"Picture Decatur" (Decatur IL)

This week's featured Decatur link is the DECATUR TRIBUNE, an absolute great community treasure that is published weekly by Paul Osborne, former mayor of Decatur. Each week, the "TRIB" features a wide assortment of community events, stories, photos and general interest pieces.  Some of the most interesting material comes from the Letters to the Editor and from Paul's editorial, "OSBORNE ONLINE". Check out the DECATUR TRIBUNE at http://www.decaturtribune.com and listen for Paul each Thursday morning on WSOY's morning show with Brian Byers.

Mueller Park The "Frontier Building" in Decatur's Mueller Park was built in 1938 and features very distinctive architecture, including a circular staircase.  It was used by the Decatur Club of Frontiers International, Inc. as a community center into the 1980's.  Sadly, it fell into disrepair, but renovation/remodeling work has recently been performed by the Decatur Area Technical Academy. Mueller Park Trivia.... Approximately 800 Potawatomi Indians from Indiana were marched thru the Decatur area on September 26, 1838.  There is a marker recognizing the Potawatomi Trail of Death located in Mueller Park.

DMV's (Decatur Media Vehicles)

Decatur Airport, 1972 Fairview Park, main pavilion downtown, prior to demo 300 North Water c. 1913 Lincoln Square c. 1915 ( these photos have been collected from a variety of sources, both on the internet and from personal collections. )

Decatur's fine Police Department currently leases facility space in the Macon County Law Enforcement Center: As of February 2013, plans are in the works for the Police Department to relocate to a different facility, the former Zexel-Valeo office building on South Side Drive  (across from WAND-TV station): The renovated facility could be ready as early as March 2014.

In an effort to help promote and support other Decatur websites, I'll be featuring 1 of them each week here on this blog. For this week, I encourage you to visit "THE DECATUR NAVIGATOR", which is another blog focused on what's going on around the city.  There's some great blog entries, plus nice pictures and a few videos. The blog's author is Kris Hay-Disney, a life-long Decatur resident and a big history buff. LINK:   http://www.decaturnavigator.com Great work Kris !!

Today, June 12th, marks the 2-month anniversary of this PICTURE DECATUR blog.  Thanks to everyone for your support and comments during this time and for all the suggestions that have been received. Pictures will continue to be posted thru-out the summer, so keep checking back. And remember, you are encouraged to leave a comment on any post by using the white box at the bottom of each page   (like the one below!). Have a great evening.... Matt