Great River Road, 2016

Browse Items (76 total)

  • Tags: Granite City
Thumbnail Title Description Date Date Added
Henry Ybarra Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Henry Ybarra was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

Mr. Ybarra speaks about his time growing up in Lincoln Place as well as his family in and trips to Mexico. He utilizes photographs to guide his father, uncle, and other family members and their experiences in Mexico. Mr. Ybarra emphasizes his sense of pride about bring a resident of Lincoln Place.

Among the many topics Henry Ybarra talks about are his lifelong residency at Lincoln Place, working at Prairie Farms Dairy, his Mexican heritage, yearly trips to Mexico, and his family.
November 14, 2001 March 18, 2018
Isabella Vartan and Helen Abbott Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Isabella Vartan and Helen Abbott was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

Isabella Vartan and Helen Abbott are the daughters of Armenian immigrants who have been lifelong residents of the Lincoln Place neighborhood. In this interview, they talk about their parent's experience in Armenia during World War I and immigration to the United States, their participation in the Armenian Orthodox Church, growing up as the children of immigrants, involvement in the local community center, and the diversity of the Lincoln Place neighborhood.
October 10, 2001 March 18, 2018
Jack Vizer Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Jack Vizer was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

Jack E. Vize was born on October 3, 1928, to Hungarian immigrant parents and has been a lifelong resident of the Lincoln Place neighborhood. In this interview he talks about his childhood, working with his father at the Commonwealth Plant, his time in the Korean War, working for the U.S. Corp of Engineers, and his involvement with the Boy Scouts.
October 29, 2001 March 18, 2018
Jeffrey Halcom Oral History Interview In this oral history interview, Jeffrey Halcom describes growing up and attending Edwardsville Schools. He details his family's farm work and his later career with Granite City Steel. He discusses the various technological changes in farming and the steel industry. He also talks about the Bethalto Homecoming celebrations. July 11, 2017 October 9, 2017
Jim Pennekamp Oral History Interview In this oral history interview, Jim Pennekamp describes his role in various economic development organizations in the St. Louis metro area and Madison County, including the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation, the St. Louis Regional Commerce and Growth Association, the Tri-Cities Area Chamber of Commerce (now called Southwest Madison County Chamber of Commerce), the Greater Alton Twin Rivers Growth Association (now called the Riverbend Growth Association), and University Park at SIUE. He also describes growing up in New Jersey and Brussels, Belgium, his participation in the anti-Vietnam War movement in the 1960s and 70s, and his early career as a deputy juvenile officer in Jefferson County. He also reflects on changes in Madison County and the broader region in the second half of the twentieth century, particularly related to globalization and the transition from an industrial to a service-based economy. October 24, 2018 February 15, 2019
John Percy Oral History Interview This oral history interview with John Percy was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

In this interview, John Percy describes his experience as a P-47 Fighter-Bomber Pilot in the European theater of World War II, his childhood in rural Illinois, learning to fly, his career after the military as a corporate pilot for State Farm Insurance, and his involvement on the board of the Prairie Aviation Museum.
October 6, 2001 March 17, 2018
Joyce Taff Oral History Interview In this oral history interview, Joyce Taff describes her career as a keypunch operator at the Granite City Army Depot and later working in St. Louis. She discusses the impact that the Depot and its closing had on Granite City. The interview also describes Joyce's work with her church, Holy Family Catholic Church. October 4, 2018 December 6, 2018
Kathy Childers Oral History Interview In this oral history interview, Kathy Childers discusses her family's Macedonian heritage and her father John Bellcoff, who was the mayor of Madison, Illinois from 1985 to 1997 and the Madison County Democratic Chairman from 1990 to 1994. She discusses how her family continues to practice Macedonian cultural traditions, including food, clothing, and dancing. She also describes her father's political career, including his role in establishing the Gateway Racetrack in Madison. She also discusses her grandfather's grocery store in Madison, Bellcoff and Son, and her and her father's work with funeral homes. July 17, 2019 November 4, 2019
Leland Ambuehl Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Leland Ambuehl was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

Leland Ambuehl came to Lincoln Place as an adopted child from Eastern Europe. In this interview, he talks about his adoption, his experiences in World War II, the diversity of Lincoln Place, and the Lincoln Place Athletic Club.
October 28, 2001 February 16, 2018
Linda Garcia Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Linda Garcia was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History

Though Linda Garcia was born in St. Louis, she only lived there for three years and spent the rest of her life in Lincoln Place. In this interview, she describes her childhood, the diversity of the community, the different jobs her and her sisters had to do to help her widowed mom, her Mexican heritage, and religious experiences.
October 31, 2001 March 4, 2018