Posted 5 years ago
AnythingOb…
(1778 items)
What a PLEASANT surprise it was late last week, to find a little hand-addressed envelope in my mailbox. (which generally just accumulates junk mail and bills, but whatever...) The unmistakable (to me) writing thereon immediately clued me that it was a note from my Mom :-) but the unexpected surprise was finding out exactly which "notecard" she'd found and used to send it to me...
Built as "HOME SAVINGS & LOAN ASSOCIATION" at 50 E. Main St. in Galesburg, IL -- this was indeed the first 'bank' I ever remember having my own 'savings account' in as a child growing up in Galesburg. 2nd pic here shows the publisher's blurb on the back of the card that 'splains the building itself, notice the reference to the 2-story "WONDERFALL FOUNTAIN" which was the main feature of its lobby. I wish I now had a pic of *that* -- as a naturally inquisitive kid, it was NO DOUBT my totally favorite aspect of the building. <LOL>
[pics of similar WONDERFALLS here:]
https://www.google.com/search?q=wonderfall+fountain&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=v6RpzjDODtDpdM%253A%252CQ98yqXbfVQdTrM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kSO1cAJWIEcbIUoDfAmR2iXo4FuTQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjg3efGqLXjAhXMZc0KHcZBDb8Q9QEwEHoECAUQDg#imgrc=v6RpzjDODtDpdM:
The building is still there (now re-branded as a Wells-Fargo branch) but I'm not certain the Wonderfall still exists in it...it's been years now since I was back in Galesburg but I do sorta recall noticing the last time there that the fountain seemed to have disappeared from its former (?) prominent location just inside the big 2-story-tall windows on the front corner of the building...??
https://www.google.com/maps/place/50+E+Main+St,+Galesburg,+IL+61401/@40.9475234,-90.3698423,3a,75y,189.61h,91.72t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFbcdk5jfyviFIh5ouT3ubQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x87e1be0f5242e89f:0x4f501e584e38c5f3!8m2!3d40.9474545!4d-90.3699383?hl=en
OH -- and I also happen to remember that there *was* a little boxful or two of these exact notecards/envelopes in one of the drawers of Mom's writing desk, also when I was a child growing up. I can't say for certain now but would expect that she got them sometime shortly after the building was completed/opened back in the late 1960's, quite possibly as a 'premium' giveaway item for "new customers", which I suppose I myself would have qualified to be then, whether I realized it or not...?? <LOL>
Indeed it is Thomas -- halfway between Peoria and the Quad Cities. LOTS of fun railroad related history there too. (C.B.&Q./Burlington-Northern/Santa Fe) In addition to poet Carl Sandburg, also the home of George Washington Ferris...he invented something else that turned out to be kinda fun... ;-) :-) :-) (and his actual house still survives on N. Broad St., AFAIK)
https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=fLgrXcX6J-e7tgXllZuoCg&q=ferris+wheel+inventor&oq=ferris+wheel+invento&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0j0i22i30.676.9811..12058...1.0..0.230.1946.20j1j1......0....1..gws-wiz.....0..0i131j0i22i10i30j0i13.bpfQHkFE2hA
Thanks LOTS also to Vynil33rpm, jscott0363, fortapache, & Newfld for stopping by and tapping the <love it> button for my little 'trip down memory lane' the other day -- **muchly appreciated, y'all!!** :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)