Canteen founder Vera Davidson pours coffee for a serviceman in Streator during World War II. The image was turned into a bronze statue at the depot to commemorate the work of volunteers.
Posted on 11/10/2006 11:46:01 PM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
STREATOR -- A monument honoring the hundreds of volunteers who met 1.5 million World War II soldiers and sailors on troop trains at the Santa Fe station will be dedicated at 11 a.m. today, capping a 15-year drive.
Canteen founder Vera Davidson pours coffee for a serviceman in Streator during World War II. The image was turned into a bronze statue at the depot to commemorate the work of volunteers.
The idea of a memorial was born when Bob and Helen Knoedler moved onto Illinois Street, across from the station, shortly after the war’s end. They heard tales from their new neighbors about the huge wartime effort to give the troops coffee and sandwiches as their trains passed through.
Often, it was the first snack and friendly face the troops had seen since their train ride began.
“Bob and I thought there should be some kind of monument to that huge effort,” Betty Knoedler-Sand said. Eventually, they brought the idea before the Streator Woman’s Club, and the drive began.
When Bob Knoedler died in 1997, “things came to a standstill,” said his widow, who has since remarried. Donations of the $25 inscribed bricks were still coming in, but the idea of a bronze statue of a volunteer pouring coffee for a serviceman seemed fiscally impossible.
The hoped-for large contributions from corporations never materialized.
“Then Bob Dieken took things over and it got done,” said Knoedler-Sand. “He was a godsend.”
Dieken, a local businessman active in local charities, wanted the monument completed “to honor the serviceman.” He picked up the full tab for casting the statue.
It was not his first involvement in local history. The Streatorland Historical Society on South Bloomington Street is located in the Dieken family home, which turned it over to that group. He also donated $60,000 to St. Mary’s Hospital in memory of the terrorist attack in New York.
He refuses to say how much he paid the Oregon, Ill., foundry to do the work on the statue. A citizens’ committee 12 years ago estimated it would take $48,000 to complete the pedestal and statue.
The canteen opened less than two years after America’s involvement in the war began, often serving thousands in a day and drawing volunteers from throughout Central Illinois. It closed in the summer of 1946.
Almost a thousand bricks were donated for the walls and pedestal. The goal was exceeded by 80 bricks; designers are working to incorporate the excess material.
“The Streator Canteen is an excellent example of what was done on the homefront during World War II to support our troops,” said Ed Brozak, head of the tourism committee that plans to highlight the memorial in civic promotions.
The memorial will help future generations remember “the dedication of volunteers,” he said.
What: Streator WWII Canteen dedication and Veterans Day observance
When: 11 a.m. today
Where: Santa Fe Burlington Northern depot, North Illinois Street.
Observances elsewhere
- Bloomington: American Legion Post 56 ceremony, 11 minutes before 11 a.m., east side of McLean County Museum of History. Speaker: Judge Robert L. Freitag. Also, free admission to Miller Park Zoo for all veterans, active duty military personnel and their immediate families; military identification card needed.
- Lincoln: Service, 10:30 a.m., north side of Logan County Courthouse. Speaker: Ed Wright, vice commander of membership, Amvets.
- Pontiac: Parade, 10:30 a.m., downtown Pontiac; followed by ceremony at Livingston County Courthouse. Also, open house, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Livingston County War Museum and Dal Estes Education Center, 321 N. Main St.
Canteen honor ping!
This town is located not far from my own hometown in central Illinois.
Thank you! I like heartening stories like this.
The new memorial statue, right, is seen next to the Sante Fe railroad station in Streator. (For the Pantagraph/GREG STANMAR).
Good news is occasionally published in newspapers! This story leapt out at me from the website of the paper published in the town (Bloomington, IL) where my grandfather grew up.
BTTT
Mine too. I grew up in Pontiac, IL, which is just up (the Vermillion) river from Streator. Moved far away from IL many years ago, though.
Thanks for the ping.
That is awesome.
Are there any glass bottle making operations left in Streator? Years ago they had the Thatcher and Owens Illinois glass container plants.
That is SO awesome!! Thanks for the ping and I'm pinging a few friends!!
How great is this! And thanks for the earlier ping, Star, to the story about the door for Joshua Dunham.
BTTT
You're welcome!! *HUG*
Thanks, I needed that :)
Good find. Livingston County is GOP country.
So did I! Have you and I FReep-mailed before?
Owens Illinois 901 N. Shabbona Ave. Streator, IL 61364 672-3141
Anchor Glass Container- CMR 1901 N. Shabbona Streator, IL 61364 672-7761
Vactor Manufacturing, Inc 1621 S. Illinois Streator, IL 61364 672-3171
Flink Company P.O. Box 367/502 N. Vermillion Streator, IL 61364 673-4321
Carriage House 118 Iowa Ave. Streator, IL 61364 672-3217
Streator Dependable 1705 N. Shabbona Streator, IL 61364 (800) 795-0551
Culpepper Wood Preservers 2010 Skelgas Rd Streator, IL 61364 673-1507
U.S. Truck Bodies 1807 N. Bloomington Streator, IL 61364 (800) 443-0843
Plymouth Tube 1209 E. 12th St. Streator, IL 61364 (800) 323-9506
Streator Brick Systems P.O. Box 105/West 9th Streator, IL 61364 672-2106
Teleweld 416 N. Park Streator, IL 61364 672-4561
My nephew's name is Joshua Dunham.
I don't know what to say.
What is the link to the story you referenced above? I'd like to take a look! (thanks! :-)
Great story. Our own Canteen volunteers are deserving of a statue of their own as well.
I don't think so but one us of probably should FReep-mail the other. :-)
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