Browse Items · Decatur Public Library Local History Photo Collection

Dean Mesnard's Oral History

This is the oral history of Dean Mesnard. He was interviewed by Betty Turnell on April 9, 1986. The interview includes his childhood, career in insurance, and changes to Decatur.

Tags: 1986, accounting, April 1986, Avon Theater, Bazley's Meat Market, Beach House, Betty Turnell, Bijou Theater, Brintlinger Funeral Home, broken home, Bryn Mawr PA, business major, C.L.U., changes to Decatur, Chartered Life Underwriter, childhood, College of Life Underwriters, contractor, Dean Mesnard, debit company, Decatur Club, Decatur High School, Decatur IL, Decatur Memorial Hospital, Dr. Beadles, Empress Theater, Fairview Park, family life, financial planning, G.I. Bill, Great Depression, heating engineer, inflation, insurance office, interview, Lake Decatur, life insurance, Life Underwriter's Training Council, Lincoln Apartments, Lincoln Hotel, Mary W. French School, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Millikin University, mow lawns, mutual companies, old gravel pit, oral history, painter, Piggly-Wiggly, Prof. Glen Smith, Pythian Home, rake leaves, recording, Roosevelt Junior High School, salesmanship, Shinner's Meat Market, shovel snow, Steven's Creek, stock companies, swimming, Texaco Light House, Texaco Tower, Transfer House, Williamson Heating Company of Cincinnati, Woodrow Wilson Junior High School, workmen's compensation, World War II

Clarence Sowers' Oral History

This is the oral history of Clarence Sowers. He was interviewed by Betty Turnell. The interview includes his career in construction.

Charlotte Wait Holder' Oral History

This is the oral history of Charlotte Wait Holder. She was interviewed by Betty Turnell on August 10, 1985. The interview includes her childhood and early Decatur.

Tags: 14-room house, 815 W. Main St., Amusement Park, Arcade Hotel, automobile, Barn, Bermuda, Betty Turnell, Bicycle, Blue Book, Bob Hope, Buick, changes in Decatur, Charlotte Wait Holder, childhood, Citizens Building, clubhouse, Country Club, cruise ship, Decatur Club, Decatur High School, Decatur IL, department stores, Downtown, Dreamland Lake, Dreamland Park, England, Ethel Barrymore, Fairview Park, fashion, fire, Fishing Club, Florida, Ford Model T, France, Gebhart Store, golf, golf house, Gushards Store, high-top shoes, horse, Interurban station, interurbans, interview, Italy, Jerusalem, Lemonwood School, Lincoln Highway, Lincoln Theatre, Mary French School, Medira, men's club, merry-go-round, Miami FL, Michigan, New York, New York City, Ohio, oral history, Powers Opera House, Powers Theatre, private club, recording, road markers, roller coaster, Roosevelt Junior High School, ship, South Side Country Club, Southmoreland, Spain, stage plays, Stewarts Store, Streetcars, summer vacation, swimming lake, swimming pool, tennis court, tire blow outs, train, Transfer House, Wait-Cahill Wholesale Company, wholesale drug and notions store, winter vacation, Wood St. School