In the
early 1870’s a switch track was needed for the new railroad between
Paris and Decatur, IL. Several had been established along this rail
line, one being at Arcola, but another was needed between there and
Decatur. It was decided that it would be placed near a road that was
said to be the county line between Moultrie and Douglas counties. The
area was also known as “The Big Slough” (pronounced “slew”) because it
was so swampy.
A
small settlement soon grew up parallel to the railroad track at this new
switching place. The owner of the railroad, Robert G. Hervey, named the
new settlement Glascow. A short time later fire destroyed the entire new
village and when the settlers rebuilt, they erected their new buildings
on either side of the road that was the county line. That’s way the
village is divided into two counties, the west side of the town being
Moultrie County and the east side Douglas County.
In 1873 when the village
fathers petitioned to incorporate it was discovered there was already a
Glascow, IL so Mr. Hervey renamed the town Arthur for his favorite
brother.
Arthur
is located in east central Illinois and is within a thirty to forty-five
minute drive of metropolitan shopping and cultural areas, three junior
colleges and three major universities, the largest being the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Also within a thirty minute drive is
Eagle Creek Resort and Lake Shelbyville with camping facilities,
fishing, boating, water skiing and swimming.
One of
the main attractions of the area is the members of the Old Order Amish
Faith. Three Amish men came from Pennsylvania and Maryland in search of
new and better farm ground in 1864. They discovered the area that was to
become Arthur and returned to their respective homes until 1865 when
they returned with family and friends. There are several Amish
Centennial Farms in the area.
From
these few settlers the Amish settlement grew to its present size of
approximately 4,000 members. In the past few years they have
supplemented their farm income with small shops called “cottage
industries” where they make fine oak furniture, cabinets and harnesses,
buggies and various other commercial items. These plus food and general
stores and bakeries surrounding Arthur have attracted a great number of
tourists year ‘round. It is estimated there are more than 150 cottage
businesses.
Arthur
has always been a very enterprising town, growing to its present size of
2,300. Some of the first industries were tile factories because of the
above-mentioned swampy ground. A “Little Giant Road Machine” (a
forerunner of the huge equipment now used to repair and build roads), a
shoe and cigar factory, a casket and burial vault company and a truck
tank company. At present there are 4 large manufacturing businesses and
a hardware store. Also 3-plus construction companies; 3 gas stations, 2
have convenience marts and 1 grocery store. There is a motel; 2 Bed &
Breakfast Inns; 2 real estate agents; several accountant offices; a
Lawyers office and 5 restaurants. Plus 3 banks; 16 gift type businesses;
a locally owned pharmacy with an old time soda fountain; 2 concrete
companies; 2 farm type implement businesses; a funeral home; a tavern
and a weekly newspaper office. Also 5 beauty shops; 2 barber shops; the
Bi-County Home Extension Office; 3 doctors clinics; 2 dentists offices;
two chiropractors offices; a sale barn and an auction barn. There is an
ambulance service; a newly constructed fire house as part of the Fire
Protection District (all volunteers); 4 full-time police officers, two
part-time and one K-9 Unit. This list doesn’t include any of the Amish
“cottage businesses”. The two largest businesses in both counties
(Moultrie & Douglas) are located in Arthur.
The village is serviced by
Central Illinois Public Service for electricity, (CIPS) Central Illinois
Light Company for natural gas, (now AMEREN CIPS and AMEREN CILCO),
Consolidated Communications & Mediacom for phones & internet service and
several waste disposal systems. The Village of Arthur maintains their
own water and sewer systems.
We are also very proud of
our public library that encompassed the entire school district. The new
library was built in 1991 and is computerized with numerous facilities
for their customers and is served by the Lincoln Trails Library System
of Champaign.
There are several day care
centers, elementary, junior high and high school in Community Unity
District #305. About one-third of the Amish children attend the public
school and the others parochial schools in the area. (about 15)
Kindergarten through sixth grade in the public school has the Amish
integrated with the “English” (which is what the Amish call who are not
of their faith). In junior high they are in “self-contained” classrooms
by themselves, as they desire it to be. They do not attend high school
or college, only going to school until they finish eighth grade. There
are also 2 Mennonite parochial schools and 1 Christian parochial school,
first through 12 in the area.
We are very proud of our
academic standing in the state and have many sports such as football for
which we co-op with a nearby town, Lovington, as we do in girls
basketball. We also have strong programs in volleyball and track. We
also have a strong music program with an award winning marching band,
and a show choir that consistently win honors for the school.
There are 14 churches in
the area, 9 of those in the village of Arthur, while the others are
scatted throughout the countryside. There is only one Amish church, they
are called “house Amish” because they worship in their homes, but there
are 25 church districts.
Arthur is a very
attractive little community with a number of civic organizations that
all work well together. One such organization is the Arthur Rotary Club
that brings to Arthur the most spectacular fireworks display for a town
our size in the state of Illinois, bringing over 40,000 spectators to
town the Saturday before July 4th each year. There are two
parks in the village, E. L. Jurgens Park, located at the south edge and
Eberhardt Park at the southwest edge. At Jurgens Park is where the
Moultrie-Douglas County Fair is held each year in July, also located
there is the Arthur Community swimming pool, tennis courts, and ball
diamonds. Eberhardt Park is strictly for picnicking with three large
pavilions, playground equipment and becomes a winter wonderland at
Christmastime with all the lights and decorations. Also a mini park is
located just one block from our main street and was created in honor of
E. L. Jurgens widow, Dorothy, by their children, it is a great place to
take a break while shopping downtown Arthur.
Because of the interest in
the Old Order Amish, Arthur has become quite a tourist attraction in the
last few years but we still maintain our air of a very industrious
community with an outstanding shopping area both in town and in the
countryside. Visitors come from all over the world, last year 96 foreign
countries were represented and every state.
The community takes great
pride in their little village where our motto is “You’re A Stranger Only
Once”, which we try to uphold at all times.
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