Peoria Stories: Tales from the Illinois Heartland – Book
by Ken Zurski From Ken Zurski, author of The Wreck of the Columbia, comes a collection of stories about people and events which helped shape a city and region. Included are profiles of Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Lindbergh and many other famous and not so famous figures who played a part in the rich…
The Wreck of the Columbia – Book
by Ken Zurski On the night of July 5, 1918, a steamboat named Columbia, returning from a moonlight excursion, collapsed and sank in the middle of the Illinois River. Of the nearly 500 passengers on board that night, most were from the town of Pekin. Eighty-seven people lost their lives in the disaster. The rest…
The Story of Love and the Missing Lara – Book
by Leo Kiesewetter The Story of Love and the Missing Lara is an old-fashioned love story about two people who know they are in love but keep it to themselves. Taking place at a central Ohio college in the 1970’s, the two main characters are both teachers. John Ambrose “Fuzzy” Fuzzrock is a teacher in…
Nothing Happens Until The Meeting Is Set – Book
by John McKee John McKee, best known for his 26 years in new Business Development with over 25,000 sales call meetings and expertise with connecting people, business and product now identifies his passion while writing his story. After inventing his first product Cosmo Finger Guard then reading Key Person of Influence he now shares his…
Peoria Spirits : The Story of Peoria’s Brewing and Distilling Industries – Book
by Bryan J. Ogg The Peoria Historical Society is proud to present the first concise history of Peoria’s brewing and distilling heritage. These pages are a small attempt to bring an incredibly interesting, and overwhelmingly complex topic from obscurity to light. This is only the tip of the iceberg!
Haunted Peoria – Book
by Stephanie E. McCarthy At the heart of Haunted Peoria is the rich and compelling history and folklore of the Peoria area. Buildings and cemeteries in and around the city provide ideal stomping grounds for many restless specters. In this collection of haunted sites, the reader will be introduced to some of Peorias best-loved mansions,…
Ernest Eyes – Book
by M. Ross Kempf Ernest Lenihan and Opal Kempf met in college and fell in love. They went their seperate ways after and never really kept in touch. Now 30 years later Ernest is ready to retire and Opal is ready for love. He takes a vacation to see her and they rekindle what was…
The Murder of George – Book
by Leo Kiesewetter George, a college professor, is found murdered after his wife was previously murdered in a similar way. Investigators are troubled by the fact that someone could have committed the murder with the tight security system George installed in his home after his wife’s murder. With very little to go on, the detectives,…
Dancing in My Underwear: The Soundtrack of my Life – Book
by Mike Morsch Mike Morsch grew up in the rural Midwes (Peoria)t, where his parents introduced him to the music of the 1960s and 70s, including such bands as the Beach Boys, The Association, America, Three Dog Night, The Doobie Brothers as well as iconic singers Elton John, Barry Manilow and Olivia Newton-John. Sit back,…
Bicycle Fever: Peoria Bicycle Races from the 1890s to the 1990s – Book
by Steven Streight Bicycle Fever traces a history few know: the prominence of Peoria (IL) in the development of the bicycle. “In the 1890s, Peoria was one of four major cities in the world for bicycle races,” Steven Streight, author, said. “If you were a hot superstar in bicycle races, you had to prove it…