PEORIA — When Caterpillar Inc. clears the Adams Street block from Fulton to Main streets for its new headquarters project, a Block from the past will be gone.
Block & Kuhl was the preeminent retail establishment in Peoria and downstate Illinois for most of the 20th century — certainly for the first half of it. Where the Chase Bank Building now stands at 124 SW Adams St. was a store that, in addition to successfully selling merchandise, forged a presence in the minds of residents and visitors to central Illinois.
Peoria has had its share of distinctive landmarks in its colorful history but few companies drew the accolades reserved for the Great White Store as it was billed.
First known as Schipper and Block, the building was the first steel structure in Peoria when it opened in 1905. It was seven floors high on the Adams Street side but at the bottom of Fulton, there were nine stories, due to the slope of the road.
The store’s name changed to Block and Kuhl in 1914 when Theodore Kuhl took over as president. That name would stand until 1961 when Carson Pirie Scott & Co. took over the Block & Kuhl chain.
Over the years, B&K took the winning formula developed in Peoria on the road, growing to 19 stores — 17 in Illinois and two in Iowa.
Carson’s continued to operate at the Adams at Fulton location — across the street from Bergner’s — until 1975. By that time, Carson’s had also established a store at Northwoods Mall.
The Journal Star’s Jerry Klein recalled the closing of the Downtown store that year by recalling the glory days of the Block and Kuhl operation.
“This is no ordinary store closing,” Klein wrote. “These revolving doors scarcely ever ceased. They were like paddlewheels, pumping people into and out of the store, laden with packages, trailing children behind them, eyes all bright as stars.”
Klein described the millinery department at Block and Kuhl that his aunt ran at one time: “It was huge and filled with women trying on hats from New York and Paris, or so it seemed.”
Those of us now accustomed to big boxes and discount centers perhaps can’t imagine the pomp and circ*mstance of the department store but Klein mourned the passing of a time when shopping was more dignified. “Instead of voices shrieking, ‘Price check on aisle two,’ there was an air of elegance and refinement,” he noted of the Block and Kuhl experience.
Bill Adams, who wrote over 300 history columns for this paper from 1988 to 1994, had his own memories of Block and Kuhl.
“When you reached the elevators, you were greeted by Hazel Scott, head elevator starter. All elevators were personally run by lady operators in uniform (as was Scott),” recalled Adams.
“But no elevator moved up or down until Hazel Scott pressed her hand-held clicker to indicate it could proceed. Once in motion, the operator would call off each floor and the departments in it,” he stated.
Here’s what you might have heard on that elevator ride: first, floor, accessories, gloves, jewelry and the luncheonette; second floor, men and boy’s clothing plus women’s lingerie; third floor, women’s clothing and shoes; fourth floor, floor coverings; fifth floor, toy department, sporting goods, books, electronics and general offices; sixth floor, furniture and seventh floor, the Block and Kuhl restaurant.
The store’s skyline eatery was an elegant affair with thick flowered carpets, indirect lighting and a menu with a wide variety of offerings including pickled walnuts (15 cents) and lobster salad (30 cents).
At its peak, Block and Kuhl employed 500 people throughout the year. Those employees were held to a high standard of performance. An internal company publication from 1917 even published a list of employees who were late to work most often.
Things picked up at Block and Kuhl over the Christmas holidays and for special sales days with the number of employees almost doubling.
It was the Christmas period that made the store so memorable to many Peorians. While other area stores vied to lure shoppers with their own Santa, Block and Kuhl sponsored a parade just to bring old Saint Nick to the store, a parade that carries on to this day. This year will mark the 128th year for the Santa Claus Parade in Downtown Peoria.
Adams recalled that one year poor Santa had to exit the parade, climbing up a fire truck ladder to Toytown on Block and Kuhl’s fifth floor.
But while youngsters may recall the store’s toy department with particular fondness, Block and Kuhl got involved with all the holidays. One of the most popular images of the store is the 1952 shot of the building adorned with the world’s largest flag, one that covered all seven floors, in honor of Memorial Day.
That wasn’t the first time the store hoisted a giant flag across the side of the building. The flag went up in 1929 to celebrate the store’s golden jubilee, commemorating 50 years since John Schipper and Henry Block, already successful in Pekin, opened their store in Downtown Peoria.
Today, stores like Wal-Mart and Costco pride themselves on the broad array of merchandise offered to customers but the concept isn’t new.
Peoria’s Sunday Journal Transcript noted this about Block and Kuhl in 1922: “Within the great department store where you can purchase everything from pins to automobile parts and from the latest Parisian frock to a rare vase from India or Japan, there are departments within departments and wheels within wheels.”
Many never knew this elegant store with its many wares and wheels. It’s been housing banks and lawyers for 40 years now. But when the wrecking ball arrives, memories of Block and Kuhl can take their place alongside other departed Peoria landmarks like the Inglaterra ballroom, Palace Theater and Al Fresco Park.
Steve Tarter is Journal Star business editor. Tarter’s phone number is 686-3260, and his email address is starter@pjstar.com. Follow his blog, Minding Business, on pjstar.com and follow him on Twitter @SteveTarter
