If you have questions about Peoria, Ask Dean. He's worked here for a quarter-century

Dean Muellerleile, Journal Star
·2 min read
Dean Muellerleile
Dean Muellerleile

I wasn't born in Peoria, but it is my handpicked hometown.

The River City checked all the boxes. It's a "warm," four-season Midwest small metro. (I'm from small-city Minnesota, with just two seasons — winter and road repairs.) Peoria is scenic, historic and storied. By all those metrics, Peoria punches above its weight.

It's been my home since 1995. In that time alone, Peoria has weathered the loss of Caterpillar's headquarters. But it's pivoted to OSF HealthCare as a downtown anchor. That's admirable.

Peoria is resilient. A survivor. A tough, rough-and-tumble town. That's intriguing.

And that downtown? When I moved here, Peoria's riverfront was still a spaghetti-tracked wasteland of underused railway spurs. Now it's a greenspace. The Warehouse District is becoming a reality. The future holds promise.

Related: Here are 16 of our favorite things about Peoria

And the past holds treasures. From its French beginnings to its time as a vaudeville bellwether — will it play in Peoria? — and rip-roaring days as Saturday Night City, it's awash in colorful stories.

All of the above, I've seen or learned in the better part of three decades as an adoptive Peorian and Journal Star copy editor. Now I've been asked to expand on the latter.

Ask Dean is a new Journal Star series focusing on all things Peoria: its history, its present, its mysteries, quirks, culture and "That's so Peoria" tales. Ask me about what's happening around town or what may have happened in the past.

I've already written on some stories you haven't seen elsewhere: the foul Peoria fragrance that launched 5,000 bottles, Peoria-linked movies, beloved former restaurants, offbeat Illinois pronunciations.

Now we're opening the inbox to your suggestions. Have a question you've always wondered about Peoria or central Illinois? We want to answer your questions.

Here's a few to get you thinking:

♦ Made in Peoria. We all know about Cat. But what other products were made in the River City?

♦ The Peoria area could boast its own all-star band. For starters, how about Dan Fogelberg on vocals and multiple instruments and Gary Richrath on lead guitar? Who else would you add? What might the band sound like?

♦ The Sentinel on the Bluff is one of Peoria's oldest, most magnificent trees. What are its challengers?

There's a start. What do you want to know more about Peoria?

Whether it's a person, place or a product, send your "Whatever happened to ...?" and "Wasn't there a ...?" questions, comments and suggestions to dmuellerleile@pjstar.com. Please put ASK DEAN in the subject line.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Have questions about Peoria, Illinois? Ask this reporter for answers