Tour of Historic Fairbury
Download Brochure For Map
- Drive by the historic Thomas A Beach house (Note the two lions in the front yard). 402 E. Hickory St
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThomasA.BeachHouse
- Thomas Beach was a banker and businessman, worth $50,000,000 in today’s dollars when he died.
- Note the unique architecture of the house – a fine example of Italianate architecture – built in 1872.
- Take a drive down Main Street
- Note the historic City Hall – 101 E. Locust St
- New City Hall – 201 W. Locust St
- Built in 1996
- Pick up the historic CD of Fairbury
- Walton’s Department Store Building
- 100 W. Locust St
- brick building across from Historic City Hall
- Burned down three times, last rebuilt in 1920
- Now houses Fairbury Furniture and WC Market
- Old Blade Building – Housed Fairbury’s newspaper for many years
- 101 W Locust St
- Unique architecture
- Dominy Memorial Library
- http://www.dominymemoriallibrary.org/
- One block south of Historic City Hall
- Note unique architecture with large dome
- Built in 1904
- Stop in and walk through the reading room under the dome; chat with librarians
- Fairbury Echoes Museum (limited hours) (815) 692-2191
- http://www.fairburyechoes.org
- 126 W Locust St – across from Steidinger Tire
- Can purchase Alma Lewis James’ book: Stuffed Clubs & Antimacassars, a history of Fairbury
- Admission is free!
- Shop Historic Main Street
- Lots of unique shops and dining options
- Ask for Fairbury brochures/map
- Placemats in restaurants will provide more information about Fairbury
- Historic Claudon Bank building, built in 1893
- Now houses Lost in Time restaurant – 200 E Locust St
- See the bank vault inside
- John Conerus’s cigar factory was upstairs
- Chat with friendly waitresses
- Drive down US Route 24 (Oak Street) and don’t miss two specialty shops
- Heart’s Desire – 805 E Oak St
- The Spotted Owl – 301 W Oak St
