The current location of the Western Illinois Museum was once known as Lodge Corner. When the City of Macomb was established in 1830 the horse and buggy was the primary means of transportation. The 20th century ushered in changes for this agricultural community that faced new mechanization in its fields and on its streets. Lodge Corner played a role in this transition with the forward-thinking decisions made by Mrs. Jemima Lodge.
Over the last few years, pieces of information about Lodge Corner has been gathered and we have come to think of our building as the biggest artifact in our collection. We like to think that artifacts can foster exploration and the brick and mortar building is no different.
The Macomb Journal article written on August 28, 1925, by local historian Alex Holmes titled, “Reminiscences of Lodge Corner” offered a wealth of information about the site. He starts the article indicating that the long-standing building has now been “wrecked to make room for a large garage for the Ford people.” Holmes recounts the corner has long been the site of carriage makers that often included a small blacksmith shop and wood-working shop. According to Holmes, the shop was built by Almon Hunt in the fall of 1866 which he operated until selling to Thompson and Gill in 1888 or 1889.
In 1871, the death of Mr. Thompson brought his sister and her husband Amos Lodge from New Jersey to settle his estate. They decide to stay in Macomb and become part of the operation of the carriage business. It’s renamed Gill & Lodge and eventually, Amos becomes full owner buying out Gill. Alex Holmes describes their shop as an “excellent carriage work, and some of these vehicles would be running yet if the autos had not run them out.”
With the death of Amos’ son, who was to take over the family business, he decides to sell the business. Owners included Mr. Talbot for a few years followed by two brothers, Archie and Damon Curtis, who carried on making carriages for another 25 years. Amos remained a partner in the Curtis operations as well as maintaining ownership of the land.
Records indicate that in 1926 Mrs. Lodge built the brick building at 201 South Lafayette Street but it was not clear how the wooden structure became the brick building we know today. Recently we learned a few things about her including her first name: Jemima. Her maiden name was Adcock and she was known as Mima. She had two sisters and two brothers and she taught school. She married Amos in 1879 or 1880, shortly after his first wife died. The 1880 census indicated they were married “within the year.” Amos had a seven-year-old son at the time of their marriage and Mima became a wife and a mother. She was also seventeen years younger. This accounts for her long-time involvement in the property.
With Amos’ sudden death on June 30, 1916, Mima finds herself as the owner of the business and land. It appears that the carriage business continued at Lodge Corner with the addition of automobile repair and parts. The Macomb Journal reports on March 26, 1908, “Their rubber-tire machine and supplies will be here soon.”
The transition to the automobile is finally complete with the tearing down of the wooden structure in August of 1925. The new brick building was completed in 1926 and its construction is described as being built with iron posts, concrete floors, and steel I-beams. Electric lights and steam heat firmly place the building into the 20th century. It is clear, though, that Mima did not invest in the new building without a plan.
On July 31, 1925, the Macomb Journal reports on page eight that Mrs. J. C. Lodge, the current owner of the lot will build a new 90’ x 90’ building which will be occupied by McCreary and York, two Rushville men who will operate the garage. Mima sees the future and it includes the automobile. She makes a bold move to tear down a long-time business in order to make way for the growing demand for the new mode of transportation. McCreary and York name their business Macomb Motors and become a long-time fixture on Lodge Corner for the next 42 years.
The photograph below was recently shared with the museum by Jack Martin, a relative of the founders of Macomb Motors. He believes it was taken in 1926 shortly after the building was completed and is the earliest photograph known of the exterior of the building. I like to think that the woman walking towards the building is the proud owner Mima Lodge – but of course, we don’t know that.
Up next! Stay tuned for the next chapter in the history of 201 South Lafayette Street. The museum’s oral history project is turning up more details about Lodge Corner, Macomb Motors and other details about our largest artifact!
