Editor’s note: The Champaign County Historical Society is sharing with readers a collection of “Then and Now” photos of the area.
Another pair of the photo series “Then and Now” shows the Pennsylvania and Erie Railroad track crossing at Bloomfield Avenue, Urbana, on April 5, 1928. Object id #0316 is the “Then” view of numerous railroad tracks crossing the road alongside a “Chesterfield” cigarette billboard.
Behind the advertising signs is the location of the Edinger Sawmill. A farm operation is also visible on the right side of Bloomfield looking east from the tracks in the 1928 Bill Whitham photo.
Both “Then” and “Now” pictures show similar building structures on the left with updated facades in the “Now” version. Both photos show electric and telephone poles and lines. Whereas the older photo shows many sets of tracks crossing Bloomfield with one two sets now.
The 2016 photo was snapped by Ward Lutz as he is putting together the Then and Now series of local sites. As an active member of the Champaign County Historical Society and Museum at 809 East Lawn Avenue, Urbana, Lutz is always interested in old photos of sites in Champaign County to add to the society’s extensive collection of photos on file at the museum. All artifacts are catalogued and searchable on line at www.champaigncountyhistoricalmuseum.org.
Admittance to the museum is free to the public on Monday and Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. Currently operated with all volunteers, the museum is always looking for volunteers to help with data entry on the computer, help with new projects, and the annual Oktoberfest family event that helps them with operating funds along with membership fees, and donations.
