People & Events

1924 Snow in Downtown New Berlin - (December 20, 1924) From the November 15-21, 2005 edition of the Star Trader paper article titled "1830-31, the winter of the 'Big Snow'":  "Over the years, Central Illinois has had its share of severe winters.  Among the most memorable is the winter of 1924-25, as this photo of December 20, 1924, attests.  Note the horsedrawn wagon behind the Texaco sign at in front of the Dutch Filling Station in downtown New Berlin."  The picture is taken looking west from Olive and Illinois Streets.  

1943 Flood 1 - (1943) Rainwater floods the area near Cedar and Illinois Streets.

Flooded Intersection - (1950s) The intersection of Cedar and Birch Streets floods in this picture taken in the 1950s.  Jim Davenport is on the bike.  Judy Bean is sitting in the water on the far right of the picture.  

Ice Storm of 1978 - (1978) Ice hangs on everything after the 'Ice Storm of 1978' hit on Good Friday in March of 1978.  This picture shows the ice at Tom and Irene Peters' home.  Power was out for a week and came back on in the afternoon of the next Friday.

Snow Drift Blocks Berlin Road - (1978) A deep snow and high winds created four to eight foot drifts on Berlin Road between King's and Clark's in New Berlin.

Aerial View - Aerial view looking toward downtown New Berlin. 

Birdseve View of New Berlin - (1911) A color Curt Teich postcard of New Berlin taken in 1911. 

New Berlin Skyline 2 - (December 28, 2001) Picture of the New Berlin skyline as looking southeast from atop the New Water Tower in North Park.  

New Berlin Skyline 3 - (December 28, 2001) Picture of the New Berlin skyline as looking south from atop the New Water Tower in North Park.   

Benton and Illinois Streets - (1940s-1950s) Picture of two ladies walking east at the intersection of Benton and Illinois Streets in New Berlin.  This picture is taken from an 8mm film. 

Doctor McMillian's Residence - (1927) A Curt Teich postcard photograph of Doctor J. C. McMillian's residence which stood on the corner of Olive and Illinois Streets in New Berlin.  The house was severely damaged in a fire and was later torn down.  

Groundbreaking for New Berlin Reservoir - (1960) Ground is being broken for the new water reservoir for the Village of New Berlin.  The reservoir is next to the Water Plant building located next to Spring Creek along the Pleasant Plains Blacktop approximately one mile north of Old Jacksonville Road.  At the time of construction, the Reservoir was planned to hold approximately 28 million gallons of water but would be expanded in the 1980s.  Mayor Elmer F. Roesch is holding the shovel.  Others shown here are:  (L-R)  Leslie Ankrom, Contractor, Jacksonville; William P. Sheehan, Village Attorney, Springfield; Donald E. Houser, Consulting Engineer, Jacksonville; Village Board Members:  Alvin Lovekamp, Dr. Glen H. Wichterman, Earl Chandler, John McCullough, and Richard Dannenberger; and L. B. Stapleton, Village Treasurer.  Woodrow Marr is sitting on the bulldozer. 

New Berlin Time Capsule - (October 31, 1976) Ceremony and burial of the Time Capsule in the North Park in New Berlin.  Richard Dannenberger, the Mayor of New Berlin, is speaking at the podium. 

New Berlin Time Capsule - (October 31, 1976) A picture of the contents of the Time Capsule.  The sign, listing the committee members, appears to be hand written by Richard Dannenberger.  Ceremony and burial of the Time Capsule in the North Park in New Berlin. 

Former Village Hall Building -  (June 22, 1999) A picture of the little brown building that stood in Wabash Park in downtown New Berlin.  The building was built as a project of the New Berlin Women's Club as a public restroom.  It later was remodled and served as the Village Hall.  It was torn down in 1999. 

Former Village Hall Building - (1999) John A. McCullough stands in front of the little brown building that stood in Wabash Park in downtown New Berlin.  The building was originally constructed to serve as restrooms for the park and was later converted into the Village Hall.  John was Mayor of New Berlin from 1965 until 1973. 

New Water Tower - (1990s) Construction starts on a new water tower in North Park in New Berlin.  The new 250,000 gallon tank will supplement the original 50,000 tank which stands in the middle of the park. 

Highway Paving - Picture of the paving of the new highway running through New Berlin.  The Route would take on several designations:  Pikes Peak Coast-to-Coast Highway, Illinois State Route 10, US 36-54, and, after US 36 was moved to Interstate 72 and US 54 was truncated at the Pittsfield exit, it is now an undesignated state route. 

Reed Farm - Milk container from the William Reed Farm of New Berlin. 

New Berlin Reservoir Filling - (March 1961) Picture of the New Berlin Waterworks Reservoir inside bern at start of filling.  Mayor Elmer F. Roesch, right; Trustee John A. McCullough, left.  At top right, Trustee Richard Danenberger.  Others not identified.  The Waterworks Reservoir is about three miles north of New Berlin. 

Carl L Rieck & Son Farm - (unknown) Picture of the sign for the Carl L. Rieck and Son Farm north of New Berlin.  The Farm is located north of New Berlin on John Ridder Road.  

Sanitary Sewer System - (Summer 1977) This digger was operated by George Savage during the time when New Berlin was installing the sanitary sewer system.  

Sanitary Sewer System - (Summer 1977) This is the 700 block of East Birch Street during the time when New Berlin was installing the sanitary sewer system. 

Sanitary Sewer System - (Summer 1977) Two workers connect the home of Tom and Irene Peters to the new sanitary sewer system. 

Sanitary Sewer System -  (Summer 1977) Workers are backfilling the trench on the 600 block of East Birch Street during the time when New Berlin was installing the sanitary sewer system.

Wabash Park - (Unknown) A picture of the gazebo that once stood in Wabash Park in downtown New Berlin. 

West Gibson Street Postcard - (1909) Picture of the 100 block of East Gibson Street, New Berlin, looking west at the corner of Main and Gibson.  The North Park is just to the left of the photo.  The house shown on the right is known as the ‘Taylor House’ and the 'Rinaldo House'.  This picture was taken from a postcard which was published by J. L. Schuler.  The postmark is dated August 20, 1909 at the New Berlin Post Office.