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History Of The Greenhut Memorial

Grand Army Of The Republic Hall

Peoria’s local post of the Grand Army of the Republic was organized on October 8, 1879 with seventy-four charter members and eventually grew to number in the hundreds. It was not until 1909 that the Colonel John Bryner Post 67 had a permanent home. Joseph Benedict Greenhut, a prominent local citizen, who was also a Civil War veteran, gave generously to the campaign for the construction of the GAR Hall.

Joseph Greenhut, a native of Austria, immigrated to Chicago with his family while still a boy. When President Lincoln issued his call for 75,000 troops after Fort Sumpter fell, Greenhut was one of the first persons from Chicago to sign the muster roll, enlisting as a Private in the 12th Illinois Infantry. During the four years he served, he rose to the rank of Captain and participated in the Battle of Gettysburg. After the war, he married Clara Wolfner and settled in Peoria where he became a prominent businessman and distillery owner.

Greenhut began a mission to ensure that the Boys in Blue would have a place of their own to meet. After learning that the Bryner Post was raising subscriptions with which to construct a hall, he sent a check for $1000.00. It was soon followed by contributions of $4000.00 and $5000.00. His generosity prompted the building committee to place his name on the new hall. On the day of the building’s dedication, $18,000 of the $22,800 cost of the building and lot had been raised. Greenhut donated again with the comment, “Boys, lets dedicate her free from debt. Here’s a check for four thousand.”

Captain Greenhut was not the only contributor. In 1908, Captain Byron C. Bryner, post commander and son of Colonel Bryner, had the idea of selling individual subscriptions, payable in ten monthly installments. $8000.00, a significant sum at the time, was raised from contributors from all walks of life. Veterans, their families, and auxiliary organizations such as the William A. Thrush Camp 25 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, the Bryner Women’s Relief Corps No. 12, the Aunt Lizzie Aiken Tent No. 28 of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, the George A. Wilson Circle No. 49 Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic and others were instrumental in raising the needed funds.

The Little Bronze Button Brigade was organized, consisting of school age children. They rallied to the cause by collecting their pennies in the effort to reach the goal of one dollar each. Each child who collected a dollar was enlisted in the Brigade and received a shiny bronze button.

The Hall is of the Beaux-Arts style and was designed by the Peoria architectural firm of Hewitt and Emerson. This quote from Historic Illinois, the publication of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, best sums up the sprit of the Hall: “The Corinthian columns placed on the Bedford-stone and Danville-brick façade dominate the front entrance, and the decorative features—memorial urns, floral urns, wreath ropes, and sculpted eagles—symbolize the patriotism of the Union veterans, their courage, love of country, liberty and fraternity.” A mortar and pyramid of shot flank the entrance.

A grand oak staircase accesses the main floor auditorium. Above the stage is the G.A.R. motto of “Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty”. Historic photographs and prints line the walls between the stained glass windows. In the lobby stands a marble bust, sculpted by Peoria artist, Frederick Ernst Triebel, of General John A. Logan. Also on the main level are two generously sized offices, a ticket booth and a restroom.

Many of the activities took place in the “English-style” lower level that included a dining hall with kitchen, a ladies “retiring room”, and a veterans’ club lounge that was used for game playing and smoking.

Unfortunately, due to the late date of the construction of the hall, its effective life as a meeting place for Civil War veterans was short. As veterans died, the vitality of the Bryner Post dwindled. Only seven remained by 1936. Its last surviving member, William Livingston died on Memorial Day 1945 at the age of 97.

Affiliate organizations worked to save the Hall and preserve the memory of the Civil War veterans. Ownership transferred to a board of trustees represented by the Sons of Union Veterans, the Daughters of Union Veterans, The Bryner Women’s Relief Corps, and the George A. Wilson Circle No. 49 of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic. Age and waning interest eventually reduced the ranks of these organizations. By 1971, the board of trustees found it hard to maintain the building. Deteriorating stonework threatened to fall and when the city converted from centralized steam heating for municipal buildings, the trustees could not afford to purchase new furnaces. With less than $1000.00 in the treasury and a restoration estimate of more than $90,000, the George Wilson Circle held its final luncheon on October 26, 1971, shuttered the building and put it up for sale.

It sat empty and unheated for the winter, causing further deterioration. The building was threatened with demolition. An article in the January 30, 1972 edition of the Peoria Journal Star stirred interest in the community and a not-for-profit historic preservation group was formed—The Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation (CILF). Its first project was to save the GAR Hall. On September 14, 1972, the trustees signed a lease with the foundation for the management and restoration of the Hall and commenced fundraising with local architect and preservationist, Leslie Kenyon providing the needed leadership to begin restoration. Corporate and State grants were secured as well as individual donations. Among the contributors was J.B. Greenhut’s granddaughter, Mrs. Aaron Rabinowitz of Westport, Connecticut who donated $1000.00.

On November 11, 1979, the CILF hosted a celebration at the hall to honor those who donated to the restoration. Uniformed re-enactors from Peoria and Springfield were present and the First Brigade Band from Milwaukee played Civil War-era music.

Since those early beginnings in 1972, the roof was replaced; furnaces installed, plaster repaired, wood floors and trim refinished. The ornamental stained glass windows were restored. The large center window that had been lost earlier was reproduced from a 1916 photograph and replaced in 2000.

TODAY....

The restoration continues with work taking place on the lower level dining hall. The main dining room has been insulated and replastered and the original gas-electric lights restored. This room is to be used as a museum for Civil War artifacts and other military items as well as for its original purpose as a dining room for luncheons and receptions. Past Department of Illinois Commander, Stuart Stefany has been an enthusiastic supporter of the efforts to create the museum and has donated numerous articles from his personal collection.

Funds have been raised to create handicapped-accessible restrooms in the former ladies lounge and clubroom. Construction was completed early in 2008. Funds are currently being raised for the installation of an elevator to service the building.

The Hall continues to live as a meeting place for patriotic and historic purposes. Bryner Camp 67, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War meets monthly, as does the Peoria Civil War Roundtable and Friends of the G.A.R. Hall. Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs have been held, as have live band concerts by the 33rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regimental Band. Noted Lincoln historian, Max Daniels and his wife Donna have portrayed the President and Mrs. Lincoln in several performances at the Hall. The Metamora-Peoria Civil War Dance Society practices authentic dances. And now, Prairie Folklore Theatre performs their historically based programs on the stage.