Can you imagine what Bloomington, Illinois looked like 100 years ago? Before shopping centers, modern highways, smartphones, and the busy streets we know today, Bloomington was a growing community filled with locally owned businesses, bustling downtown streets, electric streetcars, and neighborhoods that looked quite different from the ones we see today.
In 1926, Bloomington was entering an exciting new era. Automobiles were becoming increasingly common, businesses were expanding, and one of America’s most famous highways was about to become part of the community’s history.
Let’s take a little trip back in time and see what life was like in Bloomington, Illinois, in 1926!
Downtown Bloomington Was the Center of Town
Imagine walking down the streets of downtown Bloomington in 1926. The sidewalks were busy with shoppers, merchants were welcoming customers into their stores, and downtown was the heart of everyday life.
Unlike today, when many people drive to shopping centers and big-box stores, downtown was where residents went to shop for clothing, furniture, groceries, household supplies, and just about everything else.
Bloomington had a thriving collection of locally owned businesses, restaurants, hotels, and shops. Department stores and specialty merchants gave residents plenty of reasons to spend an afternoon downtown.
One particularly exciting addition to the downtown landscape arrived in 1926: the new Ensenberger Building on North Center Street.
The seven-story building was an impressive sight for the time. Built to house Ensenberger’s Furniture Store, it featured elaborate architectural details, decorative terra-cotta designs, and Gothic-inspired spires. When it opened on May 11, 1926, an estimated 40,000 people visited during its first five days!
The building still stands in downtown Bloomington today, although its original spires were removed in 1941. It is now home to residential condominiums and commercial space.
Electric Streetcars Were a Common Sight
Long before everyone had a car in the driveway, Bloomington residents had another way to get around town: electric streetcars!
The Bloomington-Normal streetcar system connected neighborhoods throughout both communities, making it possible to travel downtown, visit friends, go shopping, or commute to work without needing an automobile.
By the 1920s, the streetcar system had become an important part of everyday life. The cars traveled along tracks throughout Bloomington and Normal, powered by overhead electric wires.
In 1926, streetcars were still carrying thousands of passengers around the Twin Cities. In fact, the system wouldn’t make its final run until December 1936.
It’s hard to imagine electric streetcars traveling through the same streets where we now see cars, trucks, and buses!
Route 66 Was About to Make History
One of the biggest developments of 1926 was the creation of a highway that would eventually become one of the most famous roads in American history.
U.S. Route 66 was officially established in November 1926, connecting Chicago with Los Angeles and passing right through Bloomington.
The original Route 66 alignment traveled along Main Street through Bloomington, bringing motorists and travelers through the heart of the community.
Of course, Route 66 wasn’t yet the famous vacation highway we think of today. In its earliest years, much of the road was still developing, and travelers didn’t have the modern gas stations, restaurants, and motels that would eventually line the highway.
Even before Route 66 received its official designation, Bloomington was already seeing early automobile travelers. Forest Park, on the south side of town, served as a tourist camping area where motorists could stop during their journeys.
Imagine stopping in Bloomington during a cross-country road trip 100 years ago!
Bloomington Was a Manufacturing Town
Bloomington wasn’t just a place for shopping and transportation. It was also home to important industries that provided jobs for thousands of people.
One of the most recognizable businesses was Showers Brothers Furniture Company.
During the 1920s, Showers Brothers was the largest furniture producer in the United States. The company operated a massive industrial complex in Bloomington and shipped approximately 16 train-car loads of furniture every day!
The furniture industry was an important part of Bloomington’s economy, and the company’s factory buildings were a major feature of the city’s industrial landscape.
Today, Bloomington City Hall occupies a small portion of the original Showers Brothers complex.
It’s remarkable to think that a company producing furniture right here in Bloomington was supplying homes across the country.
What Did Bloomington Homes Look Like in 1926?
While downtown was changing and businesses were growing, families were going about their everyday lives in Bloomington’s residential neighborhoods.
Many of the homes built during this period featured beautiful architectural details that are still recognizable today. Craftsman bungalows, American Foursquare homes, and traditional two-story houses were popular styles during the 1920s.
Inside, homes looked quite different from what we’re accustomed to today.
Kitchens were generally smaller and more utilitarian. Refrigerators were still becoming common household appliances, and many families relied on iceboxes to keep food cold. Washing machines were becoming increasingly available, although doing laundry was still a much bigger chore than it is today.
Electricity was becoming an increasingly familiar part of household life, but modern conveniences like central air conditioning, dishwashers, and microwaves were still decades away for most families.
A typical evening might involve the family gathering in the living room, listening to the radio, reading the newspaper, playing games, or visiting with neighbors.
Life moved at a different pace, and many everyday activities involved spending time with family and friends.
How Did People Spend Their Free Time?
What did Bloomington residents do for fun in 1926?
Much like today, people enjoyed getting together with friends, attending community events, visiting parks, and finding ways to entertain themselves.
Going to the movies was a popular activity during the 1920s. Silent films were still common, although the first feature-length motion pictures with synchronized dialogue were beginning to change the movie industry.
Radio was also becoming an increasingly popular form of entertainment. Families gathered around their radios to listen to music, news, sporting events, and other programs.
Parks provided another opportunity to get outside and enjoy the day. Miller Park, one of Bloomington’s best-known parks, had already been a gathering place for generations of residents.
Families could enjoy picnics, take walks, and spend time outdoors without needing to travel far from home.
And, of course, there was always downtown shopping, visiting friends, and catching up with neighbors!
A Century of Change in Bloomington
It’s fascinating to think about how much Bloomington has changed in just 100 years.
The electric streetcars are gone. Many of the old storefronts have disappeared or changed hands. The automobile transformed the way people traveled, and the development of modern shopping centers changed where residents spent their money.
But some pieces of 1926 Bloomington are still with us.
The Ensenberger Building still stands downtown. Historic neighborhoods preserve beautiful homes from the early twentieth century. Miller Park continues to welcome visitors, and Main Street remains an important part of the community.
And Route 66, which officially began its journey through American history in 1926, is still remembered as one of the most iconic highways in the country.
A hundred years may seem like a long time, but when you look around Bloomington today, you can still find little reminders of the people, businesses, and everyday lives that shaped the community we know and love.
What do you remember about old Bloomington?
Do you remember shopping downtown, visiting businesses that are no longer there, or hearing stories from your parents and grandparents about what the city used to look like?
We’d love to hear your memories! Sometimes the best pieces of local history aren’t found in books. They’re the stories passed down through generations.
