Illinois Traction Building & Old Inman Hotel, Champaign, Illinois
A view of two buildings that lie within the Champaign Downtown Commercial District but are listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places. In this view looking west from Market St. and University Ave. are the Illinois Traction Building and the old Inman Hotel.
Built in 1913, the Illinois Traction Building was designed by architect Joseph Royer in the Early 20th Century Commercial style. It served as the headquarters and Champaign Station of the Illinois Traction System (ITS), a heavy duty interurban electric railroad with extensive passenger and freight business in central and southern Illinois that operated from 1896 to 1956.
When Depression era Illinois Traction was in financial distress and had to reorganize, the Illinois Terminal name was adopted in 1937 to reflect the line's primary money making role as a freight interchange link to major steam railroads at its terminal ends in Peoria, Danville and St. Louis. Interurban passenger service slowly was reduced, ending in 1956. Freight operation continued but was hobbled by tight street running in some towns requiring very sharp radius turns. In 1956, ITC was absorbed by a consortium of connecting railroads.
The Illinois Traction Building later became the headquarters of Illinois Power and Light. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006, the building has been repurposed as commercial and office space.
The large 6-story building with a glazed yellow brick facade west of the Illinois Traction Building is the old Inman Hotel. Designed by Spencer and Temple and constructed in 1915, this Classical Revival/Early 20th Century Commercial style hotel was Initially constructed with only five stories. A sixth floor was added only a few years later. The Inman attracted guests from all over the country and provided services for downtown merchants and shoppers with a drugstore, billiard room, banquet hall, and café all located on the ground floor. At the time the U of I did not have a Union Building, so the hotel quickly became a gathering place for U of I visitors and sports fans. University of Illinois football was quite popular during this time period, as this was the era of Harold “Red” Grange. The three-time, All-American halfback played under coach Bob Zuppke from 1923 – 1925 and led the U of I to a national championship in 1923. The Inman Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The building has been repurposed as a senior independent living facility.
Located in Champaign County in east central Illinois, the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana are the home of the University of Illinois. The population of the City of Champaign at the 2020 census was 88,302, while Champaign County had a population of 205,865.
Sources: National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, Champaign Downtown Historic District; Wikipedia, Illinois Terminal Railroad and Inman Hotel.
Illinois Traction Building & Old Inman Hotel, Champaign, Illinois
A view of two buildings that lie within the Champaign Downtown Commercial District but are listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places. In this view looking west from Market St. and University Ave. are the Illinois Traction Building and the old Inman Hotel.
Built in 1913, the Illinois Traction Building was designed by architect Joseph Royer in the Early 20th Century Commercial style. It served as the headquarters and Champaign Station of the Illinois Traction System (ITS), a heavy duty interurban electric railroad with extensive passenger and freight business in central and southern Illinois that operated from 1896 to 1956.
When Depression era Illinois Traction was in financial distress and had to reorganize, the Illinois Terminal name was adopted in 1937 to reflect the line's primary money making role as a freight interchange link to major steam railroads at its terminal ends in Peoria, Danville and St. Louis. Interurban passenger service slowly was reduced, ending in 1956. Freight operation continued but was hobbled by tight street running in some towns requiring very sharp radius turns. In 1956, ITC was absorbed by a consortium of connecting railroads.
The Illinois Traction Building later became the headquarters of Illinois Power and Light. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006, the building has been repurposed as commercial and office space.
The large 6-story building with a glazed yellow brick facade west of the Illinois Traction Building is the old Inman Hotel. Designed by Spencer and Temple and constructed in 1915, this Classical Revival/Early 20th Century Commercial style hotel was Initially constructed with only five stories. A sixth floor was added only a few years later. The Inman attracted guests from all over the country and provided services for downtown merchants and shoppers with a drugstore, billiard room, banquet hall, and café all located on the ground floor. At the time the U of I did not have a Union Building, so the hotel quickly became a gathering place for U of I visitors and sports fans. University of Illinois football was quite popular during this time period, as this was the era of Harold “Red” Grange. The three-time, All-American halfback played under coach Bob Zuppke from 1923 – 1925 and led the U of I to a national championship in 1923. The Inman Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The building has been repurposed as a senior independent living facility.
Located in Champaign County in east central Illinois, the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana are the home of the University of Illinois. The population of the City of Champaign at the 2020 census was 88,302, while Champaign County had a population of 205,865.
Sources: National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, Champaign Downtown Historic District; Wikipedia, Illinois Terminal Railroad and Inman Hotel.