOX 139
MACKINAW
IL
61755

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MACKINAW AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY Information

MID #	8401700303
Name	MACKINAW AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Alternate Name
Classification	Historical Societies, Historic Preservation, , Midwest
Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)	202867329
NTEECC	N32
Tax period of the latest return filed (YYYYMM)	201306
INCOME	0
REVENUE	0
LAT/LONG	40.537073, -89.338173
CODES	FIPS State Code: 17 FIPS County Code: 179 US Census Tract: 021701 US Census Block: 2014