by Mary Ann Armbruster
The Moss-Bradley Residential Association Fourth of July celebration will include a dedication of a new plaque in the Tricorn Park commemorating the installation of the Murray Baker flagpole forty years ago on July 4, 1975. The event marked the beginning of the neighborhood’s celebration of the USA Bicentennial year of 1976.
The plaque honors Eleanor Heinz-Dries and Shirley and John Patrick Hanley who gave Tricorn Park its name and facilitated the placement of the flagpole which is over 70 feet tall and was moved from the Eleanor’s backyard at 1222 W. Moss to the park by the Hanleys’ steel fabricating company, Lucas Steel.
The grassy triangle at the corners of Moss, Barker, and Duryea that became Tricorn Park has been a fixture of the Moss-Bradley neighborhood since the 1890’s. Over the years, many neighbors have helped to support and maintain the park. Norma and Ray Ellington and Carol Johnson were major caretakers for more than two decades. In 1986, Norma and Ray supervised a fundraising project in which over 125 bricks were sold to neighbors, engraved with names and mottos, fired with the assistance of the Bradley University Art Department, and placed in the park. In 1991 the park was awarded a Peoria City Beautiful award.
In 2005, a major restoration project was spearheaded by Dr. Jim Adams and realized through contributions of many neighbors and friends. A re-dedication ceremony was held in November 2008. and a plaque placed to honor contributors. Since then, Dr. Adams has devoted many hours to maintenance of the park.
In addition to the engraved bricks in the parks, some other items of interest are the three corner limestone pillars from a residential property on Madison Avenue. They were donated by Judge Coney and moved by the Hanley family. Limestone benches in the park once graced homes in the neighborhood as thresholds. They were donated by Don Schue and the Livengood family.
The new plaque commemorating the placement of the Murray-Baker flagpole was first proposed by Mary Ann Middleton, a Moss Avenue neighbor who was a long-time champion of our historic neighborhood. She participated in the planning for the plaque up until her death in May, 2014.
The Moss-Bradley Residential Association invites all of our neighbors and friends to join us on July 4, 2015 to honor all of the residents who have contributed to the vigorous history of the Tri-Corn Park, and in particular Eleanor Heinz-Dries and Shirley and John Hanley.
Sources for this article include The West Bluff Word, and brochures produced by Moss-Bradley Residential Association.