Address research on 3303 N. Adams, Peoria, using Peoria City Directories (PCD) from 1890 thru 1959 that are available online, and the years 1960, 1965 and 1975 from my own collection.

Keep in mind that information printed in one directory may have been gathered the year before. Directories prior to 1890 do not include a street index. In some early directories Averyville is not listed.

Prior to 1895, North Adams was known as Galena Road, starting at the 2400 block, near Camblin/Woodlawn. The numbering system on that stretch of Galena Road continued on from North Adams.

From the research, I believe that the first tenant of the building at 3303 N. Adams was John M. Brooks, who was a grocer and most likely lived in the building, circa 1895.


1890 PCD, there is a grocer named John M. Brooks who had a store at 401 McBean.

1891 PCD, John M. Brooks is a grocer in Averyville, but no address is given.

1892 PCD, Galena Road and Averyville are not listed.

1893 and 1894 PCD, John M. Brooks is a grocer at 3105 N. Galena rd.

1895 PCD, John M. Brooks is a grocer at 3303 N. Adams and at 718 Hurlburt.

1896 PCD, John M. Brooks is a grocer at 3303 N. Adams.

1897 PCD, Joseph Wilson is a grocer at 3303 N. Adams.

1898 and 1899 PCD, John H. Tholen is a grocer at 3303 N. Adams.

1900 PCD, Wallace Feagans is a grocer at 3303 N. Adams and Harold W. Mitchell is a resident.

1901 and 1902 PCD, Roscoe M. Mitchell is a resident at 3303 N. Adams.

1903 PCD, John Welch is a resident at 3303 N. Adams.

1904 PCD, A. Theodore Jones is a resident at 3303 N. Adams.

1905 PCD, John W. Melzer is a resident at 3303 N. Adams.

1906 PCD, Hugh T. Elliott operated a wagon repair at 3303 N. Adams and John W. Melzer was a resident.

1907 and 1908 PCD, John W. Melzer is a resident at 3303 N. Adams.

1909 PCD, Joseph Feiner is a grocer at 3303 N. Adams and John W. and Frederick Melzer are residents.

1910 PCD, Mrs. Anna Feiner is a grocer at 3303 N. Adams and John W. Melzer is a resident.

1911 PCD - not online - The Melzer name is thereafter spelled Melcer.

1912 thru 1915 PCD, John W. Melcer and other family members are residents at 3303 N. Adams.

1916 PCD, Joseph W. McGirr is a photographer at 3303 N. Adams, and John W. Melcer family are residents.

1917 PCD, Rhodes & Melcer (Mrs. Julia Rhodes, Mrs. Mattie Melcer), are grocers at 3303 N. Adams and the Melcer family are residents.

1918 and 1819 PCD, Melcer family are residents at 3303 N. Adams.

1920 PCD, John W. Melcer is a grocer at 3303 N. Adams and Herbert D. Mackey is a resident.

1921 thru 1937 PCD, John W. Melcer is a grocer at 3303 N. Adams and resident. Sometimes also listed as a confectioner or meat shop, as well as grocer.

1938 PCD, 3303 N. Adams is vacant and John W. Melcer is no longer listed.

1939 PCD, Philip M. Powell and wife Gladys are grocers and residents at 3303 N. Adams.

1940 and 1941 PCD, Benjamin C. Myers, wife Minnie, are grocers and residents at 3303 N. Adams.

1942 PCD - pages missing

1943 PCD, Benjamin C. Myers, wife Minnie, are grocers and resident at 3303 N. Adams.

1944 PCD, Benjamin C. Myers, wife Minnie are grocers at 3303 N. Adams as is Vincent W. Eggering, who lives at 3214 N. Adams. More than likely Myers was leaving the business and Eggering was taking over.

1945 PCD - not online

1946 PCD - most pages missing, Eggering no longer associated with 3303 N. Adams.

1947 PCD - not online

1948 and 1950 PCD, Friendly Food Market (Russell F. Williams, who lives at 3300 N. Adams) is at 3303 N. Adams. In the Alpha section of the PCD it is listed as: "Friendly Food Market (Russell F. Williams), Blue Ribbon Store, complete food service, phone us your order, we deliver, 3303 N. Adams, Tel. 5-2512."

1949 PCD - not online

1951 PCD - not online

1952 PCD, Russell F. Williams, wife Wilma, are grocers at 3303 N. Adams and the Friendly Food Market is not listed.

1953 and 1954 PCD - not online

1955 and 1956 PCD, Park Avenue Cleaners (clothes cleaners) is at 3303 N. Adams, owned by Russell R. Shreffler, who is a resident. He also operates The Tackle Box, fishing supplies, at 3305 N. Adams.

1957 PCD, Park Avenue Cleaners is at 3303 N. Adams, with Russell R. Shreffler as resident. He also operates the Tackle Box, at 3305 N. Adams, which has Russell F. Shreffler as a resident.

1958 PCD, Park Avenue Cleaners is at 3303 N. Adams, with Russell R. Shreffler as resident, as well as Russell F. Shreffler. The Tackle Box is at 3305 N. Adams.

1959 PCD, Park Avenue Cleaners is at 3303 N. Adams, with both Russell R. and Russell F. Shreffler as residents and both attached to The Tackle Box which is at 3305 N. Adams.

1960 PCD, Russell R. Shreffler is a resident at 3303 N. Adams. Both Russell R. and Russell F. Shreffler are attached to The Tackle Box, at 3305 N. Adams, but Russell F. now lives on Madison.

1965 PCD, The Tackle Box Sporting Goods (Russell R. Sheffler) is at 3303 N. Adams. He is not listed in the alpha index and 3305 is no longer listed.

1975 PCD, Stan's Propeller & Marine Shop (Verdie C. Stanley, Jr.) is at 3303 N. Adams. He lives on Wilson. In the alpha index he is listed as with The Tackle Box & Marine Shop.

You can find missing and later PCD at the downtown Peoria library in the genealogy department.

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