OLDEST - Service Club in Monmouth, IL
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 40° 54.723 W 090° 38.894
15T E 698057 N 4531656
Public Square has Central Park as its center
Waymark Code: WM1751B
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 12/14/2022
Views: 0
County of marker: Warren County
Location of marker: Central Park in center of Public Square, Monmouth
Marker erected by: Rotary Club #3234 & Maple City Reality
Marker Text:
PUBLIC SQUARE
Laid out in 1836, the Public Square was the original center on Monmouth, with the city limits extending one-half mile in each direction. Before the square was graded and sidewalks laid in 1862, prairie grass often grew that one could not see from one side to the other.
These sidewalks in the middle of Central park depict the gear of Rotary International's Logo. The Monmouth Rotary Club (Chartered 1918) this city's oldest service club, held their first meetings in the "Commercial Club Room" of the Colonial Hotel (Currently the site of the Midwest Bank of Western IL.). Rotary has since met in, Hawcock's Cafe, Hendrick's Cafe, The Elks Club, Melings Restaurant and currently at the Generations restaurant Located at Monmouth Country Club (circa 2002).
Marker Text:
central park
This circle in the middle of the Public Square was created in 1881 in an effort to deal with the growing problem of horse traffic congestion and mud. An iron rail, for hitching horses, originally surrounded the park. In 1892, the street around the park was paved in brick and the following year, Trees were planted.